Starter Motor Troubleshooting On A 2000 Sea-Doo RX DI

The friend of an associate brought by this 2000 Sea-Doo RX DI with a "starter motor issue". Here we troubleshoot the problem for him and it turns out it was much more than that ...!
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Filmed with a Canon 70D camera in the great Pacific Northwest.
Music: The Inner Sound, by Jesse Gallagher.

[@Futurase1]

The instant I saw that much water and condensation in the hull I knew this was going downhill quickly...

[@3ftDeepChannel]

Yes, that’s never a good sign.

[@927danp]

Always love you’re video. You help me keep my ski going like a top.

[@3ftDeepChannel]

Thanks, Daniel!

[@927danp]

No problem, look forward to the next one

[@gamingwithjessika]

Thats a shame that your recommendation is to not fix it because its an old machine. Because these older machines are way more fun than the new ones, they are more fuel efficient, and go just as fast. The RX DI is a rare beast and should always be fixed! Its the perfect ski. I just put 2k into my 2001 GTX DI. Always wished I had the RX but the GTX DI ski has treated me well for 23 years.

[@3ftDeepChannel]

You raise some good points. Thanks for your comment.

[@johnathonsandler9507]

I have an rx sitting in my garage right now on a cart I made. I'm trying to get it to turn over so I can check compression so I can sell it. I bought a jetski trailer and they wanted me to take the jetski. I know nothing about jetskis.

[@3ftDeepChannel]

You’ll need to find someone who knows about jet skis to help you with your project. Good luck!

[@johnathonsandler9507]

@3ftDeepChannel can't I just learn on the fly? Seems straightforward. Can't hurt something already broken right? Lol

[@3ftDeepChannel]

Well, if it’s not done right it will fail …and unlike a car where help is often pretty near when a breakdown occurs, when a jetski leaves you stranded in the water it’s a whole other matter.

[@hockeytops]

Was cracking up as the background effects started getting out of hand. You had me at the first rifle crack lol.

[@3ftDeepChannel]

Thanks. I was wondering if anyone would pick up on them!

[@benschroeder1161]

Bummed that he didn’t want to do an engine swap or fix it but I loved the music/sound effects the most

[@3ftDeepChannel]

Thanks, Ben!

[@luvmydeck]

What was the skid and crash sound at 13:50 ?

[@3ftDeepChannel]

Just having fun with sound effects. 😁

[@alhit007]

Another great video guys, any sign of your new Skis?

[@3ftDeepChannel]

Thanks, Al. Chris got a 2022 RXT-X 300. Blacked out edition. It’s truly a beautiful machine. Not sure if we will make a video on it yet though. Need to be inspired.

[@alhit007]

Nice ski, I’ve got an rxtx300 also but it needs the Riva sponson’s most definitely!! Will help with the mad handling, but it’s a rocket to go, a video of yeah working on the fitting maybe?😜

[@3ftDeepChannel]

It’s a definite possibility!

[@dmett3828]

SBT Time perhaps. However if I recall correctly that fuel injection system is not so fantastic.

[@callofthewildoutdoors]

Nothing about a bombardier is so fantastic I cannot even begin to count the number of our of the crate sea doos i have had to replace top ends on before putting a battery into them, or the tops ends on 787 engines i had to r&r for base gasket replacements out of the crate due to they save a ton of money not winterizing them as only about 8% of their total base goes to "cold" climate areas its cheaper for them to pay us warranty to replace a blown out base gasket due to freeze up than run antifreeze theu them, lets see oil injection lines rotting and leaking, bad fuel tanks, replace the replacement bad fuel tank again, oh and again on some models,there are more service bulletins on a single model of sea doo than there are all of mercury motors since 1970 combined had a guy one time offer me a sea doo in trade for a complete tune up on his 28 foot fishing boat, Hell NO i wouldnt take one for free, yes they are very fun to ride but them upkeep on them is horrible, ( 4 strokes do seem to be a world better unless you get a spark then good luck even most dealers wont work on them, yes they take them but they sit till customer gets mad and grabs it and takes it down the road to the next poor dealership i used to tell the instructors at sea doo school i could teach a monkey to find a better place to put a battery but they topped themselves with the spark on cramming a battery into a tiny area

[@callofthewildoutdoors]

obviously been sitting in waves where water blows up the exhaust and fills everything, but rule #1 with a sea doo NEVER EVER JUMP START them unless you want to burn up the mpem box ( engine control module that all them fuses were in)

[@3ftDeepChannel]

It sound like you’re speaking from experience?

