'21 GTI SE 170 - Starter engages when battery connected

[BCBoy]

Put my 2021 GTI SE 170 in the water for the season, started it up at the ramp normally and everything was fine. Stopped on the way home, turned it off and back on and nothing was abnormal. When I got to my dock and pressed the start/stop button to stop the engine, I got a long beep and battery warning light. There was also a sound coming from the engine bay that sounded like a pump or fan running (fuel pump?). Tired to start it up again but nothing would happen, not even a click. Pulled the Key off, but the noise continued. Quickly got a screwdriver and disconnected the battery. Then tried to reconnect the battery and as soon as the 2nd pole is connected, the starter engages even though the key is off. Tried again today and same thing happens. Is it a bad starter solonoid? Bad ECU/MPEM? Starter itself is clearly fine because it tries to turn over.

 

[nverhom57]

i just had the same problem on a 06 rxt. ski ran fine the when just sitting i could hear something running with the ski off, even running with the key out. disconnect the battery and the sound goes away hook the battery back up and the ski wants to start with no key on or pushing the start button any ideas?

 

[tobytd]

Check continuity across solenoid posts
‘Welded’ closed

 

[BCBoy]

Put my 2021 GTI SE 170 in the water for the season, started it up at the ramp normally and everything was fine. Stopped on the way home, turned it off and back on and nothing was abnormal. When I got to my dock and pressed the start/stop button to stop the engine, I got a long beep and battery warning light. There was also a sound coming from the engine bay that sounded like a pump or fan running (fuel pump?). Tired to start it up again but nothing would happen, not even a click. Pulled the Key off, but the noise continued. Quickly got a screwdriver and disconnected the battery. Then tried to reconnect the battery and as soon as the 2nd pole is connected, the starter engages even though the key is off. Tried again today and same thing happens. Is it a bad starter solonoid? Bad ECU/MPEM? Starter itself is clearly fine because it tries to turn over.

Decided to swap out the starter solenoid with a new one. Acted normal when (-) battery terminal was connected which was immediately promising and then started up good as new. Old solenoid had one of it's nuts that appeared black/burnt, so as tobytd suggested, the old one clearly got welded closed from some kind of short or surge or something.

For anyone with the same generation ski as I, there are no nuts to remove the solenoid itself. Was confusing how to remove at first but simple to understand once you see it. 2 tabs to release the fuse box off its holder, then a small single tab on the bottom of the stern side of where the solenoid sits and the solenoid slides vertically out.

Easy repair, in the end.

 

[BCBoy]

i just had the same problem on a 06 rxt. ski ran fine the when just sitting i could hear something running with the ski off, even running with the key out. disconnect the battery and the sound goes away hook the battery back up and the ski wants to start with no key on or pushing the start button any ideas?

See my post above - try replacing your starter solenoid. Cheap / easy fix.