Problem starting then melted positive terminal!

[JMo]

Hello. New to PWC (see in a sec...) and this forum!

Purchased a 1999 Seadoo GTX Limited at the beginning of the season. Been running great! Today however was having trouble starting it.

After 2-3 hits of the start button it wouldn't turn over. Then the next 4-5 hits of the start button I would hear that pulse...very short then nothing. Took the PWC back to my lift. Opened the rear compartment to find some smoke and noticed my PWC was full of water.

Lifted the PWC out of the water and sure enough my drain plugs were out. (see comment above "new to PWC") I would like to say perhaps the kids did it but maybe it was me...i digress.

Anyhow...the postive terminal where the screw attaches completely melted off (def cause of the smoke). Wire is fine...connector is fine. So took the battery out and going to grab another one.

The water level was pretty full (hard to tell exactly cause when I brougth the PWC to the lift the PWC angled back when i started lifting it. The battery could have been in water...but I would say the water level was not up to the spark plugs.

Anyhow...not sure what would cause it not to start other then shorting the battery perhaps? Causing it to overheat and melt? Starter under water? Not sure where that is at the moment...but haven't really looked.

When I get the new battery in..wil take spark plugs out to double check no water in the engine (doubt it). Friend suggested making sure the starter is dry.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

 

[stephensimmons]

Water on top of the plug or plugs hydrolocked the engine and caused the cables to burn from trying to start it.

 

[nevitt4]

as soon as the water went across the top of the batt it would short out..

 

[JMo]

Alright. Ill stick to my game plan. Replace battery...take spark plugs out to check for water and give her a go. Hope I didn't fry anything else. Chance perhaps some fuses got toast?

 

[nevitt4]

i would have to say theres a chance

 

[fivehole64]

would not try to turn over unless you pull plugs first. Iuse marvel magic mystry oil. 10 -15 good squirts into each cylinder to ensure no water, turn engine over several times then re install plugs. just to protect internal engine components. Cant help too much as far as electrical.

 

[nevitt4]

i always put my plugs back in after it stop draining, u no where the fuses ar?

 

[JMo]

i always put my plugs back in after it stop draining, u no where the fuses ar?

nope...have'nt really gotten to know the insides yet...

 

[nevitt4]

they ar under ur front hood, take the plasic out and u will see a gray box, there in that box, there ar the old style round glass fuse

 

[JMo]

they ar under ur front hood, take the plasic out and u will see a gray box, there in that box, there ar the old style round glass fuse

Thanks...remember seeing that. Where can I find the starter?

 

[nevitt4]

the starter is under the carbs

 

[bell99man]

It's under the intake manifold and it definitely got wet. There is also a 15A fuse in the rear electrical box near the battery.

 

[JMo]

It's under the exhaust manifold and it definitely got wet. There is also a 15A fuse in the rear electrical box near the battery.

its gonna sit for a few days. Should I remove it? Try to dry it?

 

[Seadoobuddy]

You should CHECK IT NOW to see if water is in the cylinders.....more than a day and it will start to rust. If so then shoot the water out ASAP.

 

[JMo]

You should CHECK IT NOW to see if water is in the cylinders.....more than a day and it will start to rust. If so then shoot the water out ASAP.

ah crap. Gotta get a new battery and head back to the cottage. Lucky only 1 hour away.

 

[bell99man]

can you borrow one from a neighbor?

 

[JMo]

Home now! Will head back in the morning. Source a battery first.

 

[JMo]

Went back to the cottage this morning with a new battery. Installed it and took the spark plugs out. Gave her a start and sure enough water started sputtering out. Guess I flooded it! Got the water out...put new plugs. It was stubborn but got it going. Was rough for 10 seconds or so...a bit of smoke then she ran fine. Seems like the starter is fine.

Think I am going to try and get at the starter out just to double check. Looked a bit more involved and didn't have much more time. This particulary tough?

Anyhow good learning experience at the cost of a battery.

New pre-start check list:

1. Check drain plugs.
2. Check engine compartment for water.
3. See item 1.
4. Start seadoo....

 

[brock1]

if you got it going you need to run it for an hour or so...and run it hard