1996 GTX electrical black out

[Adamblack]

1996 GTX 110HP engine 5640 boat not started in over a year because of a damaged start/stop switch and LH handle cover, with new battery and start/stop switch was installed, i attached lanyard and got very faint 2 beeps. Engine was sluggest but with plugs out and RAVE's cleaned, it turned over nicely but expelled moisture. Fuel was cut off and not present in liquid. LUB was sprayed into cylinders and moisture cleared. During this procedure the lanyard was removed and replaced often to get start/stop switch to engage. The electrical became less and less responsive. WE installed new plugs and got several fires but no ignition to run. The fuel is good but the replacing of the lanyard eventuaLLY BROUGHT NO ELECTRICAL RESPONSE FROM THE INFO CENTER. Starter would not engage nor did there appear to be any power at all. Battery was replaced, fuses 5 amp & 15 amp tested good, but still no electrical response.. the info center never lights or gives any info...at first we got all normal info including temps, compass, etc...when the lanyard is attached there is only black out. Just as if there were no lanyard on at all. The lanyard causes a LOUD SINGLE BEEP when placed on one of my other boats. So I think the lanyard is good....what would be the next thing to test???

 

[seadoolover]

corrosive electricals?

I'd be cleaning all your electricals... positive and negative... and your lanyard post... clean your starter/solenoid and battery terminals and see what happens from there. Also i've seen the corroded internals of a starter motor drain a full charge battery in 5 minutes with us knowing none the wiser.. till we pulled it apart... even though your battery is new check and recharge it .. won't hurt a bit.. go from there.

 

[Adamblack]

the post tests bad, (I THINK).. I have one coming this week...I will try all the other cleaning you suggested also..

 

[kustomkarl]

If the Mpem isn't getting a good connection from the lanyard than it will act like you said in you post. You could use soapy water to clean it ans see what happens. If the ground and power at starter will drain the battery also.
Keep us posted on you outcome. We'll be here to help if you get in a jam.

Karl

 

[Adamblack]

at the point of giving up

Cleaned all external connections of battery and starter motor...got the new post and installed...still only a faint 2 chirps..but info center lit up. Pushed start button and got a small bump from started and then all was black again. check electrical box at battery and all looks like new inside...15 amp fuse visually looks good(no burned connection). The MPEM looks new inside...5 amp and 15 amp fuses have no burn thru...moved battery to my XP and it started that motor. I am not enough of a mechanic, i don't think to tackle removing the starter to check it...anything else before I throw in the towel???

also are the 2 posts that you put the spark plugs wires on when turning over engine without sparkplugs located on the electricl box next to the battery??? I can't seem to find any other POSTS to ground the wires....

 

[seadoolover]

Giving up??

:rant:Adam... giving up ain't an option... my old doo took me 6 months to get a problem diagnosed and fixed... in the end it was the simplest thing.... the doo ain't going nowhere .. so just take your time and play with it bit by bit... did you clean your lanyard like KARL suggested? What you've done so far hasn't hurt the ski further.... only bettered your chances of finding your problem... we're all here to help you.... between all of us you'll get it sorted. As for not being mechanical enough... the only way is to try and learn... pull that starter... play with it... test it .... you've access to the manuals so take it step by step. If it doesn't fix the problem we'll try something else... no harm no foul. Overall you've got to be patient with it... i know it's hard.. all you wanna do is ride the sucker.. stick with it.. it'll be worth it in the end.:rant:

 

[Adamblack]

thanks for the encouragement...i have 2 other boats that i can ride in the mean time....but my wife only will ride the GTX...she feels safer on the bigger boat...as i guess you read, the post has been replaced, the start stop swith replaced, battery replaced, fuses test good. We were getting engine to turn over and fire/run for a few seconds. Then the boat started getting harder to get the info center to come on and finally not at all. The lanyard causes a single beep from my other boats indicating incorrect lanyard but i will soap/water clean it and go again. When reconnecting the neg battery wire to the neg battery post, i get a slight spark from my working boats. When I reconnect on the dead GTX I get no spark..does this indicate anything i should check?? Should I jump the starter silinoid to test the starter? if so, can I just touch pos battery wire to side going to starter?
I really want to beat this electricasl gremlin:reddevil: so my wife will have her boat to ride.

 

[All Things Custom]

Sounds to me like a grounding issue, check your black negative cable from the battery to the motor connection.

 

[Adamblack]

the connection is tight and looks clean...but i will unbolt and brush clean the screw post and reattach...can anybody give me the best way to jump the starter silonoid to test the stater motor?????

 

[All Things Custom]

take an insulated pair of pliers and just touch the two posts with the big red cables.

 

[Adamblack]

could a bad starter silinoid also account for the NO POWER to the info center?? it appears that all the boat's electrical power passes thru that silinoid...

 

[Adamblack]

finally! it's alive!

After replacing a dead lanyard post, starter relay and start/stop switch without any luck at getting power to the boat, I replaced all fuses (even though they tested OK) rechecked all connections and BEHOLD, "Houston, we fixed the problem." We got power and after a little add'l effort with the plugs and jugs, the boat started and ran quite smooth. Water test trials on Saturday... Thanks for the help and most of all the "you can do it" encouragment.

 

[seadoolover]

Congratulations

:hurray:

Good on you ADAM for sticking with it.. man you got lucky this time.. i was at it for 6 months!! I hope the boat keeps running great.. if not we are always here to help. Now get the WIFE ( minister for war and finance ) out and have yourselves a great time.:cheers:

 

[Adamblack]

after the water trials on Saturday, we have a ride happening on Sunday afternoon...thanks again

 

[kustomkarl]

That is super news Adam. It makes you feel good when you get something to work properly...I think we all knew you could do it. Now go have some fun. Post some pictures if you got a camera, in the users gallery.

Karl