Ignition switch problems (merged thread)

[Tim Cullis]

Could this be trip five on the magic bus, aka BMW recovery?

The previous F650GS twin had four journeys on the magic bus before it was replaced.

Since taking delivery of the replacement F650GS twin I've spent more time transferring the accessories over to the new bike than actually riding it so have clocked up a grand total of just 480 miles. In that time it's stalled about six times, once tipping me off as I pulled away from the lights. The most recent occurance was today.

And then I parked up, switched off the ignition and stuck my helmet in the top box. I was just about to switch the alarm on when I realised the instruments were lit up and an EWS warning showing. EWS (referred to jokingly here by some as 'engine won't start') is an imobiliser error, normally caused by a problem in the ring antenna surrounding the key.

I switched on and off several times then gave up and went and had a coffee. When I returned everything was OK. Half an hour later I pulled in for fuel and when I switched off the engine got the same error. Took five minutes to rectify.

Stopped again for shopping at Hein Gericke, no problem this time, then a couple of minutes later I was told my bike lights were on. Lo and behold the bike had turned it's ignition on without me (or the key) being present! Played about with the key and got more EWS errors which eventually cleared and the bike started.

Got home and I have the same problem. The bike's out in the street with the ignition and the lights on. I can't activate the alarm, so the only thing that's stopping the bike being nicked is the steering lock.

BMW is on its way with the magic bus.

Tim

 

[GunZenBomZ]

I deem you sir... Unjinxed!!! for 2010.

 

[ide508]

Good grief Tim, you certainly had you're share with those 650

May 2010 be sweet on you ( and you're bike !)
Cheers
Bernard

 

[John Armstrong]

Sounds very similar to the problem I had a year ago on mine (when it was couple of months old) where the switch at the bottom of the ignition barrel failed. Only way to switch every thing off was to disconnect the battery only took about 30 minutes to change at the dealers though

 

[Tim Cullis]

OK, the magician has arrived and has spent nearly an hour on the bike so far, disassembling it by the dim street lighting and the help of a hand torch... He reckons it's water in the switch which is shortcircuiting the ignition, the EWS error is because the ignition has been switched without the key being present.

He's managed to take the switch to bits (the special five-star security screws were undone with mole grips) and squirted spray everywhere but so far the error persists.

I think we've had the wrong sort of rain in the last couple of days.

 

[AndyT]

I think BMW have lost the plot with their bikes of late, what ever happened to the reliable, simple solid bikes which we came to grow fond of. They are over complicated and unreliable. I have heard in the last week of one 1200GS that caught fire whilst parked up and the owner has lost the lot, luggage included and that has put paid to his planned trip to Africa in the New Year.... Roll on the Super Tenere

 

[everywherevirtually]

Did somebody curse you Tim?

My 800GS has been no bother and it's never been on the magic bus. I hope 2010 works out better for you

 

[rockchunk]

I have heard in the last week of one 1200GS that caught fire whilst parked up

there is your answer Tim

 

[Tim Cullis]

Well full marks to the BMW engineer for persistence on a cold winter's evening. After drying the switch out using the car's heater he eventually got everything working OK and has just left.

Makes me a bit worried about riding in the rain, though.

 

[John Armstrong]

When I called out BM Assist after drowning it in WD40 it worked, for another day. I'd work out if you can get it to your nearest open dealer on Saturday, assuming any are open.

 

[Dave Ett]

Well full marks to the BMW engineer for persistence on a cold winter's evening. After drying the switch out using the car's heater he eventually got everything working OK and has just left.

Makes me a bit worried about riding in the rain, though.

Maybe give it a good squirt of ACF50?

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

these sort of stories are exactly why i bought a 660 tenere.

any problems with yours, tim ?

 

[Tim Cullis]

My Tenere has been perfect, but I think you already knew that would be the answer. LOL.

It's also the reason the F650GS has yet to hit the 500-mile mark. Despite being higher than the F650GS, the Tenere is more stable in traffic--the F650GS is a bit wobbly at low speed--and I'm using the Tenere by preference.

I found the previous F650GS unstable at low speed and had put it down to being shod with TKC80s, but the new F650GS is on the standard tyres.

Tim

PS: both bikes have had liberal treatment of ACF50.

 

[Sooty09]

Sorry to hear of your troubles Tim, having just watched the X men movie are you perhaps Static man or Magneto man and accidentally goosing all your electronics? 1000s of miles between us now with no problems.

 

[santrix]

I found the previous F650GS unstable at low speed and had put it down to being shod with TKC80s, but the new F650GS is on the standard tyres.

Everyone has different opinions of whats wobbly or unstable. Ive ridden the 650 and own an 800 and found both infact very stable at slow speeds....

It is very worrying the ammount of things youve had go wrong though tim.... I'm sure you'll be down to the next BM dealer to get that switch replaced... Maybe a nice letter to BM customer services would get some free servicing or something.... I know shouting and complaining about a certain thing (a missed fuel sensor replacement at service) got me about 300 quids worth of servicing...

 

[Old Swiver]

Tim, perhaps my curse has been passed onto you!. No that can't be right, one of my grip heaters has started to come on of it's own accord. Just what I need when it's 32c and 80% humidity.
Tim, now up in Chiang Mai, staying here for a few days until the Thais go back to work. The roads are murderous, they expect about 400 deaths over the 7 day holiday period.
Hope you get a decent run out of your 650.
Don't mean to highjack this thread, just too lazy to post twice.
Regards John.

 

[Tim Cullis]

Hi John, nice to hear you're OK.

Santrix: when I say unstable, I mean the F650GS difficult to ride at slow speed compared, say, to the R1200GSA which I can ride at probably only 1-2 mph without having to put my feet down. I guess this is a combination of the angle of the forks and the castor effect or something. It's probably the same thing that makes the bike extremely agile, quick turning and such a joy to ride when on the twisties.

You wouldn't notice this on the F800GS which has a totally different front end, not to mention a larger front wheel. This gives it much better stability when offroad.

My only criticism of the F650GS offroad isn't the lower ground clearance, it's the difficulty in narrow sections of rough ground to get up to the necessary balancing speed (say 3+ mph) without the front wheel being thrown off course by stones or small rocks as you launch.

 

[yicker]

Did somebody curse you Tim?

My 800GS has been no bother and it's never been on the magic bus. I hope 2010 works out better for you

+ 1, 12000 miles never missed a beat love in. but did have a ktm 990 adv s six months old always breakin down, the dealers+ktm uk were in no rush to help. at one spell waiting 3 weeks for a part

 

[Madame B]

Ignition gone wrong...AGAIN!

Am either just unlucky or this is a BMW crappy parts money saving ball-ache as this is the second time in just over two months that my beloved bumblebee F800 has had an ignition system failure...couldn't even turn the blummin thing off last night without using the kill switch...even when the engine stopped running and the key was removed the ignition was fully active and, of course, the bike's lights still on...hey, anyone want to just hop on and ride my bike away...????!!!!

Not overly chuffed with BMW Assist dudes either as it took quite a bit of persuading to get them to arrange for the bumblebee to be recovered...it didn't occur to them that just sending someone to "disconnect the battery" was completely effing useless as the bike needed to go to a dealer as the ignition will still be shot tomorrow...plus, as the bike lives outside, and the alarm needs the battery to be connected (durrrrr....) to function, my insurance won't be opertive overnight...

Still, he's up at Lind at the mo with the replacement ignition switchy-bit on order and expected tomorrow so I should have my bee back during Saturday but I'm still in a bit of murg over the whole thing....just noticed, must be well PO'd as no smilies used.....

Mme B

 

[cherokee]

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