Newbie at my wits end

[blindswelledrat]

Hello. 2 months ago I bought a 1150gs and I could really use some advice.
Among a list about a mile long of things that have already gone wrong with it, I have tried to go out today and it wont start. When you turn it on it turns over and nothing happens. Further, it does not acknowledge that there is any fuel in the tank i.e. there are no bars on fuel guage, despite the fact that I have just gone out and bought some more and put it in.
Everything else *seems* to be normal, or at least as normal as this particular bike gets.
Any idea what this could be and whether I can fix it?

Thanks in anticipation of your help, and please be aware that I am utterly useless at anything mechanical so I would appreciate any answers in te format that you might tell a small child

 

[Greg Masters]

Check the connector block under the rear right hand side of the tank.

Greg

 

[blindswelledrat]

Many thanks for the suprisingly quick response.
What does a connector block look like?

 

[ian6760]

Many thanks for the suprisingly quick response.
What does a connector block look like?

Pull the side panel off the right hand side of the tank and it's just there. Black with 4 or 5 wires in a straight line.

 

[Greg Masters]

Many thanks for the suprisingly quick response.
What does a connector block look like?

It's probably black and has several wires on each side of it. Squeeze the edges and plug the plug out from the socket. Buy some contact cleaner and spray into both halves. Reconnect and see if the fuel pump and the fuel guage now work. Try staring the bike.

Greg

 

[Ash]

Many thanks for the suprisingly quick response.
What does a connector block look like?

bit like no 6 but more wires
it's the block you take off when removing tank

 

[blindswelledrat]

Thanks
Tried that and sadly no luck.

I also tried staring at the bike for about 20 minutes, shaking my head and muttering swear words and to my suprise that didnt work either.

Any other thoughts?

 

[Aidan1150]

Let's try a few things................

Step 1.

When you switch on the ignition do you have all the idiot lights on? ie, do you have the neutral, oil and battery lights illuminated?

 

[Greg Masters]

When the engine last stopped running, was it because you turned the ignition off with the key? Was it running OK until you did that?

 

[blindswelledrat]

Yes they are all on.
Im not sure whether this is relevant at all, but the ABS lights are flashing intermittently and the problem occured after I had reset them by connecting the battery to one of the pins on the diagnistics plug and holding down the ABS button (Im not sure whether that means anything to you).
Ive done it a couple fo times previously with no ill effects so Im assuming its coincidence and not related, but then again U useless.

 

[blindswelledrat]

When the engine last stopped running, was it because you turned the ignition off with the key? Was it running OK until you did that?

Yes- Id started it and warmed it up previously, then turned it off and reset the ABS as mentioned above

 

[Davy F]

Good job this isn't a 1200 thread...............

 

[Aidan1150]

I can't see why the bike wouldn't start at all because of the ABS button. To me it sounds like the side stand switch is fecking about. Put the bike up on the centre stand with the side stand up then try to start her and see if she runs.

 

[blindswelledrat]

Off to try that.

 

[blindswelledrat]

No good unfortunately. If the switch was playing up, would putting the stand up make any difference anyway?

 

[(RIP) Bobble]

When you turn the ignition on, can you hear the fuel pump prime (whirring)?

 

[Aidan1150]

Possibly not, but worth a try anyway. Will she start if you lift the clutch, that is, with the clutch lever pulled back to the bars?

 

[blindswelledrat]

No Bobble. I wondered about that. Havent owned it long so couldnt remember if I always heard that or not but definitely silence now.

 

[blindswelledrat]

Not that either Aidan Im afraid.
Ive tried taking it in and out of gear too but nothing seems to make any difference

 

[(RIP) Bobble]

I would be looking at the fuse that controls the fuel pump, then the connecter again to make sure (simple things first)