So my newly purchased FX1 won't Start. When I press start button it ticks. It's not a dead battery as I pulled battery from another ski. It fired briefly then back to ticking. I felt around and as crazy as it sounds, the tick feels like it is coming from the electrical box. Is the solenoid for the starter in the electrical box? Would a failed MSD enhancer cause a tick on the electrical box? Where is the starter? Would it be under the exhaust?
Starter or???
- Thread starter joshp
- Start date
- Location
- Canberra, Australia.
Probably the starter relay (it's in the electrical box). Common problem. Your starter is under the exhaust, but that's probably not the culprit.
- Location
- West Michigan
Test for battery voltage at the starter, that will tell you whether the solenoid is working properly or if it is the starter.
Where are starter leads? I can't see starter.
- Location
- West Michigan
Underneath the exhaust. Follow the red wire.
Thanks, should it read 13 volts?
- Location
- West Michigan
Should read whatever your battery voltage is
Thanks for assistance everyone. Going to take a further look in the morning. Lighting in garage is insufficient at the moment.
mk1
PUDDLE - BLASTER
Dude , my advice would be to remove and inspect your starter motor. As it lives at the bottom of the engine it gets a shower every time the ski is used , and this knocks the crap auta them over time. While its out have it serviced... 
I'm 90% sure it's the relay. I was getting tick and no voltage reading. Then after a few attempts it turned starters and I was getting a voltage reading. I see relays on eBay for $8 to $15. Are those okay? https://m.ebay.com/itm/Starter-Rela...el:FX1&hash=item3636b41ba8:g:TuMAAOSw~OVWxlwJ
Also is starter solenoid and starter relay the same thing? Some say relay, some say solenoid. Both pics look like same thing.
Also is starter solenoid and starter relay the same thing? Some say relay, some say solenoid. Both pics look like same thing.
- Location
- West Michigan
Same thing. Buy an oem one in my opinion
If you press the button and nothing happens here's what you should do. first, confirm the engine is not seized up. pull the plugs and reach down and rotate the motor at the coupler and confirm the motor rotates. if yes, then remove the plugs to the starter button (they are in the rear right near the electrical box) and jump the starter button to confirm the starter switch is not defective. if still nothing open the electrical box and jump the two large leads on the starter selenoid. careful as you will get a spark. if it turns over you have a bad selenoid. if not, then you have a bad connection, wire or starter. the final test for the starter is to use a car jumper cable and jump the positive lead of the battery directly to the positive terminal of the starter. if nothing then you have a bad starter.
As you can see by these steps you are eliminating each part in the starting chain from the easiest to access down to the hardest.
As you can see by these steps you are eliminating each part in the starting chain from the easiest to access down to the hardest.
- Location
- West Michigan
Before splitting the electrical box, I would personally test for voltage at the starter. It's a lot less work, and you don't risk not getting the electrical box sealed back up properly so you don't get water back in it.
My recollection is it's pretty hard to reach the positive terminal on the starter without removing the exhaust. I have opened my electrical box many times. No telling how many times his has already been opened. But yea, if you can reach the positive terminal on the starter to check for voltage then I agree.