Jumping a batery using a boat battery????

[94 XP-1]

Unfortunately before I did any reading I decided to jump my Sea Doo using a boat that was in the water. After that my battery didn't seem to want to hold a charge so I took it, had it tested and they told me it was bad. I bought a new battery and it started right up the first time, but ever after that I have had to either charge it before using it or it was just very week sounding when starting. I did a search on battery issues and it seems that the common problem is the rectifier. I was just wondering if jumping the Sea Doo could have burnt up my recitifier. I used the ski today and it started, kind of week though, then I turned it off after riding for about 20-30 minutes and it was even weaker sounding. I then road for about another 5-10 mintues and put it on the lift on my dock. I went to start it to blow the water out and it woudln't turn over. Just gave me the "clicking" noise. Is this a recitifier/charging system issue or did I just get a bad battery?

Thanks,
Kevin M

[1fastski.com]

Re: Jumping a batery using a boat battery????

you need to charge a new battery for 12 to 18 hrs on 2amp or its toast , jumping will not hurt IF you do not have the boat running when jumping it . what you need to do is get a volt metor and start the ski and see if your charging or not .

[94 XP-1]

Re: Jumping a batery using a boat battery????

I have a 12v 1.25 amp maintenance charger that I put on the battery after using it for the first time b/c the place I bought it from said to just put in the electrolytes and then wait 15 minutes or so and it woudl be good to go. Have I ruined the new battery by not charging before the first use?

Thanks,
Kevin M

[94 XP-1]

Re: Jumping a batery using a boat battery????

I pulled the electrical box out today. When I first started to move the electrical box and shake it up some the ski wanted to start, btu still was very weak and not enough to turn it over. All that it will do now is make a clicking noise inside the electrical box. My battery is charged. Is this what happens when the rectifier goes bad?

Thanks,
Kevin M

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: Jumping a batery using a boat battery????

No. A clicking noise indicates that you have a problem with the solenoid or the starter motor itself.

Try jumping the two large terminals on the solenoid to see if the starter motor spins. If it does, you need a solenoid. If not, you may need a starter motor.

[94 XP-1]

Re: Jumping a batery using a boat battery????

I tried jumping the two large terminals on the solenoid and nothing happened. I was just wondering what might cause the starter to gradually go bad, b/c the ski gradually got harder and harder to turn over until it just stopped turning over all together. Would a bad ground cable from the battery cause this. When I first got the ski it had a similar problem to this and all I had to do was twist or tighten the bolt on the negative battery terminal and it would turn right over. Is there another way to check the starter other than using the solenoid. Can I jump it a different way that would bypass the battery cable going to the starter? I just can't understand why this was a gradual problem if my starter is bad. Anymore input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Kevin M

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: Jumping a batery using a boat battery????

You can jump a positive wire directly to the terminal on the starter motor.

Sometimes a starter motor will take awhile to get completely wornout before it quits working.

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: Jumping a batery using a boat battery????

I tried jumping the two large terminals on the solenoid and nothing happened. I was just wondering what might cause the starter to gradually go bad, b/c the ski gradually got harder and harder to turn over until it just stopped turning over all together. Would a bad ground cable from the battery cause this. When I first got the ski it had a similar problem to this and all I had to do was twist or tighten the bolt on the negative battery terminal and it would turn right over. Is there another way to check the starter other than using the solenoid. Can I jump it a different way that would bypass the battery cable going to the starter? I just can't understand why this was a gradual problem if my starter is bad. Anymore input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Kevin M

Kevin,
A low voltage battery ( caused by using the ski with a bad rectifier that will not recharge the battery) will eventually ruin a good starter motor by overheating it, exactly what happens when you use a low voltage battery over and over to start your ski. To get maximum life from your starter motor, always keep the battery fully charged so as not to overheat the starter motor.

[94 XP-1]

Re: Jumping a batery using a boat battery????

Thanks for all the info Bill. I will try to jump the starter today and if that does not work, then I guess I will be replacing my starter.

Thanks again,
Kevin

[94 XP-1]

Re: Jumping a batery using a boat battery????

Well I just got done working on the ski. I pulled off the starter, cleaned the ground cable and connections on the starter. While out of the ski I connected it directly to the battery with a good ground and it spun freely. I put it back in the ski and it started. It still sounds week when it tries to start though. I checked the voltage on the battery when it was running and it was at about 13-14 at idle and then increased as the RPM's increased. I doesn't seem to me that the rectifier is bad or the starter motor. Is there any other reason that the ski would sound so weak when starting. The battery has nearly 13 volts just sitting.

Thanks again,
Kevin

[*97GTX*]

Re: Jumping a batery using a boat battery????

take the battery to an auto shop and have it load tested. That will tell you if the battery is truly bad.

[Bill O'Neal1]

Re: Jumping a batery using a boat battery????

Possibly, the crankshaft is rusty? Or the jet pump is bound up ?

[94 XP-1]

Re: Jumping a batery using a boat battery????

I replaced the negative battery cabel today hoping that might do it, and still hte same porblem. I cranked it once, let it run in the water for awhile then shut it off and it wouldn't crank again. I pulled the starter off brought it in the house and bolted the ground cable from the battery to the starter and then touched the positive battery cable to positive terminal on the starter. It is very tempermental as to when it wants to work. Usually once I got it to spin it woudl not go again on its own without me first turning it by hand. Is this a good sign that it is the starter. Also the housing on the starter has quite a bit of rust on it. Just wanted to make sure that it sounded like the starter before I spent the money to replace it and then not have that fix it. Also what is the part number for the starter that my sea doo has (1994 XP 657). I am certain my problem is not related to the engine or jet binding because I can spin ti freely by hand.

Thanks,
Kevin

[1fastski.com]

Re: Jumping a batery using a boat battery????

sounds like a bad starter to me . quick test to try , remove the spark plugs , { ground wires } then crank the motor over and as its cranking put your fingers over the spark plug holes , if the motor slows down and the starter has a problem , its bad . thats a cheepo test :-) or you can take the starter off and take it to pepboys or advanced auto and they can load test the starter free :-)

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: Jumping a batery using a boat battery????

Buy a new starter motor.