800GS playing up ? Any help or ideas ?

[m0ng00se]

I recently purchased a G650 XChallenge, so I haven't used my 800GS for about a week. This evening my 800GS didn't want to start.

It eventually started when I opened the throttle completely while pressing the starter button, fuel pump and/or pump electronics maybe ?

Went for a ride and all was fine, but now every time I start it, it hesitates for a second, whole dash goes dead, then try to spin the dials the wrong way, starts up and then seem to do another "computer check" ? Computer looks a little confused ?

Been serviced probably around Feb/March this year .. so according to mileage it says it needs another service, but not due for an "annual service"

About 40k miles on the clock.

Any ideas ? Maybe anyone London/SE/Kent sort of area with a GS911 to help me out ? I am due to do the Dawn to Dusk in two weekends on this bike

Video clip of the symptoms can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUf_bkyXXvs

Maybe jealousy and depressed now that I bought an XChallenge

 

[Sooty09]

My GS800 had a problem with the ignition switch. On switching on in the morning the bike would appear dead. After ten seconds or so the bike would come to life and do its diagnostic check. After this first start the symptoms went away for the day.
Each time I took it to the dealer I could not replicate the problem. It never let me down or failed to start but it did worry me.
I eventually left it at the dealer while I was working away so he could do the first cold start. After a few mornings he tracked it down to a faulty lower ignition switch? This was swapped under warranty and its been OK since.

 

[Jonnie Boy]

How old/good is the battery? On start up the battery takes a bit of a hit spinning the engine... might drop the the volts low enough to not be able to keep the ECU alive proper!?

The ignition switches are prone to water ingress though, had mine changed under warrenty. If your mechanically minded its quite easy to check, but you will need a 5 lobed 'security' torx tool (available from amazon ) to get the switch unit off. you can then, with the deft use of a screw driver, open the ign switch housing and check the microswitch.

I took mine apart soon after it was replaced and stuffed a load of grease in the housing to keep the moisture at bay. been ok since.

 

[m0ng00se]

How old/good is the battery? On start up the battery takes a bit of a hit spinning the engine... might drop the the volts low enough to not be able to keep the ECU alive proper!?

Thanks guys ... but I think it could be battery issues, the very first time it didn't even start at all, but the dash was fine ... just cranked and cranked over until I kept pushing the starter button and then open the throttle completely, eventually came to life, but I think that might have now drained the battery a little which is why I am now seeing these issues.

I will leave the Xchallenge in the garage now and ride the 800 to hopefully charge the battery a little. I think I should also look at a trickle charger now that I have two bikes.

btw .. the battery has been in the bike since new, about 3 years now ... so I think it's a good idea to replace anyway

 

[GS Biker]

Hope its running tip top soon!

 

[m0ng00se]

Hope its running tip top soon!

im sure you would ....

Just quickly went to our favourite high street retailer to buy a trickle charger ... so will charge overnight and see what happens in the morning.

I think, something else caused it not to start at first ... fuel pump or something related, but all the cranking trying to get it to start now drained the battery which is causing what I am seeing now.

I also rebooted the computer and funny enough, the first start after the computer reboot was fine, but then it went back to not starting properly first time.

btw ... I ordered a 14 tooth front sprocket which should help a little off road and getting my new exhaust for the G650XC this weekend .. so maybe I should do Dawn to Dusk on the 650 ... just in case you know

 

[GS Biker]

 

[ILMV]

Could this be the immobiliser coil not detecting the key correctly? I had my immobiliser coil replaces because of issues starting my F800GS, sometimes when starting it the dash would lose power when (intermittently) it started.

Just my 2 ¢...

 

[Tim Cullis]

Sounds like low battery.

 

[Greggers]

Not sure it's initially the battery - it cranked the engine quite a few times before it started - it it had been weak then you'd have got the usual wuh-wuh-wuuuuh click brrrrrrrr of a non-starter ...

I'd be tempted to disconnect the battery and let the whole thing re-start from 'cold' with a freshly charged battery. You might get a service indicator light come up from the disconnect, but from what you've said you're heading for a service soon anyway ... Maybe when you service it ask the dealer to do a FULL diagnostic ...

G

 

[Klanky]

Mongoose, mine did that, battery was knackered. It appears to be charging up OK and then dies on it's arse when used.

 

[m0ng00se]

800GS playing up ? Any help or ideas ? [FIXED]

Mongoose, mine did that, battery was knackered. It appears to be charging up OK and then dies on it's arse when used.

Hi All .. it seemed to be just a battery issue in the end. I left it to charge overnight and this morning I had no problems !

Will probably replace it soon anyway seeing that it's almost 3 years old already.

Dawn to Dusk on the 800 it is then

 

[m0ng00se]

Not sure it's initially the battery - it cranked the engine quite a few times before it started - it it had been weak then you'd have got the usual wuh-wuh-wuuuuh click brrrrrrrr of a non-starter ...

I'd be tempted to disconnect the battery and let the whole thing re-start from 'cold' with a freshly charged battery. You might get a service indicator light come up from the disconnect, but from what you've said you're heading for a service soon anyway ... Maybe when you service it ask the dealer to do a FULL diagnostic ...

G

Yeah that is what worries me a little bit too .. it definitely cranking over the first time, with full throttle it eventually started up.

I did the whole computer reboot process and my clock, fuel consumption and all that reset to null ...

Anyway, with a recharge, it's now fine, but will be buying a new battery end of the month.

 

[Dean]

Yeah that is what worries me a little bit too .. it definitely cranking over the first time, with full throttle it eventually started up.

I did the whole computer reboot process and my clock, fuel consumption and all that reset to null ...

Anyway, with a recharge, it's now fine, but will be buying a new battery end of the month.

I had the knackered battery, now got a new one,

But fitted a dongle to fit the trickle carger to (optimate) which stays on when waiting in the garage

 

[StumpyFingers]

I use an Oxford solarizer as I have no power in my garage, it keeps the battery topped up, my neighbour has a bike with an alarm and he still needs to charge the battery on a regular basis.
As for the ignition switch I was told by BMW to spray chainlube down the barrel ( the type used on pushbikes PTFE) it keeps the lock free.
I have been using different types of fuel in my bike, Esso, Shell and a leading supermarket brand. I have found that the MPG is about the same, however the supermarket fuel makes the engine harder to start, seems to reduce the power of the bike, slightly.
Unleaded fuel has a shelf life of Three months, if it is left for too long it will stop the bike firing by blocking the injectors and pump with a residue.

 

[Greggers]

Unleaded fuel has a shelf life of Three months, if it is left for too long it will stop the bike firing by blocking the injectors and pump with a residue.

Fuel will 'age' and deteriorates over time as the various components in it evaporate or dissipate, however it will last a lot longer than 3 months!
I have my friend Eythor's K1000 in my garage, which will still start even now on fuel that has been in there for 18 months... it runs like shit - but it still runs!

G