Need some help

[96ROSSIERGSX]

So just pulled the ski out of storage today and was doing a little work on it. First I was putting a new baffle float in and found the the screen on the end of the baffle was missing. So I just left that and got one on order. Then I decide to make sure she will turn over. Put the key in and no beeps. Great. So I take the key off and press the start botton 5 times to see what happens. (didnt know what to expect just hear of people doing it.) I got nothing. So I thought I would make sure she will turn over even if no beeps. Nope bad battery. Go to the parts store and get a new battery and put it in and see if it would turn over. It turned over once, and then nothing. I looked at the info guage and it says RV LOW. So I thought I would get on the board and see what you guys think. My questions are, what should I do about the beeps? Next what does RV LOW mean? I am hoping after I fix all that she will turn over.

Thanks
Kevin

 

[timmyboy76]

pull plugs, see if she turns then, make sure you got towel ovre holes, just in case, inner seals are shot, and caused oil to leak in the journal area.

 

[96ROSSIERGSX]

Just pulled the plugs and all I got was a click.

 

[b15philly]

Most likely you need a new DESS post, mine beeps sometimes and other times it does not, I have been told that its no biggie:cheers:

 

[96ROSSIERGSX]

Well I just was looking some more and found that the battery ground and the starter ground are linked. Where does everybody have their ground on the block?

 

[jwick86]

The service manual for your ski show's the ground from the battery going directly to one of the mount posts for your starter. My 01 Xp grounds right next to the starter on the base and has other grounds on the mag housing for the electrical.
Check your starter solenoid, i've heard of them sticking and causing the problem you are speaking of. My old ski would do this at first, I just had to put something on the top of a piston and very gently tap it to just budge it and then it would start every time. The solenoid was fine after a few times of this and it would only do it from sitting over the winter.
As far as the beeps, I've bought new buzzers and had them not work 5 mins later, then come back months later with the key, yet I've pulled the water temp and it goes right off (knowing the motor is ice cold).
Also, check your electrical box grounds, make sure they are good and not rotting apart. If you crank it over without the plugs in it, make sure you use the ground post for the wires or you could fry the electronics. The mag needs to get rid of its energy somewhere.

 

[96ROSSIERGSX]

Ok well im getting some where. I found a blown fuse at the starter relay. fixed that and I got the too beeps back. When I hit the start button 5 times and got 1 short beep and then 1 long beep (hope thats good!). I still get the click when I hit the start button. Any ideas? I did clean all of the terminals dealing with the starter. any help will be appreciated.

Kevin

 

[jwick86]

Try taking out a spark plug, and spinning the motor over a little bit. Then re-install the plugs and see if it will start. My 91 Xp did this and I carried a 12 inch 1/4 extension with me and a rubber hammer to very very gently tap the top of the piston to move it and it would work every time. Within a few good days of riding it went back to normal. Did you do a test on the battery to make sure its putting out enough amps? You may have 12 volts but not the amps to crank it over. Try for just a few seconds, hook up a battery charger and put in on 10 amps and try to start, or 40 for a very few seconds. A friend had a battery that would make it beep and would not crank over, now it works just like a brand new battery.

 

[96ROSSIERGSX]

I have been turning the drive shaft and I have had the plugs out the hole time. It is a brand new dry cell battery and I did try to jump it with a non running car. Still all I get is the click from either the selonoid or coil.

 

[jwick86]

ENGINE WILL NOT START
NOTE: Watercraft equipped with the Digitally Encoded Security System, refer to ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
07-06 for troubleshooting of problems related with this system.
OTHER OBSERVATION POSSIBLE CAUSE REMEDY
Engine does not turn over
• Safety lanyard cap worn or removed • Replace/reinstall
• Safety lanyard switch or harness
damaged
• Replace
• Burnt 5 A fuse • Check wiring then replace fuse
• 5 A fuse keeps on burning • Check wiring, solenoid and MPEM
• Discharged battery • Check/clean/tighten
• Battery connections • Check/recharge
• Water/fuel hydrolock • Check, refer to section 01-04
• Starter • Check, refer to section 07-04
• Seized engine • Check/repair as needed
• Seized jet pump • Check, refer to section 08-02

This is the only troubleshooting for a motor that will not start in the service manual. I'd check the 5a fuse again, or possible another starter.

In your very first post, you said it turned over once, did it turn over fast like normal or slow? Keep up with what you find so we can help.

 

[jwick86]

Solenoid
NOTE: Solenoid is located in the electrical box.
Inspect connections and clean as necessary.
Static Test: Continuity
With a multimeter, check primary winding resistance.
It should be approximately 5 ohms.
There should be no continuity between the positive
posts of the solenoid.
Dynamic Test
Depress start/stop button and measure the voltage
on the solenoid positive posts with a multimeter.
If there is no voltage and battery is in good condition,
replace the solenoid.

Just some more on it and where it is.

