97 GSX wont crank

[t57]

Hi all! I have a GSX I cant get to crank. All fuses are good, had new tether programed,battery is good,gauges fire up,get two short beeps when tether is connected,diagnostics tells me the tether post is working. When I jump the solenoid manually it turns over fine. Any ideas would be appreciated. If I have left out any needed info please let me know. Thanx in advance "T"

 

[Dr Honda]

Sounds like you have a bad solenoid.

 

[t57]

I'm a little confused. If I jump the solenoid it works,dosen't that mean that whatever triggers it isn't working correctly?
Thanx for the quick reply!!

 

[brock1]

definetly sound like a solenoid. your getin power to the solenoid and its stopin there the solenoid is not sending power to the starter.

 

[t57]

I understand that, but dosent the solenoid have to be "told" by something to send the power forward?

 

[Dr Honda]

I'm a little confused. If I jump the solenoid it works,dosen't that mean that whatever triggers it isn't working correctly?
Thanx for the quick reply!!

I understand that, but dosent the solenoid have to be "told" by something to send the power forward?

The solenoid is just a big magnetic switch. The MPEM will apply a small amount of power to close the contacts, within the solenoid. If the plunger inside is stuck... or the internal contacts are burn... then no power will flow through the solenoid.

SO........ most likely... the solenoid has gone bad. If not... you need an MPEM.

The test where you jump the solenoid, is to check that the starter is good.

 

[t57]

Thanx for the informative reply, I'll give that a try.

 

[brock1]

just the ignition but if you can touch both posts on the solenoid together and the starter engages then your solenoid is bad its not sending any juice when you hit the start button.If your still doubtful first try this Hit the start button and hold it and touch the postst on the solenoid together all at the same time if it still arcs and the starter engages you have a bad solenoid.

 

[t57]

Thanx brock, I checked for voltage on trigger and got 12 volts when start button is pressed, so as far as I can tell your both right, the solenoid must be bad. New one on its way for $19.00! Thanx again......."T"........

 

[bigJake]

just the ignition but if you can touch both posts on the solenoid together and the starter engages then your solenoid is bad its not sending any juice when you hit the start button.If your still doubtful first try this Hit the start button and hold it and touch the postst on the solenoid together all at the same time if it still arcs and the starter engages you have a bad solenoid.

brock, sorry for being stupid but I'm not following what pushing the start button at the same time is doing? Are you saying that if it doesn't arc then the start button is bad?

 

[brock1]

No i have found that if you push the start button and touch the posts together with lets say a screwdriver and you get no arc then the solenoid is good because the spark is flowing through it and it dosent arc anymore but if the solenoid is bad then the spark will not continue through it and it will sit and arc at you because all power is stuck there and is looking for a ground. A REALLY OLD GUY TOLD ME THAT.

 

[bigJake]

No i have found that if you push the start button and touch the posts together with lets say a screwdriver and you get no arc then the solenoid is good because the spark is flowing through it and it dosent arc anymore but if the solenoid is bad then the spark will not continue through it and it will sit and arc at you because all power is stuck there and is looking for a ground. A REALLY OLD GUY TOLD ME THAT.

thanks, I would have sat here all night scratching my head trying to figure that out. so it comes down to the current will follow path of least resistance.

I'll never forget the time many many years ago I was woking on my car engine and leaned over the engine with a wrench in my hand and just happned as I leaned over I laid the wrench right across the terminals of the battery and got thrown back 4 feet against the garage door. That's a mistake you don't make twice!

 

[brock1]

Yep exactly It will always take the path of least resistance when you hit the start button the solenoid is supposed to put a 12v charge to the starter. If the current is already flowing to the starter then it wont arc on the screwdrive being that it has found a ground already. and as for the unfortunet but hilarios story you told me about the car batt i know exactly what you mean i did the same thing but it didnt throw me it just singed my gold ring literaly to my FINGER and let a piece of it on the batt. I am way more careful now!!!!! have a good one man and happy boatin
ps did you see my post titled 1997 gsx ground plate i see you have the same ski so i need your help bad since i just got this thing and need to troubleshoot
please help thanks

 

[bigJake]

Yep exactly It will always take the path of least resistance when you hit the start button the solenoid is supposed to put a 12v charge to the starter. If the current is already flowing to the starter then it wont arc on the screwdrive being that it has found a ground already. and as for the unfortunet but hilarios story you told me about the car batt i know exactly what you mean i did the same thing but it didnt throw me it just singed my gold ring literaly to my FINGER and let a piece of it on the batt. I am way more careful now!!!!! have a good one man and happy boatin
ps did you see my post titled 1997 gsx ground plate i see you have the same ski so i need your help bad since i just got this thing and need to troubleshoot
please help thanks

by ground plate do you mean the 2 grounding posts in front of the battery? if so, looks like you got your answer on the other post, they are to ground the plugs e.g. while doing compression test.

 

[brock1]

Yup thanks i got my answer i didnt realize that they were for that. But anyway do you have an actual e mail adress i cant seem to be able to pm anyone on here. I would kinda like to talk since we have the same ski and all. Do you have a exstra ignition coil laying around for the 97 gsx i need one and they are pricey!!!!

 

[bigJake]

No, don't have an ignition coil, so far I've been lucky to not have problems of that nature. I'll send you a PM