jet ski wont start.....need help - PWC Forum: The best hang-out for Personal WaterCraft enthusiasts

WFOEM · 01-11-2012, 05:25 AM

hey guys,
im new here and desperately needs help with my 2008 yamaha vx1100AG. it used to work like champ until it took on alot of water when we hit a big wave,we had to tow it back because the battery died. now,we replaced the battery with a good one,it just turn over but wouldnt start. i replaced the spark plugs,checked all the ignition coils and they were all good. i tried to start it,you could hear the starter cranking but engine is still dead,i removed 1 coil with the spark plug on it and it has no spark at all when we started it. so,i replaced it and same thing,engine tries to start but it doesnt run. after a few tries,it just wouldnt even crank anymore,i checked the battery and it is still fully charged,i even swapped the ECU from our broken jet ski,but the same model(is it ok to swap ECU?) and still the same thing. could someone please help me with this matter? i really want to ride this jet ski. thank you all!
eric

98yota · 01-11-2012, 01:04 PM

Welcome to the forum! I would check out the kill switch and make sure it is not shorted. Go through the all the wiring and check for corrosion and shorts with your multimeter. If your ski didn't fire with the other working ECU, that tells you the ECU is not the problem. Was it salt water it took on? Salt water will definatly cause corrosion. Hope this helps.

Ernest T · 01-11-2012, 04:19 PM

If its turning over its not the kill switch. With no spark you probably have a problem with the pulsar coil or ECU. With the fact that it stopped after you hit big water, means that it could be more serious problems. Its OK to swap ECUs but beware that it needs to be the same model year in many cases to work.......in other words, a 2007 VX ECU may not work on a 2008 VX.

Unfortunately, to diagnosis problems with the coils, etc., you need the diagnostic system, and the test harness. Best bet is take it to a dealer at this point.

WFOEM · 01-12-2012, 12:13 PM

@98yota- thanks for the advice! i checked out the kill switch and its good,also the start and stop switches are good as well. when i swapped out the ECU, it actually tried to fire up,but still wouldnt run,then same thing happend,it just wouldnt fire anymore after a few tries. Yes,it took on salt water,a few minor corrossion here and there but all the connections are good.

@Ernest T-your right! its not the kill switch. i havent checked the coil yet,but i will definitely check it out when i get the chance. i do believe its the ECU though,but i cant check it cause i dont have the harness and program for it. do you know where i could buy the harness and the program from online? i dont wanna bring it to the dealership yet because they might rip me off,you know how they work.

thanks again both of you for the reply!

Ernest T · 01-12-2012, 02:54 PM

You can get the 1.33 version of the YDS diagnostic system with the module plus harness from here: YAMAHA YDS DIAGNOSTICS, but not cheap unfortunately. It will cost you $500 plus around $50 in shipping. That is why you may want to take it to a dealer and let them make the diagnosis. They would be much cheaper to at least tell you what is wrong.

If you still want the YDS system the place mentioned above is the only place that I know of that you can still buy the older (1.33) version of the system. Yamaha has recently updated the system to version 2.0, and the new system will cost you over $1400, but it is not worth the big price increase for the small increase in features IMO.

WFOEM · 01-12-2012, 05:41 PM

thanks man! i appreciate all your help! i gonna try the dealership,its cheaper so ill go with that for now.
thanks again!