im still working on this challenger 1800 with the twin rotax. (1998). I finally decided to try and hook a battery up to see what happens and at first it was nothing, the fan bilge work, but neither engine would crank. so i unhoked it and out of entertainment hooked the battery back up, and as soon as i touched a ground wire (all red wires hooked up at this time) the port engine started cranking over on its own. The starboard does nothing. not sure why its doing this. I unhooked the ignition cable thing and hooked the battery up then plugged it back in and hit the ignition buttons and nothing happened. Let me know if anyone has any insight. Thanks!
-
This site contains eBay affiliate links for which Sea-Doo Forum may be compensated.
engine cranks when battery is connected
- Thread starter branscool
- Start date
- Status
Nice boat. I would say that the solenoid is bad, must be stuck closed there is a possibility the start switch is shorted. Unplug the switch leads from the solenoid and try again. If the motor turns over its the solenoid, if it doesn't turn over its the switch.
Lou
Lou
sounds legit. Under the compartment infront of the steering wheel is a plug, the plug has 6 wires running to it, but it doesnt go anywhere. I believe it is the lighted fuse box? well in my manual i found online, there is a metal plug that goes into it and connects all the wires together, mine however does not have this metal plug. Could this be the issue? Im thinking it could be the issue for the ignition switches not working, but i think the solenoid is possibly stuck. The fan, bilge and lights all work, but the ignitions do not. Thanks for your help.
John in Valley Forge
New Member
Yes, I think that connector sounds like a problem. I think there are several connectors like the one you describe, all with black wires? These would be ground wires. They use these connectors to link together several individual ground wires into one large common ground running back to the battery. Any circuits that run through that connector would not work.
John in Valley Forge
New Member
The whole Sportster/Speedster/Challenger thing confuses me. There does not seem to be huge differences between the models beyong seating arrangements, though I am just judging by the repair manuals.
John in Valley Forge
New Member
I've taken mine off to look at them. The metal connector is integrated into the rubber cap. It is not as it appears in the repair manual photo. Maybe you could order one from a dealer or else just get some wires and jury rig it yourself. As long as it really is one of those ones where all the wires are black ground wires, you should be able to just short them all together with some jumpers.
John in Valley Forge
New Member
Someone posted on here a 15ft challenger with twins, I don't know anymore, seems like seadoo mixed and matched some boats, but this one isn't a challenger 1800...
I think there was a fair amount of mix and match done. My Hull ID number says I have a 1998 Sportster 1800 (twin 717's), but my title says I have a 1999 and the one I have bears no resemblance to the 1998 repair manual but is a dead on match to the 1999 books.
Speaking of which, I have a set of 1998 repair manuals (not obtained here), so, Brian, if you like, I can try to look things up for your reference.
John in Valley Forge
New Member
In that case I have no guess at what it might be.
Black is usually the ground wire. I don't know what Gray is used for.
John in Valley Forge
New Member
Looking at the wiring diagram, it sounds like this is the "SP-5", the "Lighting Block, attached to main wiring harness inside the front storage compartment"
Do your lights work?
Do your lights work?
John in Valley Forge
New Member
I don't think they should, with that connector missing.
I'm stumped.
- Status
