Submerged 1997 Sea Doo GTI

[Lakegastonpack1]

I have a 1997 Sea Doo GTI that I flipped, and filled with water. Obviously, the engine filled up, as did the electrical box with the Starter Solenoid and coil, due to a pinched seal on the box.

After I got the water out of the engine compartment, and removed the plugs, I tried to crank the Ski, and it turned over strong a couple of times, and blew a lot of water out, but then it stopped turning over, and now it won't even click. Battery seems good, and fuel gauge activates when you put the key fob on the post, but the starter is dead. I have checked all the fuses I can find.
Any ideas ?
Thanks

 

[j.harris]

Maybe the starter solenoid still has water in it and the contacts were damaged when you started it. Have you tried jumping the starter solenoid? Or maybe the starter is full of water and the brushes got stuck in their holders?

 

[Lakegastonpack1]

I have not tried jumping the solenoid yet, but it is dried out now, so I will. The starter went completely under, too, but there is no "click" or anything from it or the solenoid, so I don't think it is getting power at all.

Thanks !

 

[AKnarrowback]

How long since the motor was running? You want to get that water out before everything rusts.

 

[jmartin2178]

I have not tried jumping the solenoid yet, but it is dried out now, so I will. The starter went completely under, too, but there is no "click" or anything from it or the solenoid, so I don't think it is getting power at all.

Thanks !

My $$$ is on the starter solenoid. Check by placing a screwdriver or wrench across the two bolts on the existing solenoid and hitting the start button. If you get juice simply replace the starter solenoid.

 

[Curtis Smith]

I have a 1997 Sea Doo GTI that I flipped, and filled with water. Obviously, the engine filled up, as did the electrical box with the Starter Solenoid and coil, due to a pinched seal on the box.

After I got the water out of the engine compartment, and removed the plugs, I tried to crank the Ski, and it turned over strong a couple of times, and blew a lot of water out, but then it stopped turning over, and now it won't even click. Battery seems good, and fuel gauge activates when you put the key fob on the post, but the starter is dead. I have checked all the fuses I can find.
Any ideas ?
Thanks

I have the same model 97 GTI. It's extremely stable. To flip it something crazy happened. A nightmare when water saturates the engine compartment. Especially salt water. Plus if u flipped it back over the wrong way allowing water to potentially enter the exhaust manifold and in to the cylinders. Water does not compress like air in the cylinders and will bend or break the piston connecting rods. The MMPI electronic box in the front bilge compartment is what runs everything. the fuse box is along side it Carefully pull out the wiring harnesses. See if water got in there. If it did let it dry out. Check the fuses to. Pull everything out so it can dry. The 720 motor is an incredible engine with many going 400 plus hours before a rebuild. . The only real problem I had was the head pipe vibrating off the exhaust manifold allowing water to pass from the water cooling jackets in to the exhaust cutting the engine out until the water evaporated later. . It's a common problem with heliocoils backing out holding the bolts. . I solved it by having a machine shop put in stainless steel Time Serts. They look like a small bottle cap hollow tube with threads on the outside to grip the aluminum manifold and on the inside for the bolt. I used high strength epoxy on the Time Serts. Then used Red High Temp silicone for exhaust on the manifold gaskets and squished the gaskets down and wiped off the excess . Then bolted the head pipe down on the manifold careful not to over torque the nuts and bolts. It only calls for 14 foot pounds of torque. That's nothing. 97 GTI is an older model and some parts aren't even available any more.

 

[Curtis Smith]

I have a 1997 Sea Doo GTI that I flipped, and filled with water. Obviously, the engine filled up, as did the electrical box with the Starter Solenoid and coil, due to a pinched seal on the box.

After I got the water out of the engine compartment, and removed the plugs, I tried to crank the Ski, and it turned over strong a couple of times, and blew a lot of water out, but then it stopped turning over, and now it won't even click. Battery seems good, and fuel gauge activates when you put the key fob on the post, but the starter is dead. I have checked all the fuses I can find.
Any ideas ?
Thanks

Further more check the voltage regulator outside the MMPI Black box in the front compartment. It's on it's own seperate harness . Square shape with a green acrylic window you can see in too. Look through and see if it's black and shorted. Also again pull the wiring harness off the MMPI . Holding tabs on the side of the square harness block connected to the MMPI. Press them in to pull the harness off. Check for moisture. Leave them out to dry. Spray electronic cleaner on the harness and pins on the MMPI Face. This too. Did u remove the Spark plugs after u flipped it. and did it as soon as u got it back on shore. Then kick over the engine and allow any moisture that may of entered the cylinders make it's exit out the spark plug holes and little later spray Bombardier lubricant in to the cylinders. The longer that engine sits with water in it, the longer water can do permanent damage. Obviously u realize the Jet Ski's limit by flipping it. It's not a supercharged RXT by a long shot. In fact the engine is undersized for it's size. The same model GTX has the same Hull, but a 787 Engine with 110 horse vs. 85 horse in the 720 motor. However the 787 and 951 motor with 130 H.P. have had their problems on other models with the same Hull.

 

[Curtis Smith]

Further more check the voltage regulator outside the MMPI Black box in the front compartment. It's on it's own seperate harness . Square shape with a green acrylic window you can see in too. Look through and see if it's black and shorted. Also again pull the wiring harness off the MMPI . Holding tabs on the side of the square harness block connected to the MMPI. Press them in to pull the harness off. Check for moisture. Leave them out to dry. Spray electronic cleaner on the harness and pins on the MMPI Face. This too. Did u remove the Spark plugs after u flipped it. and did it as soon as u got it back on shore. Then kick over the engine and allow any moisture that may of entered the cylinders make it's exit out the spark plug holes and little later spray Bombardier lubricant in to the cylinders. The longer that engine sits with water in it, the longer water can do permanent damage. Obviously u realize the Jet Ski's limit by flipping it. It's not a supercharged RXT by a long shot. In fact the engine is undersized for it's size. The same model GTX has the same Hull, but a 787 Engine with 110 horse vs. 85 horse in the 720 motor. However the 787 and 951 motor with 130 H.P. have had their problems on other models with the same Hull.

Also this: When towing the older models that get their cooling from the outside water source you don't want to exceed 5-8mph. Water is being forced through the Jet Pump as its being towed. Since the motor isn't running, exhaust gases aren't forcing out the water that passes through the water hoses in to the exhaust head pipe. You'll notice several small hoses connected to the head pipe running from a small hose running off the engine head . They make a clamp that I carry to squeeze tight the hose leading from the back of the inside of the hull to the left back side of the head to cut off water flow , and from entering the exhaust and potentially in to the cylinders . The Jet Pump hose runs off the lower back center part of the Hull. The hose off the center next to it is the outlet hose connected to the flush pipe. The Center Jet pump hose goes to the head pipe side of the Back top of the motor. You'll see arrows on the back of the head top just past the connecting nozzles showing the direction of the water flow. One arrow on the left side points forward, the other back side of the head points back to the hull. The hoses crisscross on their way from the back of the hull to the back side of the Head. Go to Amazon.com for parts . They have solenoid's for a lot less. The on-line parts warehouses charge an arm and leg. However Amazon doesn't carry everything. Like I said some parts you can't even get anymore.