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1996 GSX capsized and filled with water. Towed back to dock. Water found in cylinders

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Chad101

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This was second time ever riding a PWC. I made some serious sins on the water today.

Please go easy on me.

First, I rode too close to shore and got stuck in the mud.. After walking the ski back out to about 3 feet of water, I had a hard time accelerating and I could hear rocks bouncing around inside the hull. The ski seemed to be fine after I allowed it to idle for 5 minutes.

Second: While in deeper water I hit what I believe to be a semi-submerged log, and I flew off the ski... I could not get back on. Every time I tried, the ski would roll and the hull would fill with more water. I pulled out the distress flag after 30 minutes in the water and draped it over the seat. I was beginning to shiver and a long ways from shore (2 miles out on Lake Erie, North of Turtle Island).

Thankfully a boater seen me and towed me back to the dock.

When I got home, the engine would not turn over. I pulled the spark plugs and water shot of the cylinders when I cranked it over. I repeated the process of pulling the plugs and cranking, putting the plugs back in and cranking some more. The engine will now fire and my battery finally gave up.

I really need some advice. I'm so embarrassed and pissed off at myself.
 
Get that engine running and go for an hour ride to dry things out. You should check your fuel and oil tanks for water, drain if necessary. We all make mistakes, that is how you learn. No worries there, as long as you make it back safely. Reboarding a ski, I climb aboard from the back.
 
First... you need to get that engine running !!! Without some heat... you will still have water in it.

Second... Make sure there isn't anything in the pump. You should probably take it off, and check for damage. Especially if the rocks beat around for 5 min.

Third... Since you ran it up on the shore... then there is a chance you filled the cooling system full of sand and mud. So... do a GOOD flushing.


Finally... since you are new to seadoo.... DO NOT try to jump start the ski. ALSO... DO NOT try to start it while hooked to a charger. You can roast the MPEM. (computer)
 
Dr Honda said:
First... you need to get that engine running !!! Without some heat... you will still have water in it.

Second... Make sure there isn't anything in the pump. You should probably take it off, and check for damage. Especially if the rocks beat around for 5 min.

Third... Since you ran it up on the shore... then there is a chance you filled the cooling system full of sand and mud. So... do a GOOD flushing.


Finally... since you are new to seadoo.... DO NOT try to jump start the ski. ALSO... DO NOT try to start it while hooked to a charger. You can roast the MPEM. (computer)
Click to expand...

Your reply could have NOT come a moment sooner. I was heading to the garage to grab some jumper cables and decided to check this thread first.

THANK YOU!!!
 
The engine is not firing. So far, I have been spraying WD40 into each cylinder and turning the engine over with the spark plugs out. The battery barely has enough juice to turn the engine over maybe ONCE, for 5 seconds when the spark plugs are in. Then it's drained again...

I don't have a charger and I'm grateful that Dr Honda warned against jump starting it.

The plugs out and the seat over off w/ a high velocity fan blowing into the hull right now. It's getting dark outside, I will have to wait until tomorrow morning before I can do anything else.

The fuel and oil will be checked for water first thing in the morning.

Appreciate everyone's help!!
 
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You really need to get that engine started, jump the ski to a donor battery, like in your car, either take the battery out of the car and jump it to your ski, or jump it from your car, DO NOT START THE CAR ENGINE.

If you can get the ski started run it on the hose, this is generally a no no, but better loose a carbon seal than an engine. If you can get it started you can cool the carbon seal with water. Good luck.

Lou
 
WD-40 will wash the cylinders of fuel and oil and not allow the cylinder to fire.

Get a spray bottle with mixes fuel and oil at 50:1 ration and squirt it into the cylinders if you are going to squirt anything

I can't imagine your plugs are any good at this point. Install new ones.

As Dr Honda said. You need to get this running NOW and then run around for 30 minutes. If you don't, there is a great chance it will rust and seize up.

By run we mean on the lake, not your driveway as you will cause serious damage at home due to how long it needs to be run.

