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Sparkplugs!

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Floridan surfer

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I had a no start issue with my 06 Sea-Doo challenger that I just resolved by changing the spark plugs.

To give a little background, I took my boat out one day-it started up fine, ran great, everything was normal. I anchored on an island and hung out there for about three hours, when I got back in the boat to go home it would not start. And I mean it wouldn't even come close to starting, no sputter, no nothing. I had to get towed in.

My first impression was something electrical-maybe something as simple as a fuse or something more crucial and expensive like a MPEM.

In troubleshooting the boat, I did replace the fuel injectors. I noticed that two of them had split, however I tested them and they all seemed to spray fine.

Then I changed out the spark plugs, and it started right up. I have years and years of experience with engines from carbureted cars and motorcycles to fuel injected vehicles, lawnmowers, weedeaters, you name it. Never have I seen spark plugs just go kerplunk with no prior warning, like rough running or hard start issues.

Has anybody ever had any similar spark plug issues like this? I haven't tested the boat on the water yet, but I can't help but to think that there is some sort of underlying issue that fouled the spark plugs so quickly.

One piece of advice I can give to you from this experience is have a spare set of spark plugs in your boat!
 
Yep, that is unusual, typically there would be some sign, such as misfiring. I do keep a spare set of good plugs along with tools with me in my boat despite this being a relatively small body of water, I'm sometimes out there when no other boats are around.
 
Not unusual actually. I've seen it happen to more than one person at the dock. Sometimes you can get away with holding the throttle all the way open and crank. If you're lucky it will fire. Most of the time it won't. Fresh set of plugs and you're good to go. Just this past season I've helped out 2 guys with RXPs with this issue.

All of their issues were after a cold start and shut off shortly after causing the plugs to get fouled. Yours sounds like it happened after a longer ride.

While anchored did you start it and ran it for a short while then shut it off?
 
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Floridan surfer said:
In troubleshooting the boat, I did replace the fuel injectors. I noticed that two of them had split, however I tested them and they all seemed to spray fine.
Click to expand...

I have an related issue, two of mine have split too. I bet it was two (2&3) cylinders towards the back of the boat. I found a problem with a short in my fuse block to keep the unit from running. Is possible to post pictures of the spark plugs and let the experts comment?
 
Interesting... if you have the old plugs, maybe try putting them back in to make sure it doesn't start. That would remove any doubt of them as the culprit.
 
Here's the plugs with a close up of the worst one:
299.jpg
300.jpg
 
looks like a rust bridge across the the arc gap. interesting... surprised that it would happen so fast that it would leave you stranded. were you running in salt water?
 
I do run in salt water. The plugs are probably 3 seasons old. How does moisture from the exhaust find its way to the plugs? An open exhaust valve? The boat was running fine, then nothing on restart attempt; not even a sputter.

I've heard a cracked intercooler can allow fluid into the intake hose. I will have to pull the intake plumbing to check for moisture.
 
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Floridan surfer said:
I've heard a cracked intercooler can allow fluid into the intake hose. I will have to pull the intake plumbing to check for moisture.
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That's a good point, if you have an SC engine I guess there could be a leak in the intercooler that's pissing water into your intake. And if that's the case it might explain why all three wouldn't fire, it could've ingested some water vapor sitting in the intake as soon as you hit the starter.

Yes, I was thinking water vapor from your exhaust might be entering through an open exhaust valve. Kinda looks like corrosion growth on your plugs, from moisture.
 
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After seeing the plugs I see two possible problems, both stated above. Running in salt water, exhaust water vapor COULD cause the rust on the plug that will cause it to not fire. Enough to not start? Eh maybe on old plugs. Other thing a leaky intercooler which could cause the same rust. However, a leaky intercooler would dump water vapor in the cylinder while running and possibly blow out the spark. Also I'd guess it would leak enough water that over time while anchored it could be enough to hydro lock. That said my guess is old plugs and exhaust water vapor is probably the more likely issue.
 
I just recently changed my plugs due to one engine running really rough...this was also after 3 seasons and I run exclusively in salt water.

I can tell you that my plugs did no look even remotely that bad. I didn't have a spot of rust on any of the 6 of them, they were just really dirty. Based on the way mine looked after the same amount of time, yours look real bad.
 
I pulled my "intercooler" today for inspection. I discovered that my intercooler isn't an intercooler at all, it's just an airbox with a crankcase vent tied into it. I also removed and inspected the intake plumbing and found a small amount of oil residue from the vent but nothing concerning. No moisture. Oh, and no air filter.... Nice
 
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Floridan surfer said:
I pulled my "intercooler" today for inspection. I discovered that my intercooler isn't an intercooler at all, it's just an airbox with a crankcase vent tied into it. I also removed and inspected the intake plumbing and found a small amount of oil residue from the vent but nothing concerning. No moisture. Oh, and no air filter.... Nice
Click to expand...

Most boats don't have air "filters", there's not much dust in the operating environment. They do have an air box/intake tract designed to arrest flames if a backfire were to occur.
 
bills1974 said:
I just recently changed my plugs due to one engine running really rough...this was also after 3 seasons and I run exclusively in salt water.

I can tell you that my plugs did no look even remotely that bad. I didn't have a spot of rust on any of the 6 of them, they were just really dirty. Based on the way mine looked after the same amount of time, yours look real bad.
Click to expand...

Do you crank her up to blow water out of the exhaust once you've trailered it, or any freshwater flushing going on with that?
 
Sportster-2001-951C-Stock said:
Do you crank her up to blow water out of the exhaust once you've trailered it, or any freshwater flushing going on with that?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure who your question was intended for.

But yes, I do. When I get it home I tie the exhaust intake to the water hose and crank it up and let it run for a bit. Okay so I suppose a few times I've forgotten, but not often.
 
Floridan surfer said:
I'm not sure who your question was intended for.

But yes, I do. When I get it home I tie the exhaust intake to the water hose and crank it up and let it run for a bit. Okay so I suppose a few times I've forgotten, but not often.
Click to expand...

Right. I was wondering if maybe "Bills" is using a more robust maintenance procedure. Sometimes the "little" things can add up. Maybe he fogs religiously or something......... Perhaps uses a special type of flush water, LOL

Could be you just happened to experience something out of the ordinary, sorta like the Mercruiser I just found a ton of water in that "needs new cranking batteries and a starter", the owner had washed down his deck last week and inadvertently filled his 396's intake manifold with water.
 
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