“My Jet Ski Won’t Start” – Troubleshooting a Jet Ski that Won`t Start

Jet Ski wont start? Let’s get you back in the water! Jet skis are machines that are created to run fast on water surfaces. They have a very good design and quality mechanics, but they still endure lots of battering and high speed abuse. To insure the ability to use your jet ski for a long period of time you must take a proper care and maintain it. So what happens when your Jet Ski wont start for you?

People usually make mistakes and forget to store their jet skis in a proper way. After being used all day in the water, the jet skis are often stored in places where the weather conditions aren’t favorable. In order to work well, jet skis should not be left outside because the sun, wind or rain will lessen the performance of your watercraft. When you use your jet ski, cruising down the sea or ocean, it will accumulate salt, dirt and grime. All of them can affect the overall performance of the Jet Ski. You must remove all of those elements that have accumulated inside the machine, in order to lengthen the life and the optimum performance of the Jet Ski.

For good maintenance and to prevent damage to your Jet Ski, it is highly recommendable to wash the Jet Ski with fresh water after each use. Then it should be dried on fresh air and stored properly. The sunlight also damages the machine, so you should always cover it with some kind of protection.

Just like cars and other vehicles, jet skis should be regularly inspected by mechanics. They will take proper maintenance of the mechanical parts of the Jet Ski, and will clean out all dirt and other substances that have accumulated inside the engine of the Jet Ski.

Troubleshooting of a jet ski that won`t start can be broken down into a few other groups. If the Jet Ski does not start and cannot run at all, then the engine ignition is the first place where you should look at. There might be a problem with the fuel system or with the carburetion, especially if the Jet Ski has not ran in a while.

TIP: Does your PWC require a unique key or custom ignition modification that has malfunctioned? Is your safety switch/key properly releasing the safety mechanism? These are a quick and easy first tier reason why your Jet Ski wont start. Now that these have been checked, let’s move on.

First, check out the spark plugs. Take them out and take a closer look on them to see whether they are dry or wet. If the spark plugs are dry and their color is light brown – the fueling is functioning correctly. In case if one of the spark plugs is wet, that means that the ignition or the carburetor has a problem or that the cylinder is not working properly.

By using the starter, spin and turn the engine over with the plugs inserted in the plug boots. Lay the plugs on the metal, unpainted part of the engine. The plugs should spark as the engine is spinning. If the plugs are black and wet, or if they look weak, then it is probably time for them to get replaced. If one of the spark plugs is not sparking, then probably the ignition coil is damaged. If both of the spark plugs are looking good, but are still very wet – then there is a carburetion problem.

Decide whether the problem occurs always or if it occurs below or above approximately three thousand revolutions per minute (rpm). Below three thousand rpm it’s the circuit that is being controlled by the low speed jet. Above three thousand rpm is the main jet. After you remove the jets, take them up on the light to check whether you are able to see through them.

You should also check and verify that you do not have some kind of leak in the engine. To do that, move the seat back for a few inches in order to keep a fresh air inside the engine compartment. If the air gets quickly contaminated with exhaust that means that the jut ski will work all right at the start, but it will get worse in short time. It is very important to lower the acceleration and speed in the diaphragm carbs. If the carbs are not getting gas, then you should remove the pump line of the fuel and spin the engine. As the engine spins, there should be gas coming out of the fuel pump lines. If the pump looks like it is not working properly, check out the pump vacuum to see whether there is some kind of leak.

Jet skis are machines that are designed to be used by a single person. Like with any other machine, if there is a problem, you should look for the cause of it. The most common problem that occurs with these personal watercrafts is when their engine does not start.

Here is what you need to do – first of all, check whether that the engine switch is positioned to the “right”. The Jet Ski engine cannot start if the interlock switch is in the “left” position. Next, check if the fuel valve is set to “on” before you try starting the Jet Ski. Pull it all the way out and press the start button. If the level of the fuel is low, the Jet Ski can start but it might stop soon or it will not be able to make turns. That is why you should always fill in the tank to the top.

Jet Ski Wont Start? Keep Reading

Remove the spark plugs from the engine compartment, after previously you disconnect the spark plug wires. Use a clean cloth or rag to clean the end of the spark plugs. If they are very dirty, then you should replace them with new ones. Other thing to do is to open the battery compartment and check out whether there are cables which are loosely connected. Tighten up all the cables with the wrench.

Finally, take a close examination of the jet pump which is located in the back of the watercraft. Remove all the debris which may be on the pump. Debris often cause engine to overheat, so the jet pump should be cleaned regularly. If by now you are still stumped and can’t figure it out then the answer is simple; Bring your PWC over to a licensed professional like JSPG who has trained techs on hand and professional diagnostic equipment.

I hope this article helps to better equip you for how to follow up and take action the next time your Jet Ski wont start up. As always – ride safe!