03 GTX 4-TEC won't start

[erunner]

Hello all,

I've got a 2003 GTX 4-TEC SC that refuses to start. I hear the solenoid clicking but the starter motor will not turn. I have replaced the starter relay when it did this before and that had worked. However, this year when I was getting it ready for this season, it did it again. I replaced the relay with no luck, also checked all accessible fuses and connections, replaced the start/stop switch and the battery, also with no luck.

Is there anything else I could/should check before I try a new starter or a way to check the starter?

Thanks in advance,
Eric

 

[Michael211_2000]

How old is the battery? A low battery or a worn-out battery w/low amps will cause the same click-click effect. Before you pull the starter, pull your battery out and run it to your local auto parts or Walmart Automotive and let them test it for you (the test is free and the battery is far easier to pull than the starter!). If it's not the battery, check your cables for corosion (on all ends!), then you'll need to pull the starter and go have it checked if all else fails (auto-electric shops can check it for you on their test benches).

1 other thought, if the battery tests out ok then next pull your spark plugs out and see if the engine will turn over without spark plugs (to insure it's not somehow hydrolocked).

- Michael

 

[erunner]

I pulled the starter and it was no good. Luckily I had one laying around, threw it in and she works like champ. Thanks for the info Michael.

E

 

[Michael211_2000]

I pulled the starter and it was no good. Luckily I had one laying around, threw it in and she works like champ. Thanks for the info Michael.

E

Cool beans! :thumbsup:

- Michael

 

[Kerrygarth]

How old is the battery? A low battery or a worn-out battery w/low amps will cause the same click-click effect. Before you pull the starter, pull your battery out and run it to your local auto parts or Walmart Automotive and let them test it for you (the test is free and the battery is far easier to pull than the starter!). If it's not the battery, check your cables for corosion (on all ends!), then you'll need to pull the starter and go have it checked if all else fails (auto-electric shops can check it for you on their test benches).

1 other thought, if the battery tests out ok then next pull your spark plugs out and see if the engine will turn over without spark plugs (to insure it's not somehow hydrolocked).

- Michael

Hi Michael: 2003 GTX 4-tec SC ltd

Having a similar problem: Was on the water, turned off my seadoo, went to restart and just got one long beep, many attempts at reconnecting lanyard yielded the same one long beep. Replaced the DESS post, still got one long beep for several days but today when I put on the lanyard I got 2 beeps and gauges came alive (for the first time in almost 2 weeks). Left lanyard on (didn't want to mess with it at this point) pushed the start button and nothing...not a sound (except for the continuous 2 beeps) so it won't start. Checked all fuses seem OK, put a multimeter on the battery (which is new this season) showing around 13 volts. I am leaving the lanyard on the post for the time being (next hour or so) to see what happens. Any ideas?

 

[Michael211_2000]

If you still have the lanyward on and it's still beeping, try using a screwdriver to arc across the starter relay posts to engage the starter... if arcing across the relay posts engages the starter then you need to get a new starter relay. If that does nothing though, then you may have a corrosion problem in the power cables somewhere take all the battery cable ends loose and clean them with a wire brush (I prefer a rotoray tool with a wire brush)... I just had to do that with my lawnmower battery cables yesterday afternoon, turned on the key to start it the lights came on bumped the starter and everything went dead like no power to anything, hot cable to battery post had corrosion underneith it cleaned it up bolted it back to the battery and if fired right up.

2 short beeps repeated by 2 short beeps indicates the electronics believe the engine is ready to start.

- Michael

 

[Kerrygarth]

If you still have the lanyward on and it's still beeping, try using a screwdriver to arc across the starter relay posts to engage the starter... if arcing across the relay posts engages the starter then you need to get a new starter relay. If that does nothing though, then you may have a corrosion problem in the power cables somewhere take all the battery cable ends loose and clean them with a wire brush (I prefer a rotoray tool with a wire brush)... I just had to do that with my lawnmower battery cables yesterday afternoon, turned on the key to start it the lights came on bumped the starter and everything went dead like no power to anything, hot cable to battery post had corrosion underneith it cleaned it up bolted it back to the battery and if fired right up.

2 short beeps repeated by 2 short beeps indicates the electronics believe the engine is ready to start.

- Michael

Thanks Michael for the quick reply. I had to remove lanyard then immediately replaced it ....got one long beep with no display at all...tried this repeatedly with no luck....back to the original problem. Checked all the fuses which appear OK. I just pulled the battery and I am heading out to get it tested (hard to believe it could be bad but just want to take it out of the equation).

 

[Michael211_2000]

The only time mine has done a single long beep upon putting the lanyard on, it was because the Start/Stop button was stuck depressed... I got 1 long beep, then nothing I pressed the Start/Stop button but it obviously didn't go "down" so the starter did not engage. I don't recall if the display stayed on or not, I took the lanyard back off and pried at the button till it came back up a little then re-applied the lanyard and got the normal startup sequence and the engine started right up and I went riding for awhile. When I got it back home later that evening I took the Start/Stop button out and sprayed it and the bevel it fits in with silicone lube and it's popped back up every time I've pressed it since.

So that's something else to check for, is your Start/Stop button stuck down by any chance?

I'll be interested to hear how the battery checks out also....

- Michael

 

[Kerrygarth]

Interesting that you bring that up! The start/stop switch appeared "sticky" so I sprayed it with WD40 to loosen it up but it still appears to operate a little gummy. Can I remove the rubber-like cover and look under it without doing any damage? It could be something with this switch since that is the only thing that has been altered during this diagnostic process and may be creating an electrical problem. Your thoughts?

