01 GTX 951 Carb, No power, no start NEED HELP

[maxrock885]

Okay so last weekend I picked up another Seadoo on trade. Its an 01 GTX 951 carb. The guy I got it from did a whole bunch of work which included an engine rebuild & MPEM. When I bought it it started up just fine and ran great on the hose. I did notice once when he tried to start it the key seemed like it didnt want to read. I gave it a little nudge and didnt think much of it because it started right back up. The guy also put 5 hours on the ski after the rebuild with no major issues.

I let it sit for a day or 2 and went back to start it. At first I would put the key it and the screen would light up and I would get 2 beeps and I would hit the start button with no luck. After messing with the key a few times I was able to get the start button to work. It started for maybe a sec or 2 then shut off and I was never able to get the screen to light up or it to beep when i put the key on. Also with the key off the post, if i hit the start button twice nothing happens on the screen. I read online that my model should light the screen up with 2 clicks of the start button even if the key is off the post but Im not 100% positive on that.

I then went down the rabbit hole of testing the DESS post and key, DESS post tested good and the key out side grounds tested good, although the inside of the key was giving like 30ohm witch I thought is kinda weird. I then moved out to the battery witch is a brand new 12v lawn mower battery that tested good at 12.55v. (The guy didnt want to spend money on a nice battery) I was able to jump the solenoid in the box and the starter cranked just fine.

I then moved on to putting a test light on the fuses for the MPEM. I figured this is how you would test to see if the MPEM is getting power? (not sure, im not a mechanic lol) Anyways after using multiple different grounding points for my test light I saw nothing. Almost seems like MPEM isnt getting power. After this I pulled all the fuses on the MPEM and they all checked out good on a visual test. For shits n gigs I went ahead out swapped a 1 or 2 of them that looked pretty old. Some how after that I put the key on and I got the 2 beeps and screen lit up. The start button still didnt work but after a few times of messing with the key (taking on and off the post) I was able to get the starter to crank. It cranked for about a second or 2 then everything went dark again. I pulled the key off several times during this all of witch gave me a screen and 2 beeps. It was only after I got the start button to crank everything went dead again. I tired to go back and put different fuses in with no luck.

Still no power to the screen and from what I can tell no power to the MPEM. With the key off the post I get nothing on the screen after clicking the start button twice. Im kinda at a loss right now. Ive went over all my wiring from what I can see. Unplugged and replugged MPEM (with battery disconnected). The wiring harness runs under the engine witch is kinda annoying and im not able to check those for a short. Im starting to think maybe the MPEM the guy put it just went bad? it was a used one that be bought from a shop in the Ozarks that claimed to bench tested it. The guy is going to try and exchange it with that shop for free so wish me luck on that.

Anything would be helpful at this point!!

 

[cpher2003]

Okay so last weekend I picked up another Seadoo on trade. Its an 01 GTX 951 carb. The guy I got it from did a whole bunch of work which included an engine rebuild & MPEM. When I bought it it started up just fine and ran great on the hose. I did notice once when he tried to start it the key seemed like it didnt want to read. I gave it a little nudge and didnt think much of it because it started right back up. The guy also put 5 hours on the ski after the rebuild with no major issues.

I let it sit for a day or 2 and went back to start it. At first I would put the key it and the screen would light up and I would get 2 beeps and I would hit the start button with no luck. After messing with the key a few times I was able to get the start button to work. It started for maybe a sec or 2 then shut off and I was never able to get the screen to light up or it to beep when i put the key on. Also with the key off the post, if i hit the start button twice nothing happens on the screen. I read online that my model should light the screen up with 2 clicks of the start button even if the key is off the post but Im not 100% positive on that.

I then went down the rabbit hole of testing the DESS post and key, DESS post tested good and the key out side grounds tested good, although the inside of the key was giving like 30ohm witch I thought is kinda weird. I then moved out to the battery witch is a brand new 12v lawn mower battery that tested good at 12.55v. (The guy didnt want to spend money on a nice battery) I was able to jump the solenoid in the box and the starter cranked just fine.

I then moved on to putting a test light on the fuses for the MPEM. I figured this is how you would test to see if the MPEM is getting power? (not sure, im not a mechanic lol) Anyways after using multiple different grounding points for my test light I saw nothing. Almost seems like MPEM isnt getting power. After this I pulled all the fuses on the MPEM and they all checked out good on a visual test. For shits n gigs I went ahead out swapped a 1 or 2 of them that looked pretty old. Some how after that I put the key on and I got the 2 beeps and screen lit up. The start button still didnt work but after a few times of messing with the key (taking on and off the post) I was able to get the starter to crank. It cranked for about a second or 2 then everything went dark again. I pulled the key off several times during this all of witch gave me a screen and 2 beeps. It was only after I got the start button to crank everything went dead again. I tired to go back and put different fuses in with no luck.

Still no power to the screen and from what I can tell no power to the MPEM. With the key off the post I get nothing on the screen after clicking the start button twice. Im kinda at a loss right now. Ive went over all my wiring from what I can see. Unplugged and replugged MPEM (with battery disconnected). The wiring harness runs under the engine witch is kinda annoying and im not able to check those for a short. Im starting to think maybe the MPEM the guy put it just went bad? it was a used one that be bought from a shop in the Ozarks that claimed to bench tested it. The guy is going to try and exchange it with that shop for free so wish me luck on that.

Anything would be helpful at this point!!

