check engine YAMAHA VX 2009 User Guide

Operation
40
EJU31980
Pre-operation checks EJU31991Pre-operation check list
Before operating this watercraft, perform the checks in the following check list.
WARNING
EWJ00411
Failure to inspect or maintain the watercraft properly increases the possibility of an ac-
cident or damage to the watercraft. Do not operate the watercraft if you find any prob-
lem. If a problem cannot be corrected by the procedures provided in this manual, have
the watercraft inspected by a Yamaha dealer.
ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
BEFORE LAUNCH OR OPERATION
Engine compartmentRemove the seat to ventilate the engine compart-
ment. Check for fuel vapors and loose electrical con-
nections.42
BilgeCheck for water and fuel and drain if necessary. 43
Stern drain plugsCheck for proper installation. 44
Throttle leverCheck that the throttle lever springs back smoothly. 45
Steering systemCheck for proper operation. 45
Shift lever and reverse gate
(VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser)Check for proper operation. 45
Fuel and oilCheck the fuel and oil levels and replenish if neces-
sary.
Check the hoses and tanks for leakage.42, 42
Water separatorCheck for water and drain if necessary. 43
BatteryCheck the electrolyte level and battery condition. 44
HoodCheck that the hood is securely closed. 23
SeatCheck that the seat is securely installed. 23
Hull and deckCheck the hull and deck for cracks and other dam-
age.42
Jet intakeCheck for debris and remove if necessary. 46
Fire extinguisherCheck the condition and replace if necessary. 44
Engine shut-off cord (lan-
yard)Check the condition and replace if frayed or broken. 46
SwitchesCheck the start switch, engine stop switch, and en-
gine shut-off switch for proper operation.46
AFTER LAUNCH
Cooling water pilot outletCheck that water is discharged while the engine is
running and the watercraft is in the water.47
Multifunction information
centerCheck for warning indications and proper operation. 47
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Operation
42
EJU32280Pre-operation check points EJU32311Engine compartment
WARNING
EWJ00460
Failure to ventilate the engine compart-
ment could result in a fire or explosion. Do
not start the engine if there is a fuel leak or
a loose electrical connection.
Ventilate the engine compartment before
each use.
To ventilate the engine compartment, remove
the seat. (See page 23 for seat removal and
installation procedures.) Leave the engine
compartment open for a few minutes to allow
any fuel vapors to escape.
While the engine compartment is open, check
for loose electrical connections.
EJU32350Hull and deck
Check the hull and deck for cracks and other
damage. If any damage is found, have a
Yamaha dealer repair the watercraft.
EJU32391Fuel level
Make sure that there is sufficient fuel in the
fuel tank before each use.
Also, check the fuel system for leakage,
cracks, and malfunctions. (See page 68 for
check points and correct procedures.)(1) Remove the fuel tank filler cap to release
any pressure that might have built up in
the fuel tank.
(2) Remove the seat. (See page 23 for seat
removal and installation procedures.)
(3) Check the fuel level in the fuel tank and
replenish if necessary. (See page 38 for
filling procedures.)
(4) Install the fuel tank filler cap and the seat.
EJU32401Engine oil level
Check the engine oil level before each use.
WARNING
EWJ00340
Engine oil is extremely hot immediately af-
ter the engine is turned off. Coming in con-
tact with or getting any engine oil on your
clothes could result in burns.
NOTICE
ECJ00391

Do not run the engine with too much or
not enough oil in the oil tank, otherwise
the engine could be damaged.

Make sure that debris and water do not
enter the oil tank filler hole. Debris and
water in the engine oil can cause serious
engine damage.
To check the engine oil level:
(1) Place the watercraft in a horizontal posi-
tion or launch the watercraft, and then
start the engine. NOTICE: When check-
ing the engine oil level on land, supply
water to the cooling water passages.
(See page 62 for procedures on sup-
plying water.)
[ECJ01020]
TIP:
When checking the engine oil level on water,
moor the watercraft so that it will not drift
away.
(2) Run the engine at trolling speed for 6 min-
utes or more, and then stop the engine.
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Operation
43
Run the engine an additional 5 minutes if
the ambient temperature is 20 °C (68 °F)
or less.
