Utopia Starting Issues

[JoeB14]

I just bought an '07 Utopia. Have used it two days. At first, noticed some issues with the DESS key-wouldn't always start when put on the post, would remove, re-install, and then would start. Today, after returning from the beach to a dock, I attempted to restart the boat, and it would not start. Got a pair of two beep signals, I could see the gage needles peg and return to normal, then got a procession of four beeps, pause, four beeps, etc. Everytime I pressed either of the start buttons, nothing would happen. No cranking, no clicking...nothing. I checked the owner's manual, and was given two options for this signal. The "four short beeps every three seconds" means that the DESS key has been left on it's post without starting engine, or after engine has been shut off. Or the other choice in the manual was If the four beeps are heard while pressing the start/stop button, then that means the boat isn't in neutral.

It would be correct that the DESS key is installed without starting the engine, as that is what I was trying to do with no luck. So, option 1 from the troubleshooting page really doesn't apply. Well, actually, it could apply, as the DESS key was installed but despite repeated attempts at pressing the start button, nothing happened.

The four beeps were not heard only when I attempted to start either engine. The four beeps with a pause, then repeat, occured whether I tried to start an engine or not.

So, a few questions.

1. I get two pairs of beeps when I insert the DESS key, ie beep/beep, then beep/beep. The O&M says that two short beeps means it is OK to start the engine. With a two engine boat...does that mean I should get two pairs of beeps (four beeps total) and not just two? Since this boat is new to me for just a couple days, I honestly don't remember the number/sequence of beeps that I heard the few times that it actually started up correctly.

2. If the two pairs of beep that I get means that the engines are ready to start...why don't they start when I press the button? I thought that the four beeps may mean I wasn't in neutral, so I repeatedly moved the forward/reversee lever to make sure I was, in fact, in neutral...but that didn't help the matter.

Any suggestions on what the problem could be?

 

[devonte007]

The beeps you are getting sound normal, if the DESS post was having a problem with the lanyard then it should give you a loud long beep or nothing at all.

Answer question 1: the beeps you are getting sound normal, only one pair of beeps no matter how many engines you have.

Answer question 2: four beeps is just a dummy alarm telling you that the lanyard was left on the post for an extended period of time which could cause the battery to drain, so "either start me or take off the lanyard". One long beep could indicate boat is not in neutral or that a non-recognised lanyard was installed to the best of my recollection. I think you get a long beep if you try to start with the boat not in neutral, I would have to check with the owners manual though. If not, it could be a bad neutral safety switch. You would need to remove the throttle levers and check the operation of the safety switch. Never done this myself, so you would have to read up in the shop manual.

I am thinking maybe your DESS post is going bad, one indication would be no beeps at all meaning that the DESS post and the computer does not even recognize that the lanyard was installed, in which case there would be no beeps at all just like if you never put the lanyard on. But since you are getting normal beeps it is not likely the DESS post or the lanyard. If you are having sporadic non-starting problems you can clean the inside of the lanyard and post with a pencil eraser so they have good contact.

I am thinking maybe one of the starter solenoids was malfunctioning if only one of the engines do not crank, but it would be odd for both of them to go bad at the same time. It sounds like both engines are having the same problem, no crank. So we might rule that one out. One way to check the solenoid is to attach the lanyard so that you get the proper beeps, then go back to the starter relay and with a long screwdriver or wrench, make contact with the two terminals of the relay. If the engine cranks then you have a bad relay, replace and problem should be solved.

Also, have you checked the battery? A low or old bad battery could cause these problems too, take the battery in and have it load tested.

Check all the fuses in the fuse panels and back in the engine compartment. Not sure, but there may be an inline fuse to the starter and relay.

The only other thing I can think of would be bad starter buttons, pop them out and make sure they are working correctly with a test meter.

This is all I can think of at the moment, hope it helps some.

 

[cheappc]

I have to chime in because this same thing happened to me the first time I took my brand new, never touched water, virgin 2011 Sea Doo Speedster.

I was freaking out (the whole reason I bought a new boat)... Guess what it was? Did you put your key "down tightly" in your DESS?. I was even going to call the Coast Guard to have them tow me back in, thank God I took out the manual and then I realized that, though I was putting in the key, It did not go down and seat correctly on the DESS...

Did you do that?

 

[JoeB14]

Update.

Tried a few things last Tuesday, still didn't work, so I brought it to the dealer on Thursday. They called Friday-said "we can't fix what isn't broke", so I paid for an hour of diagnostic time, and a new (spare) DESS key. He did say that the two beeps/pause/two beeps that I hear when I first put the key on is normal, ie I should get two beeps per engine. I can't find anything to that effect in the manual, but perhaps the manual isn't complete.

Anyway, took it out Saturday. Started fine, did get a bit finicky a couple times, but we never got stranded. I may have the neutral switch on the gear lever looked at closely when it gets the winter servicing.

 

[JoeB14]

Update No. 2. Had same problem on Labor day after launching boat. Wouldn't start at all. Put back on trailer-no start. Back at my house-no start. Luckily, it also wouldn't start at the dealer. Their diagnosis is a bad neutral safety switch. Should get it repaired in time for a sea trial next weekend.