Boat Won't Start

[snydertalon]

Trying to go out on water and boat won't start.

Tried trickle charging battery, got the sound that you hear in a car when the battery is dead. Just the click of a starter.

Got new battery.

The engine does like a single turn over and then nothing. So, I held the start button down for a while. Created some white smoke from the bottom of the engine.

Not sure what it is. I have my suspicions but don't want to bias any responses.

Note: I don't know boats. I know cars and assume a degree of carry over.

2007 Seadoo Speedster

----------------------------------------------SOLUTION----------------------------------------------

Both my battery and my starter crapped out.

Installed a new Seadoo starter I got from amazon and it cranked up better than it ever has (I bought the boat used). I decided to go OEM as a lot of reviews of even the better 3rd part starters said they rusted after 2 -3 years. Mine was 10 years and failing. I had to replace it because the terminal attached to the batter was so rusted that when I tried to break the nut, it snapped off.

I bought a 24 group batter from Autozone. This would not turn over the motor, but when I put my car battery in (715 CCA) the boat turned on immediately. In the process of sourcing new battery, but I know that with a good battery it will turn on without issue.

 

[AZDANSX230HO]

Pull the spark plugs to see if the engine turns over freely, if not I suspect you have a bad starter or worse. The white smoke is probably your starter frying from trying to turn over the engine. Is this boat new to you, did it run when you got it?

 

[snydertalon]

Engine turns over freely without the spark plugs. Since they're out, I'm just going to order new ones. I found them somewhwere for like $6 for 4, spec'd IAW the manual.

 

[bronze_10]

The smoke was prob u frying your starter.. lol

 

[snydertalon]

The smoke was prob u frying your starter.. lol

Probably was. Now to the issue at hand, do you know why the motor wouldn't turn over?

 

[snydertalon]

Pull the spark plugs to see if the engine turns over freely, if not I suspect you have a bad starter or worse. The white smoke is probably your starter frying from trying to turn over the engine. Is this boat new to you, did it run when you got it?

Ran when we got it. Ran in Feb or March (the perks of living in Florida).

Pulled the plugs, turned freely. Not sure why it wouldn't start. Since their out, ordering new plugs.

 

[AZDANSX230HO]

Ran when we got it. Ran in Feb or March (the perks of living in Florida).

Pulled the plugs, turned freely. Not sure why it wouldn't start. Since their out, ordering new plugs.

If the starter will turn the engine over without compression (spark plugs out), I am thinking your starter might be taking a crap. While the plugs are out check to make sure you have spark on each of the plugs, engines operate on a simple principle, air/fuel/spark/. You might want to also do a compression check while the plugs are out to make sure the engine is in good health.

 

[veedubtek]

Any chance there was moisture in there? Water/oil whatever? Can't compress a liquid. Crank it over a bunch without plugs and see if it blows anything out.

 

[snydertalon]

I had wondered if my starter was crapping out before. It never "fired right up." I assumed it was a function of being a boat, e.g. not a car. I got the boat with 63 hours on it. Everything else seemed well maintained, runs really well. Just starting was always a little rough.

So, I'll look into the start. Where do I find...1) a parts store online to buy a BRP starter and 2) a manual? I've done some searching (maybe rudimentary google for 30 minutes). I've found lots of sites that sell starters, a lot of which cross-track to other Seadoo's (jet skis) or to earlier versions of the boat.

 

[AZDANSX230HO]

Not sure of your exact model, but you should be able to start from here to order a starter:

http://www.seadoopartshouse.com/oemparts/c/sea_doo_sport_boat_2007/parts

 

[snydertalon]

What are your thoughts on off brand starters vs. BRP OEM? Basically, are the letters BRP worth $200 more?

 

[AZDANSX230HO]

What are your thoughts on off brand starters vs. BRP OEM? Basically, are the letters BRP worth $200 more?

I guess an aftermarket starter would work just fine, but if it takes a crap you might be spending the 200 more down the road.

 

[snydertalon]

I guess an aftermarket starter would work just fine, but if it takes a crap you might be spending the 200 more down the road.

I know...I always worry about buy nice or buy twice. But, I know with cars there is OEM and then there is the manufacturer. E.g. a denso part in my honda is cheaper from denso than from honda.

 

[Wayloncle]

 

[bronze_10]

A little wax... she will be good!