1997 GSX starter engages when battery is connected

[Zebra]

We have a 1997 GSX, My wife forgot to screw in the drain plugs inthe back, it took on some water about 3". The engine ran fine back to the dock and once she turned off the engine and removed the lanyard the starter kept spinning until the battery cable was disconnected. Now if I connect the battery cable the starter was to engage with no lanyard connected. What could be wrong?

 

[bigperm]

Sounds like water got in your rear electrical box and your solenoid is shorted out. It will be the box where your power wire goes in and out.

 

[Zebra]

I have just checked the rear electrical box and it is bone dry, I had removed the neg. battery cable to stop the starter from spinning. I think the starter might have been half under water and now the battery is dead.

 

[bigperm]

Sounds like your solenoid is stuck in the "crank" position. Could be the S/S button is engaged. Or the solenoid is bad. First I would remove the cable from the starter side of the solenoid. Test for voltage at the post. If you have voltage there, remove the smaller plug. If you have voltage still your solenoid is bad. If not your S/S button is sticking.

 

[96GSXX]

Had the same problem after my starter ground itself out. Once it did that it shorted the solenoid, popped a new one in and was good to go!

 

[Zebra]

Gentleman,
I would like to thank all of you for your help/advice. I had no voltage on the starter side of the solenoid, so the solenoid was good.
It must have been a stuck s/s button that is now free.

 

[LouDoo]

We have a 1997 GSX, My wife forgot to screw in the drain plugs inthe back, it took on some water about 3". The engine ran fine back to the dock and once she turned off the engine and removed the lanyard the starter kept spinning until the battery cable was disconnected. Now if I connect the battery cable the starter was to engage with no lanyard connected. What could be wrong?

That's right, blame in on the wife. LOL

 

[bigJake]

, My wife forgot to screw in the drain plugs inthe back,

hmm sounds to me that the ski not starting is a symptom, not the real problem...

:svengo::cheers: