Water in engine after forgetting drain plugs 1998 Seadoo SPX

[Tallgaloot]

I am completely brand new to pwc’s at all. Bought a used one on FB and got everything taken care of with boring safety, etc. In my excitement today to get out on the water for the first time with it I forgot to put the drain plugs in. I got it in the water, got on it, and felt I was pretty low. Tried starting it for a while before I realized something was wrong. Never did start. Realized my mistake after a few minutes when it basically started to sink. Got it to shore, back on the trailer and drained it. There was a lot of water. Got it home and read the forums here. Took out the spark plugs, cranked the engine. Lots of water came out of the engine. Did that in about 10 second spurts for a while until seemed like water was done. Plugged spark plugs back in and tried again. Get like a crank, a thunk, and doesn’t start. Sometimes I get one beep and it stops which I suspect is the battery that I’m abusing with all this cranking. Replaced the spark plugs, charged the battery on a smart charger, and tried again a few hours later. No better. Have also tried pouring some 2 stage oil right into the engine which I saw recommended. Not working. This was fresh water. This engine was rebuilt and they removed the fuel injector. But any help would be greatly appreciated! I’m super annoyed with myself!

 

[DaddyLoafin]

Open the back electrical box. It’s right next to the battery. Make sure there’s no water in there. By fuel injector do you mean accelerator pump?

 

[mikidymac]

You need to get the water out. Keep cranking with the plugs out and your thumb over the plug hole. It will pull more of the water out of the crankcase up to the piston tops. Do this over and over until no more water. Then reinstall fresh spark plugs and crank it. Then pull the plugs and blow the water off them. Repeat this over and over until it finally sputters to life then once it is running ride it hard for about an hour.

 

[Tallgaloot]

Open the back electrical box. It’s right next to the battery. Make sure there’s no water in there. By fuel injector do you mean accelerator pump?

Ok will do. I’m not sure if we mean the same thing. What I mean is that this has been altered to use premix fuel/oil.

 

[Tallgaloot]

You need to get the water out. Keep cranking with the plugs out and your thumb over the plug hole. It will pull more of the water out of the crankcase up to the piston tops. Do this over and over until no more water. Then reinstall fresh spark plugs and crank it. Then pull the plugs and blow the water off them. Repeat this over and over until it finally sputters to life then once it is running ride it hard for about an hour.

Ok, will do. That’s what I was doing and it keeps killing the battery. I think adding oil to the spark plug holes was a mistake because now it’s spewing oil out of the holes in addition to any water in there.

 

[POPPS]

Charge the battery up to snuff,,,at least 12.5 v,,,and then load test it,,

 

[Tallgaloot]

So I added some starting fluid to the spark plug holes and actually got it started for about 4 seconds. A lot of water came flying out the back. But the battery started sparking and when I looked at it, the negative terminal had melted. I figured I had gone as far as I could by myself and brought it to a shop. The shop has had it for 4 days now. They called me to say that the electrical box was soaked (I never did get into that electrical box). They are drying it out, ordered a new coil, and are hopeful that is the problem. Any thoughts?

 

[POPPS]

I had an rxt di,,,melting negative battery terminal ,,,the selenoid was stuck, huge draw,,,the starter is the huge draw on a pwc,,,why a new coil,?,,do you not have spark,?

 

[Tallgaloot]

I’m not sure. He said he ordered a new spark but wasn’t sure if he would need it.

 

[POPPS]

Did you mean to say that he ordered new plugs?!,"order?"

 

[Tallgaloot]

I meant to say he ordered a new coil, sorry. He said everything in my electric box was soaked so he’s afraid it will need to be replaced.

 

[POPPS]

I disagree,,,you blow out/ sponge the water,,,remove the connections,..blow them dry with air pistol,,,the selenoid is sealed,,,the coil most usually is sealed,,,am I. missimg something here,,,do you not have spark?,,,coils just don't go after being submerged,,,disconnect the white pulse wire,,put a test light on it ,,,try to start the motor,,,see if the light pulses,,,if yes.,.your issue is somewhere in the box,,,if not,,your issue is up stream,,,if you do need to replace the coil,,,do not buy aftermarket.

 

[WhiskeyD]

I'd be more worried about the water sitting in the engine than anything else. Like Popps said, why order a coil? is it not getting spark? Hopefully they have checked everything else and not just throwing parts at the ski at your expense.

 

[Tallgaloot]

So an update. The mechanic said he needed to replace the coil, so he replaced it. He didn’t have a battery “in stock” so I just got a new one at autozone and replaced it myself. With the new coil and battery it fired right up at home and I took it out on the water the next day. Ran fine all day. (With the plugs in this time.). Whole thing cost me like $400 for the repair.

 

[WhiskeyD]

Nice good to hear!