Driver side engine not cranking it's making a clicking noise

[Bigdady536]

I have a 1997 seadoo speedster that only one motor will crank over. When I push the start button to start the driver side motor there is just a clicking noise. I checked the selinoid and I crossed the two bolts and no spark. I cross the other side for the other motor and got spark. I check all the fuses and one was blown and replaced it and it did not fix the problem. I swith the silinoids around to see if it was bad and the one that worked didn't work and the other did so the selinoids are good. It does not seem like the one silinoids is getting power. I don't know what it could be. If anyone has any on what I should check to begin eliminating possible problems would be great. The starter does notseem to be getting any power to crank the motor the starter does not make any noise at all so I think the starter is fine just no juice getting to it. Also the battery has plenty of power because it cranks the port side motor just fine. Please give me any advice thanks mike

 

[seadoosnipe]

Twin engines....

I bet the one engine that starts, is the one closest to the battery. The one that clicks, is the furthest.

On the twin engine models, the positive battery wire goes to both engines but the ground is a common ground, shared by both.

Trace the ground wire from the battery to your block of the first engine. It's usually hooked to a bolt at the magneto. Then, look for the wire that is connected to the engine block that is going to your other motor. Check it for integrity and if possible, if there is enough length, tie both of your ground wires together on the same grounding lug of the primary engine........:cheers:

 

[Bigdady536]

The boat started fine the last time i took it out and this just happened today before i wanted to take it out. And yes your assumtion on the motor is correct it is the one furthest from the battery that is clicking. So you think it is a ground issue. Is there a way to check it before trying to connect them both to the same ground. thanks Mike

 

[Bigdady536]

would that be the reason why the starter relay does not spark when i cross them.

 

[seadoosnipe]

yes....your correct...

Yes.........they use the same ground wire for both engines.

Do like I said, trace the ground wire from the battery to it's first connection. Check the bolt and see how tight that ground strap is. Then, look on the other side of the motor and you'll see that other ground leaving that motor, going to the one that won't crank. Either get a longer wire and connect that motor directly to the ground of that battery or connect it to that same bolt that connects it to the first motor.

Most times, the battery is connected to the motor on the same side as the battery. Then, the ground wire to the other motor comes off the side, using the engine as a pass through ground...........try and eleminate that part by connecting directly to that other ground to your battery........:cheers:

 

[Bigdady536]

your talking about the ground wire that comes directly from the main box where the starter relays are right. You want me to follow the ground wire that comes from that, and runs somewhere under the exhaust and is i beleive attached to the starter. The motor closest to the battery like you said is directly hooked up to the batter while the other is connected just about the starter relay is the electrical box. just so i have this clear. Are you saying disconect the ground attached in the box and run it directly to the negative side of the battery just like the motor closest to the battery. I beleive i am understanding what your saying correctly but just want to confrim before i do it. Do you think i should remove the exahust to see how the connection look or just try doing what i stated above first. thank you for all your help so far.

 

[timmyboy76]

think Snipes' say'n is, make a new ground cable for the farthest motor from the battery, and take the new ground cable to the battery, BUT if you have a ground cable from the ebox, sounds like someone installed that. That cable your talk'n about, inside the ebox, is it connected to the post, where the coil is attached to, if so, thats a good ground and i'd leave it., but give the far motor its own ground, back to the battery.

 

[Bigdady536]

it was the starter. The starter was bad, so i tested it and just replaced it and now i got a working boat again. thanks Everyone for you help