1998 GTX Click When Try to Start

[Calbuckeyefan]

1998 GTX Limited. Last summer it started clicking when I try to start it. In the last week I’ve replaced the starter and solenoid. Same issue, clicking when I try to start. However, the other day we jumped the posts of the solenoid and it cranked once, then wouldn’t. Today after the new solenoid, cranked 3 times then back to clicking. Any suggestions?

 

[Spider4real]

Sounds like a weak/bad battery. Take it to an Autoparts store and have it load tested.

 

[Calbuckeyefan]

Sounds like a weak/bad battery. Take it to an Autoparts store and have it load tested.

Battery shows 12.5 V though. Any other ideas?

 

[Spider4real]

Volts are only part of the picture. You need to load test the battery to know if it is good.

 

[Calbuckeyefan]

Volts are only part of the picture. You need to load test the battery to know if it is good.

I put the same battery in another ski to test it and it fired right up.

 

[Spider4real]

If you remove the spark plugs will it turn over?

 

[Spider4real]

And don't forget to ground the wires

 

[Grim]

here are some of the things I would look at:
I would load test the battery, because it is free and easy.
What starter and solenoid did you buy? Are they OEM. Aftermarket electronic parts are notoriously unreliable for our skis. I went through two solenoids before buying a used OEM one, one test dead right out the box. Also check your grounds, make sure they are clean and secure.
Check the wires in the back electrical box, the coil has three at the bottom end. Make sure they are spread apart, clean , and tight. They tend to move when they are tightened. If they bunch up , contacted can be intermittent.
One more thing, remove spark plugs, ground wires and see if she turns over.

 

[Calbuckeyefan]

If you remove the spark plugs will it turn over?

I haven’t tried this yet.

 

[Calbuckeyefan]

here are some of the things I would look at:
I would load test the battery, because it is free and easy.
What starter and solenoid did you buy? Are they OEM. Aftermarket electronic parts are notoriously unreliable for our skis. I went through two solenoids before buying a used OEM one, one test dead right out the box. Also check your grounds, make sure they are clean and secure.
Check the wires in the back electrical box, the coil has three at the bottom end. Make sure they are spread apart, clean , and tight. They tend to move when they are tightened. If they bunch up , contacted can be intermittent.
One more thing, remove spark plugs, ground wires and see if she turns over.

How do you spread the 3 black wires out? They are go under the same nut, correct?

 

[Calbuckeyefan]

If you remove the spark plugs will it turn over?

Will not turn over. The shaft spins easily though.

 

[Grim]

How do you spread the 3 black wires out? They are go under the same nut, correct?

put bolt on with all three wires, get it tight but enough to move each around, spread them until each of the wire leads is not on top of the other, slowly tighten bolt and adjust wires until it is tight and they are still apart. see pic of how mine is.

 

[Calbuckeyefan]

here are some of the things I would look at:
I would load test the battery, because it is free and easy.
What starter and solenoid did you buy? Are they OEM. Aftermarket electronic parts are notoriously unreliable for our skis. I went through two solenoids before buying a used OEM one, one test dead right out the box. Also check your grounds, make sure they are clean and secure.
Check the wires in the back electrical box, the coil has three at the bottom end. Make sure they are spread apart, clean , and tight. They tend to move when they are tightened. If they bunch up , contacted can be intermittent.
One more thing, remove spark plugs, ground wires and see if she turns over.

Now we are getting it to crank everytime we bridge the terminals on the solenoid.

 

[Grim]

So now I would check out your start button and see if it checks out with a meter. Do you get any cranks with the button at all? Does your buzzard work?
If your start button is good , clean your key and post, and check the post for continuity as well. hence you should get beeps when you put key on post.

 

[Calbuckeyefan]

So now I would check out your start button and see if it checks out with a meter. Do you get any cranks with the button at all? Does your buzzard work?
If your start button is good , clean your key and post, and check the post for continuity as well. hence you should get beeps when you put key on post.

It just cranked twice without jumping the posts, so it was working. Then it started clicking again. So we tried to jump the posts again and now it won’t work at all. The buzzer isn’t working, which is new as of yesterday it was working.

 

[Calbuckeyefan]

It just cranked twice without jumping the posts, so it was working. Then it started clicking again. So we tried to jump the posts again and now it won’t work at all. The buzzer isn’t working, which is new as of yesterday it was working.

. I’ve replaced the starter and solenoid, still clicking when trying to start. Also, no beeps or anything from buzzer. However, today we got it to turn over by bridging the solenoid with pliers. Then, I randomly tried the button again and it worked twice then started clicking again and the pliers wouldn’t work either. So I’m kinda stumped. The bolt that holds the wire for the ignition and 2 other wires (grounds I think) is stripped and not holding the tightest. Could that be the issue, not getting a consistent ground?

 

[Grim]

Could be, grounds are very important.