10 Most Common Jet Ski Problems and How to Fix Them
Berts Mega Mall | Powersports Hub
There is nothing worse than getting your Jet Ski ready to ride when all of a sudden it will not start. If you are a newly Jet Ski owner or are thinking about purchasing one soon, you have to be aware of some common Jet Ski problems and their fixes. Servicing a Jet Ski can cause a lot of time and money, but you can save yourself both of those things if you know how to fix it yourself. Here are 10 of the most common Jet Ski problems and tips on how to fix them.
Tools Needed:
Before you can begin to fix many common problems, you need to make sure you have the proper tools on hand in case an emergency happens: Here is a list of must-have tools:
- Sharp long knife
- 3/8 Drive socket set
- Shifter or wrench
- Screwdriver
- Torch
- 40cm long metal poking rod
- Tow rope and shackle
- Pocket Jump Starter
- Anchor and rope
- Water and spare life jacket
- Fire extinguisher
1. Jet Ski Won't Start:
One of the most frustrating things that can happen to a Jet Ski owner is arriving at the river and realizing the Jet Ski won’t start. This is usually a sign of a weak battery. There is normally enough voltage in the battery to turn over the Jet Ski, but not enough to ignite the fuel.
Solution:
One way to solve this issue is to make sure to charge the battery with a battery tender when the Jet Ski is not being used. This will keep the battery in peak charge and ready to use when you decide to take the Jet Ski for a ride.
2. Jet Ski Rope is Wrapped Around Main Shaft:
Many riders believe it is okay to ride across a ski rope when riding because a Jet Ski does not have an exposed propeller it can wrap around. However, riders do not realize the major damage this can cause to your Jet Ski. The intake grate on a jet ski is intended to take in large amounts of water at force and it also has the ability to pull in a rope and other materials. The rope will begin to wrap around the shaft causing it to bend or damage the pump hull.
Solution:
The easiest way to prevent this from happening is to not ride over any ski rope, but if a rope gets stuck on your jet ski, you must tow it back to shore and put it on a trailer. Use a long knife to cut the rope off the shaft.
3. Broken Compartment Hinge:
Almost all jet skis have a hinged compartment where you can store all of your belongings while riding. However, people tend to pack so much stuff in the compartment that the hinge or lid will crack and break when they try to close it. Our recommendation will be to not pack the compartment full. If you have many things in the compartment, close the lid slowly so there is no added pressure to the lid.
Solution: If the hinge or lid breaks, you can purchase the replacement parts or you can try to fix the plastic hinge with a fiberglass repair kit.
Insider Tip: Most jet skis also have a small glove box lid near the handlebars that can also suffer this same problem. It is better to pack lightly that way you will not have this problem.
4. Start Key is Not Working
If you own a Sea-Doo, then your Jet Ski uses a clever system to make sure the real owner is riding the Jet Ski. Each Jet Ski has its own programmed key so the Jet Ski will not start with any other key but your own. There have been times where the Sea-Doo craft will not recognize the key even though it is your key. Since there is no other key to use, you must find out what is causing your Jet Ski to not recognize the key.
Solution:
When putting the key into the ignition, try to push it on harder because sometimes the angle it is on can cause the vehicle to not recognize the key. Also, make sure you dry the key if it is well because that can also cause problems. If nothing works, you will have to buy a new key and have it programmed to your specific Jet Ski.
5. The Engine Fails:
There could be many possibilities as to why the engine is failing. Some reasons can be the following: your jet ski has defective or worn our spark plugs, there is water inside the sparkplug well or in the ignition leads, the fuel level is too low or water contaminated, it has a defective ignition coil or clogged injectors. Luckily, these problems all have an easy fix.
Solution:
If any parts are damaged or defective, it is important to replace them right away. If things are clogged, cleaning them out is the best way your vehicle will be back to normal and working properly.
6. Jet Ski is Riding Slow
If you begin to notice that your Jet Ski is slower than normal then that may be a sign of a problem. There are many things that can cause your Jet Ski to lose its speed. Make sure to check the following areas to make sure there is no damage to them:
- Check the intake grate for ropes, rocks, and other materials which can get caught in the grate
- Check to see if you are using a learner key because this will restrict the RPM and top speed of your jet ski.
- Check that you are not riding your Jet Ski on ECO mode as this will lower the top speed as well
- A worn wear ring or impeller can also cause cavitation and reduced top-end speed
Solution: If any of the above areas are causing the Jet Ski to underperform, make sure to replace the parts needed to get its top speed back to normal. If you checked all of these areas and you still can’t seem to find the problem, you must take your Jet Ski to a service dealer to diagnose the problem.
7. Jet-Ski Is Filling up With Water
If you begin to notice that your Jet Ski is filling up with water, you must first discover if it is filling up when running or when it is stationary sitting on the water. There are different solutions to this problem depending on when the leak is occurring.
Filling Up when stationary Solution: If the Jet Ski is filling up when it is not on the move then you must remove the seat to see where the water is coming from. Usually, it is a bad seal on the main shaft or there is a compression fitting on a hose that is loose and will need tightening. It can also be that someone forgot to put the drain bungs back in.
Filling Up when the Jet Ski is running Solution: It can be difficult to know what is causing the leak when the Jet Ski is running. You must keep the Jet Ski in the trailer and put it in water. You need to reverse the whole trailer into the water until the bottom of the Jet Ski intake grate in underwater. Look to see where the water is coming in. Often it will be from the pump seal or the cooling circuit.
Insider Tip: Never use a Jet Ski when it has a water leak because it can fill your entire hull with water and cause the Jet Ski to sink and the motor will fill with water.
8. The Reverse Gate Won’t Work:
Depending on the type of Jet Ski you have, the reserve grates will either be electrically operated or manually operated with a cable. Whichever your jet ski has, sometimes the reserve gate can get blocked with rocks or tree branches. If this occurs, you must remove whatever is blocking the reverse gate.
Solution: If your forward reverse gate still won’t move you could have a blown power fuse. Replace the fuse and try again.
9. Spark Plugs are Hard to Remove:
Sometimes when a simple fix is not done, it can become a bigger problem. If a Jet Ski is not serviced for several years, it may be hard to remove the spark plugs because they can get rusty and bind into the engine head. If this happens to your jet ski, try using penetrating fluid and leave it overnight.
Solution: Once you have left the spark plugs sitting overnight, try and remove the plugs again using the correct socket and a long extension bar.
10. Mold/Mildew on the Seat and Inside the Engine Bay:
If you do not let your Jet Ski air out after each use, you will notice your vehicle start to get mold on the fabric and inside your engine bay. Removing mold is hard to remove unless you use a bathroom mold remover. If you want to prevent mold and mildew from happening on your Jet Ski, remember to always remove the seat and drain out the water from inside the Jet Ski.
Solution: To remove the mold, spray mold remover on the moldy area and let it go to work. Once it is ready to clean, make sure to rinse the area with fresh water.
Conclusion:
Knowing the common Jet Ski problems and how to fix them will allow you to get your Jet Ski back in the water as soon as possible. Having the correct tools handy at all times will make fixing your Jet Ski that much easier so make sure you have some tools ready. Being able to fix these common problems will save you time, money, and will allow you to enjoy your Jet Ski to the fullest.
Related:
- Why You Need a Jet Ski in Your Life
- Finding the Right Jet Ski/PWC For you
- 10 Things You Should Carry in Your Jet Ski/Watercraft
- Why Won't My Jet Ski Start?
- What to Know Before You Take Your Jet Ski into the Ocean
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