97 GSX starting / mpem problem

[Jim Kopplin]

Hello All, (happy 4th)

I took my 1997 SeaDoo GSX out of storage a month ago and started to get it ready for the season (new plugs, new freshly charged battery). I plug in the lanyard key, got the 2 normal beeps and went to hit the start/stop button and nothing happened.

At first I though my new battery was not charged enough, but that was not the case. I checked and double-checked all fuses, the 3 in front in the MPEM and 1 in the back by the starter selonoid and all were good.

Finally looked at it with a friend and we tested the yellow/red wire coming from the start/stop button with a voltmeter as it came out of the handle bars and it checked out at a zero ohm loaded when start/stop button was pushed.

Then we were going to look at the starter and ended up "jumping" the starter selonoid posts with a screwdriver and guessed that the starter selonoid was bad. I got the $30 part replaced it and still the same result. Put on the lanyard key, got the 2 beeps and still nothing when pushing the start/stop button.

I took the new starter selonoid back to the dealer and they tested it and it was good. At this point I was stumped so I checked again the battery, all connections to the battery, starter, MPEM, handle bar buttons etc.

My final attempt was to test the yellow/red wiring coming from the output plug of the MPEM (i think plug #3) with an ohm meter and still nothing happens when pushing the start/stop button after attaching lanyard. I have a good zero ohm reading from the start/stop button to before it goes into the MPEM (i think plug #2), but coming out on plug 3 I get nothing, and eventually this heads back to the rear electrical box where the starter selonoid is.

My guess is that I have a bad MPEM and it needs to be replaced. I also thought that it could be a problem with the lanyard getting messed up or not in sync with the MPEM, but then I probably should not be getting those 2 good beeps when i plug it in. Should I take the lanyard to a dealer to test it?

I also tried going into advanced diagnostic mode, but the start/stop button does nothing after hitting it 5 times with the lanyard unattached.

Is it my MPEM? If so, any good place to get one at a decent price? Why would this go bad, my SeaDoo is only 6 years old and not many hours.

Thanks in advance
-Jim

[Colin GSXL]

Pull the small wire off the starter solenoid and check that for +12v dc with your meter when you push the start button with the lanyard attached. Put the other proibe on the battery neg. post.

If you get 12v, try running a ground direct from the negative terminal of the battery to the ground post in the rear electrical box and see if your motor cranks. I don't know if it happens with your ski but some of them suffer with loosing the rear elec. box -ve feed.

Your lanyard sounds fine as the double beep means it's being recognised by the MPEM.

[Bill O'Neal]

I would guess that the start stop switch itself is bad.

When you jumped the solenoid, did the starter work? If not, you have a bad starter motor.

[ July 05, 2003, 07:59 PM: Message edited by: Bill O'Neal ]

[Jim Kopplin]

Thanks for the help.

Colin --- I'll try your suggestion and let you know.

Bill --- Yes when I jumped the selonoid the starter did try to kick over so I dont think it is the starter. And I partly do not think it is the start/stop button because I am getting a good zero ohm signal just before it goes into the MPEM. Coming out of the MPEM I get nothing.

Thanks