'98 GSX Limited starting issues- newby needs help!

[haviland14]

Hey guys,

The service manual says if I hear 2 short beeps when connecting the safety lanyard piece I should be good to go. Not. I get one loud click, but I don't think it is the starter engaging. Battery reads 12.42 volts.

The starting procedure was erratic last season, too. I bought a new starting harness at $98 but I hesitate to open the package because if I do I own it regardless as to whether it's what is actually needed.

Anybody got any ideas?

Thank you much,

Peter

 

[LouDoo]

So is the engine turning over and not starting?

Start by load testing your battery, check the voltage when the starter is engaged. If that checks out then check for corroded battery cables or bad connections. Also try jumping across the main terminals of the solenoid.

Lou

 

[Coastiejoe]

I think I am reading your post differently than Loudoo.

I am reading that, you get a click but nothing else happens.

Jump the solenoid and tell us if the engine cranks. Try it first without the lanyard then try it with the lanyard. Again, what happens.

And please clarify if it turns over Loudoo is reading your post or not as I am reading your post...

 

[haviland14]

Thanks Lou and Joe.

Lou, I don't think the starter is cranking, it just makes one click. Should I check voltage when that click happens? I will check terminal connections but I think they looked real good.

Joe, I have not looked for the solenoid yet. Where is it so I can jump it with and without the lanyard? I'll post tomorrow to report what jumping the solenoid does.

Again, thanks.

 

[Coastiejoe]

Follow the positive cable from the battery, it will run to the solenoid..

 

[haviland14]

Thanks Joe. I can't do that today after all. But I will do it tomorrow and reply with the results.

In see that your ski has 255hp! Damn, what kind of top end speed does that give you? Are all those models supercharged or is yours modified?

 

[Coastiejoe]

My ski has no mods. It hits 72 MPH in slight chop. It seems to like a bit of air under the hull for top end speed.

What I like most is the general over all performance. 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds. Can create its own wave that you can turn into and jump. It has the S3 hull and handles rough water great.

4 years ago I bought a performance impeller, top-loader intake, a 3 degree and S wedge and something else I can't even recall what. I NEVER INSTALLED them as I simply don't need them. They are sitting in the garage. LOL


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[haviland14]

Falling at 36mph while trying to barefoot hurt me a lot. Double that? Ouch! I can see why you didn't see a need for those mods!

I just tried jumping the solenoid with no lanyard. Nothing. I then connected the lanyard, the dashboard illuminated, and jumped the solenoid again. This time jumping the solenoid turned the dashboard off and the starter did not engage.

I am enclosing a pic of the solenoid. I jumped those 2 posts. Am I doing anything wrong? Next step?

Thanks so much,

Peter Falling at 36mph while trying to barefoot hurt me a lot. Double that? Ouch! I can see why you didn't see a need for those mods!

I just tried jumping the solenoid with no lanyard. Nothing. I then connected the lanyard, the dashboard illuminated, and jumped the solenoid again. This time jumping the solenoid turned the dashboard off and the starter did not engage.

I am enclosing a pic of the solenoid. I jumped those 2 posts. Am I doing anything wrong? Next step?

Thanks so much,

Peter (let me know if the pic did not come through

 

[Coastiejoe]

If it cranked well, then it is normally the solenoid. But in your case, as it will not engage or turn over, you have a bad connection and or a battery that is on its way out.

Load test the battery first. If it is good, then test the voltage at each main connection and see where the voltage drops off. No load volts may be 12 or better, as soon as you try to crank it you will find a connection drop in volts (as long as the battery is in fact good).

But i feel like it is a connection issue...

 

[haviland14]

Thanks for you quick response, Joe.

This will be my first load test. The vid I saw says if it gets to below 9.6 volts while starting the battery is no good. Is that what I'm looking for?

I don't think my multi-meter has a min/max button. Can I still get an accurate reading just by watching the screen or do I really need a min/max feature?

 

[Coastiejoe]

Thanks for you quick response, Joe.

This will be my first load test. The vid I saw says if it gets to below 9.6 volts while starting the battery is no good. Is that what I'm looking for?

I don't think my multi-meter has a min/max button. Can I still get an accurate reading just by watching the screen or do I really need a min/max feature?

You will be able to tell by watching the meter. At 10.8 the MPEM stops working. Seadoo's do NOT like low voltage. If you get low volts at the battery during the load test, replace the battery. If the volts are good, move along the line to the next main connection. Both grounds and positives. (You will move the hot test lead as you go leaving the ground back at the battery, then swap and do it with the ground if all hots are good).

 

[killer454]

All you have to do is see how much voltage is going to the starter from the cylinode to the starter.find the big red wire going to starter follow up to cylinode hook your volt meter to red wire starter side of cylinode.have somebody else try to start what's the volage say when the hit the starter and you hear the click?if it shows around 10.5-12.5 volts you need to pull the starter

 

[haviland14]

OK, thanks guys. I will try those things today and report back...

 

[jimmaki]

Just a thought ... make sure the engine itself isn't locked up and that you can turn it by hand turning the driveshaft.

 

[haviland14]

Will do, thanks.

 

[haviland14]

Back in the beginning the battery was the first thing I checked. I THOUGHT it had a good charge. I THOUGHT I had enough voltage when I jumped it using a garden tractor battery. I thought wrong.

Went to do the load test, voltage low, put it on the charger. Tried the load test after charging up the battery and the darn thing cranked great! The meter showed 10.04 however so it looks like battery replacement time.

It didn't start and I ran out of time to figure it out. I'm not concerned because I think it will start with the new battery, BUT, here's the deal. I have been a boat guy a long time and I still have a hard time with the concept of starting the SeaDoo without water flowing through the cooling system. Can someone explain to me when it is OK to start a PWC without water and how soon should water be connected to the machine after starting? And the correct procedure for flushing it out after salt water use?

Thanks for all the help guys. This forum is an awesome source of information for a new guy like myself.

Peter