When Your PWC Engine Is Full of Water

What should I do when my engine is full of water, due to sinking or turning over?

Do you have a service manual? You will probably need one to explain some of the terminology.

The first thing to do is remove the spark plugs and the pulse tube feeding the carburetor.

On a Sea Doo personal watercraft install the spark plug wires to the test terminals. Other PWC makes install a spark plug in each spark plug boot and lay them on the head away from the exiting water and fuel.

Using a shop vac, vacuum the water from the exhaust system by placing it in the exhaust exit using a rag to help create a vacuum. Some exhaust exits are hard to access; you may have to remove some of the exhaust hose to vacuum the water from the engine.

Vacuum the water from each spark plug hole, holding the throttle wide open, doing this will exit a majority of the water before trying to crank over the engine.

Re-install the spark plugs and while cranking the engine still use a vacuum at the exhaust exit, this will assist exiting the water from the engine during cranking.

If the engine starts and dies, remove the spark plugs, blow the water off of them, install them and try again and again, until it starts. This usually takes about six times. After the engine starts and runs, either install a flush line or ride it at the lake for ten minutes. This will dry the engine, completely.