 

[Michael211_2000]

Kerry it wouldn't hurt to check the Start/Stop button... on my model it's a chromed clamshell with a screw on the underside that holds the clamshell on the handlebar, with the red Start/Stop button being a cover over the actual start/stop switch which lies directly underneith it. I don't know if yours is the same or not. When mine got stuck down, all the RXT would do was emit 1 long beep then nothing and could not be started... don't know if the LCD display stayed on or not.

I don't know what your rubber-like cover is about.. black plastic instead of chromed plastic perhaps?

- Michael

 

[Kerrygarth]

Hi Michael:

Same configuration on my Start/Stop: took the top off of it, cleaned the clamshell well and sprayed silicone on it. The actual switch (underneath) appears OK and popping in and out OK but that could be misleading.

Strangely, when I attached the lanyard this time, I got a long beep followed by an immediate 2 beeps. Left the lanyard on and pressed the actual start/stop switch (without cover on it)...it did not start but I thought I heard a mild "thud" sound down in the engine compartment (I have the seat removed so I can observe/hear was is going on). Soon after the initial "thump/thud", it did it again (two times in total). This happened without the start/stop button being depressed. In any case, then tried the actual start/stop button switch and nothing happened.

FYI: battery checked out fine.

Seems that after sitting a while, I can go back and get 2 beeps but if I remove lanyard and reattach I will only get one long beep from then on.

You mentioned if I can get 2 beeps to try bypassing the starter relay? Is this the unit with the removable red caps that cover 2 small brass terminals? Should I place the screwdriver across these terminals next time I get two beeps? What will this tell me if it does or does not start?

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[Michael211_2000]

That's the starter relay with the 2 rubber caps.... remove the caps and arc across the posts with a large screwdriver (there may be some sparks, this is normal when doing this!). If the starter engages and the engine cranks up, that suggests the starter relay is bad and needs to be replaced. Try it and see what it does.

Inside the starter relay is an electromagnet and spring with a bar that hits the backside of both posts to "connect" them so power flows across the posts and to the starter to engage it. However over X number of cycles the backside of the posts start to char (literrally black stuff forms on them) and power will not flow thru that char. When this happens pressing the Start/Stop button you will hear the electromagnet click as it pushes the bar against the back of the terminal posts, but the starter will not engage as it never get's power.

- Michael

 

[Michael211_2000]

If your engine still won't start even with the relay posts arc'ed over then you're probably going to have to take it in to a dealership for diagnosis though. :-(

- Michael

 

[Kerrygarth]

Just went out, put on the lanyard, got 2 beeps, and it started right up! -- what the f^&*? I didn't do anything to the ski in the last 24 hours so go figure.

Did this several more times and all is well. I could hear the subtle slapping of the starter relay closing and opening each time I installed/uninstalled the lanyard - something I was not hearing before.

Does this sound like a starter relay on the verge of complete failure? Should I go ahead and replace it? I'm thinking "YES".

Any other thoughts on this? Thanks again for all the help.

Kerry

 

[Michael211_2000]

I could hear the subtle slapping of the starter relay closing and opening each time I installed/uninstalled the lanyard - something I was not hearing before.

Kerry that's not the starter relay you're hearing when you put the lanyard on... the starter relay only engages when you press the Start/Stop button (provided the engine isn't already running). I believe what you may be hearing is the TOPS valve opening and closing when the lanyard is put on/taken off the post.

A bad starter relay will just go "Click" when you press the Start/Stop button and the starter will not engage.

- Michael

 

[Kerrygarth]

Kerry that's not the starter relay you're hearing when you put the lanyard on... the starter relay only engages when you press the Start/Stop button (provided the engine isn't already running). I believe what you may be hearing is the TOPS valve opening and closing when the lanyard is put on/taken off the post.

A bad starter relay will just go "Click" when you press the Start/Stop button and the starter will not engage.

- Michael

Thanks for the quick feedback Michael - it is most appreciated!

It seems the more I learn the less I know

Was able to start ski without any problems yesterday but not sure if I corrected the problem permanently or if this problem is just waiting to happen randomly again. I've ordered a new starter relay and will replace it to be on the safe side. As mentioned earlier, I initially installed a new DESS post thinking that was the problem. So 2 (two) of the "usual suspect" items have been addressed.

Since I am just now hearing the TOPS selenoid activate/deactivate when the lanyard is attached/removed, do you think this could have been or could be a contributor to the problem? Ski has not been flipped over recently and has been running fine up until a few weeks ago when this current problem started. Are TOPS selenoid malfunctions capable of generating one long beep and a no-power situation like this problem started with? Just curious...want to make sure I'm fixing the right things.

Your thoughts? Thanks again in advance.

Kerry

 

[Michael211_2000]

My thought is.. it's the weekend, it's starting and running now, go put it in the water and ride it awhile maybe spend an hour riding it within sight of the boat ramp (just in case!) and only shut it off AT the boat ramp for the 1st hour or so. If it continues to act right then so be it something must have come unstuck somewhere in the electrical system.

So in conclusion, it's working now we don't know exactly why but it is so go put it in the water and ride it for awhile staying within range of help and a short tow back to the boat ramp until you get some confidence in it again.

ps. I keep a collapsable orange SeaSense paddle stored in the front storage compartment of my RXT, just in case... better to have a paddle and not need it than need one and not have one! Also I keep a package of emergency flares in my glovebox just in case. And I put my cell phone in a dry-pack and put it in the glovebox as well!

- Michael