need help, 97 gsx not starting

[hprperformance]

ok first off, i bought this off a gentleman who claimed to be a sea doo tech, so bid with confidence! yea, bs. i called him for suggestions and he was clueless.

so heres the deal, it fired right up when i bought it. brought it home and it sat for 2 weeks in the garage. filled up at a local gas station. took it to the lake, dropped it in and it fired right up. my wife tried to get on and tipped over. she did this 3 times before actually giving up. i got on and put the tether key in and it beeped, the gauge red 12v low. it never flipped, just leaned hard. so with the key in, and hit the start button it cranked a couple times. after that it only clicked. so i brought it home, put my battery tender on it and nothing, still just a click. so i bought a new battery and filled it. charged it at 1.5 amps for 5 hours. i tested it and it read 12.7 volts. i then put it in the ski and thinking sweet, 90 degrees im goin to the lake! wrong. it still clicked. so i tested the old battery and it was at 12.2... wtf? so when i put the key in it beeps, hit the start button and it just clicks.. gauges go blank after until i take key out and put it back in.. i called the local dealer and they arent able to get it in til the 14th.. but if someone can help here, itd be even better. please if you have any suggestions let me know asap!!

thanks in advance!

heres a pic, shes real clean. help me save her!!!

 

[seadooya]

jump the relay, if starter turns, replace the relay. ALso, check your fuses, and the fuse in the rear elect box..where red cables go into, thats also where the relay is located.

 

[hprperformance]

jump the relay, if starter turns, replace the relay. ALso, check your fuses, and the fuse in the rear elect box..where red cables go into, thats also where the relay is located.

ok, checked that and it didnt turn over the starter. all the fuses are good however i didnt find the fuse in the rear electrical box... anyone have a starter for sale?

 

[igotone]

Do what I did, see if the motor may have hydro locked one of the pistons. pull the plugs out and hit the starter button, hold the throttle open to give it some air, see if a bunch of liquid flys out the spark plug holes, if she spins freely w/ the plugs out probably was just to much fuel left in the cylinder, Oh bye the way place the plug wires as far away as possible from the fuel spray that may come out, you do NOT want the spark to ignite that spray, it could have gas and oil coming out, VERY FLAMMABLE MIXTURE, "PLEASE USE EXTREME CARE" where you put the ends of those plug wires....I could not be more serious! Good Luck ,be careful! If she spins freely after a few rounds of this put the plugs back in, See if it will fire up...

 

[hprperformance]

ok, i tried that. same exact thing happened so i am borrowing my buddies starter friday off his gsx. you guys have been helpful so far, love this forum!

 

[Rotor13B]

ok, i tried that. same exact thing happened so i am borrowing my buddies starter friday off his gsx. you guys have been helpful so far, love this forum!

It's your battery. I just went through this same thing with a new battery 2 days ago. You need to clean the posts of the new battery with some sand paper or wire brush, dremel w/e. Probably wouldn't hurt to clean the battery cables if you haven't already. My battery posts looked grey before I used my dremel to clean the tops, Once treated they were nice and shiney and my ski started.

 

[Bills86e]

Battery cables can rot at the lugs. I've replaced hundreds. Cut the old off, resolder
new on & marine shrink-wrap. Bills86e

 

[igotone]

Wait a minute....

Did you ? (while plugs were out) take off the flywheel cover and try to turn the motor over by hand ?? Should turn over by hand very easily W/O plugs in.. you did`nt say it.. So I had to ask..

BTY, I thought jumping across solenoid was a good way to blow the fuses? LMK? YES? / NO? (maybe)

 

[rotaxrule1]

jumping the solenoid is a good way to bypass/test for a bad solenoid He should be fine doing that. Besides, the MPEM does not need to be fired up at this point anyway as we are only sending 12v directly to the starter without spark, etc. just to see if the engine turns over.

Doing that test confirmed that I had the same issue with my GSX, replaced the solenoid and was in good shape. My electrical box was full of water when I discovered that I had problems starting it though. So it was pretty apparent that the solenoid was bad from it being so corroded.

 

[Bills86e]

Drive cover. Hand turn the PTO. Hope this helps, Bills86e

 

[hprperformance]

i pulled the starter out in anticipation of putting the new one in. once out i checked it and it spun freely... wtf? any other sugestions?

 

[wmwise]

So, just curious, your old battery read over 12 volts but when you put in a new battery the ski worked fine? Wondering because my 96 GSX is acting the same way. Jump the solenoid motor turns fine but not with start button, I have not bought a new battery yet, just charged the old one.

 

[hprperformance]

no, with hew battery and old battery it doesnt do anything but click..

 

[twhite5262]

Hey, I've looked for fuses in the back box where the solenoid is but dont find any , only up front , mine wont start either , seem like not getting fuel , turns over fine and is getting spark.

 

[igotone]

Has (hprperformance) ever said he can turn the "motor" over by hand? With the plugs out of course. I think I`m reading he can turn the starter by hand?

 

[Bills86e]

not getting fuel

Hey, I've looked for fuses in the back box where the solenoid is but dont find any , only up front , mine wont start either , seem like not getting fuel , turns over fine and is getting spark.

99% of Seadoo problems are fuel circulatory related!
You should make friends with your Shop Manual for simple Answers.
Forum sponsor : Seadoowarehouse.com has blow-up views of your ski's Parts. Click & explore alittle. Bills86e

 

[hprperformance]

no, i will be pulling off the flywheel cover today and trying to turn over motor by hand. i bought a 98 xp this morning just so i can get back on the water..

 

[hprperformance]

put the old starter in, cleaned up all contacts on the terminals- ground and positive on both battery and starter. got it all back together and i hit the starter and she turned over. i did this a few times, i didnt put the plug wires back on at this point but the starter solenoid started to smoke... bad solenoid? it still said 12v low.. you guys have been great for your help! thanks again