(3) Remove the seat. (See page 23 for seat
removal and installation procedures.)
(4) Remove the oil tank filler cap, wipe the
dipstick clean, and then screw the filler
cap into the filler hole completely. Re-
move the filler cap again and check that
the engine oil level is between the mini-
mum and maximum level marks on the
dipstick.
(5) If the engine oil level is below the mini-
mum level mark, add enough oil so that
the oil level is between the minimum and
maximum level marks on the dipstick,
and then install the filler cap. If the engine
oil level is significantly above the maxi-mum level mark, the oil tank is overfilled.
Have a Yamaha dealer remove the ex-
cessive amount of engine oil.
(6) Install the seat.
EJU32420Water separator
Check the water separator for water. The wa-
ter separator retains any water that may have
entered through the fuel tank breather hose if
the watercraft was capsized. Normally, the
water separator is empty.
If water remains in the water separator, drain
it by removing the drain screw. Place a drain
pan under the water separator to catch the
draining water or use a dry cloth to soak up
any water that could spill into the watercraft. If
any water spills into the watercraft, be sure to
wipe it up with a dry cloth. Also, be sure to in-
stall the drain screw after draining the water
separator.
EJU32462Bilge
Check the bilge for moisture and fuel residue.
NOTICE: Excessive water in the engine
compartment can splash into the engine,
which can result in severe damage.
[ECJ00341]
To drain water from the bilge:
(1) Remove the stern drain plugs.
(2) Raise the bow of the watercraft until the
water drains.
1Oil tank filler cap
1Minimum level mark
2Maximum level mark
1Water separator
2Drain screw
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Operation
44
(3) After the water has drained, wipe the
bilge with dry rags to make sure that it is
thoroughly dry.
(4) Install the stern drain plugs. NOTICE:
Before installing the stern drain plugs,
clean the drain plug threads to remove
any foreign materials, such as dirt or
sand. Otherwise, the stern drain plugs
could be damaged, allowing water to
enter the engine compartment. Make
sure that the stern drain plugs are
tightened securely before launching
the watercraft. Otherwise, water may
flood the engine compartment and
cause the watercraft to submerge.
[ECJ00361]
EJU32472
Stern drain plugs
Check the stern drain plugs for proper instal-
lation.
EJU32482Battery
Check the battery electrolyte level and check
that the battery has sufficient power to start
the engine easily. WARNING! Never operate
the watercraft if the battery does not have
sufficient power to start the engine or if it
shows any other signs of decreased pow-
er. Loss of battery power may leave you
stranded.
[EWJ01240]
Recharge the battery or replace it if it is not in
good condition. (See page 72 for battery re-
charging procedures.)
Also, check that the battery leads are tight-
ened securely and that there is no corrosion
on the battery terminals. Check that the
breather hose is securely connected to the
battery and that it is not pinched. WARNING!
Fire or explosion could result if the breath-
er hose is damaged, obstructed, or not
connected properly.
[EWJ00451]
Make sure that the battery is securely held in
place.
EJU32541Fire extinguisher
Check that there is a full fire extinguisher on
board.
The fire extinguisher holder and cover are lo-
cated in the front storage compartment.
1Positive (+) battery terminal: Red lead
2Negative (–) battery terminal: Black lead
3Breather hose
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Operation
46
Make sure that the reverse gate goes down
completely when the shift lever is pulled up.
Also, make sure that the reverse gate goes up
completely when the shift lever is pushed
down.
EJU32651Jet intake
Carefully check the jet intake for weeds, de-
bris, or anything else that might restrict the in-
take of water. If the jet intake is clogged, clean
it. (See page 78 for jet intake cleaning proce-
dures.)
If the watercraft is operated while the jet in-
take is clogged, cavitation could occur, reduc-
ing jet thrust, and possibly damaging the jet
pump. In some cases, the engine may over-
heat because of lack of cooling water, anddamage to the engine could result. Cooling
water is fed to the engine by the jet pump.
