bike wont start, any ideas

[scubasteveRR]

Sooo, my bike been sitting in the driveway for the last couple weeks since I broke the foot. I've been starting it every coupla days and did take it for a small ride up the street to warm the chain once to lube it after I gave it a good wash.

The other day I went to start it and when I turned the key on the fuel injection wont prime the fuel system and the bike wont start, the head light is off and the rear blinkers are both on solid as well. Everything else is working fine though.. the dashboard comes on and the starter works when I turn the on/off switch to on and hit the start button

I was having this happen to me at the beginning of the year everytime the bike got wet and someone from here recommended putting Di-Electric grease on all the fittings which I did and the bike seemed fine. After I did this I even tested it pretty well by getting caught in a couple of the monsoons and the bike got pretty wet but always started back up.

I already took all the plastics off (except the front fairing) and Di-Elec. greased all the fittings again and even put some in the opposite sides of the connetors and I have had no luck getting it started again.

What the hell do I do now? Any idea's? Are there more connectors behind the front fairing I should grease up? Every morning there is dew on the bike, I'm thinking this might be the cause of my issues but now that the bike wont start I can't get it over to the barn I store it in to keep it dry.

[burnham]

A little shot of WD-40 in the connectors will help get the water out, it may be a little quicker and easier than packing everything with grease. At least for trouble-shooting, then you could go back and get things a little more water-proof after.

[GixerJockey]

It's done. Throw it out.

[richw]

I am betting one of the wire/connector connections is rotted through

When you did your thing you pushed them back into contact

wire by wire give them each a tug one may pull out
sometimes the insulation may still be grabbing

Obviously start with tracing back from the fuel pump if it doesn't wake up
follow pump, relay, tip over etc.

[Sheppo]

I'll give you $10.00 cash money




check the connections, kickstand and clutch switches

[RandyO]

I recently had a no start problem with my V-strom, the connector from the main wire harness to the kill switch was corroded, just a matter of unplugging it, cleaning it up spraying with wd40 and reconnecting it

[scubasteveRR]

Right now i am in the process of taking the front cowl off. it's the only place that I haven't opened up yet.

I did notice after I started it when I washed it a lot of water was stuck in the radiator fins and as it heated up there was a lot of steam all over the inside of the dashboard area which is why I am thinking to try takin the the front cowl off and seeing what type of connectors are under that.

I also took my battery out and poped off the cell covers and noticed I don't see any acid covering the battery plates. Is it possible that the battery is too dead to start the Fuel Injection system but powerfull enough to run the starter. I tried starting it many times and the starter seems to be working fine. just no gas getting to the engine.

I recently had a no start problem with my V-strom, the connector from the main wire harness to the kill switch was corroded, just a matter of unplugging it, cleaning it up spraying with wd40 and reconnecting it

Is putting Di-electric grease in the connection going to achieve the same affect? also i haven't found connectors that are corroded at all?

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8330/4.5.0.77 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Check connection to the headlight relay in front of lights after.you take front cowl off. I'm still betting its the connector on the left with the big rubber boot over it.

[whynot]

I also took my battery out and poped off the cell covers and noticed I don't see any acid covering the battery plates. Is it possible that the battery is too dead to start the Fuel Injection system but powerfull enough to run the starter.

Yes. It might crank but not have the juice to fire properly. Do you have a battery tender?

Also, I had one of these batteries in a Ducati -- fabulous:
http://www.batterymart.com/c-odyssey-batteries.html

-Kurt

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8330/4.5.0.77 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

No fuel pump prime=bad connection.

[scubasteveRR]

Thank you for the reply's

Check connection to the headlight relay in front of lights after.you take front cowl off. I'm still betting its the connector on the left with the big rubber boot over it.

No fuel pump prime=bad connection.

so there are more connectors on the inside of the front cowl behind the headlight and dashboard assembly? Or are you refering to the grey and blue connectors under the left air dam cover? I also took the gas tank cover off and got 4 connectors that I missed the first time and when i saw them I was thinking here it the problem but they didn't look corroded at all and were not damp. I greased them up and put the tank cover back on. still no go.

I haven't taken the front cowl off yet but that is the next step. I have Hondarider stopping by later to give me a hand since it's hard to manuver with the broken foot and all and I don't want to drop that bitch on the ground. I also thought i could use his relay bar to confirm a relay issue or not since he has an 06 RR.

Yes. It might crank but not have the juice to fire properly. Do you have a battery tender?

I do have a charger that I hooked up for the last couple hours and the battery was only slightly discharged because the starter sound did get a little stronger but not much so I think it was only from trying to start it for the last couple days.

