jumping a starter

[nerdlinger]

99 XPL, 951:

I'm getting nothing but clicks from the solenoid when I hit the start button, so I've been troubleshooting:

Continuity from (-) battery cable to engine block is good (0 ohms)
Continuity from (+) battery cable to battery side of solenoid is good
Continuity from starter side of solenoid to starter (+) is good
Engine not seized, I removed the intake grate and can turn the drift shaft by hand with plugs out; I didn't try with plugs in.
All fuses are good; MPEM and electrical box in great shape visually.

I tried jumping the starter from my car battery and I got nothing but heat in the cables. I'm not sure if I'm doing it right. I connected the (+) to the starter (+) post and the negative to a bolt on top of the engine where I tested the ground for continuity. Then I connected the (+) to the car battery and the negative to the car battery. When I touch the negative to the car battery it sparks a little and feels like it is magnetized and then leaves little indentations on the car battery post when I remove it. The starter on the seadoo did absolutely nothing, but the cable got hot in only the few seconds it was connected. The car was not running.

Am I doing it right or am I missing something? Do I need the key in the lanyard? Does the ski battery need to be connected (it wasn't when I did it). I need to know before I go through the hassle of taking the starter out to rebuild it. Thanks.

 

[ski-d00]

continuity checks are a good start but good connections require clean, well attached wires that are also in good shape. I've pulled on wires before and they break in your hands, sometimes back in the jacket so sometimes it's difficult to tell how good a connection is and it won't show up in a simple resistance check.

your doing it right, but sounds like you need a new starter. Actually, if you remove your starter and take it apart and clean it, most likely it will be fine and easy to bench test.

 

[nerdlinger]

I tried jumping it from the car battery again, but nothing. There is a reading of 12V to the starter on the multimeter when I hit the start/stop button, but no movement. The current is getting there, but nothing is happening. The starter must be seized. I guess I'll have to pull it.

 

[nerdlinger]

it's running

I bought a new starter, installed it, and now everything is running fine again. It's always something with these seadoos.

 

[wendttr]

another test for your old starter

My Dad had this problem with an old car, taught me well, I had the same problem on my 94 gtx. after you connect power use a hammer to tap the starter opposite the gear end. I did mine and the starter popped right out and spun like new. this is kind of impractical on the water so a new starter is the only way to go. Thanks dad