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Solenoid Clicks, but No Start!

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HighTrim

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Ok so I bought a little bit of a project motor. It is an '88 Seadoo Spi. The previous owner thought the battery was toast. He had the solenoid out as he thought that was the original problem. I put it all back together with the help of this forum, bought a brand new battery, charged her up, but still the same problem as he was having, so start. I can hear the solenoid clicking, but that is it. I filed all the connections to ensure they were clean and tight, but dont know where to go from here, any ideas?

Chris
 
I should also mention there is no sound/beep when I put the key on, not sure if an 88 has anything or not, but just saying.
 
Can the motor turn over by hand? If something is obstructing the engine from being able to turn over you would see this symptom. They are pretty easy to spin even with plugs in. If you can fairly easily turn over the motor then I would maybe pull the starter off and hook 12V to it to see if starter turns. If the motor doesn't turn over post back.

Hope this helps!
 
if u hear the solenoid click, that means that ur mpem is sending signal to it so thats good. you beeper could be toast no big deal... your issue is either a bad ground or bad connection, bad battery or bad starter. check all large gauge wires check the conectors check everything. try jumping the solenoid see what that does.. and also put a multi meter on battery and crank... post your readings when the battery is just sitting there and when u hit the start button
 
Spin the driveshaft ... If you have a PTO that can make it easier. If you find its a little to stiff to spin pop the plugs out. That will essentially diminish the compression.
 
Tried jumping the solenoid, nothing.

Battery reads 12.65 volts at rest. Drops to about 12.45 when hitting starter button.

Getting the full 12.65 volts to the in post of solenoid. Hit button, am getting 12.45 volts to the output post of solenoid, so am guessing that is working.
 
I pulled the grey cover off the driveshaft, it does turn...PHEW! Found a couple grease nipples there as well, so can grease while Im at this.

Where do I go from here?
 
Put some saftey glasses on and short the two terminals of the solenoid with a pair of needle nose pliers or any hand tool. It will arc a bit (that's what glasses are for) let us know if that turns the motor. If it doesn't pull the starter off ...
 
BMANN06 said:
Put some saftey glasses on and short the two terminals of the solenoid with a pair of needle nose pliers or any hand tool. It will arc a bit (that's what glasses are for) let us know if that turns the motor. If it doesn't pull the starter off ...
Click to expand...

Yeah I jumped it a couple posts up, nothing no sparks or activity.

Also, solenoid clicks evem with lanyard off? Do these lanyards go bad? Or where they connect?
 
:agree:
Remove the starter and check it. If bad and it's OEM then rebuild it. It will be better than a cheaper one from somewhere else.
 
Seadoobuddy said:
:agree:
Remove the starter and check it. If bad and it's OEM then rebuild it. It will be better than a cheaper one from somewhere else.
Click to expand...

Ok great thanks ill get on it tomorrow in the light.

Where are these ground connections I heard about and how do I test that the lanyard is working for my knowledge, I'm learning
 
You do not have a MPEM or a beeper for the lanyard on thea ski. It should still crank without the lanyard on but just will not spark. Yours is 1988 long before the computers MPEM's and fancy DESS. Your engine turns over by hand so that is very good! Do you have a test light or multi-meter? It sounds like you were already measuring voltage so I assume yes and you did have power on both sides of the solinoid when pushing the start button so the solonoid is fine. Don't bother jumping it. Did you have 12V at the starter when pushing the start button? If so then it is probably a bad starter. The last thing to check before the starter is the cables. They can go bad and not deliver full amperage to the starter even at 12V. The graouds go bad as much as the positives so remember to check all grounds as well because a bad gorund can cause the same symptoms as no power. If all this seems ok use jumper cabels fromm the ground directly to the starter positive. REMEMBER NOT FROM A RUNNING VEHICLE! 12V only! IF the starter cranks you have bad cabels, if it does not you have a bad starter.

I too would look into rebuilding a factory starter like Seadoobuddy. If it is black it is aftermarket and not worth rebuilding. The after market ones are less expensive but just do not last like the OEM.
 
Holy Cow is that starter in an awkward spot! How does one go about taking that apart without pulling the motor!? lol

Looking for a tip before I hurt myself :)
 
Mirrors, universal socket, long extensions, skinny arms-(broken at elbow to turn 120 degrees)...J/K about elbows, and maybe a wobbly adapter/sockets.

OH and lots of patience.... :)
 
Im a pretty big guy, 6'8" and well over 200 lbs, this is difficult, lol.

I ended up pulling the exhaust off, I could not see what I was doing. Little easier now.

I pulled the bolt with the ground terminal on in, but cannot figure out what else is holding the starter on there. Please dont tell me there is an identical bolt underneath it on the same flange!

I put the meter on the starter and am in fact getting the full voltage to it while depressing the starter button, so am figuring it is shot. I cannot find the main engine ground?
 
OH I almost forgot, there is a small ring attached to the base of the starter with 2 small 8mm nuts. The main bolt that holds that ring to the motor is gone? Would that ground it to the motor? Perhaps that is my issue?
 
its OEM, im having the exact same problem on my 93, even took the starter off and it worked which was a pain to do lol
 
The only bolt I have left is the bottom one at the front of the starter.

What tart designed this anyways, lol

I came in to cool off before I threw the whole machine in the ditch. My knuckles are bashed and Ive lost 2 sockets under there. Have learned 1 trick of taping the socket to the extension anyways. I think if I had a little mini camera or mirror I could see what Im doing better.
 
I use a flexible bending magnet to fetch lost sockets and bolts. I also use a cracked facial mirror or a mirror on a expandable stick to see hidden bolts.
 
I got it!

Due to the length of the extension I was using, the head of the wrench wouldnt fit where it was supposed to be. Once I took the wrench off the extension, and positioned the extension, I THEN put the wrench on the extension and was able to take her off. Stupid little thing but you live and learn. Now to get this thing rebuilt. It is just dead.
 
Just to update, the starter was seized solid. Water must have gotten in.

I know a guy down the street that rebuilds starters, so sent it to him. He mentioned as well that it was an original from Japan, and that the Japanese originals are 1000 times better built than the Chinese ones you buy now. He ordered all new internals for it, should be done tomorrow.

Thanks for the help.
 
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