96 Speedster DESS or Electrical short?

[Marty290]

I had my twin 85 hp 1996 speedster out yesterday and I had problems with the engines continuously cutting out. There was no rhyme or reason as to when they dies (sometimes at idle and sometimes at WOT). It seemed to happen often when altering the throttle but not necessisarly all the time.

Each time the engines dies (always both of them). I had to removes the dess key to and replace (sometimes fiddling with the f/n/r level to make sure in neutral to hear the two beeps). This was difficult at times but once it was verified both engines fired back up.

Assuming it was the key itself once back on shore I cleaned the key and post (this did not rectified the issue however now when I connect the key and get the two beeps my gauges now light up which they not before???

Do you think this is a key/post issue or is likely a short? I did replace a throttle level 2 weeks ago removing the the shifting housing and was not sure if I something I had done here is causing this headache?

Any advice s appreciated

Cheers,

 

[Dr Honda]

Sounds like the post has gone bad. The little magnetic switch inside can go bad... an when it does... it will do exactly what you are describing.

 

[Marty290]

Is it possible that the key is bad? I was just in at a local dealer and they told me that 99 times out of 100 it is the lanyard and not the dess?

Thanks.

 

[Marty290]

I'll start with replacing the key....they are $60 a piece. The DESS post is $115 and it isn't returnable if it turns out is is not the issue.

Thanks,

 

[parrothd]

Buy it used....

 

[Marty290]

other than the usual sources i.e. Craigslist/ebay any suggestions for used parts?

Thanks,

 

[parrothd]

None of those, the wanted/forsale section on here & pwctoday, or any of the other seadooo pwc forums...

 

[Marty290]

Ok so I have a new key and same mess. I am guessing it has to be the post for sure. I start both engines and then it randomly dies. I do not remove the key and out if nowhere two beeps ( sometimes not) but then I hit the starts and engines start. Only weird thing tonight is that it seemed lik I could startup one engine fine but when I fired up the second often they both shut down. Think this is electrical or just th dess?

 

[Gamerse]

You are not alone, I am chasing the same gremlin in my sportster. Check this out for a better understanding of dess. http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?29297-Dess-post-wiring-and-information
My dess post, and cap were replaced at a marine repair shop by the previous owner. It looks like an armature job though as the post harness is extended and but spliced together in two places, the connections are good though. I'm going to dig a bit deeper into the post, just to make 100% sure its not the problem.
If all the basics fail, you might consider this. http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?18184-RFI-MPEM-5A-Fuse-blows-problem-found
Even if your fuse isn't blowing yet, these symptoms may be a precursor. I've read about guys having a simmilar problem to ours, and ending up with blown fuses.

 

[Marty290]

Turn out it wasn't either the key or dess. I opened the mpem found a blown fuse in the charger system portboard swapped it out and the machine ran like a top all day!