Just a thought, a pal of mine (no names no packdrill) was trundling along behind me in France when the motor died. The lights still worked but no starter. After much scratching of heads he realised that he'd accidentally caught the kill switch with his thumb! Ooops.
Need a little help...bike has cut out
- Thread starter Slipperyeel
- Start date
that would be funny !
So, you’ve got a GS911. It’s given you a fault. When you clear this down, the bike still won’t start. Is the same fault back? If so… then it’s no surprise the stater won’t spin as the starter relay is isolated by that virtual fuse.
It’s therefore. one or more of things covered by that fault code. Clear the code again. Switch ignition on. Does the code come back immediately? If it is back, the immobiliser ring antenna thing looks likely although I’m not sure what the Ecu checks when the ignition is turned on. Anyone?? Once we know that then we have isolated one or more cause from the list linked to the fault code.
If not back, then it is probably going to come back when you press the starter button. Now you know it’s linked to the bike trying to start so start - relat, coils injector.
I think you said you’ve investigated the coils, but all seems ok.
Starter relay. No idea where it is, but find it & check the wires and connectors. Replace if it’s a standard type relay.
Injectors don’t seem to have been mentioned. I don’t know, ummm Pull one, bang 12v down and see if it comes to life
Immobiliser/ ring antenna. I think someone this only activates when the ignition is switched on so it shouldn’t cause the bike to cut out once running.
Tank off isn’t really a big deal, just loads of fasteners and panels. A bit awkward if it’s full mind.
Good luck.
I take it you have properly checked the side stand switch, the clutch switch and the kill switch.
It’s therefore. one or more of things covered by that fault code. Clear the code again. Switch ignition on. Does the code come back immediately? If it is back, the immobiliser ring antenna thing looks likely although I’m not sure what the Ecu checks when the ignition is turned on. Anyone?? Once we know that then we have isolated one or more cause from the list linked to the fault code.
If not back, then it is probably going to come back when you press the starter button. Now you know it’s linked to the bike trying to start so start - relat, coils injector.
I think you said you’ve investigated the coils, but all seems ok.
Starter relay. No idea where it is, but find it & check the wires and connectors. Replace if it’s a standard type relay.
Injectors don’t seem to have been mentioned. I don’t know, ummm Pull one, bang 12v down and see if it comes to life
Immobiliser/ ring antenna. I think someone this only activates when the ignition is switched on so it shouldn’t cause the bike to cut out once running.
Tank off isn’t really a big deal, just loads of fasteners and panels. A bit awkward if it’s full mind.
Good luck.
I take it you have properly checked the side stand switch, the clutch switch and the kill switch.
Thanks for this.
Yes. In this case there are two power supplies. From the main loom and internal batteries. With this fault. The alarm motion sensor and hotwire sensors work (don't I know
)But there's another update! See below
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Lots on there! Thank youSo, you’ve got a GS911. It’s given you a fault. When you clear this down, the bike still won’t start. Is the same fault back? If so… then it’s no surprise the stater won’t spin as the starter relay is isolated by that virtual fuse.
It’s therefore. one or more of things covered by that fault code. Clear the code again. Switch ignition on. Does the code come back immediately? If it is back, the immobiliser ring antenna thing looks likely although I’m not sure what the Ecu checks when the ignition is turned on. Anyone?? Once we know that then we have isolated one or more cause from the list linked to the fault code.
If not back, then it is probably going to come back when you press the starter button. Now you know it’s linked to the bike trying to start so start - relat, coils injector.
I think you said you’ve investigated the coils, but all seems ok.
Starter relay. No idea where it is, but find it & check the wires and connectors. Replace if it’s a standard type relay.
Injectors don’t seem to have been mentioned. I don’t know, ummm Pull one, bang 12v down and see if it comes to life
Immobiliser/ ring antenna. I think someone this only activates when the ignition is switched on so it shouldn’t cause the bike to cut out once running.
Tank off isn’t really a big deal, just loads of fasteners and panels. A bit awkward if it’s full mind.
Good luck.
I take it you have properly checked the side stand switch, the clutch switch and the kill switch.
Fault can't be cleared. Reappears straight after clearing... But see update below. A new lead! Though the saga continues
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Didn't think I'd have any news until tomorrow. But a little development.
Transported me and the moto ti the BMW dealer in Metz. Poured down for half the journey (weather here is really crap right now).
On arrival, they were quite keen to help get me moving. I explained a little. Didn't want to overload them with detail.
A bunch of them started to look at the bike. Within 5min I heard the alarm unset with ignition on and then it firing up! Yay!
But when I asked what they had done, I got the wrong answer... "we don't know!"
The workshop manager explained that they all think it's an earth connection. So they would create a new one and disconnect all the accessories. - I did this just this morning and got no change!
I had already booked accommodation for the night nearby. So I decided to stick to this and head home in the morning.
I didn't get to the hotel... 350m away, sitting in local traffic in the town, it cut out. Back to square one! Had to push it that distance fully loaded dressed for deep winter! But I don't mind a little workout
Just to spice it all up, the BMW dealer is closed tomorrow for their annual audit. Can't make this up!
But! The fault is beginning to reveal itself. When they got the bike, it was soaking after the transport journey. Then, getting hot and drying out after a about 7-8km then sitting in traffic, it dried out. To me, this points to a poor connection/exposed connection and perhaps toward the front of the bike as that's where the rain is most likely to reach - headstock area? I don't think it's my recent work. Right now I think it's the age of the bike. I think most things are fine - alarm, coils, injectors etc.
So with this new info, any new ideas?
On a final note. I'm a bit upset with how slow everything has moved on this story and it's down to the recovery company's 'agent' over here... Because the dealer is closed tomorrow, that means another night here! And even when it gets to the dealer there's no guarantee they'll fix it on the Thursday so I can get home. So I have raised the idea of repatriation with the recovery company (it's included in my policy). Anyone had experience of doing this?
Apologies. Bit of a long update!
Sent from my SM-S908B using Tapatalk
Transported me and the moto ti the BMW dealer in Metz. Poured down for half the journey (weather here is really crap right now).
On arrival, they were quite keen to help get me moving. I explained a little. Didn't want to overload them with detail.
A bunch of them started to look at the bike. Within 5min I heard the alarm unset with ignition on and then it firing up! Yay!
But when I asked what they had done, I got the wrong answer... "we don't know!"
The workshop manager explained that they all think it's an earth connection. So they would create a new one and disconnect all the accessories. - I did this just this morning and got no change!I had already booked accommodation for the night nearby. So I decided to stick to this and head home in the morning.
I didn't get to the hotel... 350m away, sitting in local traffic in the town, it cut out. Back to square one! Had to push it that distance fully loaded dressed for deep winter! But I don't mind a little workout
Just to spice it all up, the BMW dealer is closed tomorrow for their annual audit. Can't make this up!
But! The fault is beginning to reveal itself. When they got the bike, it was soaking after the transport journey. Then, getting hot and drying out after a about 7-8km then sitting in traffic, it dried out. To me, this points to a poor connection/exposed connection and perhaps toward the front of the bike as that's where the rain is most likely to reach - headstock area? I don't think it's my recent work. Right now I think it's the age of the bike. I think most things are fine - alarm, coils, injectors etc.
So with this new info, any new ideas?
On a final note. I'm a bit upset with how slow everything has moved on this story and it's down to the recovery company's 'agent' over here... Because the dealer is closed tomorrow, that means another night here! And even when it gets to the dealer there's no guarantee they'll fix it on the Thursday so I can get home. So I have raised the idea of repatriation with the recovery company (it's included in my policy). Anyone had experience of doing this?
Apologies. Bit of a long update!
Sent from my SM-S908B using Tapatalk
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FFS - What have you done to deserve this.
Someone mentioned the wiring around the headstock a while back.
Someone mentioned the wiring around the headstock a while back.
You know. When I first stopped, for some reason my first thought was an earthing. While I never forgot it I figured everything else needed a check!
Likely areas are looking like the headstock i think.
But really. Finding this faulty is a warm, bright garage kind of job. Not outside in 0° with rain on the way!
It's looking like a simple fault. Finding it is going to be the issue. In short (no pun intended) it seems like a "works when wet, fails when hot"... Interestingly, I had just had a pause at a Pèage where the hot engine will have had a moment to warm up everything underneath the tank or even the headstock. 300m later it died.
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See this thread for an EWS issue, but highlights the loom in the headstock area as the area of concern
See this thread for an EWS issue, but highlights the loom in the headstock area as the area of concern
Some advice for anyone regarding drilling off the heads of the security bolts and removing what’s left of the studs. Don’t.
Just drill a 4mm hole 5/6mm deep into the heads of the bolts (there’s even a convenient sized guide in the head of the security bolt) .
Hit a slightly oversized torq bit into the hole and undo as you would a normal torq/allen bolt.
I’ve used the method on dozens and dozens of 1200’s .,
I bottled it, and as luck would have it - my EWS was ok , but as they say forewarned is forearmed
Thanks for that. I read through and learnt a little more.See this thread for an EWS issue, but highlights the loom in the headstock area as the area of concern
Right now my thinking is, things like the ring antenna, clutch and sidestand switches, coils etc are good. Instead, after it coming to life and behaving normally following a soaking it does suggest either a dry/corroded connector plug or a cracked wire in the loom...somewhere
It goes back to bmw tomorrow morning first thing. I'm hoping their initial enthusiasm to help me remains and they jump straight on it. If they do that, I'm optimistic (I need to be!) they could find the point of failure before the infamous lunch break
. With their workshop, I'd like to think that with the tank off and being far better than me at such work, they'll find it reasonably quickly. I live in hope!Sent from my SM-S908B using Tapatalk
Funnily enough I wondered about the kill switch but then thought.....surely not...
Noted this. But kill switch fiddled with a lot... doesn't seem to be that, on this occasion. Wish it was as I could fix that on the roadside!
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It wasn't : (
it is !
Update.
Still stuck here in Metz
But this morning, after insisting my recovery outfit got me and the bike back to the dealer, we got there.
Big credit to the dealer. They were onto it immediately.
They have found the problem. It's the voltage regulator, which we all know is part of the bloody alternator. They explained that when testing it, there were multiple failures and reconnections. So it finally died, until it came back to life again, before dying again 
Incredibly, they will have the new one this afternoon! And... it's a Denso unit... Apparently the new unit also comes with a replacement earth cable as I asked if they could replace that also.
So. I pick it up tomorrow after lunch and head home, finally. They have given me a loan bike foc, which is great.
Will report back if I get home without more trouble!
Sent from my SM-S908B using Tapatalk
Still stuck here in Metz
But this morning, after insisting my recovery outfit got me and the bike back to the dealer, we got there.
Big credit to the dealer. They were onto it immediately.
They have found the problem. It's the voltage regulator, which we all know is part of the bloody alternator
. They explained that when testing it, there were multiple failures and reconnections. So it finally died, until it came back to life again, before dying again 
Incredibly, they will have the new one this afternoon! And... it's a Denso unit... Apparently the new unit also comes with a replacement earth cable as I asked if they could replace that also.
So. I pick it up tomorrow after lunch and head home, finally. They have given me a loan bike foc, which is great.
Will report back if I get home without more trouble!
Sent from my SM-S908B using Tapatalk
Good luck 
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