Ignition switch problems (merged thread)

[mr badger]

Does anyone know what the cause of this problem is?

If it's just component failure then ho de hum, but I'm wondering if it's freezing water getting in or crap clogging up the switching.

If it's the environment perhaps we can take some steps to keep it cleaner/drier. Madame is most pissed off, and none too happy with BMW Assist either.

 

[Greggers]

As with most things in life, a little lubrication goes a long way ...

I had a new switch last spring, but have kept it smooth and sweet with WD40 - in fact ANY lock will benefit from this stuff ... use generously!

Greg

 

[Deleted account AWRT]

As with most things in life, a little lubrication goes a long way ...

I had a new switch last spring, but have kept it smooth and sweet with WD40 - in fact ANY lock will benefit from this stuff ... use generously!

Greg

+ 1

 

[LiquidLAN]

Does anyone know what the cause of this problem is?

I had the same problem with my 12GSA, turned it off one day and pulled the key out only to find the bike was still running... key in quick on and off and it stopped... unfortunately when I rode home and took the key out again there was no stopping the engine at all.

I was told that something inside the barrel had broken - basically between the bit that recognises the key and the bit that actually contects the electrics. I've never actually pulled one of these apart so I cant be any more descriptive, but so far the replacement unit has functioned fine...

 

[mr badger]

Picked up the fixed bike this morning.

I was wondering about locks and freezing water or lack of/too much lubrication. Absolutely noithing mechanical at fault in the end. It was essentially an electrical component failure.

The 'key and lock' bit was working fine on Madame's bike (like last time) but the switcing module below just had a moody. Would suddenly turn on the bike and run through checks with no key in place and the steering lock on.

Third time lucky.

Oh, and thanks for merging the threads Tim

 

[mr badger]

Ignition switch - third failure

So...

Madame rides home tonight as usual, turns off her f800, removes the key and the bike keeps running. It's currently sitting outside turning itself off and on at random, awaiting recovery. No key in the ignition, lights and instruments lit up and will start immediately on the button.

This is the third time this has happened. The last replacement was back in February, the first in November. Looks like, as the last two times, the mechanical part of the ignition switch is fine but the electrical part, underneath the barrel has failed again.

Can't be just component failure can it? Must be something else causing the problem.

Any ideas? Hoping that this will be another warranty fix (11k, April 2009 bike) but Madame's well pissed off and a bit concerned about what happens when we're away touring.

(TC - feel free to move to the consolidated thread if appropriate)

 

[GunZenBomZ]

Disconnect battery terminals? Video plz

Without sounding to weird, it sounds ace. "They are alive!!!"


...In all seriousness its well strange, hope you get a full tank of fuel out of them..3rd time??? Have you got the kill switch, switched to ON

 

[everywherevirtually]

Sounds like the ring antenna

 

[mr badger]

Got it recovered.

Not sure where the ring antenna is. Assume it's close to the key barrel. As far as I know, the part replaced before was set below the barrel. It's a block of black plastic with electrical magic inside.

Battery terminal for the off - yup for emergency but a right faff.

Anyone tell us where the main fuse is?

 

[zippygser]

Got it recovered.

Not sure where the ring antenna is. Assume it's close to the key barrel. As far as I know, the part replaced before was set below the barrel. It's a block of black plastic with electrical magic inside.

Battery terminal for the off - yup for emergency but a right faff.

Anyone tell us where the main fuse is?

THe 800GS does not use fuses (as i understand), everything is controlled by the canbus. when a fuse would normally blow, the bike computer just cuts power to the specific item

hope this helps

 

[Tim Cullis]

Yes, there's no main fuse on CANbus systems, removing the battery terminals is the only way to cut the power.

It's a connection fault in the ignition switch. If it was the ring antenna it wouldn't start at all.

 

[mr badger]

Yes, there's no main fuse on CANbus systems, removing the battery terminals is the only way to cut the power.

It's a connection fault in the ignition switch. If it was the ring antenna it wouldn't start at all.

Fuse - thought so. Clever stuff that CANbus.

Lind thougt it was a fault in the ignition switch. Nothing shows when it's taken apart but swapping fixes the problem (for 6 weeks anyhow ). Just heard thay're giving the bike a thorough going over rather than just replacing the component this time.

Madame will update later.

 

[mr badger]

...In all seriousness its well strange, hope you get a full tank of fuel out of them..3rd time??? Have you got the kill switch, switched to ON

All the kill switch does is stop the bike starting. Everything else is live, lights, dials, indicators etc.

Free fuel? Doubt it .

