Buzzing and Crackling under the Tank

[lunc]

With the ignition on but the bike not started there are crackling sounds from under the tank accompanied by a buzz - buzz - buzz "beeping" noise every second. The bike starts and runs OK but it's difficult to know if the buzzing and crackling is still going on 'cos the engine is too loud.

The dealer advised a recovery and it's with them now but no diagnosis as yet.

It's a 2012 GSA.

Has anyone else heard this or know what it might be?

 

[araspitfire]

I've read that it's possible to get the seat positioned so that the bar shorts the battery terminals... That would make a crackling sound...

Al...

 

[lunc]

It definitely wasn't that (thankfully) because it did it with the seat off and the sound is further forward - under the tank somewhere I think. I couldn't see any flashes or blackened or smoking wires.

 

[ghiribizzo]

Seized exhaust flap valve.

Next...

 

[(RIP) Tunneruk]

Are you sure it's not a Bee under there having a fry up?

 

[wust588]

It might have been something to do with the workings of the ABS ?
Or maybe the fuel pump?

 

[lunc]

The dealer said that it was a seized exhausted flap valve. The buzzing was the bike trying constantly to reset the value which it couldn't. They are fitting a new one and hopefully that will be that.

 

[trainman]

The dealer said that it was a seized exhausted flap valve. The buzzing was the bike trying constantly to reset the value which it couldn't. They are fitting a new one and hopefully that will be that.

any reason given on such a new bike??

 

[blues n twos]

Seized exhaust flap valve.

Next...

Clever sod

 

[lunc]

any reason given on such a new bike??

Nope. They didn't even know what it was until they had it apart.

Had I known it was just the stupid flap, I'd have driven it in once they had the parts rather than all the hassle of recovery (to be fair though it was well organised) and no bike for ages.

What's the point of this flap anyway? It all looks like a dodgy bolt-on IMHO.

 

[wust588]

Nope. They didn't even know what it was until they had it apart.

Had I known it was just the stupid flap, I'd have driven it in once they had the parts rather than all the hassle of recovery (to be fair though it was well organised) and no bike for ages.

What's the point of this flap anyway? It all looks like a dodgy bolt-on IMHO.

Probably one of those things that BMW thought was a good idea at the time!
Not very well thought through really.

 

[ghiribizzo]

...They didn't even know what it was until they had it apart.

If the dealer's staff had known their arses from their elbows, they should have a) known what it was as soon as the ignition key was turned on. b) Diagnostic would have recorded the error.

 

[1130cc]

Seized exhaust flap valve.

Next...

I concur.

 

[Pukmeister]

What's the point of this flap anyway? It all looks like a dodgy bolt-on IMHO.

It's a special cash producing item designed to corrode and fail quite often. Sold to the unwary on the premise that the noise and power it improves will be worth the added complication and risk of failure.

 

[Bendy toy]

It will fail again so soak the valve spindle with graphited oil.

 

[lunc]

It will fail again so soak the valve spindle with graphited oil.

If it fails again the dealer will replace it again, and again until they get it right Once it's out of warranty, it'll have a full arco and the sticky flap will be binned.

Here's a link to a video with the exact same "buzzing" sound I was having:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYEpJxj2TdU

 

[Bendy toy]

Warranty is fine if you dont mind the hassle. Personally, I can do without a ride into Wolverhampton (or Oxford near where I work) just for the sake of some graphite.