No beeps from lanyard, MPEM dead?

[mrlmd1]

I'm a newbie here, looks like a great site.
I have a '97 GS which was running great 'till it sat a while and then developed a dead battery because the charging clips on it from the small solar charger rusted out from the salt air. I tried to recharge it while in place with a small charger (a mistake?) which in the beginning put out 14v into the battery. The battery was bad so I replaced it with a new battery and cleaned corrosion off the pos and neg leads, but now there is no juice going to the starter or gauges even when I have the lanyard in place, there are no beeps when I attach it. The 15 and 5 amp fuses in the forward compartment look good, I can't find any more fuses anywhere else and don't think there are any more. The engine ground is good.
Where can I look further to find out why there's no electricity going anywhere?
Did I fry the MPEM with the battery charger? If this is bad, does it kill the whole electrical output to the starter and gauges? I had charged the battery once or twice in the past with no problem with a 2 amp charge and after the battery was charged, it started immediately and ran fine 'till now.
Thanks for your help in directing me onward.

 

[kustomkarl]

It's not a good habit to charge the battery in the seadoo because it could surge the MPEM,(Multi Purpose Electronic Module). I would check to be sure the battery cables are clean and tight. 2 amps shouldn't have surged it but a higher output could easily cause mpem problems. Yes, the mpem controls all the electrical components. Check all the wire connections as if you had the solar connections corrode others may have too.

Karl

 

[mrlmd1]

No beeps

I had cleaned the battery connections and I measure 12.75v from the + terminal to the engine block, so I know my ground connection is good. As you know there is limited visibilty on the right and left sides of the engine and unless I remove the air filter box on the right and use mirrors on the left side, I can't see the wires from the battery. All I can say is that nothing else was disturbed and everything else looks clean and tight. What had rusted were the copper battery clamps from my solar charger and one nut on my battery post.

Another possible fault could be the starter button, could be corroded/rusted, but it feels and sounds OK when you depress it, but nothing happens. Not knowing any better, I would bet on a fried MPEM from the battery charger, but I don't know this for sure.

Is there any easy way to bypass the starter button and or solenoid and directly connect 12v to the starter to see if anything works? Unlike in a car or motorcycle, there is no way to see if anything other than the starter works - there are no lights, no radio, etc, nothing else.
Do you know where the MPEM is in this model? In the front compartment on the left side with the fuse box on it?
Is there a way to test it or do you just replace it and hope that solves the problem?
Can you recommend a parts supplier for this if it has to be replaced rather than going to a dealer for an exorbitant cost?

 

[kustomkarl]

Open up the mpem box and check all the fuses. If you jump across the solenoid relay it will turn over the starter. You might have blown a fuse in the electrical.

Karl

 

[mrlmd1]

No beeps

Well I think I found and solved my problem.
I first found the ground connection from the MPEM to the front of the engine block and took it apart to clean it. It was interesting to see the entire length of that screw covered with white residue - corrosion of aluminum from the head? I cleaned it off, cut off the old spade connector on the ground wire, put on a new one and reinstalled it to make sure there was a good connection there.
I then opened the rear electrical box next to the battery and found it 3/4-4/5 full of orange rusty water with everything inside submerged and the ringed connector on the end of the positive lead from the battery and the fuse wire connector totally corroded to the point where they were gone, and disconnected from the terminal post. The PO must have tipped it over or flooded it, I never did, and even though it's not supposed to happen because it is sealed with a rubber gasket, the entire electrical box was filled with water. I cleaned everything off and jumped from the battery to the post that the battery cable had attached to and to the fuse, and then the gauges worked when hitting the start button, and with the DEES key in place it cranked over fine.
I went to the local auto parts store and for $2.99 bought a new terminal ringed connector which I crimped with a vice grips and hammer onto the end of the battery lead after I cut it back and cleaned it up. Then I reconnected the lead to the + battery post.
The gauge works fine now when you press the starter button showing fuel level and a red light meaning I need to add oil to the reservoir.
When I put the DEES key on I get no beeps (I think I used to get 2 beeps when I connected the key previously but I'm not sure), but it started and runs fine. (By the way, it starts and runs much better when you remember to turn the fuel valve to the run position). And the start button when you hit it again shuts it right off. And it starts in 1/2 sec. when you hit it again.

So it seems to be fixed, I'll let you know how it runs tomorrow after I refill it with gas and oil.
Does anyone use any other oil other than the Bombardier Rotax oil that they only recommend?
Anyway, thanks to those of you that tried to help out. Now that I know about this forum, I'll be perusing it and participating as I can, like I do on my GZ250 motorcycle site. Thanks again.

 

[mrlmd1]

No beeps

Well I think I found and solved my problem.
I first found the ground connection from the MPEM to the front of the engine block and took it apart to clean it. It was interesting to see the entire length of that screw covered with white residue - corrosion of aluminum from the head? I cleaned it off, cut off the old spade connector on the ground wire, put on a new one and reinstalled it to make sure there was a good connection there.
I then opened the rear electrical box next to the battery and found it 3/4-4/5 full of orange rusty water with everything inside submerged and the ringed connector on the end of the positive lead from the battery and the fuse wire connector totally corroded to the point where they were gone, and disconnected from the terminal post. The PO must have tipped it over or flooded it, I never did, and even though it's not supposed to happen because it is sealed with a rubber gasket, the entire electrical box was filled with water. I cleaned everything off and jumped from the battery to the post that the battery cable had attached to and to the fuse, and then the gauges worked when hitting the start button, and with the DEES key in place it cranked over fine.
I went to the local auto parts store and for $2.99 bought a new terminal ringed connector which I crimped with a vice grips and hammer onto the end of the battery lead after I cut it back and cleaned it up. Then I reconnected the lead to the + battery post.
The gauge works fine now when you press the starter button showing fuel level and a red light meaning I need to add oil to the reservoir.
When I put the DEES key on I get no beeps (I think I used to get 2 beeps when I connected the key previously but I'm not sure), but it started and runs fine. (By the way, it starts and runs much better when you remember to turn the fuel valve to the run position). And the start button when you hit it again shuts it right off. And it starts in 1/2 sec. when you hit it again.

So it seems to be fixed, I'll let you know how it runs tomorrow after I refill it with gas and oil.
Does anyone use any other oil other than the Bombardier Rotax oil that they only recommend?
Anyway, thanks to those of you that tried to help out. Now that I know about this forum, I'll be perusing it and participating as I can, like I do on my GZ250 motorcycle site. Thanks again. http://www.seadooforum.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Sorry for the duplicate post, I can't find out how to delete it.

 

[ldeprins10]

I recently read in my manuel that you were not suppose to charge the battery in the boat while its connected

 

[mrlmd1]

No beeps

There is a danger of excessive current damaging the MPEM computer module which could be very expensive, like $600 to replace the part. Hopefully the 5 amp fuse protecting that would blow first,but it's still a danger.
I didn't know that at the time, and luckily for me my positive battery lead was not connected so it suffered no damage.
You can charge the battery in place without removing it but you should disconnect the + lead first.

 

[timmyboy76]

that, or install on/off switch, inline.

 

[Thomas Magnum]

hi I have a 1997 seadoo challenger that the portside engine starts but wont stay started and the starboard runs great. dealer is telling me its the MPEM does this sound right? the battery was dead this winter I took it out and charged it. I have beeps with the lanyard any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks,