Mystery Non-start should I be worried?

[dave hendy]

On Saturday I had my first hick-up with the GS. We had been out for the day visiting Petworth House before going for lunch on the front at Bognor (in the sunshine). The bike had performed faultlessly up till then. We left the café and before we left Bognor I decided we didn't have enough petrol to get home, so we stopped at Tesco to fill up. The forecourt was very busy so after filling up I pushed the bike off the pump and put it by the shop, went into pay then came back out got on the bike ready to go and it just span over sounding somewhat different to usual. I tried it again, same thing. I then tried the cut out switch encase I had knocked it when I moved the bike, no still the same. Now my brain was going had I filled it with diesel by mistake? No I knew I hadn't and it wouldn't have come through yet anyway. Was it the fuel pump playing up as I have read about? Hope not or we will have to wait for a recovery!! What about the immobilizer? I turned the key off and on again and tried again, still the same. What if the immobilizer is being affected by something in the shop? I pushed the bike up the other end or the forecourt and tried again after removing the key and replacing it. It started, we then road straight home. When we got home I tried it again, perfect. Yesterday we went to Newlands Corner and stopped at Vines again perfect.
So should I be worried or was it something interrupting the immobilizer?? Time will tell!

Dave

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

You're handy living in Bracknell...............if it goes wrong - push it to BMW's HQ and park it in reception................nicely on the carpet and 'centred' over the BMW logo................

 

[Avaword]

Immobiliser Problems!?!

I had the same problem with mine a few months ago when I stopped at a service station for fuel in Crystal Palace. This particular service station is yards away from a HUGE communications tower...you could probably see from your bedroom window in Bracknell if you stand on tip toes!...After calling South London BMW thinking I had a dodgy immobiliser control or some other problem. They advised me to push it away from any electronic doors (as this may be causing a problem with the alarm/immobiliser!)....then I noticed the comms tower and it seems this was my problem...same frequencies etc...I had to push the bike about a mile (or two) away from the tower before it would start!! (yes really!)....If it happens again point the control at the sensor as near as you can get it or move the bike further away from any offending electronic doors/comms towers etc.

 

[dave hendy]

I really hope that the immobilizer was my proplem, although I only moved it about 30ft from the building. If that's all it was I can live with that. It just puts doubts in your mind about it letting you down again.I don't think I can see Crystal Palace from here to many houses in the way!! I have heard about cars with this fault but not effecting bikes before but they must use the same technology.

 

[Cestria]

You must have thought of this but, why not go back to the same service station and see what happens. I would love to know the result.
Pick a nice day, not TOO warm though
You could also ask at the service station if they have seen many bikers pushing their bikes off up the road!

 

[Dave C]

Ive heard of a similar problem near Fylingdales Early Warning Station in north yorks moors...... apparently thye AA vans up there carry a sheet of foil to get around the problems caused with bike alarms not working near the "golfballs"

 

[JFC]

Ive heard of a similar problem near Fylingdales Early Warning Station in north yorks moors...... apparently thye AA vans up there carry a sheet of foil to get around the problems caused with bike alarms not working near the "golfballs"

be useful to know where they put the foil - politely...

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Immobilizer

Is this a standard fitting or is it an extra if you have a bike with an alarm? (Here in France nobody takes much notice of alarms, car, motorbike or houses etc; and insurance companoies give no discount - so i have never had one fitted.)

 

[dave hendy]

You must have thought of this but, why not go back to the same service station and see what happens. I would love to know the result.
Pick a nice day, not TOO warm though
You could also ask at the service station if they have seen many bikers pushing their bikes off up the road

Funny that I did think of asking in the shop, only thing was, I was at home with a mug of tea when I thought of it. If I go that way again I'll try again...............NOT.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Is this a standard fitting or is it an extra if you have a bike with an alarm? (Here in France nobody takes much notice of alarms, car, motorbike or houses etc; and insurance companoies give no discount - so i have never had one fitted.)

It's the imobiliser that comes as standard with every bike - activated/deactivated by a chip in your key.

Andres

 

[Bazza]

how old is the bike? I had a problem with mine not.starting every now and thengot the software checked etc. but couldn't f1nd the Problem. Couple of months later The Abs failed and the biKe Cut out, The dealer has replaced tho full electronic System. has been ok Since, flngerS crosSed if it happens again, bring it to the dealer.

 

[dave hendy]

The bike was registered middle of March 05. It should have gone in last week for its year/6K service but I have put it off for 3 weeks while they get the parts in for the latest ABS recall. It has not had any updates done since last June.

 

[Andrew Lodge]

Hi All

Been lurking on this forum for a while but this is my first post.

I suspect this may be due to the Cristal palace transmitter. I live in Yorkshire and we have a large mast at Holme Moss with a car park at its base.

As it is a great view from the top of the hill riders often stop at the top to rest for a while. It is so frequent that bikes will fail to start here that the locals either avoid the place or leave the engine running.
If a bike will not start I have known them have to freewheel at least three miles or so away before they will start.

Must be something going on I think!!

 

[hobbit]

Kinda related

Was watching a TV programme about a group of Harley bikers going to a gathering in Barcelona. One guy rode his bike into a petrol station and it died. Turned out that the stations in Spain have a transmitter thingy to deaden radio waves, to stop people using their mobiles while filling up. It was apparently the cause of his failure. I guess yours was similar.

 

[Andino]

Hi,
as I have learned it the hard way, do not operate the bike's brakes with ignition on but not having completed its computer-check routine; this apparently confuses the bike's electronic brain and keeps the engine from starting up properly.
Solution: switch off completely; ignition on; wait for check to be completed; start engine; no probs .
Cheers,
Andino

 

[dave hendy]

not having completed its computer-check routine; this apparently confuses the bike's electronic brain and keeps the engine from starting up properly
Thanks for the advice but I always turn the ignition on while I am putting my helmet back on so it can complete its check without me touching any thing. All still OK so far, will let you know if it does it again or if BMW find any codes when it goes for its service!

 

[Sax]

.......didn't have enough petrol to get home, so we stopped at Tesco to fill up..... The forecourt was very busy.... .....What about the immobilizer? ......What if the immobilizer is being affected by something in the shop?.......
So should I be worried or was it something interrupting the immobilizer??
Dave

Just a thought, I think I read somewhere that mobile phone repeater aerials are hidden within the garage sign (usually the one with the rip off prices being displayed)?? Could these be the foe?

 

[dave hendy]

Could these be the foe?

I really hope that the cause was something interrupting the immobilizer rather than a bike problem. Has been fine since although does not get used much during the week. I love the bike, but if I start getting intermittant faults I might have to have a rethink.

 

[Stu-13]

Supermarket relay info back to the store to process payments, stock control in the shop etc. This is a shocking practise but you may have been parked under the transmitter when you pushed your bike away from the pumps.
Probably just a freak event.

 

[greggs]

engine immobilisers

Re your engine immobiliser problem - recently I was in Tasmania, that small island off the south coast of Australia. I went to the top of Mt Wellington - a cracking ride - and parked near the viewing area. On the top of the mountain is this thumping great radio mast, and all over the car park are signs warning that the output of the mast may effect engine immobilisers. It was no surprise that my bike did not start, so I jumped on and rolled off down the hill ( practicing my " no servo" braking technique ) until I was out of the evil influence of the tower. I laughed because the fellow I left in the car park swearing at his Toyota Landcruiser couldnt do what I had done .
As more electronis "stuff" makes our lives easier, this may become a greater problem - so line your helmets with aluminium foil.

cheers
gregGS ( the faster black one )