In guess you have a leak caused by hitting shore and sucking up all the rocks. I'm betting there was water in the hull and this is why you could not re-mount it.

So, get it running and leave it on the trailer at the ramp. Remove the seat and see if you have water coming in.

Could also be a hose due to plugging the system with debris.
 
Coastiejoe said:
WD-40 will wash the cylinders of fuel and oil and not allow the cylinder to fire.

Get a spray bottle with mixes fuel and oil at 50:1 ration and squirt it into the cylinders if you are going to squirt anything

I can't imagine your plugs are any good at this point. Install new ones.

As Dr Honda said. You need to get this running NOW and then run around for 30 minutes. If you don't, there is a great chance it will rust and seize up.

By run we mean on the lake, not your driveway as you will cause serious damage at home due to how long it needs to be run.

In guess you have a leak caused by hitting shore and sucking up all the rocks. I'm betting there was water in the hull and this is why you could not re-mount it.

So, get it running and leave it on the trailer at the ramp. Remove the seat and see if you have water coming in.

Could also be a hose due to plugging the system with debris.
Click to expand...

I really can't crank over the engine this late. My neighbors will be in an uproar about it. I picked up a new set of spark plugs from Autozone. I will be on it first thing in the morning.
 
dustindu4 said:
engine will be toast in the morning

pissed off neighbor or new motor, hmmm
Click to expand...

Yeah I had to make the same decision, and decided forgiveness was better than rusty motor. Nobody said anything when I was revving the hell outta my xp in the garage at 10pm at night.
 
dustindu4 said:
engine will be toast in the morning

pissed off neighbor or new motor, hmmm
Click to expand...

Good point. I'll kill two birds with one stone. I'll take it down to the docks tonight. It's in a secluded area, thus I can make all the noise i want.

Off I go...
 
You're already gone to the dock but as long as you jump it with the car engine OFF like LouDoo said in post #6, you'll be fine electrically. I wish you good luck and hope that you got the engine started and run some. In any case, later in the daylight, you'll want to get that ski back on the water and run it good and hard for a while to get all the water "cooked" out of the engine. Lots of luck to you and let us know how it went tonight at the dock.
 
You need at least 10.5v while that thing is cranking in order for the ignition to give you a spark. Any less and it will crank really well but not start. Jumping it with anything above 14.4v will fry the regulator, Next time you start it, good chance it will blow the mpem.


Having water in the engine and sitting for any length of time will rust out the lower end bearings and the crank will fail soon after. That's why its so important to get out there and run it to boil all that water out.
WD40 is hygroscopic, It attracts water and cleans off an oil film really well. I'd say fogging oil would have been better to use.


Since you beached it, your going to have to take a look at the impeller and wear ring for damage, also there is a really good chance you sucked up some mud and pushed it through the cooling system. It would be a good idea to keep an eye on the the engine temp. lines and blow out any blockages.


I hope you have good news when you get back. Good luck.
 
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okay I'm at the docs right now. I'm using my phone to write this. I have one spark plug in one spark plug out. the engine is firing but it won't stay running.

I'm switching out the spark plugsevery time I crank the engine over two or three times
 
You need both plugs to get it to fire. Or the other plug touching metal. It fires through one and then the other, its not like a typical ignition system that jumps to ground. It jumps between the plug wires. So if you have one in and one not touching anything it won't jump across the plug steadily.

What does it do with both plugs in?
 
the firing rate goes up with both plugs in but it still won't stay running. It firesthen the starter disengages
 
is firing more more but it still wont stay running. Definitely getting better though. I'm hitting the throttle when it fires
 
still firing but won't run. I'm going to call it a night in a few minutes. hopefully what I've done has been benefited the motor some way...
 
I have to call it a night is 12:20 a.m.

the ski is firing more and more. it's getting late too late. I really truly appreciate everyone's help I'm going to continue working on this tomorrow morning
 
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