Super Jet Yes, another solenoid clicking thread. Completely stumped. Need expertise!

[Skirunner24]

701 SJ...
This problem has been ongoing for the past year or so and gradually getting worse. It began as the occasional click when I hit the starter, but it would usually connect with the starter on the second or third push. Fast forward to about two months ago. It got to the point where I would literally be hitting the start button 10+ times to get a connection. Usually I could still get it to start. Finally it just quit and all I had was the dreaded click of the solenoid. I troubleshot it and determined it was the solenoid. Swapped it out and it fired right up. Seemed to start fine for the next month or so. Then suddenly I started having the same issues. Again it got to the point where the solenoid would just click. I swapped it out again tonight (3rd solenoid) with a spare and got the same results....Just clicks. I've read countless threads on this and they all seem to say the same thing. I think I've tried everything they have suggested:

Engine turns over by hand

Fuse is fine

Less than month old pos/neg bat and starter cables from Rad Dudes

Jump solenoid posts: Starter turns over

Check battery voltage: normal

Disconnect stop switch: no difference - also checked function with multimeter and it is fine.

Clean start switch: pulled start switch apart and cleaned contacts. No difference.

I don't have anymore spare solenoids. What can I test with a multimeter on the solenoid itself to determine its functionality?

Note: I noticed that I did have some green corrosion around the pos post connection on the solenoid. Not sure if this is related or not. I tried tracing all related wires back looking for corrosion. Replaced a couple suspect connectors with no change in symptoms.

I THINK that the relay I have in there now is a/m, but I'm not sure...ANOTHER bad relay? I just find the chances of having three bad relays tough to accept.

If anyone has any advice or suggestions on what else to test/try I would really appreciate it. Hoping to get back on the water this weekend.

Pictures attached.

 

[Byeai]

Bypass the fuse completly had same issue just undo the bullet connectors and take fuse wiring out and reconnect the two bullet connectors with out the fuse section in and bam I bet it works

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[Skirunner24]

Just gave it a shot and no luck....Still have the clicks. Thanks for the suggestion though

 

[Byeai]

Hm wierd idk then I took mine out never a problem since

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[zzylstra]

I know it may not seem like what I'm about to say is the problem, but I jut had the same experience as u word for word last month. One day I just clicked three times then started, month later it clicks have the old starter a budge and it started, next month, nothing. It's ur starter bro, I pulled mine out at the lake and came to the conclusion that the needle bearing inside was shot and was binding up, changed starter fixed 100%. Keep in mind that both the solenoid and bad starter where from 1992

 

[txsuperjetfreak96]

x2 on the starter

 

[Freakrider]

Hook up a redundant ground to rule out a ground connection problem.Relays will click if there is a ground problem. A good jumper cable from negative battery to a head bolt for a quick test. May not be the problem but rule this out.

 

[jetkid]

oh this is a hard one... but I say ground. I would run a couple grounds and see if that does anything..

 

[Skirunner24]

Hook up a redundant ground to rule out a ground connection problem.Relays will click if there is a ground problem. A good jumper cable from negative battery to a head bolt for a quick test. May not be the problem but rule this out.

Just gave this trick another shot (I tried it when the first one went bad). Still no go.

 

[Skirunner24]

I know it may not seem like what I'm about to say is the problem, but I jut had the same experience as u word for word last month. One day I just clicked three times then started, month later it clicks have the old starter a budge and it started, next month, nothing. It's ur starter bro, I pulled mine out at the lake and came to the conclusion that the needle bearing inside was shot and was binding up, changed starter fixed 100%. Keep in mind that both the solenoid and bad starter where from 1992

I thought it was my starter the first time I started chasing this problem. I actually swapped out my original starter for a nice used OEM one about 4 months ago. Had the same symptoms right after I swapped it.

I hate electrical troubleshooting....

 

[swannysxr]

And do yourself a favor, and only buy an O.E. starter. The aftermarket ones are junk.

 

[Skirunner24]

And do yourself a favor, and only buy an O.E. starter. The aftermarket ones are junk.

Yep, it was a nice OEM that I swapped in. Like I said in the first post, when I jump the relay posts I get a strong consistent kick of the starter.

 

[txsuperjetfreak96]

weird, would think it would b something between s/s switch and there

 

[Skirunner24]

I'm leaning towards the relay being bad again....maybe this is really just a coincidence? Any way to test the relay itself? Multimeter?

 

[Harbor]

I've had the click symptoms quite a few times myself, each time it was a failed relay. I bought aftermarket relays since they were cheaper than OE and had two new extra after markets on hand in case it happened again. What do you know clicking again, no problem I got relays on hand right? Installed the first one and same symptoms, installed my second one and it did nothing. I jumped across the relay b+ polls and the relay started working for a few minutes then quit again. Got OE now no problems. I think the way I tested it was I made sure the small ground wire to relay was grounded, used a test light hooked to b+ and touch the little ground wire at relay, lamp on. Then hooked test light to b- and to the other little wire on solenoid while hitting the start button, lamp lite ok. Next jumped the large relay poles and starter cranks. Conclusion failing starter relay internal switch contact. I have the wiring schematic if you need to know which wire is what circuit since this was from memory

 

[JT_Freeride]

I had a very similar problem take the ground from the solenoid and move it to where the other electrical grounds are and try that. For the life of me I couldn't figure this problem out. Trust me just try it and see what happens it only take 2 mins to rule that out.

 

[Skirunner24]

I had a very similar problem take the ground from the solenoid and move it to where the other electrical grounds are and try that. For the life of me I couldn't figure this problem out. Trust me just try it and see what happens it only take 2 mins to rule that out.

Tried this one too. I had a little bit of rust build up on the screw that the solenoid grounds to. Moved it over the to the other ground screw and same results...

 

[zzylstra]

If u keep pressing the start button and it keeps clicking does it drain the battery at all?

 

[Skirunner24]

If u keep pressing the start button and it keeps clicking does it drain the battery at all?

Not that I can tell... Still sitting high at 12.6V. I've never had any issues with the battery to date. As soon as the starter engaged (at least when it used to), she cranked normally. If I jump the posts it still cranks strong.

 

[zzylstra]

I knew mine was the starter everytime I thought I had it fixed it would still click by the end of the day the battery was dead (sending juice to starter but it wasn't going anywhere)