Googled: 12v low voltage message/Seadoo now dead

[jillinmi]

We have house guests coming to the cottage this weekend and yesterday our SeaDoo GTX RFI died. Before it died it had a 12v low voltage message that did not go away after we changed the battery. I could use all wisdom/advice : )

Our older SeaDoo GTI has never had anything like this...

Both are serviced/stored each year - and used only 2 months of the year. Thank you!! We have 2 days to solve this problem...

 

[jwalts27]

What year is that? Check the rectifier. If the rectifier goes bad the battery wont recharge itself as the eninge runs. Search the forum, there is a procedure for checking it. i cant remember off the top of my head.

 

[Jerry01]

Did it run good for a while, or did it die right away? We had the same issue last year. We were getting the same "12 volt low" and it turned out to be a bad fuel pump. We had the battery checked prior and it was good. In fact, it ran good for the first 1/4 tank. Then it acted like it was flooded, and would not stay running. Jerry.

 

[cli55er]

http://www.seadoosource.com/hdrectifier.html

i came across this using google.

 

[iowagtx]

I have a 2000 GTX Millenium. Same issue. I charge the new battery and after a week of sitting, put it in the water and get the low 12V message right away. It still starts, but with the kids, there is a bunch of starting/stopping so lots of engine startups. Brought it home today and the battery is almost completely dead. Can't be charging. I just don't know if it's draining while parked in the barn.

If someone can post the testing procedure, please do.

Thanks!:cheers:

 

[Dr Honda]

Wet batteries don't like to sit. they need to be cycled to stay healthy.

The test for the system is easy, start the ski... bring it up to 5000 rpm, and make sure you see 13.5v to 14.5v. if you get more, or less voltage than that... replace the regulator.

ALSO... if the regulator is bad... it can drain the battery when the ski is not running.

 

[jillinmi]

We took it in and had the rectifier and stator checked. The only thing that MAYBE could be blamed is a slightly loose connection at the battery. They tightened it up and we took it home. Unfortunately, it is doing it again. The "12V low" message is back on and sometimes it won't start. We ride it everyday, so it's not sitting...

 

[iowagtx]

I did the regulator test as noted above. The meter never moved while revving to 5000, so I am going to order a regulator. THANKS!

Previously, I did also find that the negative battery cable, going to the enginer block for ground was extremely loose on the engine block side. Cleaned it and tightened it. Now as long as I keep the battery charged, it starts fine.

 

[Dr Honda]

We took it in and had the rectifier and stator checked. The only thing that MAYBE could be blamed is a slightly loose connection at the battery. They tightened it up and we took it home.

Then it should be fine... right?

The charging system is very simple... a mag coil, a rectifier/regulator unit, and a battery. If you clean every connection between them... and those 3 parts check out... then it should be working.

Unfortunately, it is doing it again. The "12V low" message is back on and sometimes it won't start. We ride it everyday, so it's not sitting...

OK... so it's not working.

In your first post, you say that they ONLY "get used 2 months out of the year", but now you say they get used all the time. What way is it?? If they get used every day for 2 months... then they sit most of the year.

I just changed a battery in my Polaris. It would crank the engine just fine... but the voltage was dropping below 10.5v and it wasn't enough to fire the CDI. Also... after I charged it... it was 12.5v... but give it a few days, and it was down to 11.7v.

Just because the battery is cranking the engine... doesn't mean that it's good.


Second... just because the stator checked out with a dealer, or shop, doesn't mean that it's working. The regulator is a solid-state device, and when they get hot... they will start to fail. Then, once it cools down... they will work again. At a shop, they are going to give it a quick test, and may not find the problem if it's an intermittent problem.


There is a good chance that your stator is fine. The normal issues are loose/dirty battery connections, or grounds... bad/week batteries, or bad regulators.

 

[jillinmi]

urgent: 12V low voltage message on Seadoo GTX RFI

I'm sorry to confuse... it's heavily used in the summer months. After coming out of winter storage, a new battery was installed... and like I said above, the initial assessment included a tightening of the ground wire. Unfortunately, the 12V low message comes on immediately. As long as we don't turn it off, then we can get one ride a day.

The local repair shop is overwhelmed and taking it into the dealer/service dept isn't an option either (2 week wait just to look at it).

Then it should be fine... right?

The charging system is very simple... a mag coil, a rectifier/regulator unit, and a battery. If you clean every connection between them... and those 3 parts check out... then it should be working.




OK... so it's not working.

In your first post, you say that they ONLY "get used 2 months out of the year", but now you say they get used all the time. What way is it?? If they get used every day for 2 months... then they sit most of the year.

I just changed a battery in my Polaris. It would crank the engine just fine... but the voltage was dropping below 10.5v and it wasn't enough to fire the CDI. Also... after I charged it... it was 12.5v... but give it a few days, and it was down to 11.7v.

Just because the battery is cranking the engine... doesn't mean that it's good.


Second... just because the stator checked out with a dealer, or shop, doesn't mean that it's working. The regulator is a solid-state device, and when they get hot... they will start to fail. Then, once it cools down... they will work again. At a shop, they are going to give it a quick test, and may not find the problem if it's an intermittent problem.


There is a good chance that your stator is fine. The normal issues are loose/dirty battery connections, or grounds... bad/week batteries, or bad regulators.

 

[Dr Honda]

OK.... they get used like most skis then. Sit during the winter, and get run during the summer.


If the battery was new this summer... we can assume that it's OK. (although it could be bad)


If you are getting the 12v low message imediatly... what is the voltage of your battery? If you charge it... and verify that it's over 12v, and you still get that message... I would start to look for a corroded ground wire in the system. (probably coming off the regulator)


Personally, I would just replace the regulator/rectifier unit. They are known to go bad.

At the beginning of the summer, there was a post just like this, and everything checked out, but after the owner was frustrated with working on the boat, and the dealer not having time... he swapped the regulator, and all was good in the world.