89 SP Wont Start!!

[Pwc4life87]

Hey guys,

I'm back. So I have a 1989 Sea Doo Bombadier. It won't even try to turn over all it does is click. The battery has a full charge sitting at 12.4 volts. Any help would be great. Thanks again for the help.

 

[timmyboy76]

follow the red cables into the ebox, you'll see where the connect to, thats ur relay. Jump those 2-post, and if starter engages, then replace the relay.

 

[Pwc4life87]

Alright, should I just jump them with a screwdriver? Thanks again Timmy.

 

[timmyboy76]

yup...or pliers, but it'll "spark" so, BE READY...:reddevil::reddevil::reddevil:

 

[Pwc4life87]

Alright Timmy, so I jumped the terminals and I got a very small spark. And the starter did NOT engage. The battery is holding at 12.8 volts. Anymore ideas? Thanks again for help.

 

[timmyboy76]

check the cable from relay to starter...if condition is good, then bang/hit the starter, see if it kicks over while jump'n relay or hit'n button.

Had a cable go bad on me, at the starter terminal, under the heatshrink..wasted 40 buks on new relay, when 2-dollar cable/ring terminal, was the culprit.

If all good, and starter wont crank, then need tp pull starter and tear apart, try and clean it, or replace it.

Remove the grey shield and plugs, and turn the pto by hand,..make sure motor aint froze.

 

[Pwc4life87]

Well know that you mention a freeze up, I had it out this morning, and it died on me about 3 min in. It's stared up again and then died after another 10 min had to tow it in, then it started the clicking and no crank over.

 

[timmyboy76]

not good...

see if you can turn the pto..if not, then either pull the pump, because sometimes the pump will freeze up causing a "seize motor condition"...

 

[Pwc4life87]

ok so i can turn the PTO so i am assuming that the motor is not froze, but however i tried to jump the relay and nothing happend, the cable to the stater looks good no visible corrosion or breaks. Have tried hitting the stater and still nothing. all it does when i try to start it is the RELAY clicks but nothing else happens. Any other ideas?

 

[Pwc4life87]

Bump for some help guys. Thanks

 

[greyrider]

i have had the relay 'click' problem - i replaced the relay and nothing. then i replaced the battery that i thought was fully charged and it started. still not sure if it was the relay, battery, or moving around the red cables, but later determined it to be a cable rub that lost voltage along the way to the grey box.

check your voltages to the relay with a multimeter - if i had done that i would have saved a 100 mile round trip to get a relay i didnt need. if not enough s getting to it, it will click . its only a couple feet of wire but it runs under the engine where all kinds of rubs, mouse bites, nicks can happen.

bottom line - if your wires are good (check them) and your connections/grounds are good - and you cant jump the posts BUT get the click , it is probably the relay. no click in the box would lead to a bad starter...

 

[mudpie]

when you turn the pto over by hand, make several rotations to make sure there is no binding in the engine or drive line, if ok then do this,
assuming that your battery is good, you just cant go off of volts at battery!
a battery can have 12.5 volts, but no amps in her,this is called a surface charge, get it load tested!!!
take a known good battery and put the positive lead to the positive lug on the starter motor, take the ground side on battery and ground it out on a good engine ground, look out for the sparks!!!
this is putting 12 volts right to the starter, avoiding the relay, ground wires, positive wire from relay ect. voltage right to starter!!!!
you can put positive wire to the starter side of relay if it is easier for you, but you cant rule out this wire being bad if you do it this way.
i like to power up starter by itself for this test
if the starter does not spin, it is bad, again assuming that the engine is free.
if it does crank, then you got a issue with either a ground or power to starter
good luck and bump back at ya
mud

 

[Pwc4life87]

ok so i completly skipped the relay and still nothing happend, i could here kind of a sparking sound coming from the stater i believe. But it wouldnt even try to crank and the battery is at a full charge.

so then stater is toast?

 

[Pwc4life87]

i have had the relay 'click' problem - i replaced the relay and nothing. then i replaced the battery that i thought was fully charged and it started. still not sure if it was the relay, battery, or moving around the red cables, but later determined it to be a cable rub that lost voltage along the way to the grey box.

check your voltages to the relay with a multimeter - if i had done that i would have saved a 100 mile round trip to get a relay i didnt need. if not enough s getting to it, it will click . its only a couple feet of wire but it runs under the engine where all kinds of rubs, mouse bites, nicks can happen.

bottom line - if your wires are good (check them) and your connections/grounds are good - and you cant jump the posts BUT get the click , it is probably the relay. no click in the box would lead to a bad starter...

the voltages going to the relay are all at 12.4 and coming out of the relay is 12.4. and there is no open between the relay and stater.

 

[mudpie]

ok so i completly skipped the relay and still nothing happend, i could here kind of a sparking sound coming from the stater i believe. But it wouldnt even try to crank and the battery is at a full charge.

so then stater is toast?

yes, if the motor can spin free bye hand
and you put 12 volts right to starter and still nothing
starter is bad
mud

 

[Pwc4life87]

I was affraid you would say that! and suggestions on an easy way to get that starter out?

But just to make sure i did that test right. I put a lead to the positive post of the starter, and i grounded out the other side of the battery. Correct?

 

[kustomkarl]

That's correct. Just unbolt it and pull it out.

 

[Pwc4life87]

i get thew unbolt it part. i was curious as to if there is an easier way to get it out? such as unbolting the motor and tilting it to get to the bolts

 

[Pwc4life87]

got the starter out. Not looking forward to putting the new one in. Anyone with some advice where to buy a new at?

Thanks for the help

 

[mudpie]

while the starter is in your hand, juice it up!
get your jumper cables out, hooked up to your car
clamp positive to mount bolt/lug were red wire came off
and touch negative too mount flange of starter motor
whatch out cause she will want to jump out your hand if she spins!
if she is bad then check with your local shop for price on new or rebuilt
check sbt's web site or the link here for pricing
and just reverse your removal process to install, no need to pull the motor
you just got to train your elbows to bend backwards when working on skis
and learn how to work while looking into a mirror
have fun and good luck
mud