1996 GSX will not start

[wan4l]

Ok I need some advice. My ski will not start.
I have a 1996 GSX and while riding it last weekend it died at wide open throttle. Gauges stopped turning on when pressing the key and putting the dess key on. I got towed to shore.
I checked the fuses, and sure enough I blew the 5 amp fuse in the front electrical box. I replaced the fuse and the dash lights started to work again when putting the key on the post and when pressing the start button. However pressing the start button no longer trys to make the jetski start. I have had the starter relay go bad in the past, so the first thing I tried to do was jump the relay with a screw driver, and sure enough it would crank. So I ordered a new starter relay and replaced it. It still will not try to turn over with the start button. All the fuses are OK. I assume the switch is working, because it turns the gauges on when I press it.

What should I check next?

Note: Dess beeper hasn’t worked for years.

 

[Coastiejoe]

With the lanyard attached, see if you get 12 volts at the trigger wire at the solenoid. I am guessing you will not. If not, then you need to take the start / stop button and unplug it and check it for continuity. If it has continuity, then your issue is headed toward the MPEM. [MENTION=41828]Minnetonka4me[/MENTION] can give you some detail on how to generically test it. And he will know where all the fuses are as well.


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[wan4l]

With the lanyard attached, see if you get 12 volts at the trigger wire at the solenoid. I am guessing you will not. If not, then you need to take the start / stop button and unplug it and check it for continuity. If it has continuity, then your issue is headed toward the MPEM. [MENTION=41828]Minnetonka4me[/MENTION] can give you some detail on how to generically test it. And he will know where all the fuses are as well.


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Is the trigger wire at the solenoid the yellow/red wire that is attached to the bottom of the relay with a clip? I assume it should only show 12 volts while the start button is being pressed?

thanks,

 

[Coastiejoe]

Is the trigger wire at the solenoid the yellow/red wire that is attached to the bottom of the relay with a clip? I assume it should only show 12 volts while the start button is being pressed?

thanks,

I would have to look yours up to confirm the color, but yes, generally it is the yellow wire. And yes, 12 volts ONLY with the lanyard in place and the START button being pushed.

 

[Minnetonka4me]

Yup coastie has it right run that test. This would be an odd one. Check for corrosion in the square connector on the top of the rear ebox.

 

[wan4l]

well now I am really confused. I have power at the solenoid and the switch is working. Its an open circuit and then very close to zero when pressing the start/stop button.

What now?

 

[Coastiejoe]

Ok. Humor me. Take your meter and see what the voltage is on the input of the solenoid. Then again on the output when you press the START button.


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[soccerdad]

Ok. Humor me. Take your meter and see what the voltage is on the input of the solenoid. Then again on the output when you press the START button.


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That is exactly what I was going to ask!

 

[Coastiejoe]

That is exactly what I was going to ask!

Clearly you must be very intelligent.. LOL

 

[wan4l]

I rechecked the switch and the continuity is as its supposed to be. However, I missed a very important thing when I checked the yellow/red wire that goes into the bottom of the solenoid. Its hot at 12 volts all the time. When I put the lanyard on and press the start button, it drops to 0.3-0.5 volts. The hot wire on the input side of the solenoid is 12.5+ volts. The right post never budges off 0 when the start button is being pressed.

thoughts?

 

[Coastiejoe]

Post a picture. I want to see the yellow red wire location.


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[wan4l]

I had some things come up last year and I never got around to working on this ski any more. I am once again trying to resolve this issue. I purchased a new battery yesterday and I performed the same tests as before. My beeper started to work again and I get the normal two beeps when putting on the dess key. The start/stop button has continuity. The perplexing thing is that the trigger wire that plugs into the bottom of the solenoid is always hot then drops to 0.5 volts when the start button is pressed. I would think it would always be trying to crank once I put the key on.

Here is the picture of the wire in question.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j8/timjr1/skipic1_zpsafhoslrh.png

Thoughts?

