Help! Bike won't start - screen gone blank.

[Irlanski]

Hi Guys,
Have 05 r1200GS with about 35,000 miles. Just bought it a month ago. Today I rode off but noticed the ABS light flashing on screen. I maybe started it before it went through its routine or might have had a hand on brake lever - not sure. Anyway about half a mile down the road I pulled in to switch off and restart properly. When the bike finished its initial routine after turning the key I then pressed the start switch. The starting motor kicked in just for a fraction of a second and then nothing. The display went blank. I switched off and the display reverted to the mileage and time of day for a few seconds before disappearing. When I turned on again - blank once more and again not possible to start. I tried this a few times and then turned the key switch off and enabled the alarm (no indicators flashed?...but there was the audible tone) I disabled the alarm again and switched on - no change - still a blank screen. On switching off still the miles and time of day for about 5 seconds as before. I then disconnected the battery for two minutes and reconnect - no joy

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

 

[pablo666]

fuse blown?

 

[rodders]

Have you tried it with another key

 

[Ravenbyrne]

That sound's like a battery problem

 

[Irlanski]

That sound's like a battery problem

• The battery is new and was not giving any problem.
• I didnt think there were fused on that CAN bus system - are there?
• The only other key I have is that flat plastic looking one - but i'll try it and post back...

 

[ebbo]

Put a meter on the battery and try and crank the engine over and see what the voltage drops to, its best to be sure the battery really is not the culprit (even if it is quite new).

 

[DrFarkoff]

I'm with Ebbo on this one Or possibly a bad starter but the screen blank says battery discharged to me

Sounds like battery are your leads tight on the posts?

Also check handgaurds not fouling front brake lever the switches are very sensitive and are normally closed to let the system know they are there Which is exactly the opposite of normal brake switches they make contact when the lever is pulled

 

[Irlanski]

I'm with Ebbo on this one Or possibly a bad starter but the screen blank says battery discharged to me

Ok, I'll have to confess this didn't really seem like the problem to me. The battery is new and just in the bike 1 month although it is about 6 months sitting around before that. And, there was no problem starting it up until this. I had pulled in down the road to allow the bike run thru the ignition sequence again and after that - no go. How could it have drained that quick?

But you are right! ...I brought along my jump leads and it started as normal - Thanks guys, I appreciate your help, was thinking i'm in for a big diagnostic headache here - but no

I wonder has the battery gone soft or maybe one of its cells? I'm going for a spin to the Ukraine early next month and hope the same doesen't happen. Well at least if it does I'll know the problem! Any advice on what action to take with the battery - its on charge now so we'll see how it goes after that...

Thanks again...

 

[DrFarkoff]

Fit an Odyssey PC535 and do the tip below as well

Here's a tip for you IF you are not using the bike for 2 or 3 weeks just lift the front saddle and disconnect the negative lead and make sure it can't drop against the battery terminal.

To reconnect make sure that the ignition is off and set the terminal firmly on and fit the screw tightly (you will get a small electric flash)

Turn on the ignition allow it to do self checks and BEFORE you push the starter twist the throttle from fully off to fully on slowly and return to fully off slowly this allows the ECU to learn the range of throttle values

Yes you can just ride off but give it what it needs and it will be happy


I'd do the same for 1150 as well as they will do a battery in about 6 weeks if not kept on trickle