1996 Sea-Doo SPX starting issue

[94samson]

Have a 1997 SPX and the thing will not turn over with the spark plugs installed, take one plug out will turn over slowly. Take both out and it will turn a little faster.

Here is what we have done:
Have 5 other models and tried batteries out of starting running skis same issue.
Ohmed the wires from the battery to solenoid, battery to ground, solenoid to starter, all zero.
Cleaned every cable end listed above.
Jumped solenoid starter and motor spins right over
Replaced solenoid
With new solenoid, left wire off that goes to starter, hit start button and get 12.7v on the starter side of solenoid. Connect starter wire to solenoid leaving wire disconnected from starter, test starter end 12.7v. Connect to starter and same issue.
Jump new solenoid everything turns over like it should.
Original solenoid has metal base, the new one has plastic base. So tried known working used metal base solenoid, same issue.
Pulled starter to test it, cannot find specifications to campare to.
Cleaned contacting surfaces on starter and block.
Reinstalled starter and same issue.

Hit the start button and the motor barely cranks, remove plugs and goes faster, only turns over quickly when jumping solenoid.

any ideas?

 

[GGuillot]

I had this on an OEM starter, it seemed weak, I rebuilt it with new bushings and it's much stronger.,

 

[94samson]

Received new starter, installed with brand new solenoid. Still same issue.

Motor turns over slow with no plugs in, spins over fast when jumping solenoid.

 

[mikidymac]

Well if it’s fine jumping the solenoid then I don’t know what to say if you have changed multiple solenoids. That’s the only variable.

 

[94samson]

It was 4th solenoid installed, second brand new one.
Frustrated.....Started checking voltage again at wires, decided to test yellow and red wire that goes to solenoid. When start button is pressed it shows 12.3v for a brief second then goes to 3.2v and read as low as 2.7v.

Ohmed tested mpem according to manual, was surprised there was no ranges. One of them said >200 k ohms, reading was .890 M ohms. There are as others that were way greater but that one stuck in my mind.

Any thoughts?

 

[Jeffspx]

The red/yellow wire gets power from the mpem when hitting the start button to actuate the solenoid. I would imagine it should have battery voltage at it the entire time the start button is held down, but im not certain. I also dont know that a lower voltage at the trigger side of the solenoid should effect the load side, I would think when the solenoid contacts close to make contact, then there closed, but i maybe wrong, hopefully the experts can weigh in.

Id probably unplug the control side of the solenoid, and then try to operate it manually by providing power and ground to it with a fused jumper wire and see if it cranks normally. If it does, then youll at least know that its a problem with the control side of the solenoid and not the load side (battery, cables and starter).

 

[mikidymac]

IF it isn't sending enough power to close the solenoid and keep it closed that's your issue.

 

[94samson]

Thinking extra ground from power box to battery?

Feel like missing something simple.

 

[94samson]

I did power control side of solenoid (yellow/red) with 12v, starter does turn motor like it should. So down to what might cause mpem to send low voltage to solenoid.

 

[mikidymac]

Bad connections, grounds or bad MPEM.

 

[94samson]

Was using a test light to check voltage, touched the blade on the coil that the red/black wire connects to and motor started turning over as it should.

 

[tobytd]

not seeing any red / black wire. I think your test light acted like a jumper to ground.

 

[Jeffspx]

You touched the terminal with the red/yellow wire? Do you have your test light hooked to the positive terminal? Generally you would use the ground terminal

 

[94samson]

The test light was connected at negative on battery.

The wire is black with red stripe that goes to base of ignition coil. Was trying to see if power was getting to coil.

Adding power to yellow red will also make motor turn over quickly.

 

[94samson]

Anyone tell me what year seadoos had DESS key?

 

[Jeffspx]

I believe dess started in 96, but i think the 95xp 800s had dess, but im not certain of that.

 

[94samson]

Or maybe a better question, would the mpem have the wire for a DESS post if the seadoo has the standard switch?

 

[94samson]

This is on a 1996 SPX, my post has wrong year

 

[jjsinaz]

Did you remove all of those wires at the base of the ign coil and clean them? Sounds like that is where your bad ground is, and that is the main ground point going from the battery to everything else

 

[94samson]

I cleaned all grounds on the ground plate that the starter solenoid mounts to, I will look under the coil also

 

[94samson]

Cleaned the contacts under coil and rectifier

 

[94samson]

Bought a parts ski, took the MPEM out of it, put it in the one been working on and turns over like it should

It is running now, thanks all for your input