***HELP*** Dead Bike

[Blowzorn]

I'm stuck in Crawley with a dead 1200.
No ignition lights on the the bike.
Have put a multi meter on the battery showing 12.5v. So battery OK or should at least light the dash.
Any suggestions where I can look next?

 

[Ogmios]

Sorry, i can only suggest 'general' stuff / not 1200 specific.
Suggest as it's total darkness, check fuses to start with / wiring around ignition switch / battery connections, particularly earth which may look good - but aint.
Good Luck and a bump to keep this thread near the top.

 

[DrFarkoff]

A couple of things

1) Volts are no indication of Capacity You may have 12.5 v but no amps (but yes you are right that the dash or something should flicker)

2) No fuses on a 1200 Hexhead

There have been issues reported of 1200 ignition switches not turning on I "suggest" flicking and fiddling with the Ign switch and Kill switch ??

other than that I am a wee bit far away to help

 

[rjsmith26]

1) Loose battery terminals?

2) Have read about word ignition barrel cont making suitable contacts - key in and out several times - on / off via key to maybe make a decent contact?

3) Phone call to dealer or prob better still Steptoe as I think you are same side of the smoke as him - 0208 546 2600

Good Luck

 

[Magwych]

Yep. Keep turning it on and off. They usually come on eventually. Then get yourself a cover for the barrel; I use a round castir cup, the type you under furniture to stop ut marking the floor. The 45mm ones from the like of B&Q or Robert Dyas come in pack of four for £2.99 and fit on the lid of the clutch master cylinder when you are using the bike. Keeps the rain and elements out of the barrel. For now, keep trying. It is also worth waiting 20 seconds after turning it on before switching off to retry. Sometimes it wakes up a bit slow.

 

[JimVonBaden]

These almost always have one of two issues. Either the battery cable is loose, often on the starter, but sometimes on the ground (earth) side, or your ignition wiring is bad, particularly the hot to the switch. There are some bikes where there is a zip-tie to the ignition wires that is too tight causing the wires to break inside the bundle. If you have any voltage at or near 12 you should at least get some lights on the dash.

Jim

 

[Blowzorn]

Have checked all connections and wiggled wires around at back of ignition.
Bike started. came in to kit up again. Bike dead once more
Have wiggled all wires again no joy.
Have a feeling this may be immobilizer related. But it's getting dark. It's not my bike so don't know the history of accessories.
Going to stay over in Crawley and have a look in the daylight tomorrow.
Thanks for all suggestions so far.

 

[Blowzorn]

Just been out again.
A wiggle of the key in the ignition and all is working again.
Many thanks to the GS Oracle once more and Magwych in particular for the wiggly suggestion
Now I can ride 5 hours in the rain.

Deep Joy.

 

[Lord Snooty]

Just been out again.
A wiggle of the key in the ignition and all is working again.
Many thanks to the GS Oracle once more and Magwych in particular for the wiggly suggestion
Now I can ride 5 hours in the rain.

Deep Joy.

Probably a more attractive proposition than a night in Crawley

 

[facom]

Probably a more attractive proposition than a night in Crawley

Ha ha ha

 

[mikeyboy]

early bikes suffered from ign switch failure ,just the plastic electrical bit on the bottom IYSWIM.
Not overly expensive but a bit awkward to fit.

 

[facom]

Did you fix it ? Or make it back home ?

 

[Blowzorn]

Finally got home 22:00hrs Saturday.
Failed again Friday night so stayed over in Crawley.
Next morning fires on first attempt. Rode to to fill up. Would not start again. Because it had been intermittent (and I didn't have a recovery policy anywhere). Sat it out till mid day trying it off and on. No joy!
Finally bit the bullet and payed for a one off usage from BMW assist got recovered to Vines.
Services dept closed at 13:00 on a Saturday so left it there and hired a car.
It was a faulty ignition switch. All fixed on Monday.

 

[facom]

Finally got home 22:00hrs Saturday.
Failed again Friday night so stayed over in Crawley.
Next morning fires on first attempt. Rode to to fill up. Would not start again. Because it had been intermittent (and I didn't have a recovery policy anywhere). Sat it out till mid day trying it off and on. No joy!
Finally bit the bullet and payed for a one off usage from BMW assist got recovered to Vines.
Services dept closed at 13:00 on a Saturday so left it there and hired a car.
It was a faulty ignition switch. All fixed on Monday.

Good it was fixed, was it an expensive fix ? I take it that the whole barrel wasn't replaced just the switch on the end of the barrel

 

[Blowzorn]

£70 for the part + 1 hour labour.
But that doesn't include a hotel room for Friday night. Recovery from Crawley to Guildford or the cost of car hire to get home and back.

 

[TLSgazza]

Good it was fixed, was it an expensive fix ? I take it that the whole barrel wasn't replaced just the switch on the end of the barrel

If the same as mine it was just the little black switch on the bottom end of the ignition switch, 2 security torx bolts, job done. About 85 quid new from BMW