97 seadoo wont stay running

[kbrown]

Hello i have a 1997 seadoo gsx. I bought the jet ski last summer but did'nt try to start it until this summer. I got a new battery and spark plugs for it and with a couple squirts of starting fluid it fired right up but and idled at 3000 rpm and it said 12v low on the dash but stayed running. So i trickle charged the battery overnight and replaced the fuel filter and some seals on the top. Now when i start it i have to hold the choke on like it is getting to much fuel and when i dont have to hold the choke it will run for 30 to 40 seconds then die. When you hit the throttle it bogs down and shuts off. I believe the carb's need to be tuned but i have no idea on were the needles are. I am mechanicly inclined and have tuned carbs before just don't want to adjust the wrong screw. If you could help let me know. Thank you.

[dsolie]

Re: 97 seadoo wont stay running

Compression test #1... Second, you replaced the fuel filter... did you install it with the arrows facing the right way? What type of screen did you get? Have you tried it without the filter? Does it have fresh gas?

[kbrown]

Re: 97 seadoo wont stay running

compression is good and the filter is a bowl style and the arrows are facing the correct way exact same way they were when the old one was pulled out. I have not tried it with the filter out. However i took the bowl back off to see if the the fuel pump filled it back up with fuel and it did. The gas is maybe a month old but when i got it i thought the oil pump was shot so i put 8 oz of the sea doo oil in with 5 gallons of gas.

[dsolie]

Re: 97 seadoo wont stay running

Ahhhh... That's not a fuel filter, it's a water separation bowl. I would verify that the oring for the bowl didn't fall off and/or the bowl is on straight and tight. If it sucks air through the seal, you will never get a constant flow of fuel

[kbrown]

Re: 97 seadoo wont stay running

Ok, i will try that and what do think about the 12volt low signal on the gauge could it be a dead cell or is there a sensor that could be bad.

[dsolie]

Re: 97 seadoo wont stay running

Well, test your battery... If it's a new battery, it should be good...

The other possibility is that the rectifier is bad (common). To test the rectifier, start with a charged battery (or at least a battery you think is charged). Put a multi-meter on the battery and see what the standing voltage is (12.5-13.2). Start the ski and rev it up to 3k or more. If the voltage rises on the multi-meter, (but not more than 13.75) then your rectifier is fine. If the voltage does NOT rise, or drops, then the rectifier is bad.

In fact, that is an area that can cause the ski to run weird regardless. Follow the red and yellow wires from the plug on the flywheel cover and it will end at the rectifier. Unplug the yellow wires from the rectifier and see if your RPM issues are solved (warning, disconnecting these wires ensures that your battery will NOT be charging while the ski is running). If it does, replace the rectifier.

[kbrown]

Re: 97 seadoo wont stay running

Well i started it up and reved it up to 3000rpm and the voltage was jumping between 12.5 to the highest of 19.3 do you think that would be the rectifier

[dsolie]

Re: 97 seadoo wont stay running

yup... 19.3 means rectifier is baaaaaaddddd...

[kbrown]

Re: 97 seadoo wont stay running

have one on order and it will be here sat so i will let u know. Thank you for all the help.