Snake

OK, thanks, grover - look like I have a unique problem. One possibility is that mine has some leftover 2009 parts that were defective - it was built last year, and may have been one of the first off the 2010 assembly line. When was yours built?

Outlaw

Snake,

I own the 2009 RXT-IS. I don't believe that your problem is related to the build time. My RXT-IS was doing the same thing and new keys fixed it. So my ski was built before yours. If your still having trouble I would have to say that you have other issues. Hope you get it resolved.

Snake

Thanks for the info, Outlaw - it looks like I am just the unlucky recipient of a defective system. Note, however, that the dealer's service person did say that they had been getting problems off and on with some keys, although I don't recall him saying there was any identifiable pattern to it. I'll have to start email correspondence with the dealer (Northland Recreation here in Ontario, Canada) and perhaps with BRP, in order to get it sorted out. This weekend again I found myself having to try several times to get the double beep in order to start the ski, and it happened with both the yellow and the green keys. I just can't have this sort of "maybe I'll start and maybe I won't" problem with my brand new (and very expensive) jetski.

It really is unfortunate that these people are not on top of such an obvious and insidious problem. Sometimes car manufacturers just try to ignore, delay, and only fix a well- known problem on an ad hoc basis if the customer screams loud enough, just in order to avoid an expensive recall as long as possible, and I am wondering if this is not what we are seeing here.

Snake

OK, so it turns out there is a bulletin (in their brand new "News" - to dealers - internet communication tool). Apparently they had problems with the communication software that they use to program their keys, and they even put out a new version. However, my Sea Doo keys were already programmed with the new version (2.3.30), so on Friday I took my Ski to the dealer (again) to get a new D.E.S.S. post, hoping that would fix the problem. But, just for fun I tried the keys again first, while the ski was sitting on the trailer at the dealer. They worked several times in a row, and in fact I had trouble getting them NOT to work! Nonetheless, they did replace the D.E.S.S. post, and then we tried it in the water, where everything worked OK, IF you (a) put the key in quickly and wiggle it a bit, and (b) keep pushing it in while waiting for the two beeps. Back at the cottage later, my daughter could not seem to get the hang of it, and even I failed a few times, but at least it took less than 15 or 20 tries. We'll see how things go this weekend, because the news memo from BRP about this problem did say that it was and "intermittent" problem (the worst kind, of course), and one of the staff at the dealer said they had been getting a lot of intermittent problems. (Another dealer theory is that the rubber on the new keys is too hard, and will soften up with time thus correcting the problem.)

Hey BRP, do you read these forums, and are you doing anything to fix the problem before it starts to affect your sales?

grover432

Snake, maybe there is something to the hard rubber comment. Mine was never really "bad" but did require care to make sure I got a double beep the first time. Now I am able to get the key properly connected on the first try almost every time.

I've also learned that you can hit the stop button to turn the engine off, leave the key attached and re start the engine after a short while. I think the dealer said you have 3 minutes. You don't hear the regular interval "double chirp" that you do on earlier models though. If you wait to long to restart though, you have to repeat the process.

I hope your problem resolves. I was out for 2 hours yesterday (1 more hour until break in) and I'm liking it more and more.

Snake

Hey Grover, I hope the problem resolves itself, too. I think, however, that this is a design flaw and so I will be curious to see what BRP does about it.

At this point, I am going to start a new thread specifically about key problems, and see how many others speak up when they see the new thread title.

BTW, I also found that you could restart without removing the key, but only for a while - perhaps we would extend the 3 minutes by starting and stopping it every 3 minutes or less while e.g., waiting for someone to go get a lifejacket or something.

Outlaw

Ok, did you know there is a bogus test of the IBR braking system on you tube? This guy is supposed to be non biased and a quote "expert" Jet skier. They anchored a floating raft and drove straight towards it at speeds from 35mph - 50 mph and jammed on the brakes compared to a ski with no brakes. At low speeds the brakes are not as effective "duh" and hit the raft while the other ski was able to turn away, they say that this is a result of losing steering while braking, and that the ski without brakes is safer. I say they are newbs to brakes. I said try steering away at 60-70 mph. If you can hold on you may make it. My thoughts are if you are not a newb you combine the brakes with all your other riding skills and make the test look like a farse. OK, so here is this moron not even familar with the IBR, who does nothing but lay on the brakes at low speeds then proceeds to say how ineffective the brakes are, LMAO. A high speed stop can be the hardest stop to make. My version would have been get on the brakes hard at first to bring down momentum then let go and hit the throttle and make an evasive turn if needed. That would be judged by the decline of momentum. Anyway it is sour grapes because Seadoo is the leading Jet ski manufacter in relationship to industry leading advancements, IS suspension, better controls (IBR) and the S-3 hull only stepped hull in the industry. I already commented on how this RXT-IS destroyed all comers in open water at 65 mph in 2 foot chop in another post, nine skis in all at the top of the Chesapeake Bay. If anyone is interested in seeing this hillbilly try to bash the IBR sytem, I have the thread where the link is posted. Good ol Blue Collar comedy.

LOL See Ya

__________________
2006 RXT with RIVA STAGE THREE KIT 295 HP

2009 RXT-IS 255 HP

2008 GTX 215 HP



Land Rocket - 2003 Z06 Corvette, Chevy

grover432

I was taking kids for rides in pairs off the marina dock this weekend and didn't take the key off the post all day. I can't say I know how long I shut the engine off for, but it was several minutes and the engine always started. It's a bit different from the old Sea Doos though as you don't have to listen to the annoying "beep beep" every few seconds while you are waiting to restart.

On a related topic, I have finally mastered maneuvering the Sea Doo while inn neutral and near a dock. With some practice, I am now able to put the ski alongside the dock and hold it in position or move it a foot backward/forward at will.

As to the tippy-ness of this Sea Doo; I've now had the opportunity to take 3 people on my RXT X ( 2 full size adults and 1 child) and can say that stability at dile is not an issue. Sure it is a bit less stable than the old hull, but maybe by 15% or so. I've had no issue with it.

Snake

Well, the dealer called and said that BRP has now come up with a "flash" for fixing the key starting problem. Meanwhile to the dealer's credit he did send out one of his guys to our cottage a while ago to show us how to get around the problem, which did work. Anyway, with the new key fix, I think the computer "reads" the key more slowly, thus giving you more time to get it on the DESS post, wiggle it, hold it tight against the post, etc.. (Can't really tell if the fix made a difference, however, because the abovementioned techniques worked pretty well even before the fix.)

The point is, even when the dealer says s/he can't fix a bug, that doesn't mean that BRP isn't (quietly) working on the problem, so keep bugging them when a problem shows up!