New owner of a '97 XP. Having trouble. Need some advice

[97XPJCR]

Hello. I'm glad to see there's an active enthusiast community for these old skis. First post. Here goes...

I was recently given a '97 Sea Doo XP. Very nice shape for it's age. It works perfectly.... for about 30 minutes.
It starts fine and runs beautifully with no symptoms at all that anything is wrong. After about 30 minutes of riding it just completely turns off. You can start it again and it will run but it will just start progressively getting worse, meaning it shuts off after shorter periods of time until it just wont start anymore. I've taken it out to the lake three separate times and it has done exactly the same thing. Runs perfectly for a while then just starts turning off.

There are no warning lights. No indication that the ski is getting hot or anything like that. Spews water from the side like it should.

When it shuts off, it's very immediate. No stuttering or anything. As if ignition is just suddenly removed.

I don't have experience working on these things so I'm not sure where to look or what to try. There don't appear to be any loose wiring or connections.

I'd love to be able to fix this thing so I can go out and enjoy it. Would appreciate any advice.

Thanks!

 

[Seadoobuddy]

Hi & welcome to the forum.

When it shuts off what type of riding are you doing....all the same type or mixed, such as WOT, jumping wakes, 360s, etc?

Can you place your hand on the motor for more than 10 seconds?
check your heat sensor on top of the head by running the motor and then removing then sensor and grounding it....does the beeper sound?

Do you get the 2 beeps when attaching the lanyard to the post?

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

Fuel issue?

 

[Seadoobuddy]

Fuel issue?

Another big issue with older skis.
Check to see if the fuel lines are gray tempo lines. If so then replace them ASAP with black auto lines probably 1/4 for the XP but don't quote me on that.....check the size on your present lines. Also add an in-line fuel filter, change out the old oil filter with new OEM oil filter, clean the fuel selector valve (the on/off/reserve valve), and clean the carbs esp the little filter inside.

 

[kicker]

:agree:
After it dies, try unscrewing your gas cap and see if there is alot of suction when loosening off. Could be that the check valve for the fuel tank is not allowing air in as the fuel goes out.

 

[- BiRkS_]

I was going to say a vent issue as well. That or maybe a faulty DESS key or post?

 

[Minnetonka4me]

If we go by the facts he has given us I say highly unlikely that its a fuel or vent issue. Usually if its something like that it would be hard to start or goofy dying. Rereading he didnt really tell us if its hard to start...is it?

If it starts easy, Im gonna go with ignition/bad battery on this one. Check the voltage at the battery, start it up, rev to 4-5g and watch the voltage. I think it maybe screwing with the CDI which is within the MPEM. I would say stator, but it doesnt act like non digital CDI stators its just a pickup.

One question before we go further... Is the battery a cheapo from walmart? Old?

A digital CDI needs ~9volts at all times or it will die.

 

[97XPJCR]

As far as the type of riding before it happens, it really hasn't been consistent. It's happened after 360's, jumping wakes, and just smooth riding.

I have not placed my hand on the motor for the temperature test. I didn't occur to me that this ski would shut itself off if it overheats. Actually, I wasn't even thinking along those lines since I assumed if it's spewing water from the pee hole it must be getting adequate cooling. As I read through these forum posts maybe that's not necessarily the case.

When it shuts off, I have to remove the key and reinsert it before it will start again. Yes. It does beep. I hadn't been paying attention to the beeps and I thought it always beeped to indicate the key is successfully engaged. If it beeps, is that an indication that there is a problem? I believe it's two beeps after the problem occurs but I'm not 100% sure. I'll have to make note of it the next time.

As far as other suggestions regarding possible fuel issues, I kind of doubt it just due to how it immediately it dies without any stutters or power loss. It never bogs or gives any indication that it's starving for gas. It acts as though it just looses ignition. But I know little about jetskis and can't rule that out. I'll do the gas cap vent test next time.

The battery suggestion is interesting. I believe it is probably a cheapo battery but I don't think it's very old and I've kept a battery tender on it the whole time I've had it. Seems to have plenty of juice to turn over the starter every time. I have not measured the voltage but will do that as well to make sure it's not dropping below the ECU threshold.

 

[97XPJCR]

Here's some new information. I took the jetski out this past weekend with my kids who are really small. I just took them around kind of slowly at about 1/2 throttle the whole time. The jetski never turned off. All previous times where it shut off on me I was riding it flat out. This is making me think that the ski is overheating during fast riding. Another tidbit, after about an hour of riding slowly at about 1/2 throttle I put my hand on the motor to see how hot it was. I could barely hold it on there for about 8-9 seconds. Is that typical? If it is overheating during fast rides, what are some of the possible reasons? I got some more information from my cousin who gave me the ski. He told me that all the original fuel lines were changed and the carbs were rebuilt not that long before he gave it to me. It has aftermarket air filters on it. That's all I know. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[CReynoldsMIZ]

I am not an expert by any means, but I bet your aftermarket air filters have something to do with it. I bet you engine isn't getting enough fuel, aka it is not jetted correctly for the aftermarket filters, and at high speeds doesn't get adequate fuel and therefore it runs lean and overheats the engine causing it to shut off. I bet if you put the stock airbox back on and returned to stock settings on your carbs that it would run correctly. Anybody else thinking the same way or am i barking up the wrong tree...

 

[jammin777]

yep,:agree: the after market air filters allow more air flow thus causing it to run a bit lean but not sure by how much and if it would cause over heating, makes sense that it could though. it would be a safer bet to put the factory air box back on which would also help prevent water ingestion in case of a mass water leak in the bilge.

 

[Coastiejoe]

How hot is the water coming out of the pee hole?

It should be warm but not HOT. I am wondering I'd it was risen by the beach orbit was beached and there is sand in the lines.