Limp Mode in the middle of The Pacific Ocean!!

[KefirSeaDoo]

So here's my latest encounter..... I am on my way back from fishing at the Channel Islands on what was a very rough day at sea. On the way back my 2005 Seadoo RXT/supercharged (70 hours/recent rebuild of supercharger) took a few hard hits from the waves and before I know it I get a notification on the LCD of "OIL!"

As the LCD reflects the "OIL" warning light the watercraft goes into limp mode in the middle of the ocean and I am barely able to get it up to 4000 RPM. So I cut the engine and let the watercraft rest for five minutes before attempting to restart the engine. I restart the engine and keep my RPMs under 3400 for as long as possible (10 minutes) before the shrieking alarm goes off again. I had to repeat these steps for five times before I made it back to the marina.

I am guessing that this is a case of a faulty oil pressure switch, perhaps the front or the rear? I'm unsure.

Please share your thoughts on the aforementioned issue.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post!

Kefir

 

[Michael211_2000]

Did you actually check the engine oil level? Also since you were getting pounded pretty good, have you checked that all the sensor connectors on the engine are still plugged in fully? Something may have gotten jarred loose by the rough seas. Glad you made it back to shore ok though! Spooky stuff!

ps. I'd also go ahead and pull the air intake hose off the SC and check the air impeller resistance to being turned by fingertips.... even though it was recently rebuilt, there's still the chance that something came apart and has fallen down into the engine and is now blocking one of the oil pump screens! Since you were in such rough water, you probably wouldn't have been able to tell if the SC was working or not. If nothing seems wrong anywhere else, then your next step is going to be to pull the oil pumps off the ends of the engine and check them... 1 of the pumps may have failed, or have a blocked screen from something else in the engine having failed!

- Michael

 

[KefirSeaDoo]

Hi Michael!

Thank you for taking a moment to read my post.

One of the first things that I did was check the engine oil level and being that I just serviced the watercraft, oil level was fine. I actually had to take my watercraft back to my mechanic, prior to my incident in the Pacific Ocean, to siphon out engine oil because too much was used during the service.

I have not checked to see that all the sensor connectors are properly connected and will be doing that after this post. Although, I have messed around quite a bit in inspecting the inside of the hull and nothing caught my attention.

The incident of getting stuck out at sea was quite the reality check. To anyone jet skiing in the ocean, I do recommend that it not be alone. Too many variables at risk.

I will go ahead and remove the air intake hose off of the supercharger to make sure that the impeller resistance is still there. When I had the supercharger rebuilt, I also removed and replaced several components in the PTO assembly and Oil Separator. My mechanic actually dismounted and pulled out the entire engine to rebuild all the aforementioned components. There wasn't a single component that had evidence of scoring that wasn't replaced. I even replaced the oil pump screens (2 of them).I have put about 4 hours of operation on the watercraft ever since all of the above was performed; no issues were experienced.

I've read that the oil pressure switches both front and rear are notorious for failing, especially when the watercraft is taking a beating from external forces. If the rear oil pressure switch fails you usually will get a "Oil," warning on the LCD display. If the front oil pressure switch fails you receive a, "Check Engine," warning on the LCD display.

I have made note of your suggestions and plan on taking a look momentarily to see if any are the causes of my issue. Otherwise, I plan to have my mechanic do an at home visit to replace the rear oil pressure switch, since it's a pain to get to. I am figuring, I probably will also have him replace the front oil pressure switch just for good measure.

Share with me your thoughts and I will report back. Thanks again!

- Kefir

p.s. Being that you have to 2006 Seadoo RXT, what is your top speed at what RPM? And is the watercraft completely stock?

 

[Michael211_2000]

p.s. Being that you have to 2006 Seadoo RXT, what is your top speed at what RPM? And is the watercraft completely stock?

I cannot say yet... I bought this RXT late last Fall and only had time to take it out briefly (barely 1 hour of operation) before freezing overnight temps moved in (the lake got too cold for my hide, and I had to winterize it and put it up in storage under my carport). I never took it over 45 mph last Fall, I knew the impeller and wear ring needed replacing. I just replaced both last month, and am waiting for my 1st chance to get it back to the lake now... we've been having terrible winds here in Texas all year! 20-25mph sustained winds almost every day (on top of the drought we've been experiencing). I fly r/c model airplanes and heli's and have hardly flown at all this entire year because of the constant winds... I went to my favorite lake last Sunday for Father's Day to eat with dad at the marina, and the lake was near to white-capping (and we were at a fairly well sheltered marina, but the lake was REALLY rough and there were almost no boats to be seen).

So I don't know what mine will top out at yet. I did put an R&D Aquavein intake grate on, and changed to a Solas impeller. My engine is stock, 215 hp, with just the SC clutch washers upgraded to steel. Soon as I can try 'em out I'll let 'ya know. (sigh!)

ps. I intend to also fill the bolt holes on the underside of the ride plate/heat exchanger with epoxy.... those holes are a real drag! Poor design that, my jetboat (1975 Sidewinder of Wisonsin with Berkely jet pump) has absolutely no such holes in the underside, everything is designed to be totally smooth so there's no drag. I've read that filling those bolt holes increases top speed by 1 to 1 1/2 mph! That's pretty significant IMO.

- Michael

 

[Michael211_2000]

Yesterday I was able to hit 50mph at 5200rpm's on Lake Livingston, Texas. It was real choppy though, I just didn't feel safe going any faster than that give the water conditions. I had a blast though, splashing around... these things actually handle better than I'd expected in rough water! I was so tired by time I got home last night that I slept well, without sleeping pills even! I gotta do this more often... I need a girlfriend though to go with me dangit. Help!

ps. I feel like my engine still has too much horsepower for the pump... maybe I need a 14/19 pitch impeller instead of this 13/18 pitch impeller? Though my engine is stock 215 hp, it just feels like it's not being loaded fully... and yes I have new 13/18 Solas impeller and new wear ring so it's not cavitating. A pump wedge, either 2 or 2.5 degrees, would surely help also.

- Michael