1997 GTX RFI intermittent 12V low warning

[stag]

Over the past 2 years I have been fighting dead batteries. Since the first battery was old, I replaced it. Still the ski starts but only 10 or 12 times in one day and the next day the engine won't turn over. After reading the stator/armature are basically bullet proof, i replaced the regulator. Still the same problem. The 12v low warning comes on intermittently. It does not seem to care if it is high or low rpm/ ridden hard over waves or very easy on smooth water/ hot or cold/ battery fully charged or low. It will go off after a few minutes then come back on after a few minutes of riding. I have checked the fuses, the 3 yellow wires and the battery voltage. All check out except the battery voltage never reaches over battery voltage. I have checked most if not all the connections. All seem tight but some connections, not related to the charging system, may allow water to penetrate.
So, why does the 12v low light ever go off?
What could cause it to come on and go off?
What would you recommend I do next?
To be honest the starter never seems to turn over the engine very fast, so i know it could drain the battery if used frequently but I could not connect the dots to the intermittent 12v low warning. Could it be the starter?
It is funny how these ski's can drive you insane. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Stag

 

[nswillin]

You said you already replaced Rectifier/Regulator so magneto could be going bad. Only way to really test that is using a wiring adapter from Seadoo.

 

[stag]

Thanks for the advice. I checked resistance between each yellow leg = .2ohms and to ground = infinity. I started it and checked VAC between yellow legs = 50 to 75 Vac. I checked the fuses. One broke on the way out so i was hoping it was the culpret. Turns out it was not. I started it with the voltmeter across the battery. It was about 12.5 volts and remained 12.5 volts even up to 3500 RPM.

I can't think of anything but the rectifier/regulator I bought is no good. I am sure the parts house won't believe me so before i buy another one, ANY ideas of what else to test or anything i may have tested incorrectly? It seems i get AC volts I am just not sure about amps but on a magneto i don't know if that is possible.

Thanks,
Stag

 

[seadoolover]

charging

Gee this s a tough one... seems to reason could be a faulty rectifier but i would check that the magneto is properly operational as well before i bought another rectifier... becoming a premium member gives you all the details you'll ever need .. from diagnostic proceedures to specs and ratings..etc... it's really worth the $$ especially when the dealer charges $100 an hour here in OZ!! You can browse the workshop manuals at your leisure and go thoroughly through your problem. Best of luck..

 

[stag]

Thanks for the advice. I bought the shop manual when i bought the ski. You are right, it has been helpful. It is where i got the test procedures and specs for the stator (.2 ohms to 1 ohm between legs, infinite ohms between each leg to ground and 45 to 75 Vac each leg @ 5500 rpm). The next test was for amps to the battery but that would also include the rectifier/regulator.

Is there a way to test the amps out of the magneto before the rectifier?

Thanks,
Stag

 

[seadoolover]

magneto

Hey not sure bout that one but gotta be a way of testing magneto... guess it's back to the workshop manual or PM a forum moderator called seadoosnipe and direct your question to him he seems to know quite a bit bout these things... 've also read somewhere that faulty ski computer can cause charging problems...