97 Xp Seadoo won't start

[Andross06]

Hello I am new to the sport. I just bought the Seadoo a few months back. When I bought the ski, the ski turned on fine. Now with it becoming the season to head out on the lake, it will not start. When I plug in the lanyard I get two beeps. The ski cranks I guess you would call it but it does not turn over. The battery has been replaced from another seadoo that works. The fuses have been checked in the nose of the ski. Checked for compression and that checked out fine. Checked the ground wire and that looks free from corrosion. Only thing I'm thinking it could be is a ignition coil? Please help!!

 

[Strizzo]

Are you just getting the repeated clunks when you press the button? Check for corrosion on your battery connections and at the starter. Also a workaround that sometimes works is to "double click" the start button to get past the first compression stroke and get things rolling. You might also check for oil in the cylinders that could have leaked by the rotary shaft seals

 

[Andross06]

Yes I hear a clunk or two then it starts to crank and will not turn. Now I do not hear any beeps all of sudden. I just took it off the charger. The battery has a full charge. The ground wire looks good. Did the double click and that seems to get it going quicker but still will not start. I might not be getting any spark? but idk how to check for that? Also I have not check the oil in the cylinders would that cause not to start.

Again I am srry, dont mean to sound dumb lol. Just learning as I go.

 

[Coastiejoe]

You say CRANK. It does not TURN.

To clarify, crank means it is turning over. Do you mean the engine is turning over but does not a rurally start or it does NOT turn over al all

 

[Andross06]

Srry the ski will not crank. It will not crank at all then im srry. What recently is happening now. When I plug in the lanyard, I do not hear any beeps. Before I heard two beeps now nothing, but I can still press the start button and will try to crank but nothing? The cylinders have been checked as well. Before the beep issue, I narrowed it down to getting no spark (thought ok ignition coil) now im to believe the mpem has blown? or maybe an issue with the replicator I think its called? Any suggestions?

 

[smc0922]

Easy now you're getting way too far ahead of yourself.

All this is assuming the engine can be spun by hand? if you remove the spark plugs and try to rotate the driveshaft by hand, the engine spins freely?

If that is fine- you need to check all the electrical connections. Battery cables, starter solenoid connections at the battery cables, and the starter solenoid plug with the two smaller wires in it. You're looking for green corrosion. Take a flash light and check all the harness plugs. All plugs should have dielectric grease on the pins and in the sockets. If they are dry you will need to add the grease. Also consider picking up a can of electrical contact cleaner just to be sure.

Are your gauges powering up when you plug the lanyard in, or only when you press the start/stop button?

Perhaps posting a video can help us help you.

 

[Andross06]

Ok the only reason I think of all this. Is that a buddy of mine thinks its the issue? He seems to think it is an issue with mpem now? I just ran out and removed both plugs and I believe I was spinning the drive shaft. If I press the start button and look into the rear panel I see something spinning, assuming that's the drive shaft correct? If that's it I was able to spin it freely. My friend also was spraying WD-40 on corroded connections as well? Is that ok? He also sprayed it on the fuses too? I thought that was strange. Not able to take a video right now unfortunately. Here are some pictures.

Gauges: I never seen any lights come on at all, just heard the beeps when I plugin the lanyard. I mean the VTS goes up slightly but that's about it. Also wanted to not. If the start button is pressed without the lanyard there was a loud beep noise, now there is nothing.

 

[smc0922]

Yes are are doing what I asked correctly. I would clean off that wd-40, electrically that will cause issues. Only use dielectric grease. And remove the two battery cables from the solenoid and clean them up. If that fuse next to the solenoid is good, and your others are good, it's not likely an MPEM. I believe it's a bad connection at this point or that wd-40 is interfering.

 

[Andross06]

awhhh I see. Ok so never use WD-40 interesting ok. So the dielectric grease and put some on the pins and the sockets on the harness correct? Wipe off any WD-40. What if he sprayed WD-40 on the fuses and inserted them. Wouldnt there be WD-40 in the actual sockets too where the fuses plug into? OK that is where you get me? The battery cables is that the two red thick wires? Yes the fuses with those two little red wires going into it. Yes it is good. Ok good so a sign of relief so far. MPEM are crazy expensive. Ok so I will clean up everything. Anything suggestive to use best to get rid of corrosion like this?

 

[Jetskigoodies]

I would scrub every connection in that box with a wire brush, then spray with an electric cleaner, then put dielectric grease on it. Take off each ground on that coil and then also clean the contacts on the coil. I would also check the harness for resistance. Also make sure the ground cable that comes out of that rear ebox has a good terminal on it and thatit is connected to the battery. Every cable end needs to be as clean as possible.

 

[Jetskigoodies]

Oh yeah, wd40 is flamable, everything inside that box is capable of producing a spark. So make sure you buy some electrical cleaner from autozone or any automotive store. It is like $10 but it is worth it.