 

[Madame B]

The bumble was taken away by a nice recovery man yesterday evening (thankfully, no hours of beating up the BMW Assist dudes, this time, to get a recovery...) and he's arrived at Lind in Norwich. They've checked him out and it's the same compentent failure as before, ie the electrical bit not a mechanical fault... However, Lind has taken things up in big way with BMW UK as they were not on the ball and hadn't noticed how many of the ignition bits Lind has had in the last few months nor how many have been supplied overall. BMW GB is taking up the issue with HO. In the meantime, BMW GB suggested that Lind take a look at certain things and it appears that water is getting into the component although it's supposed to be sealed. There is nothing I can do to stop the water getting in as they don't know how it's doing it...I guess water can only be thrown up by the front wheel or be getting in via the ignition key slot. Neither of which is very confidence inspiring as bikes are meant to be suitable for use in the wet whatever make/model and certainly a rufty-tufty bike like a GS shouldn't be leaky/have a total wig out...the short term fix is a new bit with lots of water repelling gunk around it and the long term fix ie re-design/different manufacturer...who knows, but I have been assured that this will be pursued to a (sensible/useful) conclusion

So for now, waiting to get the bumble back tomorrow and then keeping my fingers crossed and always carrying a disc lock

Mme B

 

[GunZenBomZ]

Regular pump PJ1 or WD40 into the key-fob slot every time my bike is washed.

 

[noelrobertson]

Not again M8

Designed by Engineers built by monkeys....Three letters Madame KTM

Hello M8,

Do you sit there all day wiating for guys to write about their problems with their GS, so that you can say the same thing .....Three letters KTM.

Not joking M8 but you are on the GSers site.

 

[Madame B]

My bumble is ready to be collected from Lind complete with new ignition bit and lots of waterproof goo...

True to their word, Lind is pursuing the issue for me (us) as the recently removed failed part is on it's way to BMW GB peeps who are taking it to Germany with them to see the HO tekkies...so, maybe, a revised part will result - the current "sealed" unit is actually two pieces that clip together so it's not as sealed as it needs to be...I know my bumble lives outside and so gets as wet as it's possble to get but...

Anyway, will report further as and when...now all I have to do is wait for tomorrow when I can get bumble back and, though it'll only be a short trip to work, things will be right with the World again as, nice as the baby Beemer car is, I can't like travelling that way...two wheels is tops in traffic

 

[mr badger]

Update on Madames 800 wit the poltergeist ignition issue.

All fixed - 2 days off the road. Looks like the switch unit is in a one time snap together box with no proper water sealing. Gets wet and then shorts out, causing the erratic behaviour.

I think it really needs encapsuating when you look at it. There's no way of getting any waterproofing inside without busting the unit open first.

Anyhoo - BMW UK have taken it seriously now and have taken the old parts back to the fatherland as they had technical guys going over for a conference. Might see an updated component in 5 years then.

Huge thanks to Lind for fighting Madame's corner. Three fails for the same thing on one bike apparently causes an automatic stop on the warranty claim unless component failure is proven. They sorted this and also managed to get a very generous 'goodwill' voucher for Jo from BMW so more bling/gloves/boots or something on their way home to the sett soon.

 

[v8legend]

Update on Madames 800 wit the poltergeist ignition issue.

All fixed - 2 days off the road. Looks like the switch unit is in a one time snap together box with no proper water sealing. Gets wet and then shorts out, causing the erratic behaviour.

I think it really needs encapsuating when you look at it. There's no way of getting any waterproofing inside without busting the unit open first.

Anyhoo - BMW UK have taken it seriously now and have taken the old parts back to the fatherland as they had technical guys going over for a conference. Might see an updated component in 5 years then.

Huge thanks to Lind for fighting Madame's corner. Three fails for the same thing on one bike apparently causes an automatic stop on the warranty claim unless component failure is proven. They sorted this and also managed to get a very generous 'goodwill' voucher for Jo from BMW so more bling/gloves/boots or something on their way home to the sett soon.

you seem to have been very unlucky with this. Fair plays to Lind for sorting it. I bet even you were wondering what you were doing wrong.

 

[mr badger]

you seem to have been very unlucky with this. Fair plays to Lind for sorting it. I bet even you were wondering what you were doing wrong.

Did wonder. Bike is used every day including through the winter but should be up to the task. Looks like a bit of poor design, easily fixed by better sealing or encapsulation. There are similar issues with other F800 series bikes too.

Madame tells me that Lind have packed the replacement with waterproof grease on the recommendation of BMW technical.