Starter System Malfunction

[Ultra151]

I can't start my ski. Been a nagging problem since I bought it (used last year) but now I just can't get it to turn over (just attempting to launch for first time this season).

Symptoms

• when I turn ski on the entire dashboard panel flashes and the red warning light blinks and battery icon blinks
• given this has been a problem since beginning, I did buy a new battery midway through last season
• I did trickle charge battery before attempting to start it up
• a noise emanates from the small gray box sitting directly behind the battery in which the (+) Red battery cable originates
• the noise is a rapid-repeating clicking sound like a ratchet sound
• the ski makes no attempt to turn over whatsoever -- ie, eliminating a low battery charge or a fuel line issue etc.

I looked in the manual's troubleshooting section and this sort of problem (as best as I can diagnose) seems to relate to the melito, some sort of brushes, or a solenoid

Repair

• From what I describe, has anyone had this sort of problem?
• How might I go about testing and determining what is wrong (hate to buy all kinds of parts I don't need)

Any thoughts or suggestions is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[steve45]

Sounds like power is getting to the starter relay, but not the starter. Try cleaning the connections on the battery cables and the cables going to the starter first. If that doesn't work, jump directly from the battery to the starter. If that works, your relay is probably bad.

[Ultra151]

Sounds like power is getting to the starter relay, but not the starter. Try cleaning the connections on the battery cables and the cables going to the starter first. If that doesn't work, jump directly from the battery to the starter. If that works, your relay is probably bad.

Thanks @steve45.

So when I see the dashboard panel completely blink, and the battery icon blink and the red warning light blink, that's indication of a faulty relay?

I'll give it a try.

[pokechop2006]

if you find out the starter is bad i would highly advise an oem replacement its expensive, all i here on the aftermarket ones are that there junk an you will be replacing it again in a month if your that lucky.

[steve45]

Thanks @steve45.

So when I see the dashboard panel completely blink, and the battery icon blink and the red warning light blink, that's indication of a faulty relay?

No. When it clicks but doesn't start, THAT is a possible indication of a bad relay. If you jump directly to the starter, that will show if the starter itself is good. Loose or dirty connections can also cause the relay to click.

[Ultra151]

Ok,

BUT

What on earth causes the dashboard to blink, the battery light to blink and the red warning indicator to flash? Has anyone ever experienced that from a 2000 Kawasaki Ultra 150 JH1200A Jet Ski before?

[Ultra151]

... If you jump directly to the starter, ...

Thanks @steve45.

Now I am a bit on the mechanically-challenged side of things, so how do I "jump directly to the starter"?

(http://www.greenhulk.net/forums/show...-off-Ultra-150)

[ki5pm]

•the noise is a rapid-repeating clicking sound like a ratchet sound

This usually is a indication of low battery voltage. Voltage not hi enough to completely close the starter relay. I would suggest you 1st check the actual voltage at the battery while attempting to start the engine.
It should be above 10.5 volts. If that's ok then I agree with Steve45's suggestion.

[Ultra151]

This usually is a indication of low battery voltage...

Ok, thanks @ki5pm

But what is so baffling to me is (a) I bought a brand new battery, (b) it always has a full charge on it (trickle charge it for 24 hours prior to use), and (c) every time I turn on the ski the dashboard to blinks, the battery light to blinks and the red warning indicator to flashes. This is the identical behavior with the battery that was in the ski when I bought it.

Again, I'm not mechanical but these symptoms tell me that it is not a battery problem. It's just a problem unique to my 2000 Kawasaki Ultra 150 JH1200A Jet Ski, and no one else seems to have ever experienced this problem.

[pokechop2006]

if you want to do a quick check an bypass all other electral gizmos,pull out the battery an you will see a red wire the size of the battery cable going under the motor disconnect it where it bolts to the relay box behind the battery,then reconnect the battery negative side only an touch the cable that i told you to take off the relay box to the positive side of the battery the motor should spin over if the starter is good. do not hook up origional battery wire when performing this test as you my arc out the other electral gismos,lamens terms hope it helps. its gonna spark at ya the first time you touch it to the battery but thats ok just hold it to the positive side of the battery an dont be scared you did nothing wrong,let me know what it does cause it wont do anything if its bad,now if its starts to smoke at the battery connection that means the motor is locked up, take it off quick do not bolt any positive connections to the battery when performing these test