Engine/Lights will not switch off at key.

Martyn Speight

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Pateley Bridge,Harrogate, England.
Does anyone have any experience of the engine /lights nor responding to key position/removal? This started after a short journey today and the bike was covered in salt. I kept the engine ticking over and sprayed the bike down. When all dried off, I turned the key, but no response. I then removed the key, but no response. I disconnected the battery to avoid draining it as the lights remained on. After an hour I retried the system, following reconnecting the battery?

The bike is a 2006 plate.

Thanks,

Martyn.
 
There is a reasonably good chance the ignition switch is faulty. There is the reverse of the same problem, when the bike will not fire up, when the key is turned to the ‘on position’.

Here is an example with another motorbike, displaying the same symptoms:

https://advrider.com/f/threads/motorcycle-will-not-turn-off.1026372/

As is common with these types of thread, the fellow (having all but asked for help) decided not to tell the world the final cause of his problem, nor the solution. We can though guess it was the ignition switch.

See also this thread, which points to the ignition switch:

https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/478878-Ignition-switch-wont-turn-off



If the replacement of the ignition switch does not solve the issue, then you are probably looking at a short of some kind. Try replacing the switch first.
 
Sounds to me like you have water in your electrical system, have you tried spraying your ignition switch with some water repellent like WD 40.
A bit off topic but last Wednesday my car's central locking wouldn't work got in to the car using the master key car started but all indicator lights stuck on but not flashing.
Turned out to be moisture in a large block connecter under the bonnet, quick clean with contact cleaner & WD40 & all is well again.
Hope you get it sorted,

Ian.
 
I experienced a similar thing on a trip to Spain after having a new immobiliser ring antenna (the ring around the ignition key hole) replaced. In removing everything get the part fitted dirt became dislodged and effected the keys effectiveness at turning the bike off.
Disconnecting the battery did the job for an overnight stay. The next day copious amounts of a WD40 type spray did the job and all was well for the rest of the trip.

I got a new ignition switch fitted once back home to make sure. No other problems ever showed up.
 
Water or dirt ingress is certainly a possibility. The bike though is now some 14 years old. Some wear on the ignition switch is pretty likely, exacerbated if big bunches of keys have been vibrating / banging / jiggling around on a key ring.

The antenna ring failure(s) of the past, manifested differently. The OP’s fault sounds much more like a faulty switch / short (water can cause a short) or indeed dirt in the switch mechanism, holding the switch ‘on’. WD-40 is a great lubricant but it attracts dirt, sadly.
 
Weird, I was sat at the lights chatting to a guy on a k1200s yesterday who was on his way to Allan Jeffries to get this exact same issue looked at. Must be catching.
 
Not wanting to be a pedant, but isn't a 2006 oil cooled? Only reason I mention it is that this is posted in the Watercooled section, and there might be some owners of same year as yours who don't frequent this section but have experienced the same thing, so might be worth posting in Oil Cooled.
 
You will also find out it's actually not the key part of the lock that is the problem. The switch is bolted to the lower part of the ignition barrel. Easily accessed from underneath with a long socket extension and the correct torx bit. Mine was around the £80.00 mark from the dealer. Replaced years ago and has been fine ever since.
 
Martyn Speight said:
Does anyone have any experience of the engine /lights nor responding to key position/removal? This started after a short journey today and the bike was covered in salt. I kept the engine ticking over and sprayed the bike down. When all dried off, I turned the key, but no response. I then removed the key, but no response. I disconnected the battery to avoid draining it as the lights remained on. After an hour I retried the system, following reconnecting the battery?

The bike is a 2006 plate.

Thanks,

Martyn.
Click to expand...

No update - True Tosser!
 
DickDastardly said:
Not wanting to be a pedant, but isn't a 2006 oil cooled? Only reason I mention it is that this is posted in the Watercooled section, and there might be some owners of same year as yours who don't frequent this section but have experienced the same thing, so might be worth posting in Oil Cooled.
Click to expand...

Wapping said:
A switch from 2006 is a switch, no matter what bike it’s on.
Click to expand...

Indeed. All I'm saying is that it's possible it's known issue with the switch on that model year, and that some owners of that model year might not read posts in a section for later bikes, so it might be another way of getting help. I could post in here about a switch on a 1998 Subaru Imprezza saying "it's just a switch, these bikes have switches so what does it matter?", but posting where the people with the same vehicle hang out might result in prior experience of the same problem.
 
Georamage said:
malcopopolo said:
No update - True Tosser![/QUOTE
I really don’t get this site at times why slag the guy off when you don’t know if he has a genuine reason for not replying even if he didn’t there’s no need for that reply.
Click to expand...

Because he asked for help a week ago.

Although 2 posts in 5 years - I may have jumped to conclusions a bit to soon :D
Click to expand...
 
Wapping said:
Water or dirt ingress is certainly a possibility. The bike though is now some 14 years old. Some wear on the ignition switch is pretty likely, exacerbated if big bunches of keys have been vibrating / banging / jiggling around on a key ring.

The antenna ring failure(s) of the past, manifested differently. The OP’s fault sounds much more like a faulty switch / short (water can cause a short) or indeed dirt in the switch mechanism, holding the switch ‘on’. WD-40 is a great lubricant but it attracts dirt, sadly.
Click to expand...

I wasn’t suggesting that it was an antenna ring problem. I was just relaying my experience of how the switch was affected from dirt probably dislodged from work done in that area.
 
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