Starting Problem

[Chris Woolner]

Couldn't get the bike started today after it had been left stood in the garage for four days. It eventually did start after a few minutes. I thought I might flatten the battery trying to do it. I even thought it might be the dreaded Fuel Controller problem.

I have had the bike three weeks and have used it most days with no problems at all. Four days is the longest it has been left.

It's a 2005 model with 23,000 on the clock.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[shugie]

Couldn't get the bike started today after it had been left stood in the garage for four days. It eventually did start after a few minutes. I thought I might flatten the battery trying to do it. I even thought it might be the dreaded Fuel Controller problem.

I have had the bike three weeks and have used it most days with no problems at all. Four days is the longest it has been left.

It's a 2005 model with 23,000 on the clock.

Anyone have any ideas?

It might well be the dreaded fuel controller problem, reports indicate that they sometimes behave oddly before failing completely. If you don't have an extended warranty, it might be prudent to get a spare FPC, assuming you can get one at the moment.

 

[ts2]

gear indicator?

Did you hold the clutch lever in when trying and was the sidestand up or down?

Only asking, as mine never quite knows what gear its in. I think there's water in the gear switch (or whatever its called). I've sprayed it now, so hopefully it'll clear up.

Anyhow a side line of the gear position indicator flicking between 1st, neutral and second (when in neutral) is that the bike stalls if left on the side stand

ie it thinks its in gear with the stand down, so switches the engine off. This means that if you try to start with the bike on the side stand and leave the clutch out, then it can feel like the battery is flat. ie engine turns, then suddenly it dies, then turns again (as it flicks from N to 1 or 2).

Anyhow its a far simpler fix than the FCP, so just adding this as its easy to check (the gear indicator wont stay still) and should be a fairly easy fix (if you can get to the damned switch).


TobyS

 

[John Armstrong]

It's a 2005 model with 23,000 on the clock.

Anyone have any ideas?

How old's the battery

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Did it crank and not fire or not crank ?

 

[Chris Woolner]

Thanks for that Toby,

I was trying to start the bike whilst it was on its centre stand as well as the side stand down as well.

There was no flickering of the gear selector.

I also left the throttle alone as the owners manual suggests. However, when i tried giving it some throttle the engine did act as though it was going to fire.

 

[Chris Woolner]

How old's the battery

Not sure John. As I said I've only had the bike three weeks, so it could well be the original one that came with the bike.

 

[Chris Woolner]

Did it crank and not fire or not crank ?

It cranked, but would not fire. However, holding the throttle open slightly and then trying to start did result in the engine trying to start.

After a few attempts, both holding the throttle open and closed it eventually did start.

 

[The White Rabbit]

When it did fire, did it run smoothly and idle fine off throttle?

Thanks for that Toby,

I was trying to start the bike whilst it was on its centre stand as well as the side stand down as well.

There was no flickering of the gear selector.

I also left the throttle alone as the owners manual suggests. However, when i tried giving it some throttle the engine did act as though it was going to fire.

 

[Chris Woolner]

It might well be the dreaded fuel controller problem, reports indicate that they sometimes behave oddly before failing completely. If you don't have an extended warranty, it might be prudent to get a spare FPC, assuming you can get one at the moment.

Many thanks for that, I suppose I should order one from BMW just to be on the safe side.

Cheers.

 

[Chris Woolner]

When it did fire, did it run smoothly and idle fine off throttle?

Yes. No problem. I went out to Maplins and B&Q and both times I stopped and restarted the bike no problem. I suppose I was out for around 3 hours.

Cheers.