Suddenly the bike won't start, any ideas?

HeatedGrips · Sep 1, 2010

Stopped for petrol this morning and when I got back on the bike it wouldn't start. Just a heavy clunking solenoid-type noise from under the tank and the engine management system warning symbol coming up on the rider display. Tried rocking it in gear to see if the starter was stuck and also jumping it with another battery (although pretty sure mine is fine) but no luck.

Any ideas, please?

David Lee · Sep 1, 2010

Fuel pump controller or Battery would be my first two choices.

HeatedGrips · Sep 1, 2010

David Lee said:
Fuel pump controller or Battery would be my first two choices.

No, the battery is fine. Does the fuel pump controller make a clicking noise when it fails? Mine was replaced at the last service as a recall, at least according to the dealer.

Engineer · Sep 1, 2010

HeatedGrips said:
Stopped for petrol this morning and when I got back on the bike it wouldn't start. Just a heavy clunking solenoid-type noise from under the tank and the engine management system warning symbol coming up on the rider display. Tried rocking it in gear to see if the starter was stuck and also jumping it with another battery (although pretty sure mine is fine) but no luck.

Any ideas, please?

Are you sure the battery is fine?

Mine did this last week - new 2010 model with Exide battery - went through checks and then just a heavy click-click-click. Bike was jump started by BMW assist -battery very low.

Did it again after having left the bike for about 5 days, this time battery very very low, about 4.3V. Jump started by BMW assist again.

Suspected faulty battery, but dealer tested it and said was ok, they replaced it anyway and we shall see what happens next time I leave the bike for a few days without riding it.

I have no accessories that could drain the battery, so either battery was faulty and self discharging or there is something horribly wrong with the electrics causing a continuous drain, but dealer said that the current drain was normal when bike was switched off.

Hmmmmmmmm - time will tell.

P.S. Bike is charging battery correctly at a constant 14.4V - so alternator and regulator ok.

JJH · Sep 1, 2010

I'd go for battery JJH

HeatedGrips · Sep 1, 2010

Thanks guys. Just had the bike taken off to the dealer by Green Flag. They tried a jump start without success - and that was the end of their efforts.

I'll post what the problem was when I get an answer.

JJH · Sep 1, 2010

sounds bad JJH

TurboCharger · Sep 1, 2010

David Lee said:
Fuel pump controller or Battery would be my first two choices.

+ 1

My experience when the fuel controller failed was like running out of petrol. Then when trying to start the bike some clunking/ticking but not the engine. Trying several times will just result in flat battery. My guess is that this is what has happened.

A new fuel pump controller and a charged battery and you should be riding again in no time.

HeatedGrips · Sep 1, 2010

TurboCharger said:
+ 1

A new fuel pump controller and a charged battery and you should be riding again in no time.

I shall be very miffed if it's the FPC. The dealer was supposed to replace it under a recall at the last service 2,000 miles ago.

JJH · Sep 1, 2010

HeatedGrips said:
I shall be very miffed if it's the FPC. The dealer was supposed to replace it under a recall at the last service 2,000 miles ago.

He probly did JJH

HeatedGrips · Sep 1, 2010

Full marks for those who said battery!

The dealer just rang, it needed a new battery. It's only three years old and gets regular sessions on an Optimate, so that's a bit of a surprise.

The dealer said with "modern" batteries a jump start will not work, something to do with the internal resistance. Sounds a bit odd to me.

JJH · Sep 1, 2010

and me JJH

David Lee · Sep 1, 2010

Changed my orig battery to an Odyssey at 2.5years to avoid this sort of situation.

Just a suggestion.....

Engineer · Sep 1, 2010

HeatedGrips said:
The dealer just rang, it needed a new battery. It's only three years old and gets regular sessions on an Optimate, so that's a bit of a surprise.

The dealer said with "modern" batteries a jump start will not work, something to do with the internal resistance. Sounds a bit odd to me.

Well modern batteries do jump start, cos mine was jump started at least 3 times! However the last time when the voltage was down to 4.3V it took several goes and a bit of waiting for the donor vehicle to get some charge into the heavily discharged battery.

My 2005 bike never had a battery problem and I never needed a charger - seems like it is very much the luck of the draw as far as battery quality goes - I have anecdotal evidence that these new Exide batteries are dodgy, but I admit that it is 90% here say.

Marc - Australia · Sep 1, 2010

David Lee said:
Changed my orig battery to an Odyssey at 2.5years to avoid this sort of situation.

Just a suggestion.....

Did the same... finally I can sleep well

here you go... this is the how to for people who like to upgrade to a portable nuclear reactor.

Hi Guys,
My battery died a couple of weeks ago, again. It was not even 9 months old, was properly charged with CTEK 3600 and didn't even have to withstand any cold weather.

Anyway, I bought an Odyssey PC625 after reading the threads here and elsewhere.

The reason I am showing my install is that you won't need to modify the battery this way... which means you keep the warranty alive.

The difference is amazing. Even when the old, or back in September 09 new battery was installed it didn't start the beast the way the PC625 does. It just sounds so easy now.

Here are some photos I took while installing the Powerplant. I guess without taking photos it wouldn't take longer than 90 minutes.

There are a couple more photos in my BMW diary... in case you want more pics.

Good LUCK
Marc

__________________________________

Engineer · Sep 1, 2010

What is the capacity of these Odyssey batteries?

Engineer · Sep 1, 2010

Engineer said:
What is the capacity of these Odyssey batteries?

Just answered my own question - it is 17/18 AH - same as latest batteries fitted to the GS.

They may have a lower internal resistance, I would expect them to have, given how bloody huge they are for such a low capacity!

Don't think I will change to one of these as it involves too much bodging for no increase in total energy storage. The standard BMW battery should be fine, they just need to be reliable!

Marc - Australia · Sep 1, 2010

here or here or here

Engineer · Sep 1, 2010

Engineer said:
Just answered my own question - it is 17/18 AH - same as latest batteries fitted to the GS.

They may have a lower internal resistance, I would expect them to have, given how bloody huge they are for such a low capacity!

Don't think I will change to one of these as it involves too much bodging for no increase in total energy storage. The standard BMW battery should be fine, they just need to be reliable!

Sorry I fibbed the standard GS battery is 14AH so the Odyssey P625 has 20% more capacity - which is not a great increase.

Pukmeister · Sep 1, 2010

It's not just about how it stores the energy or how much, its how it can deliver it that is probably more relevant.

Suddenly the bike won't start, any ideas?

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