1996 Seadoo challenger won't start

[brenthenny]

Hi all,
I have a 1996 Seadoo challenger that won't start,
Some background on it
We are the original owners its been stored in the winter every year , last summer we had the engine completely rebuilt and it worked like new. This year when we go to start it we put the tether on the DESS post and it does not beep twice like normal. When we press down on the start button absolutely nothing happens. Note * Its a brand new DESS post that we bought this week and it did not impact the problem. We have checked the neutral safety switch many times. The battery is charged to full. One thing I have noticed is at night the instrument cluster still lights up. The solenoid is brand new as well
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance

 

[MLars]

Battery connected backwards?

 

[brenthenny]

Red is on red , black on black thanks tho , u never know for sure

 

[MLars]

Yep I did that last year. Wouldn't start but accessories still worked. How did you check the neutral switch? If you just unplug it and connect the wires that will allow the boat to start

 

[brenthenny]

Me and my father unplugged it in attempt to by pass it all together , still didn't work so I figure thats not the problem any other ideas of what it could be ?

 

[MLars]

I would say the start button, but since it's not beeping that's probably not it unless your beeper went bad (which is fairly common in the skis from water constant splashing on it). I'd check the fuses in the main electrical box in the bilge

 

[brenthenny]

Thanks again for the quick reply's , and I was also beginning to think the start button was suspect we have checked the fuses although there seemed to be no problem with them , to your knowledge is there anyway to check the star button or even buy pass it or would buying a new one be the best option

 

[MLars]

Sorry but I've never had a problem with the start button so I'm not aware of any bypass. I would check the fuses again though because this does sound like a fuse problem.

 

[brenthenny]

Alrighty thanks a lot for your help really narrowed it down

 

[MLars]

No problem. But just so you know a faulty start button still doesn't explain why you're getting no beeps

 

[racerxxx]

The start button is just a switch, use a digital volt meter, and just ohm the switch. You're just checking continuity. There should be only w writes going to the switch. Set the meter to ohms and put one lead on one wire and the other lead on the other wire. Operate the switch the meter should change from OL to 0.001. If it doesn't make sure your leads are making a good connection and try again, still not working.....the the switch is probably bad. Just disconnect the switch to check it out.

 

[brenthenny]

Ok thanks a lot il give that a try

 

[brenthenny]

Where as a faulty fuse would explain the no beeps issues

 

[MLars]

Where as a faulty fuse would explain the no beeps issues

Yes that would explain your accessories working but the boat not starting

 

[brenthenny]

I will go check on those and let you know after that
thanks again

 

[brenthenny]

Ok just got the time , i checked and replaced every fuse then something interesting happened when I put the tether on the DESS and clicked the start button I got many beeps , meaning the beeper is working, we also found a wire running from the starter to the engine that look melted which may be the problem although when i took the key off and put it back and the DESS post while in neutral i get no beeps any ideas also what is the meaning of 4 0r 5 longs beeps

thanks

 

[MLars]

4 beeps means the shifter is not in neutral. Pull the neutral safety switch and connect the two wires. This will trick the computer into thinking the boat is in neutral. It will allow it to start, but you can't run it like this because in neutral the boat is limited to 3500 rpm.

 

[brenthenny]

Pulled the neutral safety switch , attached the two wires together still nothing , no beeps when lanyard attached .......

 

[Coastiejoe]

Went back and reread things. Based on the one wire melting and things changing for no real reason, I would replace all battery cables, clean where they mount to, put it back together with dielectric grease. You need to stop chasing ghosts,,,

 

[brenthenny]

does this sound to anyone that the computer could be shot , starting to seem like that

 

[brenthenny]

It was the relay on the back of the mpem