GTX DI 2001 - Still not starting-Battery maybe?

[oceanrider]

I am running out of options - except the dreaded dealer diagnosis. Here's the scoop. The starter is OK, been checked, there are two beeps when the lanyard is inserted. Now, I replaced the lanyard switch today - it seemed to react to the wires leading to it being bent one way or another. But I am still unable to start the ski. I get the two beeps and no gauges. If I plug in the battery tender, I get the two beeps and the fuel pump starting sound, as I should, but then as I start, I get a long beep indicating a wire harness problem. And the gauges go down.
I got a new post switch today - same symptoms. I tried jumping over the solenoid, but at that point the I cannot even see the gauges, the inserted lanyard does not seem to be recognised.

The battery is abut two year old, but it has been always in the battery tender and reads 12.5 V on the meter. The tender indicates it's charged. The nearest I get to starting up is a click or two from the solenoid, but only when the tender is plugged in.

Is the battery the culprit...>?

 

[oceanrider]

The answer is YES. The battery fluid level was down to about half. I got lulled into a comfort zone with the Battery Tender that is always attached when the Seadoo is parked. It showed the battery as fully charged and the meter registered about 12.58V. But there was no amperage and with load the reading dropped to about 3V. New battery plugged in and the machine started on the first try. Do I feel like an idiot? Yes...

 

[derek]

what is a tender? constant trickle charger? if so, it boiled away all the water from the acid in the batt. plus, they only live 2 years if you are lucky.

 

[oceanrider]

See http://www.batterytender.com/ . It's meant to be a bit more then just a trickle charger. They seem to work just fine, but I need to check the electrolyte level more often.