 

[Robj]

You said that it turns over when the plugs are removed but not when you install them? Is that correct?

 

[Andross06]

[MENTION=13295]jetski[/MENTION]sgoodies:Ok so just take time and scrub everything down with a wire brush. It looks like the dielectric grease is almost like a paste is this correct. Would I just lightly rub this on the connections? Ok will the electrical cleaner remove the WD-40? What is the best way to remove this?
[MENTION=46615]Robj[/MENTION] No it does not turn over at all plugged in or left out. You just here the clunk noise, like it is trying to turn over but never does. I'm sorry new the terms in auto repair lol.

 

[Andross06]

With the WD-40 being on the electric posts and connections, could it cause something to fry?

 

[IDoSeaDoo]

I suggest you go get a battery which you know is good. It sounds to me like you may have a weak one. If you know for a fact that your battery is good, AND you can turn the flywheel (the disc into which the stainless steel driveshaft is inserted) by hand with the spark plugs out, then you should try using the starter to turn the engine over with the spark plugs out (with the button). IMPORTANT: be sure to plug the spark plug boots onto the two plug terminals to ground them while you're cranking. I believe yours are on the magneto housing (the front of the engine) Bad things can happen otherwise.

If the motor turns over freely with the plugs out, next step is to take one of the spark plug wires, put a spark plug in it, hold the plug to a source of ground (some bare metal on the motor, I usually hold it to the spark plug hole itself) and turn the motor over. Watch the spark plug tip for a blue spark. If you see a spark, your MPEM is good.

Next, try to put the plugs back in and turn it over. If it doesn't have the power to turn it over with the plugs in, it can be one of three things:

1. Bad or weak battery (try jumping it off your car batter, NOT YOUR CAR, just the battery. you should not jump start seadoos attatched to a running car. bad things may happen!)
2. Bad/loose wire (these wires have a tendency to corrode and fray inside the insulation. Usually right at the terminal. Try using jumper cables from a good battery straight to the solenoid for pos and engine block for neg, if that works, it's likely a wiring issue)
3. Bad starter (it is totally possible for your starter to be old and rusted inside, or have bad brushes/brush wires)

Good luck

 

[Andross06]

Ok so Ive checked all of the above. It is determined I do not have any spark at all. Also no beeps and the gauges do not work I fogot to mention, no lights nothing. The VTS button works fine and the needle goes up or down but none of the others work. Any suggestions here? Besides hopefully not the all expensive MPEM. I was reading something about the real electrical box? Is that what I took a picture of?

 

[IDoSeaDoo]

Try a stronger battery. I had a similar thing happen on my 97 SPX. The battery wasn't strong enough to turn starter and fire the coils at the same time. It should turn over pretty aggressively when you hit that button.

 

[vaser21]

second the battery idea.. 99% its always the battery.. ive had three different skis that wouldnt start. i threw a fresh battery in them and the all started up like champs

 

[Andross06]

Im praying I did this correct. I was doing something suggested to do about applying electrical cleaner and dielectric grease. I have took off the connections and scrubbed them all down the best I could. Also I put dielectric grease on pin and sockets on mpem connections too? Hoping this is ok?. Also scrubbed down the ground cable and post on the battery. Here is a few pictures. I really hope I did not ruin my wiring by putting the grease on these wires. Heres a few pics now. Now when I go to press the start button, I get nothing. No beeps, no clunking, nothing just me pressing the button hope it going to make a noise. :? Im thinking I ruined by applying the grease in those sockets?

 

[smc0922]

You did just fine. I'd put a little more in the MPEM plug but as long as each pin has been coated.

 

[IDoSeaDoo]

if the MPEM doesn't think your battery has enough juice, sometimes it won't even beep. did you check your ground cable that's attached to the starter? that one is hard to get to and could very well be on it's way out (if not so already) Also, try new battery. Go pull the one out of your car

 

[Andross06]

Really thats interesting. I did not even know there is a ground cable to the starter. So pull my car battery out hook them up to jumper cables and connect them to the wires and try that way? Its my understanding the car cannot be running when I do this correct?

 

[Andross06]

OK so recently tried using my car battery still nothing. I did try to jump start the starter solenoid bypassing everything and still did not turn over. I cleaned and brushed all the connectors, pins and sockets. Sprayed down with cleaner and used dielectric grease and still nothing there. So everything has a good connection. All fuses have been checked. I do not have a way to check the volts. The ground wire looks good. Still getting no beeps, clicks, or clunks when start button is pressed. Seems to have more problems then just a connection issue. Is there a way to get the mpem tested due to the fact im not getting anything electric to work?

 

[vaser21]

it shoulda cranked when u jumped the solenoid... u have a ground issue

 

[smc0922]

Youre going to need to get a voltmeter to do some more testing. You can pick them up pretty cheap at an autoparts store or walmart. Youre looking for a digital multimeter. It should do volts DC and ohms. Let us know when you get one (or borrow one) and we can help you further.