1996 gtx died

[ltmoeller]

My battery read 12.38 volts and dash lights came on but ski would not start.Charged battery and ski started and ran ok and then died.I checked battery voltage and it was 12.38 and the dash would not light up.I baught a new battery charged it and it reads 12.56 volts. I put it in the ski and dash lights up but won't crank. What steps do I take to find the problem?After pushing buttons awhile now dash won't light up.Battery reads 12.56 volts.
Thanks in advance,Tom

 

[Coastiejoe]

DI skis are no fun when they have issues. That said, there are general basics that will help to isolate the issue.

Get a meter on the battery and tell us the voltage when trying to start/crank the engine. Yes I know it is new, but this will ensure some things.

Jump the solenoid and see if the engine cranks. If it does this will tell us the battery, connections, starter and cables are all good.

Get back to us with this info and we will go from there..

 

[AdamXP800]

Are you asking about a 96 GTX or the DI GTX in your avatar. I see the post says 96 gtx but your avatar says DI GTX

 

[ltmoeller]

Ok I jumped the solenoid and it cranks over just fine and battery only went down just a little on the meter.15 amp fuse is fine in rear of ski.The dash just won't light up and ski will not start from start button.It is a 1996 GTX and has always never a problem.I guess my 3 year old gel battery went south.So do I need to start with wiring under hood?
Thanks,Tom

 

[kicker]

Each time you put the key on do you get 2 beeps?

 

[ltmoeller]

My beeper hasn't worked in years.Do I need to go to radio shack and get one?But thats not going to solve my issue because I should get power if I hit start button even with lanyard not connected.But I'm open to all options.
Thanks,Tom

 

[kicker]

The reason I ask is that when you get 2 beeps while inserting the key that means you MPEM has reconized the key and is working. In turn that would eliminate a short or bad connection in the MPEM and DESS post out of the troubleshooting equation......just a thought.

 

[Coastiejoe]

Ok I jumped the solenoid and it cranks over just fine and battery only went down just a little on the meter.15 amp fuse is fine in rear of ski.The dash just won't light up and ski will not start from start button.It is a 1996 GTX and has always never a problem.I guess my 3 year old gel battery went south.So do I need to start with wiring under hood?
Thanks,Tom

If you want to see if the ski will run, put the key on and then jump the solenoid as you know it cranks. If it does start, see if it will turn off with the S/S button.

 

[Coastiejoe]

My beeper hasn't worked in years.Do I need to go to radio shack and get one?But thats not going to solve my issue because I should get power if I hit start button even with lanyard not connected.But I'm open to all options.
Thanks,Tom

The beeper itself is not a big deal in most cases, this is one where it would be helpful.

Connect your meter to the wires going to the beeper. You want to see two pulses. If so, good connection an the MPEM is recognizing the key. If one prolonged pulse it sees the key but does not recognize it.

As I type this, I recall you are asking about a 1996. Do you have a DESS or just a snap on key?

 

[ltmoeller]

I have a dess post.1996 GTX.I'm trying to work on this in the water as I have a summer home in alabama.I'll get it on the trailer tomorrow and continue on.I just think I have a powe issue up front.I may just run to radio shack as I've changed beepers before.
Tom

 

[ltmoeller]

I got the ski out of the water and did some testing and I just happen to have a extra start/stop harness,so I installed it and ski fired up and is running and charging.So with that said is it possible for a start/stop button cause a ski to just die.All seams to be ok now and I also am going to replace the beeper I got at radio shack.
Tom

 

[kicker]

The switch is an "open / close" switch. It is normally open, then when the button is depressed then it will close the circuit. If there is a short inside the switch or in the wiring some where that closes the circuit then yes it can randomly shut the ski off. The odd thing is you would think that it would randomly start the ski as well if the key was on the post.

How did your old switch look? Was there damage anywhere or could you see a short?

 

[Coastiejoe]

If the "short" would come and go it could randomly start the ski as it is normally open. By shorting and UN-shorting it is just like pressing the button itself.

That said, pretty unusual for this to happen.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[ltmoeller]

What I have done this morning:Went out and with the new start/stop button connected the ski started right time after time.So then I disconected the new start/stop harness and plugged in old start/stop and with the lanyard connected the ski started but would not shut off.Pulled lanyard and ski shut off.I disconnected the old harness and i have continuity all the time.That tells me the start/stop is bad.
Tom

 

[kicker]

Yup, sounds like you nailed it. Well done, now go ride that puppy.