96 Challenger engine starting problem

[DeltaCruiser]

Purchased a 96 SeaDoo Challenger, and we are having problems with starting the engine. Our starting sequence is: Insert lanyard (2 beeps), wait about 30 seconds (click will be heard from mpem when the rear cover is open), depress start button. (According to the manual, we should hear 1 beep to signal gear is in neutral, but we do not). The boat started a few times, but will no longer start. The engine will turn over using a jumper wire from the solenoid. Should it actually start using this method? Battery, fuses, wires checked. Start button checked out. Lanyard read .5ohms. What are we missing and what should we check next? Thanks.

 

[seadoosnipe]

delay timer....

Your 30 seconds is for the delay timer. It doesn't mean to wait for 30 seconds. In 30 seconds, the delay timer shuts the power down to the mpem and gages, etc....

You will get the 1 beep to signal the boat is in neutral only if you were in forward or reverse and after putting on the lanyard, move the selector to neutral.

The engine will not start by jumping the solenoid. This method is used to verify a problem in the solenoid or starter, not used for starting.

Push the start/stop button on your dash board 5 times. You should hear one long, one short beep. Then, put the cap on. If you hear no beeps, then your DESS system is good, mpem is good and the boat should be ready to start.:cheers:

 

[DeltaCruiser]

96 SeaDoo Challenger engine starting problem

Thanks for the info on the delay timer and the solenoid.

We tried pushing the start/stop button 5 times. Heard one long, and one short beep. After putting the cap on, we heard 2 beeps. We then tried the start/stop button, heard 4long beeps.

Can you advise me where is the location of the neutral switch so we can check it.

 

[DeltaCruiser]

Tried to check the continuity of the start/stop button, but could not identify the wire in the mepm box.

 

[seadoosnipe]

Advanced mode.....

If you got two beeps when you placed the lanyard cap on the post, after you went into advanced diagnostic mode, then that signals that the mpem is not communicating with the digital code in the cap. It can also be from the wires being crossed at the post or at the mpem.

So, if you have messed with the wiring, you may have connected something back up incorrectly.

The neurtral safety switch is in the control handle assembly. You have to take off that top cap, with the 4 screws, then you'll encounter 4 scews under it, then you'll be able to lift it out.

I don't know why you want to do that, but that's how it's done. The 4 beeps signal that the boat is in gear, when you put the lanyard cap on, in the basic mode, not the advanced mode.:cheers:

 

[DeltaCruiser]

96 SeaDoo Challenger engine starting problem

We checked the yellow/red/green wire coming from the start/stop button. There was continuity. The yellow/red/green wire coming from the mpem to the solenoid had no continuity.

Based on your observations, the problem is with the mpem. The question is whether this is a relay within the unit which could be replaced, or does the whole unit need to be rebuilt?

No wires were messed with. The engine started several times before, then would not start.

Appreciate your help. Your advice, and reading other threads, has been helpful. Thanks.