 

[96ROSSIERGSX]

Thanks jwick86 for that info I will look at all that tonight. When It did trun over it was kind of slow then justed stoped. I just replaced the starter last fall and I am going to say there is maybe 5 hours on it.

 

[nerdlinger]

jwick . . .

I'm having a similar problem with my 99 XP, except that my problem is intermittent. It will start on the first try after sitting in the garage all week, but then when I get to the lake it won't start until like the 100th try. I get a click from the electrical box, but no response from the engine. It was suggested to me that the problem is the solenoid. I've checked cables/wires and found no issues.

Your post there should be "no continuity between the positive posts of the solenoid", but the repair manual picture (section 8, page 3) only shows one positive post on the solenoid (where the positive battery cable connects). Where is the other positive post to connect the multimeter?

 

[jwick86]

My post to him was for a different ski with a different motor. The 99 XP has a different system for electronics.

Engine does not turn over
• DESS operation non functional • If 2 short beeps are not heard when
installing safety lanyard, refer to
DIGITALLY ENCODED SECURITY
SYSTEM 08-06
• Safety lanyard switch or harness
damaged
• Replace
• Burnt 5 A fuse on MPEM • Check wiring then replace fuse
• 5 A fuse keeps on burning • Check wiring, solenoid and MPEM
• Discharged battery • Check/recharge
• Battery connections • Check/clean/tighten
• Water/fuel hydrolock • Check, refer to subsection 02-04
• Starter • Check, refer to subsection 08-04
• Seized engine • Check/repair as needed
• Seized jet pump • Check, refer to subsection 09-02
• Faulty sensor or ECU (RFI) • Check faulty codes in ECU memory, refer
to subsection 06-05

This is the trouble shooting chart for your ski.

Solenoid
NOTE: Solenoid is located in the electrical box.
Inspect connections and clean as necessary.
Static Test: Continuity
With a multimeter, check primary winding resistance.
It should be approximately 5 ohms.
There should be no continuity between the positive
posts of the solenoid.
Dynamic Test
Depress start/stop button and measure the voltage
on the solenoid positive posts with a multimeter.
If there is no voltage and battery is in good condition,
replace the solenoid.

How to test your solenoid.

Starter does not turn.
-Burnt 5 A fuse on MPEM. Check wiring condition and replace
fuse.
-Poor contact of battery terminal(s). Clean and tighten terminal(s).
-Poor battery ground cable connection. Clean and tighten.
-Weak battery. Recharge or replace battery.
-Poor contact of start/stop switch,
safety lanyard switch or solenoid.
-Check connectors and clean contacts.
-Check and replace defective parts.
-Open circuit: start/stop switch or
solenoid.
Check and replace.
-Safety lanyard or MPEM. Refer to DIGITALLY ENCODED
SECURITY SYSTEM 08-06.

Starting system troubleshooting. How old is your starter?

 

[nerdlinger]

Yes, it has a different system for electronics, but both troubleshooters have the same phrase: "There should be no continuity between the positive posts of the solenoid." I don't know where a second positive post would be. There is one positive from the battery on the solenoid, and the other connects to the starter. Are they both positive posts?

 

[jwick86]

Yes. The solenoid is basically a switch. When you depress the starter button it tells the solenoid to complete the circuit and send power to the starter. The "no continuity" means you should not have power on both posts unless you depress the button. However, when doing this test you should not be pressing the button. To test continuity take a multi-meter and put on the continuity test (you can check by touching the to leads together and getting a solid beep) and put them on both sides of the solenoid. You should NOT have continuity there.

 

[loren]

i definately think its the selinoid.i had the same problem.sometimes it worked somtimes it just clicked.if you listen real close,the click is comming from the batterybox.(where the selonoid is)i kept thinking it was that somthing was wet.but it wasnt.then i thought "it should eighther work or not work" because its electric.but this isnt always true.selonoids will work somtimes even if they are bad.try jumping it with a screwdriver.if it works,problem solved.change selonoid.

 

[96ROSSIERGSX]

What is the best way to test the starter? I took the starter out and hooked it straight to the battery and got nothing. Is this the right way or should I try something else?

 

[glenwhitt]

+ and -

if you had good ground to the starter and a good postive, and of course a charged good batt, then this thing should have spun. Tested the one in mine the same way after I had it out. Spun like a mad man.

 

[jwick86]

+1. If you hooked it up correctly and had a good battery and nothing spun, you have a bad starter. It could be that the brushes are worn out or the armature is worn. Try another battery, but I would be guessing its the starter.

 

[96ROSSIERGSX]

Ya I am thinking its the starter. Just makes me mad sense I bought it on 9/10/08. Atleast it has a 1 year hassle free warranty.

 

[jwick86]

I would just send it back and get a new one and go from there. Hopefully its the problem.

 

[96ROSSIERGSX]

Well I got it fixed. It was the starter. I took the old one off and then too it apart and everything inside was coroaded. Put a new starter in and she turns over just fine. Thanks for all of your guys' help.

Kevin