'97 GTX quits suddenly

[DelDad]

I just got a '97 SeaDoo GTX. This is my 1st PWC. I put it in the water and it ran great for 15-20 minutes. Then it cuts out suddenly like the lanyard came off. I try to re-start and I get 1 beep but no start. I take the lanyard off and re-attach I get 2 beeps and it restarts right away. It can run for another 10 minutes or die again right away.

It doesn't matter if it is idling or WOT it will suddenly stop randomly. When it runs it runs great. But this intermittent dying is starting to get to me. I tried holding the lanyard on the post but that does not seem to matter. Is there an error code stored in the computer that can help diagnose this?

Is there a way to run it safely out of the water? I see there is a hose hookup on the water discharge?

Thanks in advance for any assistance that you can provide.

 

[Dr Honda]

It's the lanyard post.

First clean the post contacts, and the inside of the lanyard with a scotch-brite pad. If that doesnt' help... replace the post. The little magnetic switch inside are known to go bad... but since you are getting a single beep... that tels me that the switch is working, and it's not reading the lanyard.

 

[whiskeyruff]

I'm having this same problem on my 01 GTX. Starts and runs great then just dies. I replaced the post and still have the problem. My 01 RX had this same problem and I replaced the post and it fixed it so I'm a little baffled at this point.

 

[ryanlowmiller]

Whisky

Did you clean the lanyard as well?

 

[captain scale]

There's a connection for a flush hose above the jet unit at the back, upper left hand side. Just rember that the engine has to be running before the water is turned on. If the engine dies while flushing turn the water off immediately.

 

[whiskeyruff]

I've cleaned it. Does anyone know if the GTX model has a rectifier in it? If so, where is it located?

 

[captain scale]

The rectifier is in the front electrical box

 

[DelDad]

Problem appears to be solved. We traced the lanyard post wires and start/stop wires back to couplings before the "Black box". Disconnected everything and checked for continuity, corrosion and grease. Everything seemed OK, put it back together and now it runs fine (4 hours) without dying.

I can only assume there was some corrosion on one of the connectors.

Thanks for all of the replies.

 

[DelDad]

One more point...

I must be lucky but I am still a little confused.

Thinking that I might have had a restricted coolant line causing my ski to quit I hooked the hose to the black pipe on the back and turned it on full. letting it run for awhile (no motor running). I don't seem to have suffered from it, so I guess I am lucky not to have got this "water lock".

My confusion is how can water get into the cylinder/carb without the head gasket being blown?

Thanks again and sorry if its a newb question.

 

[captain scale]

Why would you attempt to flush without the engine running? The water will back up in the exhaust and come into the cylinders through the exhaust ports. If you had a clog in the cooling lines your engine would overheat and sound an alarm. Does water come out of the little holes in the back below the grab handle? If so, there's probably no clog.