[@callofthewildoutdoors]

@@3ftDeepChannel 30 years a marine technician

[@Orbiter221]

why all the sound effects lol. good vid.

[@3ftDeepChannel]

Just for fun …and to see who’s paying attention.

[@TasmoSrbija]

Can you make some video of Kawasaki Ultra 250x and their problems ? I found for sale allot with broken engine.

[@3ftDeepChannel]

Thanks for the suggestion Markez, but very few people have Kawasaki machines in our area so we don’t get the opportunity to work on one. Maybe one day.

[@DevonSpittleREAL]

What a nightmare.. I gave up on a customers 2000 LRV (4 seater) last season. I believe a rave valve caught a piston ring (no compression in 1 cylinder). The 4tecs are so much better.

[@3ftDeepChannel]

I agree. Much more reliable …if you take care of your machine!

[@DevonSpittleREAL]

@@3ftDeepChannelExactly! 967hrs strong on my 2008 155 💪🏻

[@3ftDeepChannel]

Crikey! Nice to hear.

[@DevonSpittleREAL]

@@3ftDeepChannel I live in Kelowna and run Okanagan Flyboard. If you 2 ever visit in the future let me know. I'd be happy to give you a huge discount (least I could do for all the help your channel has given me)

[@3ftDeepChannel]

Thanks Devon, will do!

[@MikeZ32TT]

Wow

[@stephenbobby5003]

How was it trying to start without a battery

[@3ftDeepChannel]

Problematic.

[@ralphzavala8757]

What size socket did you use to take off the last nut from the black pipe

[@3ftDeepChannel]

The one that fit ;) . Try on a few sockets until you find one that fits right. Hint: they are metric. Good luck.

[@ralphzavala8757]

@@3ftDeepChannel thanks thats what i did it was a mission to take it off …finally got everything loose just need to be patient, thanks again …i need to replace the stator i put a new battery and won’t charge it keeps dying,i already checked the rectifier.. and its good ill give the stator a try,thanks

[@3ftDeepChannel]

Good luck, Ralph.

[@roam849]

You said it needed a block to be fixed, do you mean new one or could a machine shop fix the block and bore it out for less than new engine/new block?

[@3ftDeepChannel]

As the damage was extensive (beyond the cylinder walls), we didn't go into it much further to determine which option would be better. We only knew the expense would not be worth it on that (older) machine. Water had been sitting in the engine for a long time.

[@gamingwithjessika]

Thats a shame that your recommendation is to not fix it because its an old machine. Because these older machines are way more fun than the new ones, they are more fuel efficient, and go just as fast. The RX DI is a rare beast and should always be fixed! Its the perfect ski. I just put 2k into my 2001 GTX DI. Always wished I had the RX but the GTX DI ski has treated me well for 23 years. @@3ftDeepChannel

[@3ftDeepChannel]

You make some good points. Thanks for your comment.

[@johnathonsandler9507]

​@@gamingwithjessikaI have 1 in garage I acquired. Comes with a kart. I don't know what I'm doing while messing with it. Exact same one as in the video

[@3ftDeepChannel]

I would avoid spending much money on it before identifying its problems. It will likely turn out to be a huge $$ pit. Good luck.

[@luvmydeck]

13:46

[@3ftDeepChannel]

I was having fun creating (with sound effects) a "situation" nearby that Chris was apparently oblivious to.

[@rodrigomeca]

Not a very well mainteained ski

[@3ftDeepChannel]

Agreed.