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97 SPX No Gauges

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Spxxx

Spxxx

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Hello, I recently got my own ski. It's a 1997 spx all original. I have been completing going through it lately to prep it for summer as the previous owner let it sit for 2 years (inside).

So far I've done:
•drain oil and gas and resfresh
•rebuild carbs
•new pump oil
•plugs
•clean filters oil and gas


My last thing on the list is to get the gauges working. They are the only thing on the ski that doesn't work. The engine cranks over fine and I get two beeps. I've checked all the connections so far and I'm not sure what else to do. Both the gas gauge and VTS gauge are not lit up or moving. Any help is appreciated.

I did try searching this issue but I haven't come across anything. Thanks for the help guys.

UPDATE: issue fixed. I fixed the issue by getting a new trim gauge, so if you have a ski like mine and no gauges work I suggest you first plug the power from the vts gauge into the fuel gauge since they run from the same power cord. If you see your other gauges working when you directly use the power cable to them then the other gauge is bad. Thanks for the help everyone.
 
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Welcome aboard! The biggest issues with things like gauges are bad connections. Check all grounds and connectors. You are well on your way with your items. I did not see change fuel lines or clean fuel selector on your list. Make sure your lines are not the gray Tempo lines. If they are, you need to change them because ethanol reacts with them and will plug the carbs you just cleaned.
 
I have check all the connections I can so far but I don't see corrosion or anything like that. The connectors all have dielectric grease on them still. I checked the ground from the black box to the battery and it's secure. What else could be a problem?

I will also change the fuel lines soon as I can probably after my first trip with the ski.
 
Check fuses in the gray box? Could also be gaugesthemselves or mpem. I'd double check fuses then test for power at the gauge.
 
You should download a manual for your ski. They are easy to find free on the net. They have electrical diagrams in them. Usually the gauges are all daisy chained together for the power feed. So start with a meter and work from there.
 
Update: I checked all the fuses in the mpem and electrical box and all were in good shape. I also went through all the connections for the plugs and none had rust or damage.
I did test for power to the gauges and I get power to the trim guage but not power to the fuel guage.

Some things I noticed that may be connected to the problem: when I plug my key in I get the two beeps and trim works. After about 45 seconds the trim will not respond or make any adjustments. I'm not sure if something is broken in the motor and causing the gauge failure plus this? If I take the key off and put it back on it works perfectly again for about a minute. No idea what's going on. Thanks for any help
 
That is normal when the ski isn't running. It will shut off power after to trim, etc after about 30 seconds if you do not start the ski.
 
Ankeneyou said:
That is normal when the ski isn't running. It will shut off power after to trim, etc after about 30 seconds if you do not start the ski.
Click to expand...

Thanks a ton! I didn't know that. That solves the the issue of putting a new trim motor in. Next for me is to order a VTS guage from a member here and find why power isn't getting to the fuel guage.
 
The fuel gauge is probably the fuse in the baffle. It blows and the gauge dies. So you likely have to pull the baffle and then solder jump the fuse. Search the forum for F1 fuse and you should get the info you need.
 
Just ordered a new VTS gauge since it receives power but doesn't display anything. The other guage doesn't recieve power for whatever reason, which wires/plug carry power to the fuel/oil gauge? I've tested the resistance on the baffle and I get 47 ohms around half a tank. So I believe it is an issue with not getting power to the fuel guage.
 
VTS gauge is typically the magents in the vts unit itself in back of the ski that fall out or no longer send signal to the gauge. There are repair kits out there for that or just get a new one off ebay.
 
Ankeneyou said:
VTS gauge is typically the magents in the vts unit itself in back of the ski that fall out or no longer send signal to the gauge. There are repair kits out there for that or just get a new one off ebay.
Click to expand...
If the new guage ends up doing the same I will follow that route next. But for now I need to find why the fuel guage isn't getting power, any suggestions?
 
The gauges are typically daisy chained together so if you have power to one I'd assume there is an issue with the power connector from one gauge to the next.
 
From what I can tell the ski separately receives power to the VTS and fuel gauges. Is there a way to test the actual guage?
 
Hmm, I have a mint 97 hood in my attic with gauges but not sure I'll have time to check it before heading out of town for work super early tomorrow. I just completely rewired my 97 with 96 gauges and the multi gauge had power and the vts and speedo were daisy chained. Are there 2 connectors going to the Fuel gauge?
 
Purple and black should be the power wire. I'd try swapping those power wires between the gauges just to see what happens.
 
Ankeneyou said:
Purple and black should be the power wire. I'd try swapping those power wires between the gauges just to see what happens.
Click to expand...
Now I'm making progress! The fuel guage just moved to quarter tank mark. First time I've seen a guage work on this ski. What do you think this means? (Swapping power cables and now fuel guage works)
 
Well that's good news! So we have narrowed your problem to the power wire for the fuel gauge. I'd start checking the connections to look for and corrosion and also put some dielectric grease on each. Have you checked all fuses in the mpem? I can't recall what all fuses were in the 97 mpem since it was a new style.
 
Ankeneyou said:
If power feeds through the vts first and it's corroded it could impact the other gauge.
Click to expand...

Well I got another vts gauge from [MENTION=46279]99spxxx[/MENTION] and everything works! It looks like since the vts gauge was bad it wouldn't relay the power to the other gauge. Thanks for the help everyone.
 
Nice, glad to hear it all worked out! Jess is a good guy, I just picked up 2 hump seats from his place last night.
 
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