1996 xp does partial crank then stops

[lilskipp84]

96 seadoo xp with full battery, when I go to start, it'll do like an almost crank, and then nothing. Almost sounding as if the motor was seized. I removed plugs and spun flywheel so I know it's not seized, I checked battery voltage and its 100% fine, and I went as far as to remove starter and test with jumpers and it spun freely!!.... Suggestions beyond them moves? Again, the sounds is like the starter almost goes for a split second and then almost sounds like it is frozen, yet motor moves freely

 

[Sparkieboat]

bad starter or weak battery or corroded connections... try using good set of jumper cables and hook a car/boat battery up and see if the extra juice spins it over.

 

[XP 787]

Had the same problem not too long ago turned out to be a weak starter. Works fine under no load but would turn motor over very weak. But before you jump to swapping the starter check ground cable. Disconnect it and sand down terminals and also where it bolts up to on the starter. My friends SPX shut down on him while riding with no power. Disconnected ground from starter sanded it down and it's good to go.

 

[Sparkieboat]

you can use a car/boat battery and jumper cables directly to the starter to rule out bad wire connections. that is the quickest and easiest way for me.

 

[1983]

Exact same thing just happened to me today on my 96' xp. It was my first ride of the season. Ended up being battery wasn't a 100% even though always being kept on battery tender. Charged it and rode!


Rob

 

[Sparkieboat]

I stopped buying those wet cell batteries..they were all just crap.. most would not even turn the motor over more than 3 or 4 good times before they start dying, even brand new...I have been using the gel batteries on ebay.. they resist overcharging and also will recharge even after being completely discharged for months..wet cell batteries are finished if they ever discharge for very long at all. the gel batteries i have been getting can turn my jet ski over for 4 or 5 mins at least, I still have the old gray tempo lines on a ski and I had to crank and choke forever to get the fuel flowing the other day, gel battery just kept turning it over and never even slowed up. (i have new lines on the way) . but the batteries are about $50 to your door on ebay.

 

[lilskipp84]

Yea both batteries are new from last year, and have been on a tender. I'll charge then full and see what happens. I fired my first ski right up no problem, the twin is giving me shit however. I even used both batteries and both skis, just this second one is nothing but a headache

 

[LouDoo]

I don't know why these batteries won't last more than a couple of years. Last time I bought a battery I bought an MagnaPower from Auto Zone, same story 2 years and it's done, actually for longevity I've had better success with lead acid. I bought a never start battery from Wal Mart, for my garden tractor eight years ago and it's still going strong. It's a mystery.

Lou