EJU32661Engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
Check that the engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
is not frayed or broken. If the cord is dam-
aged, replace it. WARNING! Never try to re-
pair the engine shut-off cord (lanyard) or
tie it together. The engine shut-off cord
(lanyard) may not pull free when the oper-
ator falls off, allowing the watercraft to
continue to run and cause an accident.
[EWJ01220]
EJU32671
Switches
NOTICE
ECJ00410
Do not run the engine for more than 15
seconds when checking the switches on
land without supplying water, otherwise
the engine could overheat.
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Operation
47
Check the start switch, the engine stop
switch, and the engine shut-off switch for
proper operation.
Push the start switch to start the engine. As
soon as the engine starts running, push the
engine stop switch to verify that the engine
stops immediately. Restart the engine, and
then pull the engine shut-off cord (lanyard) to
remove the clip from the engine shut-off
switch to verify that the engine stops immedi-
ately. (See pages 25 to 26 for information on
proper operation of the start switch, the en-
gine stop switch, and the engine shut-off
switch.)
EJU32680Cooling water pilot outlet
Check that water comes out from the cooling
water pilot outlet while the engine is runningand the watercraft is in the water. (See page
26 for more information.)
EJU32711Multifunction information center
Check the multifunction information center for
proper operation while the watercraft is in the
water. (See page 31 for information on proper
operation of the multifunction information cen-
ter.)
1Start switch
2Engine stop switch
3Engine shut-off switch
4Clip
5Engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
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Operation
48
EJU32742
Operation
WARNING
EWJ00510
Before operating your watercraft, become
familiar with all of the controls. Consult a
Yamaha dealer about any control or func-
tion that you do not fully understand. Fail-
ure to understand how the controls work
could cause an accident or prevent you
from avoiding an accident.
NOTICE
ECJ00460
Make sure that the stern drain plugs are
tightened securely before launching the
watercraft.
EJU32782Engine break-in
NOTICE
ECJ00430
Failure to follow the engine break-in pro-
cedure could result in reduced engine life
or even severe engine damage.
The engine break-in period is essential to al-
low the various components of the engine to
wear and polish themselves to the correct op-
erating clearances. This ensures proper per-
formance and promotes longer component
life.
TIP:
Be sure to check the engine oil level before
operating the watercraft for the first time. (See
page 42 for engine oil checking procedures.)
(1) Launch the watercraft and start the en-
gine. (See page 48 for engine starting
procedures.)
(2) For the first 5 minutes, run the engine at
trolling speed only. For the 30 minutes of
operation after that, keep the engine
speed below 5000 r/min. For the 1 hour of
operation after that, keep the engine
speed below 6500 r/min.
(3) Proceed with normal operation.
EJU32812Launching the watercraft
When launching the watercraft, make sure
that there are no obstacles around you.
If there are waves, someone should make
sure that the watercraft is not pushed into the
trailer after launching the watercraft.

For VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser:
Use the remote control transmitter to select
the unlock mode. (See page 29 for Yamaha
Security System lock and unlock mode se-
lection procedures.)
After the watercraft is in the water, start the
engine. Shift into reverse and move the wa-
tercraft back slowly.

For VX:
After the watercraft is in the water, turn it
around so that the bow faces the direction
you wish to go. Start the engine, and then
slowly move away from the launching area.
EJU32852Starting the engine
(1) If the lock mode of the Yamaha Security
System is selected (for VX Deluxe/VX
Cruiser), use the remote control transmit-
ter to select the unlock mode. (See page
29 for Yamaha Security System lock and
unlock mode selection procedures.)
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Operation
49
(2) Launch the watercraft in water free from
weeds and debris and at least 60 cm (2 ft)
deep from the bottom of the watercraft.
NOTICE: Never operate in water that is
less than 60 cm (2 ft) deep from the
bottom of the watercraft, otherwise
pebbles or sand could be sucked into
the jet intake, causing impeller dam-
age and engine overheating.
[ECJ00471]
(3) Attach the engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
to your left wrist, and then attach the clip
to the engine shut-off switch. It is not pos-
sible to start the engine with the clip re-
moved from the engine shut-off switch.
