Help!!!!!

[kwallace21]

Hi folks. Had this problem a couple of weeks ago and thought it ws a one off. However happened again last night and I'm shitting bricks as I go to Europe this week.......04 GSA 1150. Turned on ignition and all lights and abs check fine. Hit starter button and everything dies. No RID, no clock no lights. Totally dead. Switched ignition on and off a few times and lights etc came back on. Hit starter and went dead again as soon as button was touched.
All dead again. Took out and inspected all fuses which seemed all ok. Still no power. Fiddled a bit with autocom leads etc under the seat and had power again. Not sure whether this had anything to do with it or not. Fired up fine and went for run. Came back, switched off and on again and started fine. Left it for a few hours and again it started fine. Tried 4 or 5 times. Started perfectly all times. Tried first thing this morning and again it was perfect. Had new battery fitted last month and it seems ok as it tuns over and fires up quite briskly. Having a bike mechanic mate over tonight to look at it so any suggestions would be welcome. Help!

Kev

 

[Stewart H]

Check the battery leads at both ends first.
Stewart

 

[kwallace21]

They seem tight enough on the battery. No movement. However it was me that fitted it so anythging is possible. At both ends do you mean pos and neg on the battery or somewhere else? Yes, I am that thick!

cheers

 

[Stewart H]

They seem tight enough on the battery. No movement. However it was me that fitted it so anythging is possible. At both ends do you mean pos and neg on the battery or somewhere else? Yes, I am that thick!

cheers

Other ends of the cables, the positive terminal is on the starter motor, the earth bolts on to the motor somewhere, dirty or loose connection anywhere can cause the symptoms you have.
Stewart

 

[flatdog]

They seem tight enough on the battery. No movement. However it was me that fitted it so anythging is possible. At both ends do you mean pos and neg on the battery or somewhere else? Yes, I am that thick!

cheers

Not just at the battery, check the starter motor connections too. Also ensure all connections are clean/greased for better contact.
Check fuse and s/m relay are ok.
Still no good?
Try jump starting from another source like car battery - connect the positive lead to starter terminal and earth to the engine somewhere.
Started? then new battery needed.
If nothing from jump start suspect starter motor.

 

[sockpuppet]

I'll go for starter realy as flatdog said.

 

[kwallace21]

Ah,
was going to grease starter motor shaft during last sevice. Pulled starter motor cover off but didn't have proper sockets to take motor off so left it as it was and put starter motor plastic cover back on. Had to squeeze and push cover on and off under crash bars so maybe loosened connections while doing so if the previous replys are anything to go by. Sounds favourite at the moment.

 

[robc]

I had a similar problem last year. It turned out the starter motor was seizing. Take if off and grease the shaft. 20 minute job.

My battery was fine but the RID died when all power was sent to the starter in an attempt to move the seized shaft.

Regards

Rob C

 

[kwallace21]

Thanks Rob. Will get my mechanic mate to grease it tonight. Did your RID and power stay off for a bit of time? Mines just seemed to re activate of its own accord. Thought maybe that when the starter motor turned and moved slightly it moved a loose wire killing the power. Never a bad thing to lube that shaft though. Will let you know how I get on. Sounds very likely the same as your problem.
cheers
Kev

 

[robc]

My RID and clock came back on after I released the starter button.

Regards

Rob C

 

[kwallace21]

Thanks Rob. Points to a loose connection on the starter motor methinks.
Might as well grease it up while we check all the wiring anyway.

cheers
Kev

 

[Welshman]

Your starter motor is toast, magnets adrift I predict, sorry but you asked i know for a reason, better now than on your trip....

 

[littleredrooster]

Loom in the vicinity of ignition switch - well documented fault. What else can cause everything to go dead?

 

[Womble]

Having worked on a friend's Discovery, anything which throws a near short across the battery, such as a siezed starter.

It could be the loom, and it is worth checking, but that tends to be a bit more intermittent.

 

[Welshman]

Having worked on a friend's Discovery, anything which throws a near short across the battery, such as a siezed starter.

It could be the loom, and it is worth checking, but that tends to be a bit more intermittent.

My starter was trying to pull about 200 amps, as the magnets were adrift, it causes issues and fairly easy for any autoelec to check

 

[Womble]

My starter was trying to pull about 200 amps, as the magnets were adrift, it causes issues and fairly easy for any autoelec to check

I'm with you - I was just replying to LRRs post

 

[kwallace21]

Found the problem. Took out starter motor. All contacts, connections good. Motor was perfect, very clean and rotated smoothly so bolted back on.
Lifted tank and found that a split washer thing on the battery earth terminal had broken and fallen off making the connection slack and liable to loose contact. Tightened up and all is well.
Glad the starter was fine though. Could do without the expense of replaceing one of those.
Thank you to everyone who replyed.
Much appreciated.

cheers
Kev