1200 2012 GSA Misfire

[the bounder]

Hi all, it’s been a while since my last visit…trouble free riding I suppose…up till now!
The engine starts to hunt, strong smell of fuel, runs normally over 2,000 rpm and sometimes clear after a while.
I’ve replace to upper coil packs to no avail.
What I found while trying to return home from Scotland… in a moment of shear frustration, (after having it checked out by BMW Motorad Inverness who could find nothing wrong) I revved the engine to the limiter… hey presto cleared the problem for the next 100 miles or sometimes more, then back came the misfire/hunting, rev again, all as sweet as you like… anyone with any thought on what’s going on here.
Thanks in anticipation.

 

[Santa-2512]

Lambda probes? / Oxygen sensors

Would be my first guess

 

[Mistacat]

Could be air temperature sensor in the air box , check with diagnostics to see if the temperature looks about right.
Have seen these fail and make the engine run very rich, The lambda sensors may well be fouled up with running so rich.
Does the spray pattern from both injectors look similar.

 

[the bounder]

Lambda probes? / Oxygen sensors

Would be my first guess

Thanks Santa, I’ll see what I can find. Funnily enough, when I’ve spoken to several mechanics, BMW and others that I’ve met, no one seems to have a clue what’s going on with my machine…very odd. If anyone has any other bright ideas I’d be most grateful.

 

[Gee-]

To diagnose and resolve the issue, consider the following steps:

1. Inspect Fuel Injectors: Clean or replace clogged injectors.
2. Check Fuel Pressure: Use a gauge to ensure the fuel system is delivering the correct pressure.
3. Test Sensors: Use a diagnostic tool to check for any fault codes related to the MAF, TPS, or other sensors.
4. Look for Vacuum Leaks: Perform a visual inspection and consider using a smoke test to identify leaks.

Addressing these areas should help in resolving the engine hunting and fuel smell issues, Good luck.

 

[Slipperyeel]

Thanks Santa, I’ll see what I can find. Funnily enough, when I’ve spoken to several mechanics, BMW and others that I’ve met, no one seems to have a clue what’s going on with my machine…very odd. If anyone has any other bright ideas I’d be most grateful.

Depending on the mechanics present in given workshop. These bikes are like dinosaurs to them. When I broke down in France last Nov, the whole crew in the BMW workshop were probably under 30 but very well versed on the new bikes. Mine was described as really old! They basically resorted to the workshop manual, the same manual I have!

 

[haydw]

Throttle position sensor. Had it happen twice now. If you can, plug into a GS911 and you will see the readout from the sensor. Should be 0% when shut and should be commensurate with throttle opening. Will identify it straight away.

There is an unbranded TPS for about £40 or you can go to the stealer for about £130.

 

[mpgscott]

Throttle position sensor. Had it happen twice now. If you can, plug into a GS911 and you will see the readout from the sensor. Should be 0% when shut and should be commensurate with throttle opening. Will identify it straight away.

There is an unbranded TPS for about £40 or you can go to the stealer for about £130.

I’ll need to check this on mine as I’m getting erratic idle. Does sync ok at recs just idle. So does fge GS911 show these values with engine off and simply operating throttle?

I’ll test mine tomorrow.

Ta

 

[gspod]

Hi
Sorry but I’m not going to be any help I’m afraid but my 2011 has been ’pinking’ on and off for the last 3 years.
It goes in blocks of time but there’s absolutely no routine or understandable reason.
When it happens it stutters for a minute or so, I then rev it like crazy and after a minute or 2 it clears.
My bikes got 114K on the clock. The problem has remained stable - no better, no worse. It can happen every time I ride it for 2/3 months or not at all for 6 months. At the moment it runs like a Swiss watch - I rode 230 miles today.

I’ve ridden in some remote places over the last 3 years (it started in Patagonia) and I’ve stopped worrying about it.

Hopefully you’ll get yours sorted.

 

[haydw]

Erratic idle is the first sign- hunting up and down from around 1000-1500 rpm. First time it happened to me as long as throttle was wide open it would run (motorway type of speed) but in town it was a nightmare. Poured smoke out the exhaust and did about 20mpg.

Second time was more subtle. Hunting on idle and a slight misfire and generally running poor. Not sure if detectable without the engine running on a GS911 but it’s possible.

