1988 seadoo xp not starting

[watsie50]

Hi, I am brand new to this site and owning a pwc. I had picked up a 1988-89 seadoo xp with the 588 engine and everything was working great. My wife tried to start it today and turned over a few times tried to start and then nothing. I have it charging the battery now and all I am getting is a clicking noise from the box on top of the battery ( brand new about 2 months ago). I opened up the box and checked all the connections and fuses, all seems well. Any thoughts you might have would be greatly appreciated, thanks. My kids are worried that dad bought another lemon.

 

[chipmcod]

Hi, I am brand new to this site and owning a pwc. I had picked up a 1988-89 seadoo xp with the 588 engine and everything was working great. My wife tried to start it today and turned over a few times tried to start and then nothing. I have it charging the battery now and all I am getting is a clicking noise from the box on top of the battery ( brand new about 2 months ago). I opened up the box and checked all the connections and fuses, all seems well. Any thoughts you might have would be greatly appreciated, thanks. My kids are worried that dad bought another lemon.

ok this might sound crazy but try taking one spark plug out then reconnecting it to to the sparkplug wire. then while holding the sparkplug about a half inch off the block,(makesure you hold the wire not the plug,with it connected to the wire). try starting it. but all along making sure the sparkplug is sparting off the block or head it dosent matter. by doing this if it starts it means your battery is weak. why you ask, well less compression to the pistons means easier for your starter to turn the crank. hence starting the engine on one cylinder. with less compression. but with a ful strong battery the engine would crank easly and it should start just fine. not guaranteeing anything but its worth a shot.

 

[watsie50]

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried it and still just the clicking sound from the box on top of the battery. I am try to figure out if it is the solenoid that is gone or the starter?? I don't know if the solenoids are easy to come by. Thanks for the help, Dave

 

[ohsixRXT]

The box on mine was doing that and i thought it was either my battery or starter but come to find out the motor was locked up so try turing the crank with your hand because after i freed mine up i could turn it with my hand, with out the plugs in it of course