Bike won't start, no spark, no error codes

[Sgt Bilco]

The BMW one isn't good for cold starts, it's well documented and the Emergency guy said most of his non starting problems were with the battery.

I checked the guarantee - only one year on the battery so no joy.

It is starting now and injectors are definitely firing, getting spark. Could be an off-chance of a software issue that was reset when the battery was out. Will run it by the dealer anyway to be sure.

One thing though, the Odyssey is far better at starting and retaining charge but you can't have your seat in the low position up front which is a shame...

Steve

I think you should say SOME batteries are no good. My bike has lived outside for 3 years and it's never failed me in cold weather yet despite some longish periods standing and cold starts. My original battery finally gave up the ghost on a lovely morning in May this year and I just wanged a new BuMW one on as it was the cheapest.

I ride my bike regurlarly so the battery keeps well charged which I think is where the issue is when the bikes are only used occasionally. I also see a lot of battery problems when the word "optimate" is used. I'm not sure if there is any coincidence but I wouldn't ever use one. If I leave my bike for longer that say 3 weeks, I just whip the battery off and leave it in the airing cupboard

 

[scotia_steve]

The Optimate is very good - wired direct to the battery and was great on my other bikes. I bought the bike in June with 2500 miles on it a year old so maybe the guy before didn't use it much, I've done 5000 miles since then on it.

Could have been a duff battery but I've read about a lot of problems with them, but maybe just unlucky.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Solutions to battery problems

Using the bike every day is the best solution; otherwise connecting it to an Optimate is a useful aid. I have never had to leave a bike outside for any length of time and that obviously helps.
The best solution is to move to a warmer climate where the roads are not so congested - but bring your bike with you as they are very expensive here!

 

[scotia_steve]

Update:

Bike went in today, no error codes. They uploaded the software again and rest the gearbox potentiometer as it was not great at guessing gear.

Fingers crossed it was just a duff battery....

 

[Riktus]

Well I have tried to start mine every day this week - plenty of go in the battery and fires up every now and again but as soon as I touch the throttle it just stops. I talked to dealer about it (Rainbow) but still no joy they told me to speak to BMW Customer services - sent them an email as suggested but appart from a "we got your mail" reply no help whatso ever.

I am going to persist and try and get it going and I am then off to do a deal on a new Honda Pan tomorrow - I didnt buy this bike to listen to all the excuses.

Good bike when running but i need a bike that is reliable.

Real disappointed withBMW but what the hell I just about to vote with my cash......
Rik

 

[scotia_steve]

Bizarre!

Sounds like fuel then!

Luckily mine has started every day now, seems to be resolved with the new battery and a software reset!

Good luck with the Honda...

 

[Blackal]

Well I have tried to start mine every day this week - plenty of go in the battery and fires up every now and again but as soon as I touch the throttle it just stops. I talked to dealer about it (Rainbow) but still no joy they told me to speak to BMW Customer services - sent them an email as suggested but appart from a "we got your mail" reply no help whatso ever.

I am going to persist and try and get it going and I am then off to do a deal on a new Honda Pan tomorrow - I didnt buy this bike to listen to all the excuses.

Good bike when running but i need a bike that is reliable.

Real disappointed withBMW but what the hell I just about to vote with my cash......
Rik

Is the fuel pump actually running? Sounds like the fuel pump controller to me

Al

 

[Riktus]

Bike is a 2006 one - its had the problem for last 2 years and its got steadily worse. Dealer (who has been very helpful) has just 2 weeks ago changed the fuel pump controller - and it started every time for the next week. Then last weekend went away on the bike and it started fresh out the garage but not after I stopped for fuel. finally got it going (good oddessy battary cos it needed about 15 to 20 gos to make it fire). Then it was fine all weekend - quite a few stop starts and no issues.

Then from Monday onwards it just turns over - plenty of fuel and its getting to the cylinders cos it will start every now and again and run on idle but as soon as i touch the throttle it dies.

