1999 GSX Limited Very Odd Starting Issues

[TheManJay]

Hey Guys,

I have a 1999 gsx limited. At the end of last season, I started noticing A LOT of starting issues and it appears they didn't fix themselves over the winter... I replaced the battery 2 years ago (voltage is reading 12.67V) so please dont insult me with that question. I also replaced the solenoid a year ago and still having issues... what happens are multiple things:
**Note: After each scenario, the key would be detached a re-attached as to reset the system.

Scenario 1: Insert key, 2 beeps, press start, starter jumps and stops, it does not continue to turn over. If I were to press start again, I would get one long beep and no movement from the starter.

Scenario 2: Insert key, 2 beeps, press start and starter runs and cranks the engine but will not continue for an extended period of time, it will actually crank for 2 seconds, then stop for a second, then crank for two seconds, and stop for 1, repeatedly...

Scenario 3: Insert key, 2 beeps, press start, and starter and beeper will go off in rapid oscillation: beep, crank, beep, crank, beep, crank -- very rapidly, last for about 2 seconds and then stop...

Scenario 4: Insert Key, no beeps, (yet bilge pump runs as expected) but no crank over when I hit start.

*Note bilge pump runs in each previous scenario as well

It all seems really odd, and I cant quite pinpoint what it might be. I just overhauled the thing and made sure that connections were all made successfully... nothing that I have found online has helped me with this issue. PLEASE HELP ME!

 

[Mekanix]

What's the voltage while cranking ?
1 at the battery terminals
2 from neg to engine block while cranking.
From pos to solenoid input while cranking.
3 from solenoid output to starter positive while cranking.

First guess is a disconnect the mpem is doing while high current is drawn and the voltage to it drops.

Next. Just because a battery sits at 12.67 doesn't mean it doesn't shit itself under load!

The connectors on the mpem can corrode and also the pins can vibrate enough to loose a good connection to the mpem pin.
You can take the connectors apart and sort of squeeze the contacts a little.

The mpem itself could be at fault. As in: bad solder joints. I've repaired a few like this. Its usually the protection diode that has had the worst connection. Fixed 3 out of 4 just by that one solder touchup.

The dess post read switch could be bad or the connector for the post switch could have corroded.

 

[TheManJay]

Hey Mekanix! thanks for your reply! I'm gonna go get all the readings that you mentioned. what should I expect to see for each of these readings? ill update the thread with the numbers soon!

 

[Ryan727]

I just recently had a similar issue:

Insert key, two beeps. Hit start button it would crank, then cut out, then one long beep from the ski. Seemed like a loss of connection to the starter., right?

Hang on just a sec and let me find the pictures of where my issue was, and my fix. Worth a try for you.

FYI.. the one long beep means there is a GROUNDING ISSUE on a wire. If only '99's were smart enough to tell you where..

 

[Ryan727]

Okay, so when you lift the hood, look where the steering column cluster of wires come out of the ski. There should be a brief gap in all covers where you can see the wires and their colors.

(I have a '99 GTX so things may differ slightly)

When I looked here, I saw a black wire just about split. It was all frayed to hell. I touched the darn thing, and it split in to:



So this was my issue. Simple fix (The blue stuff is just a wire cover I didn't heat up yet):



This fixed my starter cutting out, as well as the long beep from the machine.

 

[Mekanix]

@Ryan727 . Different issue than po is experiencing but that connector is a place to look for intermittent problems on this case.

Good find though.

@TheManJay
For the first you should see the voltage drop to about 11v. Any less and bad battery is your problem.
Next ones less then a volt. Your checking for voltage drop caused by the wires or connections. As in most of the wires in the larger wire have corroded.

 

[mikidymac]

I had the same issue on my cousins ski and it was a bad DESS post. The one long beep when pressing the start button is the MPEM not recognizing the lanyard.

 

[TomShadow]

I had this same issue on my 98 GSX limited. 2 beeps then one long beep. Engine cranking then everything cutting out then cranking again......

Turned out to be a bad/broken earth under the exhaust connected to the casing next to the throttle cable. I'm guessing it's a corrosive area and as the engine was cranking it may of been making contact but losing it just as quick.

Worth a try