Fuel Problem?

[Geordietraveller]

Just got back from having an Alarm fitted at Mill today - on the way back I open it up a bit away from a roundabout. Bike accelerates fine then feels just like I've hit the rev limiter, then catches again then stutters again (this is at around 5-6k). Took a detour and it just does it with the throttle is wide open, not when just bimbling along in traffic.

It just feels like a bit of grit in the jets (for those old enough to remember carbs!) Bike was fine this morning before going into the garage. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Typical that it happens on the best weekend so far.

Si

 

[Paul Wakefield]

Well its the same symptoms as the fuel pump but I haven't heard of any going recently and I would guess if they've been fitting an alarm it might be electrical.

Not much use really.

Paul

 

[John Armstrong]

One of the pipes from the tank to the injectors is kinked or collapsed because it's trapped?

 

[Geordietraveller]

It FEELS like fuel starvation but I think it must be electrical with the alarm being just installed. I think as Mills workshop is shut today I will have a look at the coils to the lower spark plugs to make sure they're both connected.

As for the fuel pump, well they told me they took the fuel pump / controller out to check it as I had spotted it was looking well corroded on top but had had no problems previous to yesterday

Si

 

[Wraithwrider]

Just a thought.

If you disconnect the battery, which they presumably did, you need to turn the ignition on and fully open the throttle twice to set up a part of the FI system.

Maybe this hasn't been done?

I'd try disconnecting the battery, reconnecting and then doing the above.

Peter

 

[Geordietraveller]

Just a thought.

If you disconnect the battery, which they presumably did, you need to turn the ignition on and fully open the throttle twice to set up a part of the FI system.

Maybe this hasn't been done?

I'd try disconnecting the battery, reconnecting and then doing the above.

Peter

Cheers Peter - I'll try that as well.

Si

 

[Tobers]

Check all the plug leads too. I had a similar problem and the lower right plug lead had come loose - difficult to spot, you need to pop the plastic covers off and make sure the leads are seated properly.

 

[Geordietraveller]

Well I've checked everything obvious and no joy - I'm taking it back to Mill tomorrow to have the rear hub replaced anyway so they can sort it out.

Trying hard not to look out of the window at the sunshine - at least I can watch the WSB!

Cheers for the ideas guys.

Si

 

[GSmonkey]

I had exactly the same symptoms you describe, hesitation on full throttle only, turned out to be lower sparkplug coil connection - same as Tobers.

 

[TerryM]

I do not believe in coincidence, so is the "alarm" not connected to the immobiliser function of the ecu?

If so the alarm/immobiliser will isolate the power supply to the fuel pump when set.

Of course any malfunction can then cause the symptoms you have experienced.

Perhaps disconnecting the thing will cure the problem, and if so they can replace it with one which functions.

Best of luck.

Terry

 

[Geordietraveller]

I do not believe in coincidence, so is the "alarm" not connected to the immobiliser function of the ecu?

If so the alarm/immobiliser will isolate the power supply to the fuel pump when set.

Of course any malfunction can then cause the symptoms you have experienced.

Perhaps disconnecting the thing will cure the problem, and if so they can replace it with one which functions.

Best of luck.

Terry

After removing the coils and re attaching them (again) I'm pretty sure you're right. Since I had to wait until Monday anyway I thought I might as well explore any other possibilities e.g. that they had disturbed something else while fitting the alarm.

PITA though as I have always been dubious about the invasive nature of alarms and only had this one fitted as we are going away on the bike and wanted a little more reasurance. Hopefully they will find out what it is tomorrow as well as fit the new hub without causing any other problems.

Si

 

[Paul Wakefield]

If they have been inspecting the fuel pump & it was already corroded, I wonder if that could have triggered the "fuel pump problem"?

Paul

 

[Geordietraveller]

Just dropped the bike off.

I think I know what's coming.

The immortal lines "it was alright on the test ride" and "Perhaps it's just co-incidence" were given to me.

Doesn't fill me with confidence after hearing plently of stories about Mill but they've promised to put it right so all I can do is wait and see now.......

Si

At least Stalker did well in the Superbikes.

 

[TerryM]

Yes, it was good to see CW doing well, not having had competitive kit for a while.

I assumed it was the BMW add on alarm, just as I have fitted, but forgot to ask?

Anyhow, whaterever the failure they will be obliged to fix it at no cost to you.

I have a Meta alarm on a 916 which started acting up after four + years due to a cable short which was easy to find and fix.

The guy at BMW who has responsibility for war reparations sometimes exceeds his brief, but the system usually sorts him.

Terry

 

[Geordietraveller]

Problem solved

To cut a long story short - The alarm fitted was a Datatool which comes with very specific instructions for fitting the 12.This states that the pick up for the fuel cut off should come from the side-stand switch but on hooking up to the GT1 diagnostics the bike was showing a repeated fault so they just took it straight to the fuel pump. The mechanic reckoned he'd fitted quite a few like that and not see any problems but then he seemed suprised that I was reving it to 7k

Anyhoo the misfire/fueling problem is gone, they've replaced the hub under warranty for a very small amount of corrosion and put a new disk and pads on as well. And they did me a big favour regarding a damaged pannier that I'm not allowed to mention

Nice one Mill

Si

 

[TerryM]

Good to hear that all went well Si. Did you prefer not to have the BMW alarm fitted?

I continue to be amazed at the sudden change in job description from mechanic to design engineer, which seems to be passed on from one generation of unrelated bods to the next, as soon as some small glitch spoils their time schedule. Did they say WHY they failed to do it right first time when it was clearly specified and not so difficult?

And then to pull the dealer trick of doing work under warranty, which is paid for by the manufacturer, to make us feel grateful. No wonder our toys get more expensive year on year.

Terry

 

[birdseye]

The BMW alarm isnt Thatcham approved and so is NBG for insurance other than BMW's. Plus you can open top boxes etc without it going off - or at least you can with mine.

Its simply not a very good alarm.

 

[GSmonkey]

I'd go so far as to say its a shite alarm. Unfortunately my bike was already fitted with it, so the expense of ripping it out to put a datatool on seems a bit too much.

The only way to set it off is to take it off the side/main stand. Apart from that, you could remove every part of the bike without the damn thing going off

 

[skywalker]

Just a thought and i don't want to put a downer on your alarm purchase but surely they 've had to hack into the wiring harness some how. I seem to remember datatools have 2 immobiliser circuits which involve cutting specified circuits and routing them through the alarm.Might seem a triviality but wouldn't doing something as drastic as that invalidate your warranty in the event of a wiring fault etc.

 

[Geordietraveller]

Just a thought and i don't want to put a downer on your alarm purchase but surely they 've had to hack into the wiring harness some how. I seem to remember datatools have 2 immobiliser circuits which involve cutting specified circuits and routing them through the alarm.Might seem a triviality but wouldn't doing something as drastic as that invalidate your warranty in the event of a wiring fault etc.

I doubt it since it was recommended and fitted by the same BWM dealer that supplied the bike.

Si