Dead?

[G5RJO]

2008 GSA (Lots of miles...).

Battery is 9 months old.

It's sat in the garage for a month - working too much in retirement..

Prior to that it was fine, no issues.

Turn on the key, the usual lights on, goes through the usual clicks and whirrs...

Press the starter.... click, a relay type click, nowt else.

Battery I think so plugged it directly onto a charger, next morning... same.

Jump leads to a new car, surely it'll go now.... same.

Any pointers?

 

[Blackal]

First - Try jumping from a car-battery, to rule out probs on the bike (starter relay etc).

If it starts from there - then obviously it is the battery. It could be worth trying to "lift" the battery using an optimate, but otherwise - sounds like your battery is toast.

Don't leave a battery to discharge completely, and in sub-zero conditions - don't let it even get "flat-ish".

Al

 

[G5RJO]

Jump start failed.... Just the click...

I've tried hitting the starter with a mallet... nothing.

May need to strip it out perhaps..

Roger

 

[Bendy toy]

A recent thread discussed a corroded battery main earth connector on top of the engine.

If the bike starts with earth jump lead clamped to bare metal on the chassis but wont start when clamped to the battery terminal check the main earth on top of the engine.

If its sluggish either way, strip the starter and fit new brushes or at least clean out the carbon dust. Its an easy enough job.

 

[G5RJO]

Tried the bare metal connection... same. Just a click.

This is annoying...

 

[GS TRV]

New battery required

 

[Roymondo]

New battery required

Possibly - But if, as he says, he's tried jump-starting from a car battery I doubt that's the problem.

OP - When you get the "click" do the instruments/lights remain operational (and at full brightness)?

 

[G5RJO]

Yes, lights stay at full brightness, theres no obvious volts drop...(On battery attempt or jump start).

Roger.

 

[street_moto]

Easy enough to drop the starter out, 2 bolts? Try it across a known to be good battery, eliminate it or find the culprit in less than half an hour!

 

[Delboy777]

This same thing happened to me and i bought a new battery.Nope that wasnt the problem.........it turned out to be a siezed alternator and even jump starting it from a car just made the solenoid click and that was it. 2010 gs.

 

[Bendy toy]

You also get the chance to grease the starter motor gearbox. Mine was bone dry.

 

[G5RJO]

It had a NEW alternator less than 12 months ago after the last one died.

Don't think the alternator will stop it starting, even with a jump.

Think I'll have to drop off the starter and see what it looks like...

Roger.

 

[G5RJO]

Just a thought.....

Can I SAFELY drop a jump lead from the battery straight to the terminal on the back of the starter?

Roger...

 

[Mistacat]

I have had a 2008 GSA in with the same problem, turned out to be the +ve wire (red) feed from the battery to the starter relay, ( mounted under the ECU`s ).
The relay would energise (click) but no power to it. The cable had broken in the loom.
BMW will insist on running the looms very tight.
Try a bypass wire from the battery to the relay input.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

This same thing happened to me and i bought a new battery.Nope that wasnt the problem.........it turned out to be a siezed alternator and even jump starting it from a car just made the solenoid click and that was it. 2010 gs.

Think you might mean starter, not alternator.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Just a thought.....

Can I SAFELY drop a jump lead from the battery straight to the terminal on the back of the starter?

Roger...

Yes, you can. That's what I would do to prove if its the starter.
If you try powering a starter off the bike, make sure you have a bloody good hold of it.

 

[Mistacat]

To prove the starter and battery. just pull the 1/4" spade terminal off the back of the starter solenoid and ( using a piece of wire or old screwdriver ) connect it to the live battery starter feed next to it.

 

[Slipperyeel]

Think you might mean starter, not alternator.

I think he does mean the alternator...I remember the post (unless it was someone else's post!).


Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

 

[Greenman14]

Does the engine turn over, bike in gear and turning the back wheel?

 

[G5RJO]

Engine does turn over by hand. Pulled the main plugs, 6th gear and it turns over. It's NOT seized...

Given up for today.

I think that the break in a wire battery - relay - starter is likely.

Will try and bypass everything relay wise tomorrow.

Thanks for all the suggestions,

Will keep this updated...

Roger.