STX-15F No cold start

[gt.revels]

The only problem I have with my 15f is it won't cold start without starting fluid. It is under warranty and the dealer mechanic has been working with Kawa to resolve but they have yet to fix the problem after 3+ months.

If anyone has any advice to resolve this problem, I would greatly appreciate it.

gt

[Technical Support]

Re: STX-12F & STX-15F advice needed

Please start your own thread, don't replay to someone elses. Splitting.

[Technical Support]

Re: STX-15F No cold start

Has it always done it or did it start doing it sudenly?

[gt.revels]

Re: STX-15F No cold start

For the first few months it would instantly fire up when starting. It gradually took longer and longer to start. And now it will only start if I use starting fluid or hand choke it. Once it starts, I can kill it and it will restart instantly again until I let it sit for a few hours and the engine cools off. Once it starts it runs great and feels like it has all power.

Since it is under warranty, I have taken it to the local dealer for service and repair. The head mechanic can not figure what the problem is and he says he is communicating with Kawasaki to resolve the problem. This is fine but it has taken over 3 months and it still isn't resolved. They have replaced the plugs, cleaned out the airbox, swapped out some electronic box(?) and next is the intake manifold, checked fuel pressure, etc.

gt

[Technical Support]

Re: STX-15F No cold start

Well, my first guess would be clogged injectors. Have they been swapped out? Being that it's under warranty, and you WILL be sol if it ends, I would not let it sit at a dealer for more than a couple weeks at MOST without forward progress. Do not accept 'we are working with Kawasaki' without documented proof FROM Kawasaki. If you get the run around at all from the dealer do NOT hesitate, take it to another dealer ASAP. Dealers are notorious for leaving skis sit for months and months without resolution, eating up the warranty - and Kawasaki will just tell you too bad, we didn't force you to leave it anywhere. Nothing against Kawasaki, they often have nothing to do with it.


If the dealer has not swapped out injectors/tested the whole fuel system or is not doing it now, I would take it elsewhere.

[gt.revels]

Re: STX-15F No cold start

Thanks for the advice.

It just baffles me that it is only a problem when it is cold. After first start everything is super until it sits for a few hours.

But, with that said, it seems like the fuel is draining out of the line and the pump doesn't prime it up again until the engine is started with starting fluid.

gt

[gt.revels]

Re: STX-15F No cold start

I called Kawasaki customer support today and they only have one call on record from the mechanic at the dealership service center. The mechanic has led me to believe he has had numerous conversations with Kawasaki techs trying to figure out how to fix the ski. The cust. serv. rep at Kawa was very suprised the ski has been in the shop since Oct.- FWIW

His plan is to contact the mechanic and then get back to me.

[Technical Support]

Re: STX-15F No cold start

Unfortunately that is exactly what I suspected.

[DankBud]

Re: STX-15F No cold start

Factory normally doesnt give much help to techs.. I had this problem with a 12F cant recall what the end result was but I will look thru old work orders and try to find what it was.. Has the fuel mapping been increased yet?

[gt.revels]

Re: STX-15F No cold start

I would not know if the fuel mapping has been performed yet. I am picking up the ski from the shop Friday 01/6 so I will find out. The mechanic to the service manager is it ready for pickup but he didn't sound confident that it was fixed. I'll find out as soon as I drop it in the lake.

thanks

[gt.revels]

Re: STX-15F No cold start

I picked up the ski and droped it in the lake. Sure enough, same cold start problem. To start it, I repeatedly tried to turn the switch on and off several times to allow the fuel pump to prime up. Then I tried pressing the start button 6+ times for a few seconds each time to get the fuel to prime up with no startup success. So, I removed the seat, placed my fingers over the air intake hole, pressed the start button and it immediately tried to fire up. After two more tries it started. I could then kill it and restart instantly every time until I let the ski sit for a few hours.

On the repair invoice it states that Kawasaki is/has designed a new inricher unit and they will replace the old inricher when the new unit is available. But, they also swapped out the actuator and some o-rings.

A friend told me the Relief Valve could be bad causing the fuel to drain out of the line back into the tank. That sounds logical to me so I think I will try this and see what happens.

[julrich]

Re: STX-15F No cold start

Let us know if the relief valve helps.

[gt.revels]

Re: STX-15F No cold start

Here is the latest.

I disconnected fuel line and getting fuel is not the problem. So I took it to a different Kawa service center.

They replaced the water temp sensor and oil temp sensor and it fires up instantly when cold.

Time for a toast!:beer

[Mike Whittemore]

Re: STX-15F No cold start

Here is the latest.

I disconnected fuel line and getting fuel is not the problem. So I took it to a different Kawa service center.

They replaced the water temp sensor and oil temp sensor and it fires up instantly when cold.

Time for a toast!:beer

which dealer did you take it to? im from jax and bought my 12F at Jax Power Sports. mine has the same cold starting problem and i need to get it taken care of.....

[gt.revels]

Re: STX-15F No cold start

Purcells on Blanding. Conrad is who I dealt with.

I must say that I was surprised by the service and they only took one week to diagnose, order parts, install, and have it ready for me.

I was unimpressed by how much dirty/greasy hand prints were all over the seat and hull.

The ski was at US1 Powersports from October until mid January and they could not determine the failure or solution.

Good Luck!