2004 Kawasaki 636 ZX-6R - Unable to start_FI Light

[NinjaSwan]

Hey Gang, Been awhile since I've been on the site. Also been awhile since I have been on my bike, looking forward to getting back out. Poor thing has been cooped up in my garage too long.

Went to pull the bike out today and ran into a problem will the FI (Fuel Injection) light coming on and the bike not able to start.

Unfortunately I am not as technical and don't have the experience like you folks do with troubleshooting and fixing. Looking for any advise I can get or any known tricks to get the bike started so I can take it into a shop or fix myself

2004 Kawasaki 636 ZX-6R - last ran end of last season (oct-nov).

What should I be looking for and what information can I provide to help support my case?

[G21forme]

Drain the tank and get some fresh gas

p.s. I'm in hudson if you need a hand

[NinjaSwan]

Drain the tank and get some fresh gas
p.s. I'm in hudson if you need a hand

Thanks for the quick response G21. I'll give that a shot. Will i need to flush the gas line as well? I'm in Merrimack if I end up needing help. Will probably have to do this on Saturday. Need to get a tube to cipher the tank.

[butcher bergs]

Because it's been sitting so long, I suggest charging the battery first.

2 amps for 8 to 10 hrs

[scubasteveRR]

Also check and see if any rodentes have been chewing on any wires.

[RyanNicholson]

You haven't mounted a fender eliminator recently have you?

[smkn-1]

in manchester if you need a hand

battery probley problem

[jbmass]

Check your interlocks, is it a F1 light or FI? Also does your bike have a service connector in the tail where you can get a code to read over the dash?

[jbmass]

I had a similar problem with my TL, and it was the fuel pump relay. Is the fuel pump engaging or the relay clicking? You should be able to hear it.

[imkindafkedup]

when you turn the key to the on position, can you hear the fuel pump turn on?

[imkindafkedup]

woops, sorry i didn't read jb's post above me.

[KillBill]

Also check and see if any rodentes have been chewing on any wires.

This happened to my SV years ago.....chewed through my speedometer cables and everything else. Found 7 dead mice in my airbox......

[NinjaSwan]

You haven't mounted a fender eliminator recently have you?

I did when I got the bike several years ago. Is there a known issue? I did the majority of the install and KillBill helped me with the wiring.

Everything seems fine with the battery but it could probably use a trickle.

[NinjaSwan]

This happened to my SV years ago.....chewed through my speedometer cables and everything else. Found 7 dead mice in my airbox......

yeah and we also stored the bikes in a frickin rat garage. Remember the chipmunk i cooked in my pipe? haha. damn rodents... Made a nice smell.

I did however check and everything looks good. My garage is pretty closed off and don't have a rodent issue. Wires look okay.

[NinjaSwan]

I had a similar problem with my TL, and it was the fuel pump relay. Is the fuel pump engaging or the relay clicking? You should be able to hear it.

Checking this next.

[KillBill]

yeah and we also stored the bikes in a frickin rat garage. Remember the chipmunk i cooked in my pipe? haha. damn rodents... Made a nice smell.

I did however check and everything looks good. My garage is pretty closed off and don't have a rodent issue. Wires look okay.

I sure do! Riding down 101a behind you and it smelled like a BBQ When you gunned it the thing flew out and almost hit me

[scubasteveRR]

I sure do! Riding down 101a behind you and it smelled like a BBQ When you gunned it the thing flew out and almost hit me

hahahah, now that sounds like a funny day.

[OreoGaborio]

On my Suzuki, there's a plug in the wiring harness that if I use a paper clip or something to jump the right wires, it puts the bike into service mode. I can then turn on the ignition and the FI light will then flash a certain number of times which corresponds to a particular fault code to tell you what's wrong.

This may be the case with your Kawi as well and could be worth looking into.

[BSR6]

The fact that it sat, and with the gas these days being the way it is, it's most likely a fuel issue. Either the bike just doesn't want to run on the old gas in the tank, or the injectors are gummed up. Even if you treated it before storage, I have seen instances where the treatment didnt' work.

Whatever you do...Given the likelyhood of it being bad gas, make sure you have exhausted all options to address that scenario before you start to waste time or money on something else.

[OreoGaborio]

Crappy gas won't cause it to throw a code. Crappy gas will make it run like crap.


Not saying his gas isn't crappy, just saying I don't think that's the cause of the FI light.

[fjrrider RI]

Are u saying a gummed up FI system with laquer from evaporated fuel or moisture induced growth will not cause the code? Will FI continue to work on the bad gas without full fuel treatment and fresh gas? My carborated 500 vulcan was unuseable after 1 year needed a full cleaning.

[OreoGaborio]

Fuel injection is far less susceptible to gumming up. I don't bother using staybil in my FI bikes.

Not saying it can't happen... just saying it's extremely unlikely.

[NinjaSwan]

I appreciate all the help on the thread here. I'll keep everyone updated.

[butcher bergs]

Last time the bike ran was Oct-Nov and it ran fine, right?

Then it sat this entire time without any attention....battery tender and such?

Charge the battery first.

2amps for 8 - 10 hrs

[OreoGaborio]