Hi, hoping someone can help me.

My 2002 Seadoo Utopia 205 with Merc 240EFI is having problems. I'm wondering if there's water in the fuel, but not sure.

When just above idle, the engine suddenly cuts out, then comes back, then cuts out. Sometimes it cuts out completely and I have to restart it. When it comes back, it lunges forward obviously, then cuts back again.

As I accelerate further I seem to be able to eventually get it past the lunging and then it will run perfect on plane mostly.

But if I open the throttle to max, it eventually cuts out violently, then lunges forward, cuts out, lunges, etc. - until I reduce the throttle again to midspeed. Sometimes it cuts out completely at speed too, and I have to restart it.

Thinking it might be water in the fuel, I drained the fuel tank through the fuel sender hole, hopefully I got out all the fuel. For the last bit I used a shop vac and sucked it up, but not sure if there's a hidden reservoir somewhere that I missed.

Next step is to figure out if the Merc240EFI has a fuel filter and a water separator. If so, can someone tell me where they are located, as I don't see them. I only see the fuel lines connected directly to the engine.

Help please... Is it water in the fuel, or something else?

Thanks in advance,
Andrew


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2002 Seadoo Utopia 205 Merc 240EFI
1997 Seadoo GTX
1995 Seadoo GTS

You used a shopVacc to empty your fuel tank? Holly shat!!! Your lucky you didn't blow yourself to up!!!

It sounds more like an ignition issue not water in the fuel. Water would make it run weak, slow down and shut off. Whereas an ignition issue would cause lunging like you described.

Get a gallon size fuel tank, put some injector cleaner, 50:1 Gas:Oil, and some Heat. Run the 240EFI from the tank and see if she runs smooth at an idle (only).

I suspect your problem is in the Neutral Lock or the Lanyard switches. It might even be a loose battery connector wire or some other positive lead/wire. Check all immediately. You don't want sparks under the hood!

Any way you look at it... Stop using the shopvac... we don't want to read about the terrorist attack against a Dooer!!! LOL

SpeedSter240EFI
Rj

It appears to have been solved. I changed the inline fuel filter, the fuel filter/water separator and cleaned the spark plugs.

I just took it out on the lake and the hesitations and cutouts seems to have gone away.

How long did you ride? 10 minutes or a tank of fuel? I wouldn't assume the problem is gone. The Fuel rail can hold a lot of fuel... just because the filter is plugged... won't cause your symptoms. Did you put new gas in your tank... did you add any fuel additives... It might just be happenstance that the Doo ran better. Cold water... cold air... ??? What were the conditions? Perhaps the 240EFI never got upto normal operating temperatures... so certain sensors were not being activated... There are ton of reason why the Doo would run great for a short trip. My advice... don't plan a long trip and/or a day long tour without more testing. Be safe!

SpeedSter240EFI
JetWild W/O Lunging... "the boat jerks by and forth when I move this level"... The doctor said... "Stop touching your lever!" Jerk Jerk Jerk LOL Just kidding!!!
Rj