96 GSX quit, Now wont start loud CLUNK

[taliwhacka]

So 1 weekend goes by I dont take her out, I finally get her out an shes running great. Next thing you know shes just shuts off. I go to crank her back up and all I get is a CLUNK 1 single Clunk every time i hit the start button.. So I get a tow back to the dock pop my set off (which doesn't seal well) and I notice theres water in the hull more then usual, it was about 4 inches maybe "a guess" but it was almost touching the Driveshaft. My guess is the starter but what do you guys think? anyone have similar trouble in the past?

Thanks to everyone in advance...

 

[Nate Surveyor]

OK, water inside like that says leaking hoses.

Clunk could be the starter is under water.

So, drain the water, and pull the spark plugs, and see if it will turn over. Then check and see if it turns by hand, by turning the flywheel. That is at the FRONT of the drive shaft, and back of the engine. If it won't turn over, check all connections to battery, and coat them with a little grease.
If the motor turns by hand, then the starter is the trouble. It is a process of elimination.
This should get you started (no pun intended!)

Nate

 

[taliwhacka]

Long delay in response I know I was in transit to my new home here in GA, when you say pull the plugs and see if it turns over, You mean remove the sparkplugs and try to start it???

 

[taliwhacka]

SO I was thinking what are the symptoms of the Spark Plugs going bad? How do I test the Spark plugs? And last I have 2 new spark plugs in a box do I need to gauge them? and if so how much?? Thanks again to everyone who contributes.

 

[Nate Surveyor]

Yeah, pull plugs, and "try to start it". Put your spark plug wires on the posts that are sticking up, to GROUND them out.

Then, put the DESS key on, and hit the starter. See if it turns.

By this time (long delay...) you probably should disconnect the batt cables, and charge the doo's batt first. You should NEVER charge it while it is hooked up to the Doo. It can over volt the Doo's 'lectrical system. And that can cost mucho buks. Also, if you use booster cables, DO NOT have the host engine running. The alternator can over volt your Doo, and we are back to mucho buks!

Did you pull the drain plugs, do drain the water? It would not hurt it to leave the seat off, and place a fan over it to dry the insides, after the water is drained.

Nate

 

[taliwhacka]

OK these post you are talking about to ground out the wires, are these the 2posts next to the battery on the black housing where all the cables come out of?, now 2nd the pull the plugs do you just unscrew them? thank you for bearing with me and my plethra of newbie knowledge!:cheers:

 

[Goddo]

OK these post you are talking about to ground out the wires, are these the 2posts next to the battery on the black housing where all the cables come out of?, now 2nd the pull the plugs do you just unscrew them? thank you for bearing with me and my plethra of newbie knowledge!:cheers:

You can't miss the grounding device. It has two little metal tabs that stick up and the plug wires fit perfectly over them. The device should be attached to the magento housing cover.

As for the plugs, remove them completely. The idea is to remove the compression to see if it will crank over. If it doesn't crank without plugs, that it not good. It could signal an engine seizure. But don't assume the worst. Follow Nate's instructions and try to turn the engine at the PTO flywheel. If your engine turns, it's not seized. If it doesn't turn, then begin to consider worse case scenario.

If you think it's the starter, you can also remove it from the engine and run power to it...If it spins, there isn't a starter issue.

 

[lakenseagt]

I think I had a similar problem once: Seadoo quit for no reason and then on trying to start, just got a CLUNK. The CLUNK was starter gear engaging the flywheel, but not turning. Essentially the starter gets enough power to engage the starter gear with flywheel, but not enough power to turn it.

The problem was my battery had gone bad. Enough of the battery cells shorted out that voltage was low. I think once voltage drops enough the MPEM won't work and will stop a running engine.

Like Nate said, disconnect the battery and charge. After the charger is disconnected, check the voltage. Should be 12 volts or a litte more. If its less, then battery isn't charged. If it won't charge, then its bad.

If you can check the voltage while hitting the start button (connect battery first), see how low the voltage drops. If it drops to 9.5 or less volts, you have a shorted cell in the battery and you need a new battery. Sometimes a bad battery will charge and show 12 volts, but then drop once a load is put on it.

An old rule of thumb is that if a charged battery loses 20% of its voltage when loaded (ie. starter), it is bad. I use this to test a car batteries when I have a problem.

Dennis

 

[taliwhacka]

OK took the battery to get load tested and they said eveything is ok, said it was @ 83% so I will put it back on the charger...one thing the test said it had 566 CCA's when the battery is rated at 275 the guys saod no big deal but what do you guys think?

Well I pulled the spark plugs and put to brand new 1's in...the ones I pulled on was brown rust color and the other was white ashy like it had caught fire?... and the onw that was actually ashy colored the whole bottom half is discolored... what does this tell me now?

gonna charge the battery and try to crank her with the 2 new spark plugs!

 

[taliwhacka]

SO heres where I stand took the plugs out , and tried to start it.....same clunk noise..after hitting it a few times the clunk went away and now is a soliding clicking noise coming from the Box next to the battery where the spark plug wires come from..

1 thing I did notice after I went to disconnect the battery and was that the Red cable goin to the starter was pretty hot,

Oh and 1 last thing when I had the spark plugs out I could not crank it by hand at the fly wheel, but when i would hit the start button i could see the drive shaft move just a little...

so now I guess im in the worse case scenario region? fellas whats my next move now???:ack:

 

[robin savell lloyd]

It is time for a rebuild. unless you are very lucky and a external part is keeping it from turning over. :cheers:

 

[taliwhacka]

so thats it a Rebuild? where can I find a good rebuild scource....like a good step by step haha 1st one!

 

[Goddo]

I'd start with a shop manual. You can get them on this site by becoming a premium member.

Also, everyone has a mechanic friend...Now is the time to call in a favor. Having an experienced set of eyes to guide you through your first rebuild is a welcomed idea.

But, before you do any of this, get a second opinion. It does sound like one side of your engine has burned down, but before you tear it apart, it never hurts to have someone else look.

 

[32carv]

Huh?

Our buddy here didn't know how to remove spark pkugs or anything about his battery and we are encouraging him to try a rebuild?