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8330/4.5.0.77 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Don't keep trying to start it. If the fuel pump has not primed it won't fire and it won't be putting out a spark even. The issue is the check system for ignition has a bad ground most likely. It is in the blue and orange connectors under the left side fairing. The ones with rubber covering them. If it isn't throwing an fi code then it is probably this connector or a poor ground (located just below the relays on the left side)

[RandyO]

my V-strom wouldn't start friday

acted like kill switch was on but wasn't

quick call to dealer, they steered me to the kill switch connection at the main wire, disconnected it, cleaned it wwith wire brush best I could, sprayed with wd40, reconnected, bike started right up

[Murph]

Check the killswitch on the kickstand too...do you run fuel stabilizer? Doesn't take long for this ethanol crap to turn bad...

[scubasteveRR]

Check the killswitch on the kickstand too...do you run fuel stabilizer? Doesn't take long for this ethanol crap to turn bad...

didn't have fuel stabilizer in it but have been starting it every couple days and I stated it the morning before it didn't work. it does have a full tank of gas, if i add fuel stabilizer will fix the fuel if it is the issue?? Once i get it started I plan on driving it enough to empty the tank.

I just don't see how bad fuel would somehow trigger the electric compnents from booting up the FI...

I just got the front cowl off now and took it apart and still don't see any signs of corrosion or signs of water on the connectors. going to di-electric grease everything and put it all back together and see what happens. don't think it's going to work though?

I'm thinking it might be the relay, if it's not working after I put the front cowl back together and on i'm might just going to jump the relay to see if that is the issue. unless i can get hondarider over to swap out the replays for a minute.

what a pain in the ass. my foot is finally feeling better and I was planning on riding around the Bolton area this weekend because I am sick and tired of being on the couch

[richw]

Yes battery fluid should MORE than cover plates

Add distilled water or run off city water not well water

look again after 10 minutes. If battery dry it is a bad sign about your charger system unless its 4 years old. Eliminate problem by jumping from your car.

Note if when cranking battery voltage goes below 9V then electronics go to sleep and no go. Bump start in 3rd gear

[scubasteveRR]

OK I got the bike started but only by jumping the engine stop relay and when I do that the FI light comes on an the fuel pump primes and the bike starts but when I replaced the engine stop relay with the radiator fan relay I still get nothing. also the headlight still wont come on.

I feel a lot better knowing I got the bike started and the fuel pump is working since they are around $400 bucks.

But I am confused now to what my actual problem is? should I take apart the kill switch and clean that up see if there is some issues in there, corsion or something?

these electric problems are beyond me?

[richw]

I think the headlight is the clue

Follow back the power because I imagine its

hotwire
fuse
ignition switch
handlebar high low
headlight

no voodoo electronics

I don't think it goes through the kill circute etc.

The battery power should go into one of these then not come out
that's your problem

Spidey sense says ignition swithc

[scubasteveRR]

I think the headlight is the clue

Spidey sense says ignition switch

How do you test the ignition switch to see is this is the culprit Spidey? I'm assuming I need some sort of electric measuring device? Time to by a multimeter?

[richw]

Ye rabbit you need one

Walmart has a nice cheap ones for 10 to 15 dollars
If your building tools a small 12v test light is a little faster and shows some current
capability as well.

Set on low volts DC 0 to 24 usually
Black wire goes to frame or neg on battery

follow down the red plus looking for 12V
get to switch.... there will be a hot side from the battery
turn the key the cold side should become 12V etc.

Also nice to have jumpers wire with small aligator clip on both sides
hold neg onto battery radio crap
to diagnos you can "JUMP" around a component to provide the voltage after it.

Old indian trick get a medium sewing needle
you can push it throught the wire insulation and then test voltage of a wire by contacting the needle

[toocrazy2yoo]

Ye rabbit you need one

Walmart has a nice cheap ones for 10 to 15 dollars
If your building tools a small 12v test light is a little faster and shows some current capability as well.

Well, don't go buy one, Scoobs, I found I own three of them when I went through my stuff and packed up from Virginia to come up here. If you need it in the next couple days, it's yours. Flee! I mean, free..

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8330/4.5.0.77 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Steve, I will bring mine tomorrow. You have a maintnance manual for your bike?

[akira700]

Is it possible that the battery is too dead to start the Fuel Injection system but powerfull enough to run the starter. I tried starting it many times and the starter seems to be working fine. just no gas getting to the engine.

I'd start there. How old is the battery? More than 3 years old?
Try a new one. Or get it stress tested at a shop.

[scubasteveRR]

I'd start there. How old is the battery? More than 3 years old?
Try a new one. Or get it stress tested at a shop.

Hey everyone, thank you all for your help and idea's....

I figured it wasn't the battery because when I jumped the engine stop relay the bike starts like nothing was wrong...except for the fact that the headlights, and front blinkers, ect... are not comming on.

Degsy came over the other day and we went throught the whole electrical system and found that the Bank Angle Sensor is junk. We jumped around it and viola.... everything worked including the healights and the rest of the front end shit

Degsy order me a new one and saved me a bunch of greenbacks all around.

Degsy is the man!

[DuncanMoto]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.167 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.1.20.0)

If there's a dead cell there may not be a prime.
If you,re near us I have a tester, just bring the battery by. No charge.