Mercury won't run

[jqualtrough]

Help!
Amongst other things, for skiing with my family I have a Bombardier Seadoo Challenger 2000 with Mercury Jet Drive.
OK, so it's not normal to this web site, but the basic block is and that's why I need somebody's help.
The engine starts fine, will tick over for eternity, but as soon as I accelerate, once it gets to about 2000rpm, the engine management kicks in and limits the revs.
Unfortunately there wasn't a dealer on the Isle of Man with the diagnostic to help me, so after discussions with Barrus and acquiring a manual I checked everything. Fuel pressure, all settings (timing and throttle), swapped air temp sensor and water temp sensor , but still no joy.
This problem has plagued me for 15 months now, and I am looking at another summer not being able to use the boat.
My ideas include dragging the thing to the Southampton boat show and setting fire to it as a protest, but before I embark on such drastic action I thought I'd ask the question on the forum.
I've also considered swapping the block for a carb set-up or stripping the engine management system and PI off this block and replacing it with good old carbs.
What ever happened to two strokes when if you had spark and fuel it ran!
So; help please!
Many thanks

PS my other boat is Scottyboys old Phamtom 21 with XR2 - now that's what I call an engine

[Frenchbruno]

IMHO you need to check your stator, this kind of stator use a multi-coils system, one side for idle, and the other above the idle speed (with crossing fonctionnal curves). It's look like your engine have a problem on the high side. Ask your dealer to check your stator, may be one coil in the stator is cut, and (or) you have a bad electrical connection concerning the stator.
You can check the stator whitout removing it, if you have not the technical book to check the stator PM me and I'll give you the procedure .
If the stator is faulty, you need a flywheel puller to remove it.
Have a check on the trigger in the same time, but trigger are reliable 'just in case).
Stator are not so reliable on 2.4 liter and sometimes you have problem on 2.5liters, I think now they use japanese component but not sure.....
The stator price is arrround 385 US dollar...

[TheOrs]

Sounds like it might be running in 'Limp Mode'.

This could be caused by lots of things. Easiest thing to do would be to take it to the mainland & get a dealer to run diagnostics on it.

Just a thought but have you checked the up/down sensor for the impellor weed gate? It might think the gate is down & limit the rev's accordingly. This happened to a friend of mine.

[olli]

I'm not so familiar with the engine in your boat but if it has a variable ratio oil injection and low oil level protection system, a damaged sensor could be the cause. The sensor "thinks" there is not enough oil in the reservoir and cuts down the revs.

[jqualtrough]

Thanks TheOrs, thanks olli.

Yes, it certainly seems to be in a limp home mode, I'll check as you suggest. Problem with taking it to England is best part of £1000 for the round trip, not bad if it solves the problem but a bummer if it doesn't.

I'll let you know how I get on.

John

[BluFin]

what jet drive is it? the 200xs
from the web site they say Engine Guardian - over-speed, overheat, low oil level, low battery voltage, oil system failure, water in fuel, low water pressure, engine sensor failure.
curing the fault wont unlock you would need a ddt to reset.
jet drives I know little about but if you have bought from new and it is the same as the outboards the ems/ecu is locked in a break in mode which needs to be cleared or zeroed

[jqualtrough]

Thanks BluFin

The engine is 2507cc V6, 240hp
Serial number OE377068
Year 2000
Model SJ240 M2

Can't get access to ddt on IOM and it would cost £1k to take it over to UK and back, not good if no fault found!

I've been told that running on tick over for 30mins re-sets the engine management, but don't know for sure.

Didn't buy it new, but have no reason to suspect previous owner who said it ran fine. It started and ticked over no problem.

Thanks to everyone for their help, looks like I've got a busy weekend!

[BluFin]

DDT about £400, dont have the foggiest as to the cartridge or loom hook up needed.
I've only just run in my 280 & having a DDT has made life so easyyyyyyyyyyy, but you need to get some use out of it to make it worthwhile

There are a few agents on the board here sure they will chip in soon. I just dont know much about jet drives other than I seem to suction dredge the channel every time I go out of christchurch.

Every bloody time .... Oh that looks alright I'll cut over the bar,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, NOT

[jqualtrough]

Well guys, another saturday afternoon doing tests.

FrenchBruno. Charging at 14.5 volts OK - so not that

TheOrs. No up/down sensor on weed gate - so not that

olli. Oil reservoir sensor works fine - so not that

BluFin. DDT seems to be the way. steve h has offered to take a run over from Fleetwood after the round UK race, so that might be the easiest option

Checked neutral position sensor, and that works fine - so not that

steve h will be away now for a couple of weeks, so if anyone has any more ideas in the mean time!

Thanks everyone for their help

John Q

[BluFin]

Originally Posted by jqualtrough

BluFin. DDT seems to be the way. steve h has offered to take a run over from Fleetwood after the round UK race, so that might be the easiest option

If he get's his foot down cant he stop off on the way by for an Hour

[Frenchbruno]

Ok John,
keep members informed when you'll find the problem,
Hope you have not an ECU problem wich goes in trouble when going at temperature !!!! because even in USA the best price I have is Horrific!!!!!
On Ishopmarine.com the price of the ECU assembly
MM-824003A31 is 1540.82 us dollar Ouch!!!!!
BAM price for your ECU
824003A31 ECU ASSY 824003A31 $1,643.41

[jqualtrough]

Thanks guys

The price of the ECU really makes me think about swapping for carbs!

I'll let you all know

John