DammitJimmyFixIt
Active Member
Just dropping this here for anyone needing it. I originally posted this as a comment on YouTube to some guy who had no clue what he was doing. Please enjoy, and I welcome any comments or questions.
First thing you check is the DESS (key). Should give 2 fast beeps in normal conditions. This is a diagnostic system. No beeps, (or different pattern) indicate next step.
If no beeps, first ensure battery power is at the nominal 12VDC USING PROPER POLARITY to ensure against a polarity reverse issue, and ensure you have 2 negative wires connected.
If power is good, go to DESS post. Post ohms should be infinity without key and about 1 ohm with key. If good, and all beeps are in order and a "no crank" conditions continues, open the electrical box near the VTS and check fuses. And power on the INPUT side of the solenoid.
Replace bad fuses and try again. If issue continues, recheck fuses. A bad starter, solenoid, battery (even reading 12VDC but with low cranking amps) or short may be your problem if fuses continue blowing.
If fuses are Good, and the is still no beeps, try removing the DESS and press the START/RUN 5 times, and listen for beeps. This is a secondary diagnostic system. If no beeps present, continue troubleshooting. If beeps are present, your DESS maybe the issue. Good to dealer aaaaand have them make a new DESS. ($20)
Open the grey box in the front near the fuel tank. In this box, 1 side contains the MPEM and the other contains a bunch of wires a relay and other devices. Check the 3 fuses here. Replace bad ones and observe and correct any water damage. Note the 2 posts with black wires bolted to them. These adre the ground for this part of the jet ski and the ground wire coming from here often breaks. If after repairing water damage and checking fuses, a no beeps condition persists, run a jumper from either ground post back to the battery and try using your DESS again. If no beeps continue, and all wiring is good, the culprit may be you MPEM.
Once 2 beeps are confirmed, proceed to next part.
Apply DESS and using test light or multimeter, read voltage on OUTPUT of solenoid. Should be ~0vdc. Press start/ stop button while testing and voltage should jump to 12vdc. If not, continue to next paragraph. If it does go to 12vdc, then either the wires going to the starter have a problem, or the starter is defective.
Disconnect 2 wire connector going into solenoid and using test light or multimeter with good ground, check for power on the yellow/red wire. It should be ~12vdc. Also, inspect the connector for water damage (common problem).
If power is present, then the solenoid is defective and should be replaced. If no power at this wire while pressing start, disconnect the wires under the handle bars for the start stop button and test with multimeter. When button is not pressed, ohms should be infinite. When pressed, resistance should be~1 ohm.
If defective, replace button and try again.
If problem persists, check wiring between button and solenoid, or between "point a and point b" were power isn't present as broken wires seem to cause a lot of problems in these PWCs.
DO NOT ARC ACROSS SOLENOID AS YOU RISK DAMAGING THE STARTER, BATTERY, SOLENOID AND IN THE EVENT OF A SHORT, YOU RISK BODILY HARM FROM BATTERY EXPLOSION.
First thing you check is the DESS (key). Should give 2 fast beeps in normal conditions. This is a diagnostic system. No beeps, (or different pattern) indicate next step.
If no beeps, first ensure battery power is at the nominal 12VDC USING PROPER POLARITY to ensure against a polarity reverse issue, and ensure you have 2 negative wires connected.
If power is good, go to DESS post. Post ohms should be infinity without key and about 1 ohm with key. If good, and all beeps are in order and a "no crank" conditions continues, open the electrical box near the VTS and check fuses. And power on the INPUT side of the solenoid.
Replace bad fuses and try again. If issue continues, recheck fuses. A bad starter, solenoid, battery (even reading 12VDC but with low cranking amps) or short may be your problem if fuses continue blowing.
If fuses are Good, and the is still no beeps, try removing the DESS and press the START/RUN 5 times, and listen for beeps. This is a secondary diagnostic system. If no beeps present, continue troubleshooting. If beeps are present, your DESS maybe the issue. Good to dealer aaaaand have them make a new DESS. ($20)
Open the grey box in the front near the fuel tank. In this box, 1 side contains the MPEM and the other contains a bunch of wires a relay and other devices. Check the 3 fuses here. Replace bad ones and observe and correct any water damage. Note the 2 posts with black wires bolted to them. These adre the ground for this part of the jet ski and the ground wire coming from here often breaks. If after repairing water damage and checking fuses, a no beeps condition persists, run a jumper from either ground post back to the battery and try using your DESS again. If no beeps continue, and all wiring is good, the culprit may be you MPEM.
Once 2 beeps are confirmed, proceed to next part.
Apply DESS and using test light or multimeter, read voltage on OUTPUT of solenoid. Should be ~0vdc. Press start/ stop button while testing and voltage should jump to 12vdc. If not, continue to next paragraph. If it does go to 12vdc, then either the wires going to the starter have a problem, or the starter is defective.
Disconnect 2 wire connector going into solenoid and using test light or multimeter with good ground, check for power on the yellow/red wire. It should be ~12vdc. Also, inspect the connector for water damage (common problem).
If power is present, then the solenoid is defective and should be replaced. If no power at this wire while pressing start, disconnect the wires under the handle bars for the start stop button and test with multimeter. When button is not pressed, ohms should be infinite. When pressed, resistance should be~1 ohm.
If defective, replace button and try again.
If problem persists, check wiring between button and solenoid, or between "point a and point b" were power isn't present as broken wires seem to cause a lot of problems in these PWCs.
DO NOT ARC ACROSS SOLENOID AS YOU RISK DAMAGING THE STARTER, BATTERY, SOLENOID AND IN THE EVENT OF A SHORT, YOU RISK BODILY HARM FROM BATTERY EXPLOSION.