It’s a simple 2 minute replacement though, no relearning or intervention needed.

 

[seahorse]

Can check without engine running with GS911.

 

[mpgscott]

Erratic idle is the first sign- hunting up and down from around 1000-1500 rpm. First time it happened to me as long as throttle was wide open it would run (motorway type of speed) but in town it was a nightmare. Poured smoke out the exhaust and did about 20mpg.

Second time was more subtle. Hunting on idle and a slight misfire and generally running poor. Not sure if detectable without the engine running on a GS911 but it’s possible.

It’s a simple 2 minute replacement though, no relearning or intervention needed.

Yeh, this is what mines doing. Looks like it’s been holding idle with the throttle being adjusted. Today I put the slack back into the throttle cable and it lumpy and stalls. Might need to get one to try, as no faults are coming up. It makes all the correct noises when I calibrate with Gs911 just wont idle..

 

[botus]

Yeh, this is what mines doing. Looks like it’s been holding idle with the throttle being adjusted. Today I put the slack back into the throttle cable and it lumpy and stalls. Might need to get one to try, as no faults are coming up. It makes all the correct noises when I calibrate with Gs911 just wont idle..

how dirty are the throttle bodies ? - it only flows tiny quantities of air at idle - if there is serious gunk on the butterflies and or blocking of any idle air circuits it can't run on idle

carb cleaner or brake fluid gets the black filth off - much comes from the engine breather oil mist mixing with dust the air filter ignored - then you cook it on with heat and miles

you could do water methanol 50 50 mist sprayed in after the air cleaner with a garden sprayer - and blip the throttle - 300ml misted in lightly over 10 mins with it running - it will bog and hate it as you do it - but will clean up the valves and piston tops too - I've recently been doing it using methylated spirits as I didn't have any menthol to hand - seems to work nearly as well

 

[mpgscott]

how dirty are the throttle bodies ? - it only flows tiny quantities of air at idle - if there is serious gunk on the butterflies and or blocking of any idle air circuits it can't run on idle

carb cleaner or brake fluid gets the black filth off - much comes from the engine breather oil mist mixing with dust the air filter ignored - then you cook it on with heat and miles

you could do water methanol 50 50 mist sprayed in after the air cleaner with a garden sprayer - and blip the throttle - 300ml misted in lightly over 10 mins with it running - it will bog and hate it as you do it - but will clean up the valves and piston tops too - I've recently been doing it using methylated spirits as I didn't have any menthol to hand - seems to work nearly as well

Not taken them apart as looks like special securing clamps so will last resort take them apart. It’s looking like a knackered coil pack upper left.

Ta

 

[the bounder]

Wow, this is all pretty technical… all the possibilities are a little overwhelming. As Gspod says, I think I’ll just carry on as per, and give it the occasional rev thrash to clear the problem. Anyway , thanks for all your inputs.

 

[Steptoe]

Not taken them apart as looks like special securing clamps so will last resort take them apart. It’s looking like a knackered coil pack upper left.

Ta

A pair of old nail pliers work perfectly for removing and replacing the clamps..
I’ve been using mine for years and have removed hundreds on customers bikes over that period .

 

[mpgscott]

A pair of old nail pliers work perfectly for removing and replacing the clamps..
I’ve been using mine for years and have removed hundreds on customers bikes over that period .

View attachment 490494

Sound, I’ll do that..

 

[the bounder]

Hi
Sorry but I’m not going to be any help I’m afraid but my 2011 has been ’pinking’ on and off for the last 3 years.
It goes in blocks of time but there’s absolutely no routine or understandable reason.
When it happens it stutters for a minute or so, I then rev it like crazy and after a minute or 2 it clears.
My bikes got 114K on the clock. The problem has remained stable - no better, no worse. It can happen every time I ride it for 2/3 months or not at all for 6 months. At the moment it runs like a Swiss watch - I rode 230 miles today.

I’ve ridden in some remote places over the last 3 years (it started in Patagonia) and I’ve stopped worrying about it.

Hopefully you’ll get yours sorted.

Sounds a bit like my situation, likewise I think I’ll just give it the rev thrash which clears it immediately, the alternative options are a little bewildering for an amateur spanner wielder, but thanks for all your inputs.