Advice on a 1995 XP

[OHRiverRat]

I am looking for advice on our 1995 SeaDoo XP. We used to use it almost every weekend during the summer. Other than winterizing every fall, we have not had any problems or expenses. Several years ago, we started needing repairs to the VTS (not a required feature). After winterizing in 2008, we did not use it in 2009. We tried to get it running last weekend and it wouldn't start. The dealer says it needs the crankcase resealed and the carbs rebuilt for $1,300. Is that a reasonable charge? We'll have to use a credit card, make payments and pay interest. Is it worth it to sink that much money into it? Buying a new one is completely out of the question and will probably be so in the future. One option is to fix it and try to sell it or keep it and hope it will run a few more years. It is not likely we'll be able to use it every weekend, but we hope to be able to get out a couple times a month (6-8 times a season). Anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks!

 

[needforspeed]

I am looking for advice on our 1995 SeaDoo XP. We used to use it almost every weekend during the summer. Other than winterizing every fall, we have not had any problems or expenses. Several years ago, we started needing repairs to the VTS (not a required feature). After winterizing in 2008, we did not use it in 2009. We tried to get it running last weekend and it wouldn't start. The dealer says it needs the crankcase resealed and the carbs rebuilt for $1,300. Is that a reasonable charge? We'll have to use a credit card, make payments and pay interest. Is it worth it to sink that much money into it? Buying a new one is completely out of the question and will probably be so in the future. One option is to fix it and try to sell it or keep it and hope it will run a few more years. It is not likely we'll be able to use it every weekend, but we hope to be able to get out a couple times a month (6-8 times a season). Anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks!

I am not an expert or a seasoned SeaDoo mechanic so take this with a grain of salt....I have had snowmobiles, dirt bikes, jetskis, all two strokes and I have done all maint up to and including rebuilds for the last 20 years. Now I have two SeaDoos that I have become extremely familiar with. But in 20 years I have never seen a crank case need to be disassembled to be resealed. Now you could have bad crank seals which would suck air and lean out a cylinder and cause an engine to sieze. But if it was running two seasons ago and it won't start it needs the fuel emptied and the carb(s) cleaned/rebuilt. I would go through the whole fuel system. But the price the dealer told you seems awfully steep to me. I wouldn't pay it. While you are going through the fuel system, including fuel lines and fuel selector switch, go through the oil lines as well. New battery and fresh fuel and you should be good to go. get a Mikuni rebuild kit for that carb. Sometimes when you get a rebuild kit you will get detailed color instructions on the rebuilding process. I am sure some of the pros will have things to add but I would do all of the above first Before I brought it to the stealership.uke:

 

[OHRiverRat]

Thanks. The battery was new in 2008 and I've trickle-charged it; it tests okay. The fuel is new 92 octane. I should have described the symptoms. It will crank a couple of times then die as if the battery is dead, but it is not. Also does the same thing with a jump-start hooked up. We'll get it back from the stealership and proceed as you suggest. Thanks again.

 

[needforspeed]

might be a bda starter...maaybe you will need to rebuild the starter...I don't know I am not a SeaDoo mechanic. I just work on my old ones....

 

[seadooya]

get ur ski, homeboy. You dont need a re-assembled motor, hell you can buy new one for that much.

As what was mentioned, probably a starter or relay going bad. Get ski and post back some diagnosis you did.