Super Jet Weird starting issue??

[paczowski123]

Today my ski ran fine all day, fired easily and never missed a beat. Until my girlfriend went to take it for a ride just before we went in. Fired right up for her and she rode it around started/stopped it once or twice when falling off. Then all of a sudden she came by turned it off to talk for a sec and went to start it again and NOTHING not even a click/starter cycle. figured a battery cable came loose or it popped the fuse. Checked all this and it was fine. Towed it back to the ramp and pulled the ski in my truck and put the boat on the trailer then tried it again and now I just get a click from the relay? Is it likely for a relay or starter to just die instantly? I've never had one problem starting or the start/stop working etc. the battery is charged well and I've tried hitting the ebox to see of its stuck and it just clicks. Any ideas? All cables are tight and clean on both starter And battery. I mean this literally came out of nowhere instantly between one kill/restart. Dead instantly.

 

[550headache]

loose/corroded battery connection

 

[paczowski123]

I checked the connections and they all were tight on both ends. I couldn't see the connections on the starter, but when I put my pipe on they all looked clean. The ski doesn't have very many hours on it and has never been in salt. Can a bad relay still click but not activate the starter?

 

[Fleabags]

I have had this issue on multiple skis. I have had two starter solenoids go bad on my JS550. I used to just smack the e-box with the handle of a hammer while I'm holding the start switch and it would free up. If its not the stater solenoid it could be the starter itself. The bendix could be stuck (engaged) or the connections in your starter motor could be going. Should be easy enough to track it down.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Battery could have shorted. Had that happen.

 

[paczowski123]

When you say shorted what do you mean? Like shorted out the relay or starter or like went bad?

 

[Fro Diesel]

When you say shorted what do you mean? Like shorted out the relay or starter or like went bad?

No voltage from battery....

 

[Big Kahuna]

Ding Ding............ sometimes you get no power, sometimes the voltage is way to low after a short

 

[paczowski123]

Well the battery still checks out ok, and powers the bilge totally fine. I know it doesn't take much amperage at all to power the bilge, but overall the battery voltage it ok. I guess I can test voltage when cycling the start button


NOTE: I just remembered on thing I did do when installing my CF/riser bar setup. The start stop switch didn't fit the bars so I had to grind down the inside edge of the switch to fit the bars. I did it small bits at a time until it fit just like factory and it seemed to fit perfect and has worked for three weekends now. Could something gone wrong in the S/S switch cause improper starting? I would think of it activates the relay it should be functioning fine.

 

[Fleabags]

if the start/stop switch was bad it wouldn't click. Did you you try direct power to the starter motor? This will rule out the starter if it works. There are two connections on your ebox - one going in to the starter solenoid and the other coming out and going to the starter motor. Just arc the two with a screw driver or something to see if the starter spins.

 

[paczowski123]

I will look into this, but I may have just stumbled upon what may be wrong? I mean it seems to me this would have signs leading up to it happening but who knows. I went to pull my battery out to charge it just for giggles and noticed its TOTALLY filled up. Like to the point where it flows out of the overflow if you move it too much and I had to use a ear dropper to suck some fluid from the fill holes. Now my battery shows 12.15 volts. Maybe the battery just finally had it from running the bilge and starting so much. I'm going to throw it on a charger and see what happens as I only prob need a few more weekends out of it and ill purchase a nice battery next season. But it's weird that it was literally like turning off a light switch on the ski, not to mention how the hell did it get filled??? I've never really sunk my ski to the point the battery would be under water, unless just water sloshing around inside the hood just slowly leaked in.

 

[Fleabags]

I have had good batteries go bad just like you say (light switch). Based on the fluid you speak of, you are using a typical acid battery. These have lead plates in them. Jet Skis batteries take a beating while riding. If one of the plates separates the battery will loose all power. This happened about a month ago on my buddies 2011 SJ.
My two skis both have sealed batteries I purchased at Meijer. One is 10 years old and still going strong. I use a automatic trickle charger when they are in the garage.
good luck

 

[paczowski123]

Yeah I'm not sure what happened, but the battery took full charge last night. I'm
Going to monitor it throughout the week and see if it maintains. But like you said for it to just go out like that there's prob something wrong.

 

[paczowski123]

Well it wasn't the battery. Charged it, hooked it up an still clicking. I did open the Ebox and hook a remote starter to each terminal on the relay and it spun so it looks like the relay may be bad. My question is though, is there anything else the relay gets its signal through I know there was a ground and a brown wire from the start button and they didn't affect it at all after inspecting/cleaning.

Also, I'd assume I need a yamaha part and couldn't find a similar part at an auto store? If so where can one be purchased?

 

[Fleabags]

I was able to take apart the solenoid on my JS550 and grease it up to get it going again. It lasted 2 more seasons before it quit altogether. I would bet its the solenoid and not something else - especially if its clicking. You could verify with a volt meter.

 

[Proformance1]

swap out for another battery or jump off your vehicle, sometimes battery goes bad even though cheap charger says its fine. always double check everything, ask me how i know

 

[paczowski123]

Thanks fleabags ill check that out. And performance I don't think it's the battery anymore it's held charge for a day and a half now and it had enough juice to turn it over fine with the remote starter. Ill definitely be getting rid of this crappy water filled junk but don't think it's causing my immediate problem.

 

[Proformance1]

just telling ya, never overlook the obvious Swap it for another known good battery, then youll know for sure. I had a similar issue and finally went and bought a load tester after spending days chasing it down. I had two skis with bad batteries that were both reading 12V but testing them while starting they dropped to 10V. Junk. Its not your issue here but I'm just saying, never rule somethig out because you "know" it good. Its most likely your relay or a ground. Easy way to ensure ground is use jumper cables to head bolt and batery neg post.

 

[paczowski123]

Yep I def appreciate the info!! And I did try jumping the ground to another ground on the engine block and got nothing so I hopefully have narrowed it down. But who knows electrical gremlins seem to be the hardest to track

 

[Fro Diesel]

I would get a sealed battery from someplace and try it like mentioned above. Never had much luck with a lead acid battery. It can leak and ruin your day. Might as well replace it now before you are stranded in the middle of the lake and need to be towed in by a seapoo. Just bc it runs your bilge or says charged on a tester doesnot mean it will pass a load test.