NEED HELP Does anyone know how to troubleshoot the starting system on a 93 yamaha vxr - PWC Forum: The best hang-out for Personal WaterCraft enthusiasts

baldmeeny · 08-25-2011, 11:10 AM

could really use some help on identifying the problem of not starting. replaced the starter still doesnt crank dont know the spec's on relay or cdi or voltage reg. to check it

Ernest T · 08-25-2011, 02:13 PM

Does it turn over? Was it running and died? How long since it last started? Have you checked the battery? Give us some more info. There are many possibilities for something not starting. You have to have compression, fuel, and spark, so the first step is to find out which of these you do or don't have.

baldmeeny · 08-25-2011, 02:25 PM

have compression, fuel, cant see if it has spark cuz it wont crank. replaced starter, there is power to the box. power going in to the starter solenoid but no juice to the starter end. just dont want to buy more parts till i can make sure that the part is bad. need to know what the resistance should be on the solenoid, voltage reg., cdi unit or any other electrical component in the starting system when checked. any help would be appreciated. thanks

baldmeeny · 08-25-2011, 02:27 PM

yes it was running last week just died they kept trying to start it to get it into shore and i guess it just stopped alltogether. maybe fried something? did i lose you?

Ernest T · 08-25-2011, 04:26 PM

Jump the starter solenoid (2 large wires) and see if it will turn over. If it does you have a bad solenoid. If it won't turn over jumping the solenoid, I'd suspect a bad kill switch. I'd disconnect it and try again. Be sure you have a good battery.

The engine has to be turning over to have spark. No use checking CDI, stator, plug wires, etc., until you get it turning over, in fact, you can't check anything else until you get it turning over. If its not turning over there are 5 possible components to worry about: battery, starter solenoid, starter, wiring, kill/start switch. Unless the engine is locked up it has to be one of these. If you check all these and it still won't start by jumping the starter solenoid, then pull the spark plugs and see if you can turn the engine by hand. Did I lose you?

baldmeeny · 08-26-2011, 05:17 PM

ok turns by hand the engine does tried jumping the solenoid it just clicks checked to see if power was going to the starter and it doesnt light up my test light at all removed kill switch still doesnt start could i have the connections on the starter or the solenoid backwards or something?

Ernest T · 08-26-2011, 06:51 PM

I don't have a manual for your ski, but on most of them if you jump the starter solenoid and the starter motor doesn't turn, you have a bad starter. There should be a positive lead from the battery to the solenoid another positive lead from the solenoid to the starter, and a negative lead directly to the starter. If you complete that circuit (by jumping the 2 positive leads at the solenoid) and the starter doesn't turn, then either the starter is bad, or one of the connections to the starter or battery is loose or corroded.

Remove the starter and connect it directly to the battery with some jumper cables and make sure it turns.

baldmeeny · 08-26-2011, 07:26 PM

thanks for your info. i just replaced the starter but will start over again to see if i messed up somewhere.shouldnt there be power to the wire going to the starter from the solenoid? there isnt any at all?it just clicks and does'nt light up my test light at all?also shuts off my battery charger when i try it. also the starter is brand new/

Ernest T · 08-27-2011, 06:12 AM

The solenoid is a switch. There will be no power at the starter unless the switch is closed. You have a positive lead coming from the battery to the solenoid, and another positive lead going from the solenoid to the starter. When you hit the start button it sends a signal to the solenoid to close the switch (connect the 2 positive wires). There will be no current at the starter unless the solenoid closes the switch or you jump the wires. If you take a pair of pliers or a screwdriver and jump (connect) the 2 positive wires at the solenoid you close the circuit and you will have current at the starter if your connections and battery are good.

Are you sure you have a good battery? It should be showing at least 12.5 volts unloaded. It takes a lot of current to crank one of these skis.