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97 XP 98 SPX what to look for

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SummaryGiraffe

New Member
So I just bought a 1997 XP and a 1998 SPX. I’m new to these things, for context. My wife and I took them out for the first time yesterday, and my XP kept dying. When I first plugged the key in I got two short beeps and was able to start it. After letting them warm up a bit and a little driving around, we went back to the dock to see if they were taking on water. Once we got there I shut mine off and had a heck of a time trying to get it started again. I’d plug the DESS key in and sometimes the gauges would come on but no beep and no starting, sometimes nothing at all, sometimes I’d get the beep and it would start. After a minute or two it would die again. Not engine sputtering and dying out, like full immediate shut off. It got to the point where it would no longer beep or start and my wife had to tow me back in on the SPX. Checked battery voltage when we got home and it was perfect. I’ve read that the DESS posts and/keys can go bad, and the way it was shutting off seemed like something electrical. Both engines have beat perfect compression and look super clean. When installing a new DESS post, do you need to mate it to the SeaDoo computer? And with that, would I also need a new key programmed to the new post? Or should I be looking elsewhere first for the issue?

Thanks!
 

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Pull the DESS post off the spx and put it on the xp and see if the xp starts and if the spx has issues starting/ reading key issues. The keys are programmed to the MPEM so you will not have to get the keys programed. So if you do switch the dess post, the keys wont change.
 
My wife and I just bought a 97 XP and 98 SPX. They both look pretty mint and apparently have low hours. The XP hit about 135psi in both cylinders when compression tested and the SPX was about 145psi in both. I’m wondering what things we should be looking for, or immediately having maintained, replaced, flushed. Anything like that. The XP seems to have an electrical issue that we’re trying to address but the SPX seems to run well. All I’ve done so far is put new plugs in both. Just hoping to keep these things in great shape and running well for many years. We’re both beginners so any advice is much appreciated!
 

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WOW, those are minty fresh! Great job on that.
1. Replace the small 3/32" oil lines from the oil pump to the intake manifold. They are the origional ones at least on the XP and need to be changed before they break and ruin the engines.
2. Make sure you are only using API-TC full synthetic oil and change the white inline oil filters. You can't mix oils so if you switch you have to drain, flush and change oil filters.
3. Never jump start these.
4. Only charge the batteries with at least the negative cable unhooked.
5. Never flush them on the hose with the engines off.
6. Never run them for more than a minute out of the water.

The head has been off the XP and the compression is a little low so I would be suspect on that one. Perfect compression is 150 psi and at 120 psi they are done.

Fuel system is always important to maintain but yours have already had the gray fuel lines replaced so someone did some maintenance on them.
 
You started out with great machines, I still haven’t rode a 787 with an x4 hull. Theres so many things I’m sure I will forget some. First thing to check is the small oil lines coming from the oil pump to the carb, if they have factory engine paint on them then they are original and should be changed, when not in use keep them covered or better yet indoors with the seat cracked open, I know they are watercraft but I think keeping them as dry as possible helps to avoid any electrical issues. Run the good oil low ash api-tc rated such as XPS from BRP. If your changing brands of oil you will need to drain the lines and tank, change the oil filter, bleed the system as 2 different oils can coagulate. I run premium fuel with no ethanol, if there running fine there’s no rush but the rave valves are supposed to be cleaned annually, I skimp here and don’t do them often at all but I do use the right oil so they don’t carbon up as quickly as with the cheap oil. If you’re in a climate that goes below freezing in the winter months, winterized them, don’t listen to the guys that say they self drain and it’s not needed.
 
SummaryGiraffe said:
As far as the oil lines go, can they just be replaced with any 3/32 oil lines off Amazon or are there preferred ones?
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I like OEM as well, really no more expensive than anywhere else for the small oil lines and I like that they are clear and I know the ID is exactly the right size. If you decide to go OEM let me know and I can grab a part number for you.
 
For the DESS post, are there interchangeable part numbers? Or does it have to be the exact one? I’m having a hard time finding the suggested part number for my XP.
 
You might be able to find parts manuals at Seadoomanuals.net just download a coulé different manuals and see if the part number has changed. I’m thinking they are all the same but better to check
 
burtshaver2021 said:
You might be able to find parts manuals at Seadoomanuals.net just download a coulé different manuals and see if the part number has changed. I’m thinking they are all the same but better to check
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I got the shop manual and the parts catalogue but had a hard time finding it in either. I googled it and got a part number, but can’t seem to find the matching part number anywhere but OSD. On Amazon they all say they’re compatible with the 97 XP but the parts numbers they give don’t match.
 
SummaryGiraffe said:
I got the shop manual and the parts catalogue but had a hard time finding it in either. I googled it and got a part number, but can’t seem to find the matching part number anywhere but OSD. On Amazon they all say they’re compatible with the 97 XP but the parts numbers they give don’t match.
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Which machine are you getting the new DESS post for? Were you able to find the part number in the parts catalogue?
 
burtshaver2021 said:
Which machine are you getting the new DESS post for? Were you able to find the part number in the parts catalogue?
burtshaver2021 said:
View attachment 67873View attachment 67874I found this in the parts catologue for 97XP. Looks like your looking for part number 278 000 977
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oh clearly I didn’t look hard enough! Thanks!
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That’s what I was asking though, if the posts were interchangeable. I was trying to find a post on Amazon so it would arrive quicker and even though they say they’ll work for a 97 xp, the part numbers they list are not matching the part number I need.
 
I’m not sure, does the Amazon part number look like a BRP part number? Is it 9 digits long? If it is, put that number in the OSD marine search bar, see what results come up. A lot of times their site will give superseded part numbers, or try the same on a BRP website
 
burtshaver2021 said:
I’m not sure, does the Amazon part number look like a BRP part number? Is it 9 digits long? If it is, put that number in the OSD marine search bar, see what results come up. A lot of times their site will give superseded part numbers, or try the same on a BRP website
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Yeah the numbers look the same, just some of the digits don’t match. I think one of the numbers is the exact same except the last two digits are 55 instead of 77.
 
Just get the correct one from OSD.
The main difference is going to be wire length but also the crap from amazon doesn't work half the time.
 
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