08 GSA wont start...

[Roger GSA]

Can those in the know give me any suggestions as to why my GSA wont start. Bike worked fine on Wednesday on a 100 mile run with some stops and starts.

Now when starter button is pushed starter coughs once and will not do any more, if you let go and press starter again it will cough just the once, I notice the gear indicator scrolls through the numbers even though the bike in in neutral.

The battery has been on charge and charger indicates it if fully charged. The bike is being collected by Bahnstormer on Tuesday but I would appreciate any suggestion as to why it isn't starting.

 

[cusi]

Fuel pump controller? do a search lots of info.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Call out BMW Assist ................... That's what they're there for

 

[Roger GSA]

Fuel pump controller? do a search lots of info.

Thanks for the suggestion, I did think about that particular problem, I can hear what I assume is the fuel pump running when I push the button all be it briefly. But then again it could be some other bit of kit I am hearing.

 

[hops]

don't think

the fuel controller would stop it turning over. If the starter is struggling to turn the bike over then I would suspect the battery first despite what the charger says. Are the lights bright? Try a jump start then if that's not helping perhaps the starter circuit has a fault. Not much help I know but it's a starter for 10.
Good luck

 

[The smudger]

Makes me laugh,

"flat tyre", must be the fuel pump controller,

"run out of petrol", that'll be the fuel pump controller,

"ABS light on" etc, etc,

I'm with the fat one, call out bmw es, you've paid for it,

Oh, for what it's worth, sounds like the battery.....

 

[John Armstrong]

Checked the terminals on the battery are ok, and nice and tight?

 

[Big Nick]

Battery sounds fecked by the symptoms you describe, have you tested the voltage with the battery off the bike?

I don't know how often you use your bike but if the battery has got very drained at some point they won't always recover properly and hold their charge.

Any reading less that 12V is bad news, plenty of owners have had premature failure of the battery which is quite small for the bike and the amount of accessories the average Tosser fits to their bike!!

 

[Roger GSA]

Guys

Thanks for all your suggestions, I will test battery tomorrow, hadnt realised BMW emergency was available at home,

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Yep it's 24/7 including mainland Europe ............. When in the UK call 0800 777111

 

[BeemerBaz]

Whether its battery or not, get an odysey battery, I did and not used a battery charger for a month, previous to that I had to have my bmw battery on charge daily

 

[Pukmeister]

Sounds like your battery. A mates 2008 GSA has the same problem, he needs to get his back to the dealer for a diagnosis and swap of the battery. Could also be your starter relay under the seat playing up, or the starter motor itself (though unlikely).

I have my original battery fully charged as a spare, if you want to borrow it give me a PM and I'll pop over with it. I fitted an Odyssey as a precaution soon after buying the bike, haven't regretted it.

If you have jump leads you could always try jumping the bike from a car (yours or a neighbours) to see if it starts?

 

[Paul Wakefield]

In 12 years I have never had a problem with a BM battery (Famous last words) and they live outside and never go near a charger.

Do those who have had problems with batteries have alarms? Just wondered.

 

[(RIP) Tunneruk]

These are the exact same symptoms I had last Sunday, hit the starter .... cough ..... cut out.








It was the Fuel pump controller.

 

[Roger GSA]

Thank you all for your suggestions. The battery is giving out 12.5v. When I hit the starter this drops to 11.5v. I have tried jump leads from the car battery but the same symptoms persist as per Tunneruk's post. I will leave it now till it goes in for service. Bahnstormer have agreed to pick it up Tuesday. I will let you all know the out come.
Once again thanks for the suggestions and offers.

Roger

 

[GSmonkey]

....I notice the gear indicator scrolls through the numbers even though the bike in in neutral.

If bike is on side stand, this would be a problem re. starting.

Does sound like FPC though.

 

[Roger GSA]

Just to up date you. Had the bike serviced today. The bike started when the guy came to collect it. He put it into gear and off if it went. The problem turned out to be the gear selector sensor was unplugged. Unfortunatly when it was delivered back the chap did not know where the plug was so I cannot give any more info.

Once again thanks to all who suggested a cure and offered to help.

Roger

 

[The smudger]

Nice one, you must be pleased mate, The gear selector switch sits in the back of the gearbox, just in front of the swing arm, a real treat to change!!!(not). They are notorious for giving problems, usually only if you get to excited with the old Jetwasher in that area, its a waterproof connector but...........

If you do use it off road, be aware of where it is and DONT blast it directly. If you just cant help yourself, (Blokes & Guns ....), pull the connector off and dry it out, (not fill it with WD40 and re-fit it!).

Good luck, enjoy the bike!

Smudger.

 

[theop]

In 12 years I have never had a problem with a BM battery (Famous last words) and they live outside and never go near a charger.

Do those who have had problems with batteries have alarms? Just wondered.

mate, modern BMW's eat batteries for breakfast.. Yours is clearly from the old proper BM era...

1200 boxers need a battery evry year, max every 2... Odyssey batteries are better, I ve gone through my second winter on mine and looks good for summer, but no more...

Glad the prob is sorted, do change the OE batt though before winter as it will go...

 

[Beemerman59]

mate, modern BMW's eat batteries for breakfast.. Yours is clearly from the old proper BM era...

1200 boxers need a battery evry year, max every 2... Odyssey batteries are better, I ve gone through my second winter on mine and looks good for summer, but no more...

Glad the prob is sorted, do change the OE batt though before winter as it will go...

What are the signs then of a battery thats about to fail? Mine's the original OEM Exide battery and is a year old. I'm tempted to just buy an Odessey having heard all the bad stuff but mine still turns over OK, gets plugged into an Optimate all the time and has another year of warranty. Measuring the voltage across the battery when not on the Optimate gives me 13.08 volts. I'm off to France in a few weeks time and would replace the battery if I thought it was on the way out but how to tell? And how do I persuade a BMW dealer to replace a battery before it fails, but knowing it's about to?