Pushing start button causes engine to crank but Battery Neg terminal to SPARK!!

[Monkey SeaDoo]

Hello all.

Sure need some help with this one.

This past weekend the wife and I took the 1996 SP Seadoos out for a ride. Both started right up but mine would not go over 10mph or get up on plane. It seam to be running on one cylinder and back firing somewhat.

It finally died and would not start.

After getting it back to the garage I tried replacing the spark plugs but still no luck at getting it started.

I noticed that when ever I tried to start it the the negative battery terminal would give off a large spark.

After holding the start button down for a while letting the engine crank and crank the Negative battery terminal started to glow hot.

That's when I decided that I had a real problem and needed some advice.

Anyone ever experienced this before. I'm thinking it could be a shorted out coil.

Please send me your thoughts on this.

Thank you

Monkey SeaDoo

 

[wfo speedracer]

I think you need to clean the negative post and tighten the battery bolt, sparks and heat are caused by loose connections

 

[Triorieel]

Agree with wfo. You should not be getting a spark at a solid connection. The spark means it can't get the solid connection and is jumping an air gap to get it. By doing this, it will create heat because it is pushing all that current through a small electrical pathway. (think of starting you seadoo using phone line...it will heat up and melt the wire before anything happens).

Make sure good solid connection from wire to connector AND connector to battery post. Then you can deal with your 10mph problem if it still exists.

Edit: I worry the battery post glowing hot may have done some damage to the battery and/or wire housing. I would probably throw a volt meter to make sure the battery still has the proper voltage doing nothing and with a load (ie starting).

 

[Coastiejoe]

Yep yep,,,

You have a bad connection. While you are there, clean them all and get a nice clean solid connection. The connections are VERY important. Basically, with a poor connection you are trying to start and run the ski on a very small wire as only a small part is making the connection. This puts TREMENDOUS electrical load on that small connected part and causes serious heat. This is why you are seeing what you are seeing.