Hey there, I know this post is from august, but wondering if you ever figured out what the problem was. Ive been working on these 95-01 skis and they can be a bit of a pain in the a** . I am finishing up one that i had already replaced the dess post and key, and had it programmed, worked every time after. i was doing other engine mods and started to put the tuned pipe back in and checked everything before actually installing it. batt good, no power, no beeps no start button lighting gauges, crazy ass meter readings , etc. I did find the culprit though. at least it wasnt the mpem. let me know what you found out...Thanks

 

[maxrock885]

Hey there, I know this post is from august, but wondering if you ever figured out what the problem was. Ive been working on these 95-01 skis and they can be a bit of a pain in the a** . I am finishing up one that i had already replaced the dess post and key, and had it programmed, worked every time after. i was doing other engine mods and started to put the tuned pipe back in and checked everything before actually installing it. batt good, no power, no beeps no start button lighting gauges, crazy ass meter readings , etc. I did find the culprit though. at least it wasnt the mpem. let me know what you found out...Thanks

Ya, ended up being connector #2 on the MPEM. It was not seated fully bc the clips are broke. Its either the connector its self or pins on the MPEM. Even after using zip ties to really make the connection tight it was still having some issues. So id say about 30-40% of the time I start it, it doesnt want to light up or beep. So i go wiggle connector and it comes alive. Im still having more issues with the ski tho, the 3 bolts and one nut that connect to the exhaust manifold come loose after a few min on throttle. Ive put all new exhaust bushing all around, new OEM hardware and torqued everything to spec (17ftlbs i think lol) So its either engine mounts or engine is out of alignment. Im leaning more towards the alignment bc the guy said he used a homemade tool to do the "alignment". Its sitting for now, im actually just going to buy another nicer GTX 951 and use this one for parts LOL. I never wanna take that pipe out again, I did it 3 times and it was the worst job ive ever done.

 

[maxrock885]

Hey there, I know this post is from august, but wondering if you ever figured out what the problem was. Ive been working on these 95-01 skis and they can be a bit of a pain in the a** . I am finishing up one that i had already replaced the dess post and key, and had it programmed, worked every time after. i was doing other engine mods and started to put the tuned pipe back in and checked everything before actually installing it. batt good, no power, no beeps no start button lighting gauges, crazy ass meter readings , etc. I did find the culprit though. at least it wasnt the mpem. let me know what you found out...Thanks

What was your issue?

 

[cpher2003]

Ya, ended up being connector #2 on the MPEM. It was not seated fully bc the clips are broke. Its either the connector its self or pins on the MPEM. Even after using zip ties to really make the connection tight it was still having some issues. So id say about 30-40% of the time I start it, it doesnt want to light up or beep. So i go wiggle connector and it comes alive. Im still having more issues with the ski tho, the 3 bolts and one nut that connect to the exhaust manifold come loose after a few min on throttle. Ive put all new exhaust bushing all around, new OEM hardware and torqued everything to spec (17ftlbs i think lol) So its either engine mounts or engine is out of alignment. Im leaning more towards the alignment bc the guy said he used a homemade tool to do the "alignment". Its sitting for now, im actually just going to buy another nicer GTX 951 and use this one for parts LOL. I never wanna take that pipe out again, I did it 3 times and it was the worst job ive ever done.

for sure, the tuned pipe takes up all the room, as to why i made sure there were no electrical issues.
my problem was the VTS module has let the smoke out `more than once and there was a ground that was broken in the harness,
9continuity check found it, and i also asse3s a second ground from battery to engine to make sure.
also , do you have dielectric grease in the plugs that go into the mpem? i just figured out while dielectric can be good in some applications, it is not to enhance contact or continuity. and those sockets and plugs are slap full of it. using some fast dry contact cleaner and and a multipurpose lube like wd40 or something that enhances conductivity.

 

[maxrock885]

What year and model? I dont have VTS on my 01 GTX. At least I think, no buttons on handle bars that indicate trim.

 

[maxrock885]

for sure, the tuned pipe takes up all the room, as to why i made sure there were no electrical issues.
my problem was the VTS module has let the smoke out `more than once and there was a ground that was broken in the harness,
9continuity check found it, and i also asse3s a second ground from battery to engine to make sure.
also , do you have dielectric grease in the plugs that go into the mpem? i just figured out while dielectric can be good in some applications, it is not to enhance contact or continuity. and those sockets and plugs are slap full of it. using some fast dry contact cleaner and and a multipurpose lube like wd40 or something that enhances conductivity.

Was your wiring harness fully wrapped where is goes under the engine? When i had pipe and carbs off I noticed my harness was exposed in multiple places, i got down there with some electrical tape and wrapped the living hell outta it.

 

[cpher2003]

it surely doesnt hurt to re wrap or cover the exposed wires. also, if you tip your ski towards the back , i took all the removable boxes and etc, wrapped the mpem in plastic and pressure washed the inside and got all that dirt and oil residue out of there. makes it look a heck of alot better!!on this gsx the harness runs on the left side of the ski about midway up the hull, then has a ground connection from it but the only wires that run near the engine are the battery cables. And clean your grounds! , i'm running an extra ground from the battery to the engine block

 

[mikidymac]

None of the GT, GTI or GTX skis have the VTS trim system.

 

[cpher2003]

you are correct mikidymac, sorry to misinform.
I built this based on a youtube video I came across, using
A relays and a small resealable container. worked out perfect and cheaper than the 451m kit