• This site contains eBay affiliate links for which Sea-Doo Forum may be compensated.

97 Challenger (Single Engine) Starter Button

Status
Not open for further replies.
R

rgwekwert

New Member
Hello,
Again, my first ride ever this Memorial weekend. What a fun boat!!! I've been tinkering with it for a couple months but got it out and am impressed.

1) Has anyone had a problem with the Start/Stop button intermittantly working? I know it is in Neutral since I hear the single beep but the button only works once in five or ten tries before the engine cranks. In other words, I hit the button and nothing happens at all. I keep hitting the start button and it finally cranks. Just a bad button or something more?

2) Is there anyone out there (with single engine) who would be willing to talk to me on the phone (EST Timezone)about this boat? I just want to know what is normal operation. i.e. How to long to come up on plane, fuse panel, can you pull a skier with a single engine boat, what's "normal not " top speed. I do have the service manual and operations manual but some of my questions don't fit in the manual.

Thanks for all the help!
 
You need to see if the trigger/feed wire is giving the starter solenoid 12 volts when pressing the start button. If it is and the solenoid isn't engaging then you need a new solenoid. If not, then it could be the start button (which is testable using continuity on the meter)


Repairing and selling iPads, iPhones and Mini iPads.
 
Yes I have One, and have done nothing but pushed it to the limits about 50Mph on a fresh motor, using a GPS Speedo (SpeedHut ).
On Plan around 11-16mph with the VTS full down and gradually brought to plane as the boat rises. The VTS can be adjusted so when on plan you can shoot a rooster tail to try and knock off rafters (its like getting hit with a hose in the face).
Need more than a service manual to restore to better than original, Need these guys and others.
Yes you can pull a skier (1 only) I use a tower now.
Depending on the size of the rafter 2 to 3 at a time. Knee boader to.
You can quite that motor down with light weight marine sound proofing but not the wind noise. (FASTTTTTTTT)
Run it 1/2 full of gas and full of Oil tank weight is a big issue. Less weight more you can do (spins, wake jumping, submarining, skipping and speeding) I call it my horizontal PWC, Ride 3 only when having fun more when going to a wait spot. It is a blast and I personally want more out of it. Good luck and have fun !!
 
Coastiejoe said:
You need to see if the trigger/feed wire is giving the starter solenoid 12 volts when pressing the start button. If it is and the solenoid isn't engaging then you need a new solenoid. If not, then it could be the start button (which is testable using continuity on the meter)


Repairing and selling iPads, iPhones and Mini iPads.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply: So - if it is a solenoid problem - would it be intermittant problem or would it typically be an all or nothing. i.e. sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
 
They can be intermittent. Has to do with a poor connection on the inside if the solenoid more often than not. Sometimes a weak magnetic pull, but same end result. Defective solenoid.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
TerrenceBennett said:
Yes I have One, and have done nothing but pushed it to the limits about 50Mph on a fresh motor, using a GPS Speedo (SpeedHut ).
On Plan around 11-16mph with the VTS full down and gradually brought to plane as the boat rises. The VTS can be adjusted so when on plan you can shoot a rooster tail to try and knock off rafters (its like getting hit with a hose in the face).
Need more than a service manual to restore to better than original, Need these guys and others.
Yes you can pull a skier (1 only) I use a tower now.
Depending on the size of the rafter 2 to 3 at a time. Knee boader to.
You can quite that motor down with light weight marine sound proofing but not the wind noise. (FASTTTTTTTT)
Run it 1/2 full of gas and full of Oil tank weight is a big issue. Less weight more you can do (spins, wake jumping, submarining, skipping and speeding) I call it my horizontal PWC, Ride 3 only when having fun more when going to a wait spot. It is a blast and I personally want more out of it. Good luck and have fun !!
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply!!! I knew I would have to tinker with it to get the full potential. Right now, on a new motor rebuild (no paperwork proof) with 160 compression (confirmed) I am only getting 34 MPH (Waze GPS App) and it doesn't plane quickly, sometimes. But even at 34 MPH what a fun boat!!! And the noise... All I heard was the passengers screaming and laughing. I still have a lot to learn about the boat but that will come with time. I have a lot of little things to work on but I need to prioritze them. Probably need to look at the carbs first for the speed... Solenoid/starter button, speedo, bucket adjustment, bilge pump fuse or sensor (pump works off battery)...
Thanks again - any suggestions are always appreciated.
 
When you floor it from a stop, do the RPMs go way up but it takes a bit for the boat to get up to speed?
 
Coastiejoe said:
When you floor it from a stop, do the RPMs go way up but it takes a bit for the boat to get up to speed?
Click to expand...

Yes, pretty much. The RPMs seem pretty stable at the high end, it just takes a while to plane out. I can send someone to the front of the boat and it planes out quicker. The RPMs don't fluctuate, the engine does seem to run very well, it starts everytime (when the starter button works - see other thread above). I think you are getting at an impeller problem as opposed to carb problem. I did have a SeaDoo dealer inspect the boat before I bought it and I received the following statement "Impeller Good. Wear Ring has some cavatation Marks, Pump Housing looks OK".
Again, thanks for your replies! Very much appreciated!
 
