MY 2004 GS is ill. Any advice appreciated.

[iangough]

My 2004 BMW R1200GS failed to start/boot-up after being left in the garage for two months whilst I was recovering from an op. As you can see the bike tries to initialise but fails. We plugged it into the computer (using the 9 11 software) and after numerous fails it managed to read the bike but only for a few seconds, for it only to come up with various light bulb errors. The battery is new and fine.

So where do I start?

Will I have to get a dealer to pick it up. The bike has done 104k Miles and is 11 years old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEjK3BoPQZU

 

[Shep]

I might just take a peek inside the rear light bulb holder, well known for rotting away and shorting! Check battery connections and state of charge.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Alarm fault

 

[iangough]

I might just take a peek inside the rear light bulb holder, well known for rotting away and shorting! Check battery connections and state of charge.

Funny you should mention that.

I took the rear light bulb out as part of my check and it was filthy. I tried starting it without the bulb in too. Also I took the tank off and squeezed and pushed as much of the wiring around as possible. I also took off the ecu (that wacking great big plug thing the tank) to see if the contacts had corroded, but it was clean.

Apologies for not mentioning this in my original post. At work, doing this in between interruptions.

 

[iangough]

Alarm fault

Thanks for the suggestion but the alarm actually turns on and off ok. It's the only thing that appears not to be at fault.

 

[Fanum]

Thanks for the suggestion but the alarm actually turns on and off ok. It's the only thing that appears not to be at fault.

What's the strobing red light next to the bottom left corner of the LCD screen?

Isn't that the Alarm indicator?

 

[Shep]

Ring antenna perhaps, also known to fail on early 1200's

 

[(RIP) Miff]

Are you sure the battery is fully charged and the connections are done up tight??? The display flicking off looks like low voltage to me.

 

[Bumhead]

Are you sure the battery is fully charged and the connections are done up tight??? The display flicking off looks like low voltage to me.

I agree

 

[iangough]

Yes, the battery is fully charged. It's has been on an optimate, I also checked it with a voltmeter. It's 9 months old. The original one only lasted 10 years !


The alarm light flashes as this is part of the error (I think) as does the speedo and rev counter needles move. If the alarm is on and you put the key in, it just beeps if you don't disarm the alarm first, which is normal.

Ring antenna perhaps, also known to fail on early 1200's - Where is that, how do I check it out ? My bike is definitely an early one, it was less than 500th off the production line according to Vines in Guildford.(if you discount the test ones - but I digress !!)

 

[iangough]

I agree

Part of my diagnosis originally was to disconnect the battery and reconnect it again. Everything was and is fine. The whole turn it off and on again theory

 

[iangough]

Ring antenna perhaps, also known to fail on early 1200's

Found out what it is. I'll try starting it with my spare key tonight to see if that affects anything...

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j164/wonderings/IMG_0186.jpg

Maybe I could try and move it about or something like that, to see if I get a different result...

 

[autogs]

i reckon you have a bad or corroded main power connection.

 

[iangough]

i reckon you have a bad or corroded main power connection.

Thanks autogs - and where would I find it ?

 

[Bendy toy]

All you can do is check all connections one by one. It's also worth looking at the wiring bundle alongside the air intake box. Wires can chafe under there and short to the frame.

 

[iangough]

Thanks all for your input. I will try these at the weekend.
Much appreciated.

 

[iangough]

Thanks Miff and Bumhead.
It was the battery.

A faulty battery... and I only purchased it in July 2014. I took it back to the shop. They tested it. It had 15.5 volts. I bought a new one and said if it works ill have the money back on the faulty one. It did, I got my money back without even producing a receipt. That's good customer service. http://www.bykebitz.co.uk/

However, I don't understand. If the battery shows 15.5v like the working replacement, then surely it has no amps.
Lesson learnt the hard way. I'm quite embarrassed, however two friends that are quite competent mechanics thought it was a bad earth.

So can anyone explain why a battery is faulty, but still shows 15.5v ?

 

[(RIP) Miff]

Glad you got it sorted

 

[Bendy toy]

So can anyone explain why a battery is faulty, but still shows 15.5v ?

A cell could have a very low charge capacity but still look fine on full charge. The test is to load the battery with a few engine starts and retest the voltage. Also check the voltage drop while the starter is churning.

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Hi if you are keeping that bike, I recommend buying and fitting a new ring antenna, or as a minimum drill out the anti-theft securing screws and replace with allen-screws while it is still running....Easy to do at home in workshop.
Bin