2002 Seadoo GTX 4 TEC grounding wire question, and no start, just buzzing noise

[quadracer22]

Hi,
I have a 2002 Seadoo GTX 4 Tec
I bought it with engine out of it
I put it back together tonight
tried to start, when i put tether in, it just buzzes
battery is 12.5 volts
I get no display, no cranking, start, nothing
was told it ran great, had small hole in hull that i fixed
any help would be greatly appreciated
thanks,
Mike

 

[devonte007]

I had a similar issue once with my boat, I neglected to hook up both (2 of them) negative ground wires to the battery. With only one of the grounds hooked up I got a weird buzzing noise and nothing worked just as you described. Second ground wire slipped down in the bilge under the engine and I did not see it. After I hooked up the second ground to the battery everything was back to normal.

Not sure if your ski is similar or different with regards to the ground wires as my boat, but maybe somewhere to start. Either way it sounds like a ground issue, either missing one of the wires or a bad ground altogether.

 

[quadracer22]

I read that post, I searched everywhere, but I only have 1 ground.....
page 1 shows 1 ground like mine, with another ground bolted to it
and last page where ground connects to block....
I never removed engine, just reinstalled
guy said it was running great, and got a hole in hull
and removed the engine to repair
and that is how i bought it
I am puzzled, checked every wire and connection over and over
thanks

 

[quadracer22]

I added another ground wire, and still same problem
unplugged and reconnected everything again
noticed when i wiggled the engine connector plug I got a beep
at least.... gauges... 2 beeps... no buzzing
push starter button, turned the shaft about half a turn
unpluged tether, back on, 2 beeps
crank one sec, stop, crank one sec, stop
thought maybe bad starter
hooked up charger to starter
runs, stops, runs, stops...........
pulled plugs cause i thought maybe too much compression
runs continously and smooth
plugs back in, half turn, stop, half turn, stop
debate where my starter is bad
also the buzzing will come back and everything goes blank
wiggle the engine connector... 2 beeps
so I am not sure what my next step is
any suggestions

 

[smc0922]

What does your battery load test at? Seems like it doesn't have enough power to crank. Only use a battery, don't use a charger on the start setting and dont use jumper cables. I'd say put a new freshly charged battery in it and try again.

You also seem to have some bad connections as well.

 

[quadracer22]

I bought a new battery and charged it up.... good battery
even brought to autozone to test
they said good battery
I used charger on starter cause i wanted to make sure engine wasn't locked up or bent valve
I never seen engine run, just told it was running
I hooked charger directly to starter and disconnected positive
All connections are checked over and over again....
I have a yard full of jetskis that I part out and rebuild
this thing is kicking my ass!!!!
I put a second negitive battery cable, but still think I have a grounding problem
which is a pain to track down

 

[BMANN06]

Hey man just read through your post. Good to hear that it spins freely with the plugs out, certainly sounds like the starter to me. Do you have one you can borrow from another ski?

 

[quadracer22]

yep the starter is smoked.... literally smoke came from it when it cranked yesterday
so i got one on order.....
my electrical problem is still hit and miss......
I know know what to "wiggle" to get the display and beeps back
Ran out of time this weekend, and christmas stuff and out of town for work
so it might be a few weeks before i can tackle problem again
which is the hardest to trouble shoot, but hopefully when i get a starter i can actually hear this thing run!!!

 

[BMANN06]

Sweet let us know how she runs when you get the new starter in, if you know what connecotor it is, you can use a tiny flat blade screw driver to bend the contacts in on the female side of the connector. Then hit it with some dielectric grease and you should be good to go.

Kinda off topic here, but my wife is interested in a job at a hospital in raleigh, NC at this point we are just kinda mulling it over but what's the real estate looking like down there? We'd like to be in the $200K range for a 3 bedroom ... are we out to lunch with our price?

 

[quadracer22]

hopefully i will get this figured out soon
I have no time the next couple weeks to work on it
but will keep you posted
thanks,
Mike