Starter, solenoid, or something else?

[Sidarousmg]

2010 Seadoo Challenger 210. 155hp motors. So over the summer, my port engine started developing a bad habit or cranking slowly. Starboard engine starts instantly every time, but Port takes about 2-4 seconds to start. During that time, the Port engine is cranking relatively slower than the SB side. Another symptom is electronics (dash lights, GPS) seem to be losing power while I’m trying to crank the motor (never happens with the SB engine) to the point that once my garmin gps shut down and restarted. The engine always eventually manages to start and runs perfectly fine at all RPMs and speeds, just an issues with the slow cranking/starting. I would have guessed battery was going bad, but then I would have the issue with both motors. So my question: is this the starter beginning to go bad? Could it be the starter solenoid? Or a bad ground/wiring ? any input is appreciated before I start throwing parts at it (I do have a spare starter and solenoid that I keep in the emergency tool bag).

 

[Luc Lafreniere]

I would highly recommend simply tightening the terminals on your solenoid. I had these exact symptoms. Thought it was the battery, etc. Nope. I discovered the nuts were a little loose and it takes surprising little to make it crank slowly. Tightned and presto, instant cranking again.

There are also ways to bypass the solenoid to rule it out. YouTube it. Just don't cause any damage. But if you do, you'll know immediately if it's the solenoid or the battery. Tightening the nuts is easier though lol.

 

[Sidarousmg]

thank you. I'll give it a go, maybe spray some dielectric grease and clean other wires while i'm at it. if you had similar symptoms and the cause was from the solenoid, then i guess that would be the first part to change if the cleaning/tightening doesn't work.

 

[Luc Lafreniere]

Yes, but I would try and bypass before purchasing a new solenoid. It would rule that out officially.

 

[Sidarousmg]

I actually have a couple of spare solenoids in the emergency tool bag, along with spare relays, they're relatively inexpensive, so unless swapping it out is difficult, i'll probably go ahead and do it. although, I don't have any of the clicking noise that I would normally associate with the bad solenoid, so your suggestion of loose terminal/wire might be correct.