96 donzi jetboat won't start...it's my first PWC

[ladycoptx]

It turned over fine the first time I took it out. Last time I tried starting it before we got it on the water and I'm glad I did. It wouldn't turn over though it tried. From looking at the booklet I changed the fuse and added carb/choke cleaner to the gas. The batt appears to be really strong. Im going to try and change the spark plugs (though I have never done it before)this week. Is there anything else it could be? Could my trying to start it numerous times done anything to it? They told me I could start it out of water for a few seconds..help, I'm clueless. I've had a skiboat and a galaxy deckboat..this is my first jetboat. Thanks. Nicole

[Jeff Walkowiak]

remove the spark plugs and see if the engine turns over, if it won't turn you may have a bad pump locking everything up, or a bad engine, or starter. if it cranks over, clean the plugs and reinstall them use starting fluid to see if it will fire for a second if it does you have a fuel problem and may need to replace the fuel in the tank or get the carbs cleaned etc. It would help to know what engine you have, if it is a mercury it may have the notorious bad stator and electrical system they are noted for.

[ladycoptx]

how do I see if the engine will turn over while the spark plugs are out? sorry if its a stupid question, never done this before...it is a mercury motor, just looked....just changed them...still wont startthanks for the help, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something silly since I don't know this boat at all. I really can't afford to take it to the shop but it looks like I will have to..I just bought it in March and I intend to get alot of use out of it this summer!

[Jeff Walkowiak]

the older mercury had a glitch that would destroy the ignition windings there are a set of windings for the charging system molded next to the ignition windings under the fly wheel, if the rectifier goes bad the engine runs till you turn it off, when you do the engine is still spinning for a second and because the rectifier went bad it allows 12 volts to travel back to the field windings and causes a ******* charge to electrify the windings causing the ignition windings to create a magnetic field and that changes the value of the current sent to the ignition brain, the end result is the brain blows out and no more ignition, if you replace all the parts but don't replace the rectifier it will start once and cook the brain again, it says mercury but it is actually a force engine, this was a common problem and they redesigned the windings but it still did the same thing just not as often, I designed a circut that would prevent this from happening however those engines are not being used any longer and it was not a big priority I guess. remove the plugs and turn the fly wheel by hand to see if the engine and pump are free turning, if so place the plugs in the wires and see if they spark when you crank the engine, if you see spark on the plugs and the engine is not locked up then you have a fuel problem, My presonal suspicion will be more toward the brain being bad due to the previously mentioned malfunction common to those engines.

[ladycoptx]

Thanks alot Jeff..I tried what you said to try and nothing..dropped it off at the shop yesterday. They were well aware of the problem you mentioned.