• This site contains eBay affiliate links for which Sea-Doo Forum may be compensated.

97 GSX ignition problem

Status
Not open for further replies.
Rkyoung

Rkyoung

Member
Hey everyone newbie here. Have a 97 GSX that seems to have a possible DESS or MPEM problem I’m guessing. Hook the laynard up, there is no beeps. Machine started and ran no problems all day Saturday. Today, started and ran then acted like it lost all power a cpl of times then just quit. Gauges work, but no beeps, no start. Even with laynard connected nothing, just gauges and vts will work up and down but for a limited time. Done the self diagnostic, presses start button, gauges came on 2nd push, plugged laynard and still no beep no start. Anyone got any ideas?
 
Clean the dess post with soap and water. Clean all connectors especially the stator plug. Check and clean your grounds. Just had a 96 Gtx do the same thing. Dirty dess post was the culprit.
 
The Beeper worked once yesterday, first time it has in good little bit. MWAT I appreciate the feedback...I’ll try that out this week and see what happens. I know Friday, I cleaned the post and it worked all day Saturday but started failing Sunday but I will check the grounds and the Stator plug and re clean everything and go from there. Stay tuned I’ll post what happens lol!
 
Ok here’s an update. Got home from work, plugged laynard in and started right up. Went ahead and Cleaned DESS post checked stator plug and it was clean no corrosion, cleaned ground post on battery and tightened cable up that was not loose loose but not tight either. Took a cotton ball and turned the DESS cap downward and wiped out with with rubbing alcohol then wiped dry. Machine will hit every hit of the switch but beeper doesn’t work still. Checked for power to it from the plug with test light when you plug in DESS key and yes it has power. Also checked it near the beeper and yes. No sound though. Just a bad beeper I’m guessing?
 
The beepers almost always go out. Keep in mind that is your overheat alarm too. They are still available through Floyd Bell for about $20 but they charge you about the same for shipping.
 
Mikidymac, lol, well I’m guessing I might as well replace DESS post as well. Everything was working and now it’s quit again. So I’m guessing that DESS post is going bad. Maybe it’s rusted up inside the switch or something, who knows. It was working fine and then it’s not again. I read the other day that once they start up they will run and when they quit they quit. Thanks for the info on Floyd’s. I just bought a wiring harness and switches off Amazon and worked out well as well. Plus free shipping!! Thank you for your input and help though!
 
I have had the DESS post go out too. Ski would start and run then 10 seconds after giving it throttle it would shut off and give one long beep. Replace key and all over again. A new post cured it.
 
Mikidymac here is a question for you...when your DESS was going out before replacing it, did anything else give you problems? My VTS wouldn’t work a few days ago and once I cleaned the DESS the first time on Friday it went to working again. Does the DESS control a lot of different things? I noticed tonight as well the top 15 amp fuse of my MPEM was not hot on either side, but I don’t know if that may cause a problem or it was just because the motor wasn’t running on the Doo.
 
The VTS can actually fry a MPEM and the 97’ GSX is a one year expensive MPEM. I would suggest replacing the fuse and unplugging the VTS until you solve the starting issues.
 
Hey, could this be the problem with my 97 gtx. It will beep occasionally. It is hard to start and if I go over 30mph the ski shuts off. There is also a bad bog when I go full throttle. Carbs and engine were rebuilt. Raves cleaned, grey lines replaced and fuel selector switch replaced what it the problem????
 
You know Bruce I’m not sure. Since mine all started with this dying or just refusing to do anything at all, I have noticed that mine doesn’t like to come out of the hole real good. Once it does when it is running, this sucker will fly! I ran it against a newer seadoo before and while I couldn’t pass him, he couldn’t outrun me neither. We stayed pretty much nose to tail and did for a good mile. I have about 30 hours on it since a complete service was done, carbs, new fuel lines, raves cleaned...etc. so wondering myself if this DESS post is creating more problems than originally thought.
 
Yeah, I know it can rip, but mine just doesn’t and I can’t find the problem. I have fouled 15 spark plugs. Could it be getting too much oil?
 
Are they oil fouled or fuel fouled? You might have float stuck in one of the carbs. I run seafoam thru mine regularly. We use it at our shop all the time and the mechanics recommend it highly. One thing to remember as well stay away from ethanol based fuels. Will screw up some carbs in a major way and could be part of your fouling problem too. 100% pure gas is all I use on mine.
 
Bruce20 said:
Yeah, I know it can rip, but mine just doesn’t and I can’t find the problem. I have fouled 15 spark plugs. Could it be getting too much oil?
Click to expand...

The GTX doesn’t have VTS. A bad voltage regulator can cause strange running issues too though.
 
Ok, it is oil fouling, they come out black and wet. They haven’t been as bad lately though, but I was running it this weekend and it just shuts off and it will not start. Again, it wouldn’t go above 30mph.
Rkyoung said:
Are they oil fouled or fuel fouled? You might have float stuck in one of the carbs. I run seafoam thru mine regularly. We use it at our shop all the time and the mechanics recommend it highly. One thing to remember as well stay away from ethanol based fuels. Will screw up some carbs in a major way and could be part of your fouling problem too. 100% pure gas is all I use on mine.
Click to expand...
 
I know mikidymac I’m driving you insane with all the questions, but should I order a new key/ laynard as well or use my current one? Don’t they have to be programmed when you add a new key?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
97 Seadoo GSX power issues
Replies
2
Views
403
Drudd80
D
Q
2002 GTX 155 Intermittent no gauges, no start
Replies
3
Views
493
mkov608
mkov608
ape1972
97 GSX LIMITED GREY GHOST FUEL ISSUE
2 3
Replies
60
Views
1,688
mikidymac
mikidymac
rkkoeb
No beep when you put the key on the DESS post at times
Replies
3
Views
772
artr
artr
9
97 GSX (787) electrical troubleshooting
2
Replies
47
Views
2,222
93XP+96GSX
9
Back
Top