Coastiejoe said:
You need to see if the trigger/feed wire is giving the starter solenoid 12 volts when pressing the start button. If it is and the solenoid isn't engaging then you need a new solenoid. If not, then it could be the start button (which is testable using continuity on the meter)


Repairing and selling iPads, iPhones and Mini iPads.
Click to expand...

Hello CoastieJoe - Thanks for your reply. I couldn't figure out how to take the measurement across solenoid but I did measure across the sarter button and it worked flawlessly each time I tried open to closed circuit each time. I tried the solenoid but the reading from ground to trigger flucuated so I think I was doing it wrong. There was also water in this MPEM box so I just cleaned everything up and dried everything out. It's not in the water right now but it started everytime I pushed the button. So, I may pick up a solenoid just to have, in case. Jus the solenoid, right? Not the rectifier circuit behind it? THanks again!
 
Coastiejoe said:
When you floor it from a stop, do the RPMs go way up but it takes a bit for the boat to get up to speed?
Click to expand...

Do you think I should be looking at something other than the carbs? I will have it on the water next weekend. I spent this weekend cleaning it up with a powerwasher and wax. Fixing bilge pump, maintenance, ...
 
You can not get hurt by having a spare solenoid. They fail whenever they want to.

Water I the MPEM or any electrical box can cause MANY MANY issues. It will act like a poor connection and or a short. I'd ride and and see how it goes.


Repairing and selling iPads, iPhones and Mini iPads.
 
The New solenoid solved the problem... Cheap, easy fix. It starts on every button push.


Bobw - Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
The 160 compression is good but the 34MPH is bad! Unless your caring a lot (people) or pulling a lot. From underneath look up through the grate at your impeller Wear ring fit if you can see more than a dash of light replace the wear ring, its cheap and will improve your performance (speed) UNLESS there are gouges and pits or the impeller is in rough shape. You may have to rebuild the pump (Impeller, bearings, shaft gaskets, etc..)

SO…… Weight is a big thing with these boats so ½ Tank of gas no more than 3 people when you want to go faster than 34mph.

Rock the boat to get on Plane faster (go Left then right them left etc.. Quickly while powering up until it grabs an edge then balls to the wall)

Use a freezer to remove the wear ring and put the new one in. Easy pezy
 
I had the carbs rebuilt last year by waterluvr (bob) and this thing hauls butt... I still have all the little things to fix but I am very happy with this little boat. I can spin it and skip it sideways across the water. I haven't figured out the submarine thing yet because I am too chicken to put it in reverse going forward and I have to throttle down to go from F to R, it won't let me go directly from F to R or R to F. Love this boat. I had to ground my daughter from the boat for spraying a whole dock full of people with the jet wash (on purpose).
Fun, fun, fun... til your daddy takes your speedboat away!!!


Bobw - Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
rgwekwert said:
I had the carbs rebuilt last year by waterluvr (bob) and this thing hauls butt... I still have all the little things to fix but I am very happy with this little boat. I can spin it and skip it sideways across the water. I haven't figured out the submarine thing yet because I am too chicken to put it in reverse going forward and I have to throttle down to go from F to R, it won't let me go directly from F to R or R to F. Love this boat. I had to ground my daughter from the boat for spraying a whole dock full of people with the jet wash (on purpose).
Fun, fun, fun... til your daddy takes your speedboat away!!!


Bobw - Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I did a great move this weekend took my girlfriend by suprise(cant believe how much water these boats can take in and not sink) in front of friends and relitives on shore. unfortuneatly didnt get that on video . but this video is from last season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISrfyBY9ADo
 
I am feeling like you need a wear ring. On boats this is a bit harder to diagnose as they are heavier and take some time to get on plane and up to speed.

By comparison, my RXT-X is at 50 mph in 2.6 seconds. It weighs 800 pounds and has a 255 in it.

But I really do feel with your lack of speed and performance you are looking at a wear ring. There is another potential as well. If your carbon seal is bad or worn, it would suck air (from within the hull) and cause cavitation. But in most cases, if the carbon seal is bad, you will also get water into the hull.

Why I think you have a wear ring or carbon seal is, you do not complain of a run-ability issue. Engine not missing, smooth and good RPMs, ect ect.
 
Danosll said:
I did a great move this weekend took my girlfriend by suprise(cant believe how much water these boats can take in and not sink) in front of friends and relitives on shore. unfortuneatly didnt get that on video . but this video is from last season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISrfyBY9ADo
Click to expand...

CRAZY!!! I know you told me a couple times but mine won't go directly from F to R or R to F with out throttling down first.
Great video, even the cup holder is full of water at the end of that video.


Bobw - Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

R
1997 Seadoo Challenger- Single 787 Engine (operators manual)
Replies
8
Views
270
rusty nail
rusty nail
B
RESTO DESS Post / Key 1997 challenger workaround NOT bypassing it.
Replies
7
Views
720
Doug Overkill
Doug Overkill
S
Twin 717s: right engine won't crank
Replies
12
Views
347
burtshaver2021
burtshaver2021
M
787 engine blown (98’ challenger 1800)
Replies
1
Views
263
burtshaver2021
burtshaver2021
A
2006 Sportster 4-TEC, single long beep when running - overheating?
Replies
5
Views
564
Burner71
Burner71
Back
Top