1996 spx 717 trouble

[jcleary93]

Hi all last weekend I was out on my 96 spx everything was going well and then the ski started having some trouble accelerating I'd put the throttle down full and it would take a minute to react, I assumed it was the carbs and loaded the ski up and went home.
But now I just went out to start it up and nothing happens no clicks or anything . I checked for any loose connections and couldn't find anything obvious then I tried jumping the starter solenoid and it turns over fine but wouldn't start. I checked the fuses in the mpem and 1 was blown so I replaced it and still nothing happens when I press start button. So I tried jumping solenoid again and boom fuse blew again instantly. So now I'm starting to worry if my mpem is toast or was that fuse blowing from jumping the solenoid and I just have a bad start button?
Also this is 1 of the non-dess skis

Any help greatly appreciated I plan on trying to figure out what's wrong tomorrow

 

[96spxpos]

Unfortunately broseph, I've got the same exact ski, and I had the same exact problem.. It was the MPEM.
Question.. People tend to leave this major detail out when they ask for help diagnosing electronics..
When you went back out to try and start it after it was running poopie on the water, was the battery dead and you tried jumping it off of a car? And now the fuse is blown?
Bc that's basically the only thing that'll keep popping that fuse, being diagnosed as a bad MPEM.
Wait for others to chime in as well, but I went thru the same thing, luckily I had a donor ski with an unmolested MPEM, albeit definitely "fondled", considering the seal was MIA


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[jcleary93]

Yeah when I was getting no response From the start button I figured the battery had died so I plugged my jumper onto it with 12v 200amps..
Is that what fried the mpem?

 

[1of500]

Yeah when I was getting no response From the start button I figured the battery had died so I plugged my jumper onto it with 12v 200amps..
Is that what fried the mpem?

Yes never boost

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[96spxpos]

Yuppees


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[96spxpos]

There's s big warning sticker right where you put your lanyard on that says: DO NOT BOOST


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[96spxpos]

As soon as you said the symptoms, I KNEW IT... Think of it as a lesson-albeit an expensive one-learned..


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[96spxpos]

Get with [MENTION=41828]Minnetonka4me[/MENTION] ,he can hook u up with probably the best price.. Unfortunately I think he's big ballin and jet settin for the next week or so.. I'd at least make contact w him first before making any purchases


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[96spxpos]

Oh my god.. I can't click on your name/Avi but your name is jcleary93 , so I'm assuming 93 is your birth year.. Kinda young..And you've got the same ski as mine.. You were out last weekend.. By chance are you in FL and have like bright neon yellow grips on ur ski? I saw a younger guy launching that last weekend when I was out, and i saw the ski which caught my eye bc they're rare over here on the island where all these people have cash and buy new $16,000 4tecs and give me dirty looks for launching my "stinky smelly gross" two stroke near their beach spot


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[1of500]

Fugg a 4 Tec lol I always smoke up the ramps fogging oil hehe

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[jcleary93]

Alright so looks like I'll be ordering a new MPEm I saw them brand new on eBay for $120-140 are these any good?

Also the ski wouldn't start prior to me jumping the battery, would the start button be a good place to start? And while the mpem is bad will the engine still turn over, just no spark? Thanks everyone

And no 96spxpos I'm up in New england

 

[96spxpos]

Ahh ok.. Not you then.. No, the MPEM is more than definitely your issue.. Not sure what [MENTION=41828]Minnetonka4me[/MENTION] charges, but I know he'll do the right thing by you.. Meaning if you get it, and it doesn't work, he'll work with you.. But just DONT JUMP AND FRY HIS MPEM! Lol...
Your start button/etc.. Is probably all fine.. I wouldn't start going buying all these parts until you try the MPEM FIRST.. Unless you've got downtime and want to check resistance.etc., with a multimeter..

And [MENTION=73220]1of500[/MENTION] , my FOGGING OIL, oh how I LOVE THEE!!!


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[jcleary93]

Ended up messing around for a bit and after frying a couple fuses noticed smoked coming from the vts motor area I unhooked the harness going to the vts motor and that solved my problem and the ski is running good !

 

[Minnetonka4me]

Yup the VTS can blow the 5 amp. The real question here before you figured it out was....with everything hooked up does the 5 amp instantly blow? Or only after you hit the start button? Instant blow=most likely MPEM. After start button, unhook VTS and retry.

And those aftermarket MPEMs are GARBAGE!!!

 

[96spxpos]

Awesome! Glad you're good to go! And I knew nick could point you in the right direction. As an FYI, my VTS never worked on mine.. I manually adjusted it with the worm gear and I'm happy where it's permanently set..


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[Coastiejoe]

VTS can cause serious issues when they begin to fail.

ALWAYS unplug anything to do with the VTS when you are trying to figure out an MPEM issue...