97 GTI Key Issues

[etemplet]

I have a 1997 GTI that gets a little persnickety when you insert the key. Most times it starts right up... other times we have to play the OK.. OK... this time.... this time.... crank. Both keys were working and now only one works. The other will not work at all. MIght it be a key issue, DESS post or Computer? I'm even thinking solenoid might be playing games. I'll check the DESS Post this week and check/clean the plug on the solenoid.

 

[funsummerahead]

DESS keys do go bad. I heard from static electricity. You may have 1 bad key and just need to clean the other, clean the post and check the wire connections on the post too.

 

[mikidymac]

Does your beeper work?

That is your first clue if it is reading the key or if there is another issue.

 

[etemplet]

No beepe on the GTI. I don't get many skis where the beeper works. On my 96" GTX when the beeper works I chug down a beer, so the ski buys me a beer one ever couple months. I'm gonna do some checks.

I do have a CanDoo.... will that help me at all with this issue?? I only used it once.

 

[mikidymac]

You should have all your beepers working. It tells you when your key is recognized or not as well as your ski overheating.

You can buy the exact OEM ones directly from Floyd Bell #SP-1136. The last time I bought 4 they were $21.46 each with $11.78 in shipping. I like to keep a few on hand.

 

[GGuillot]

No beepe on the GTI. I don't get many skis where the beeper works. On my 96" GTX when the beeper works I chug down a beer, so the ski buys me a beer one ever couple months. I'm gonna do some checks.

I do have a CanDoo.... will that help me at all with this issue?? I only used it once.

Run the 'test key' feature on the Candoo, or ohm test them, then tend to be unreliable when they get over 10ohms, which for some reason creeps upwards over time. I have a new Atlantis key ohm testing at about 6, the 2 older ones I have from the GSX are ohm testing at 16 - 18 ohms.

Beepers would be the first thing to fix, I'm not sure how you could tell if anything is occurring like it should, the beeper status can tell you a lot. DESS post can be tested with a DMM, and I'd test from the post to the barrel connection in or at the MPEM to verify it passing through the plug.

I just resolved an issue on the 96' GSX that Nick at Westside helped me sort out, everything was testing fine, DESS post, keys, wiring, fuses good, and it was one of those rare cases the MPEM was bad recognizing DESS, I couldn't get the 2 beeps. But I needed the beeper to tell me what was going on, going into advance diagnostic mode and so forth.

 

[etemplet]

The beepers are smarter than me. I can't get any of them to work.....Eva. I tried. What's the trick?

 

[GGuillot]

The beepers are smarter than me. I can't get any of them to work.....Eva. I tried. What's the trick?

A beeper either works or not, to test tap 12 volts directly to it. If it doesn't 'beep', replace it. If that's too challenging for you, bring it to someone and pay them.

 

[mikidymac]

A beeper either works or not, to test tap 12 volts directly to it. If it doesn't 'beep', replace it. If that's too challenging for you, bring it to someone and pay them.

That works most of the time but I have had quite a few test fine with direct 12V but not work in the ski. I am pretty sure that the MPEM sends such a fast and small pulse to them they can be bad per the MPEM pulse and good with direct battery voltage.

For $20 just replace them.

 

[etemplet]

Let me ask this question. If a new beeper doesn't work and the ski starts what does that mean? It is an MPEM issue ? The wires are simple to check. Out of 10 skis, one beeper works consistently. I just don't care and it isn't worth my time. I give the beeper the finger and ride it like I stole it !! Muhaahahaa !!!

 

[GGuillot]

Let me ask this question. If a new beeper doesn't work and the ski starts what does that mean? It is an MPEM issue ? The wires are simple to check. Out of 10 skis, one beeper works consistently. I just don't care and it isn't worth my time. I give them the beeper the finger and ride it like I stole it !! Muhaahahaa !!!

The people you're selling those skis to might care....hard to hold a firm $1800 price when the $25 beeper wasn't replaced or fixed.

 

[funsummerahead]

The beepers are smarter than me. I can't get any of them to work.....Eva. I tried. What's the trick?

Y

You're a dangerous man... I doubt it but could be a circuit in the MPEM - but possibly. I've fixed multiple beepers by replacing the start/stop switch not knowing they were bad - the ski's were not mine. Basically moving wires around and such fixed them installing the new start/ stop switch. The beeper is a handy thing to have for the overheat notice for sure. If your ski has gauges and the low oil light they should go on briefly when you put in the DESS key, if it beeps or not.
Does your "bad" DESS key do this? Check it out next time. Take a good look at it and make sure it's clean and nothing in there like a small piece of metal from a wire wheel.

 

[mikidymac]

As said above the beeper is a good tool. If you have 10 skis with bad beepers it isn't the MPEM. I can tell you on the last 8 skis I worked on not a single one had a working beeper and 2 more 1996 GTX's I just got in are getting new beepers ordered today, so that's 10 for 10 bad beepers.

You'll love this...... The owner of the 2 1996 GTX's had a "mechanic" go over them last year. He said the oil injection is bad and will destroy the engines so he did him a favor and removed the oil injection and told the owner to premix so he ran for the remainder of last summer on premix. So just doing my preliminary walk around I noticed everything in the oil injection appeared to be intact and connected and the awesome "Blue" oil. I popped the hoods and noticed the oil "idiot light" sending unit unplugged on both skis and asked the owner if that was how the "mechanic" removed the oil injection. Sure enough the "mechanic" just unplugged the low oil light to disable the oil injection, LOL.

 

[etemplet]

Ha ha... that is good one but an indication of what is out there working on these skis. LOL I assume you reconnected his oil system VIA the electric plug. When I get a ski that is premix and the pump is in place, I reconnect everything and put the correct oil in there.

OK you convinced me on the Beeper. I will change a few and see what happens. Thanks Bro !!!

 

[etemplet]

You should have all your beepers working. It tells you when your key is recognized or not as well as your ski overheating.

You can buy the exact OEM ones directly from Floyd Bell #SP-1136. The last time I bought 4 they were $21.46 each with $11.78 in shipping. I like to keep a few on hand.

Can't get a hit on that number. Search site... no joy. Help is appreciated.

 

[mikidymac]

SP is Special Purchase, it is a special order part so you have to call Floyd Bell and speak to an actual person.