WARNING! Check that the engine
shut-off cord (lanyard) is attached cor-
rectly. If the engine shut-off cord (lan-
yard) is not attached correctly, it may
not pull free when the operator fallsoff, allowing the watercraft to continue
to run and cause an accident.
[EWJ00581]
(4) Push the start switch (green button), and
then release it as soon as the engine
starts to run. If the engine does not start
in 5 seconds, release the start switch,
wait 15 seconds, and then try again. The
engine will not start if the throttle lever is
squeezed. NOTICE: Never push the
start switch while the engine is run-
ning. Do not operate the start switch
for more than 5 seconds, otherwise
the battery will be discharged and the
engine will not start. Also, the starter
motor could be damaged.
[ECJ01040]
EJU32861
Stopping the engine
To stop the engine, release the throttle lever,
and then push the engine stop switch (red
1Clip
2Engine shut-off switch
3Engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
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Operation
51
EJU32901
Operating your watercraft EJU32961Getting to know your watercraft
Operating your watercraft requires skills ac-
quired through practice over a period of time.
Take the time to learn the basic techniques
well before attempting more difficult maneu-
vers.
Operating your new watercraft can be a very
enjoyable activity, providing you with hours of
pleasure. However, it is essential to familiar-
ize yourself with the operation of the water-
craft to achieve the skill level necessary to
enjoy riding safely.
Before operating this watercraft, read this
owner’s/operator’s manual, the Riding Prac-
tice Guide, the Riding Instruction card, and all
labels on the watercraft. Pay particular atten-
tion to the safety information on page 9.
These materials should give you an under-
standing of the watercraft and its operation.
Remember: This watercraft is designed to
carry the operator and up to 2 passengers.
Never exceed the maximum load limit or allow
more than 3 persons (or 2 persons if a water-
skier is being pulled) to ride the watercraft at
any time.
EJU33001Learning to operate your watercraft
Before operating the watercraft, always per-
form the pre-operation checks listed on page
40. The short time spent checking the water-
craft will reward you with added safety and re-
liability.
Check local laws before operating your water-
craft.Operate defensively at safe speeds and keep
a safe distance away from people, objects,
and other watercraft. Select a wide area to
learn in, where there is good visibility and light
boat traffic.
Use the buddy system—operate with some-
one nearby. Scan constantly for people, ob-
jects, and other watercraft. Be alert for
conditions that limit your visibility or block your
vision of others.
Attach the engine shut-off cord (lanyard) to
your left wrist and keep it free from the handle-
bars so that the engine stops if you, the oper-
ator, fall off.
Wear a personal flotation device (PFD). All
riders must wear a PFD that is approved by
the appropriate authorities and is suitable for
personal watercraft use.
Wear protective clothing. Severe internal inju-
ries can occur if water is forced into body cav-
ities as a result of falling into the water or
being near the jet thrust nozzle. Normal swim-
wear does not adequately protect against
forceful water entry into the rectum and vagi-
na. All riders must wear a wetsuit bottom or
clothing that provides equivalent protection.
Such clothing includes thick, tightly woven,
sturdy and snug-fitting apparel such as den-
im, but does not include spandex or similar
fabrics, like those used in bicycle shorts. A full
wetsuit can also protect against hypothermia Maximum load:
240 kg (530 lb)
Load is the total weight of cargo, oper-
ator, and passengers.
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Operation
55
(1) Climb on board as noted in the previous
section, and sit astride the seat.
(2) Attach the engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
to your left wrist, and then attach the clip
to the engine shut-off switch.
(3) Have the passengers move to the rear of
the watercraft.
(4) Have a passenger board and sit astride
the seat. If a second passenger is board-
ing, have him or her follow the same pro-
cedure. When a passenger is boarding,both the passengers and the operator
should try to balance the watercraft.
(5) Check that the passengers have their
feet on the floor of the footwell and are
securely holding on to the person in front
of them or to the handgrip provided. Nev-
er allow a passenger to ride in front of the
operator.
(6) Start the engine, look in all directions, and
then accelerate to planing speed.
To board when it is difficult to balance the wa-
tercraft at a standstill:
(1) While the passengers are steadying the
watercraft, pull yourself up onto the
boarding platform into a kneeling posi-
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