I know I am frustrated in my previous post but it urged me to ring the dealer again - they have agreed to recover bike tomorrow and they are going to investigate while I am away next week. I have to say the dealer has been fantastic he has offered me a loan bike (which i dont need cos I am away on business) and has given me a rough indication of what it would be to swap it - more than I want to pay but all the same a fair deal.
I will see what happens during next week - I hope they can sort it cos this bike has grown on me so much that I dont really have any passion for other bikes I have seen. I did have a Varadero before this bike and it is absolutley excellent bike but the dealer service was crap - probably why I am so complementary about the BMW dealer service I am receiving now.

Rik

 

[scotia_steve]

Sounds like not enough fuel if it throttles and dies. Hope it gets resolved for you.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Don't do it!

".....off to do a deal on a new Honda Pan tomorrow...." It is easy to do a deal on a Pan Eurpean- because the dealers will make pretty dramatic drops anyway on a new one. My BMW dealer (in Lyon) got stuck having done a deal on a Pan against a new RT. Shortly afterwards Honda France cut their price by 3000€ ....leaving the dealer with a seconhand bike on which he had allowed about the current new price.
Will you get the same service from a Honda dealer as a BMW dealer, Certainly not in France.

 

[scotia_steve]

May have this one resolved.....

Bike didn't start this morning at all, no fuel or spark but turns over.

The dealer managed to diagnose a fault error as a crankshaft sensor and when replaced the bike fired up right away.

Looks like this was the fault and maybe it has got worse over the past few weeks with the colder weather.

So looks like that should have resolved it, fingers crossed once more!

 

[Riktus]

Dealer recovered my bike cos it would not start last Saturday - it was finished after a week. The dealer reset the parameters?? and reloaded software and the bike apparently was starting and running fine - there were no error codes showing up when the bike wouldnt start.

I brought it home yesterday and put it in the garage and went to go for a Blast this morning (Sunday) - bike wouldnt start!!!!

I have run out of ideas and patience now - my only option is to trade it in but that just puts the problem to someone else. I know there are plenty of Gs1200s without problems so i have no problem going for the same again but it is really disappointing to think that a BMW experience is no better than any other ownership experience when you pay a premium for such a brand!
I did contact BMW customer services (I was advised to do so by the dealer to log the problem in case they needed financial assistance to fix it) but they were as much use as nun in a brothel!

Rik

 

[OldCroc]

Dealer recovered my bike cos it would not start last Saturday - it was finished after a week. The dealer reset the parameters?? and reloaded software and the bike apparently was starting and running fine - there were no error codes showing up when the bike wouldnt start.

I brought it home yesterday and put it in the garage and went to go for a Blast this morning (Sunday) - bike wouldnt start!!!!

I have run out of ideas and patience now - my only option is to trade it in but that just puts the problem to someone else. I know there are plenty of Gs1200s without problems so i have no problem going for the same again but it is really disappointing to think that a BMW experience is no better than any other ownership experience when you pay a premium for such a brand!
I did contact BMW customer services (I was advised to do so by the dealer to log the problem in case they needed financial assistance to fix it) but they were as much use as nun in a brothel!

Rik

No consolation but could it be a dirty fuel FILTER? I had similar problems with my 1150 and a new filter fixed the problem.

OldCroc

 

[scotia_steve]

Dealer recovered my bike cos it would not start last Saturday - it was finished after a week. The dealer reset the parameters?? and reloaded software and the bike apparently was starting and running fine - there were no error codes showing up when the bike wouldnt start.

I brought it home yesterday and put it in the garage and went to go for a Blast this morning (Sunday) - bike wouldnt start!!!!

I have run out of ideas and patience now - my only option is to trade it in but that just puts the problem to someone else. I know there are plenty of Gs1200s without problems so i have no problem going for the same again but it is really disappointing to think that a BMW experience is no better than any other ownership experience when you pay a premium for such a brand!
I did contact BMW customer services (I was advised to do so by the dealer to log the problem in case they needed financial assistance to fix it) but they were as much use as nun in a brothel!

Rik

Tell them try the crankshaft sensor as you sound like you have the same problem as me.... Doesn't show up as a fault until it is completely dead on their systems.