 

[Coastiejoe]

What does the other wire read. Both no button and with button?

I think it picks the ground up from the MPEM. But I need to look up the schematics.

 

[1983]

What happens when you jump the 2 big red battery cables connected to the starter solenoid?


Jump it with a wrench or needle nose pliers ( with gloves on )



Rob

 

[wan4l]

I tested the black wire that plugs into the bottom of the solenoid. It is indeed ground.

 

[wan4l]

What happens when you jump the 2 big red battery cables connected to the starter solenoid?


Jump it with a wrench or needle nose pliers ( with gloves on )



Rob

It cranks like a champ. You think the replacement solenoid that I just bought is faulty?

 

[Coastiejoe]

Something is not right. The plugged in wires should not be hot or "looped" all the time. One could be hot and one could be open. But not hot and ground. If so, the solenoid would be activated. Not saying you don't have a bad solenoid, but something is wrong. It is like the START button is stuck closed for example.

 

[wan4l]

Something is not right. The plugged in wires should not be hot or "looped" all the time. One could be hot and one could be open. But not hot and ground. If so, the solenoid would be activated. Not saying you don't have a bad solenoid, but something is wrong. It is like the START button is stuck closed for example.

I'll re-verify the continuity of the start/stop switch again, it could of been backwards and I didn't realize it. I will test it again this evening and I will report back. I assume if the button is fine, its looking like something is wrong with my mpem?

 

[Coastiejoe]

I'll re-verify the continuity of the start/stop switch again, it could of been backwards and I didn't realize it. I will test it again this evening and I will report back. I assume if the button is fine, its looking like something is wrong with my mpem?

Based on what you have posted, I would agree. If button is fine then the MPEM likely has an issue. As it is the MPEM that feeds the solenoid. If the plug at the solenoid is hot "closed", then the solenoid should be engaged. As it is not, I think you also have a bad solenoid.

 

[soccerdad]

Not sure if this is the case, but some electronic "leak" a small amount of current even if they are "open". Some meters will pick this up. Some meters induce a small load to kill that. But it doesn't make sense that it drops to 0 when engaged. Are all your hardness wires up front connected correctly?

 

[wan4l]

Based on what you have posted, I would agree. If button is fine then the MPEM likely has an issue. As it is the MPEM that feeds the solenoid. If the plug at the solenoid is hot "closed", then the solenoid should be engaged. As it is not, I think you also have a bad solenoid.

I retested the switch and it's definitely ok. Should I even bother to test the mpem or just order a new one and solenoid?

 

[Coastiejoe]

I retested the switch and it's definitely ok. Should I even bother to test the mpem or just order a new one and solenoid?

MPEMs are expensive. [MENTION=41828]Minnetonka4me[/MENTION] has some form of a test for them. If possible, you should test it. I am of the mind set of test and confirm rather than buy parts and give them a try,,,

 

[nitr0genics]

I believe the red/yellow wire is the 12v signal from the MPEM to the starting circuit, having a dig through the shop manuals now..

P.s. Hi Nick! been a while buddy, guessing you probably don't remember me think it's been 3 years snce I posted! I may be ready for some more parts soon though

 

[soccerdad]

I would go all the way back to the MPEM and unplug the connection there that feeds the solenoid the start voltage. (yellow/red wire) Test it with your meter there. Between the yellow with red stripe and a good ground. If it is feeding 12V without you pushing the start button, the MPEM is bad. But if it is really doing that, then your solenoid should be switched all the time and the motor would be constantly cranking. So I doubt it really is doing that. Maybe test it with a 12v test light so there is some minor load on it.

 

[soccerdad]

OK, maybe grasping at straws, but does your VTS work? You may try unpluggin the VTS then try starting the ski. The VTS ground wires are common with the solenoid. Maybe some back voltage is messing you up. But isolating it at the MPEM per my above question should work anyway.