Turn the key and nothing....

[Mav]

Got back from overseas today after leaving the bike for 2 weeks (which I do nearly every month) - put the key in the ignition to check all is well and I get nothing... no light on the dash, no light in the headlight, so of course not a dicky bird when pushing the starter It could be the battery - but I leave the bike like this on a regular basis (and through colder periods) and it has always started on the button. It has the upgraded Odyssey (SP?) battery. Also, my previous experience of batteries being weak is you tend to at least see the dash or head light at least flicker on

So, questions:

Is it possible that the battery is just totally and completely dead?
Could this be the dreaded antenna ring thingy?
And finally, can I use a car battery charger if I connect direct to the battery?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Fanum]

If it's the ring antenna problem, I believe that it shows on the dash display but things still light up .........

Sounds like a totally dead battery, or maybe a lead connection?

Wobble the leads to the battery just in case, then stick a multi meter across it and see what it tells you

 

[cookie]

yes.

no. that gives an EWS fault on the screen

i'd be inclined to take the battery off the bike before charging.

 

[Mav]

If it's the ring antenna problem, I believe that it shows on the dash display but things still light up .........

Sounds like a totally dead battery, or maybe a lead connection?

Wobble the leads to the battery just in case, then stick a multi meter across it and see what it tells you

Thanks Bill - checked the leads and no movement. Attached a car charger, and then tried the ignition and still completely lifeless. I wouldn't surprise me if it took some time to give it enough charge to start the bike... but it should give it enough juice to get the lights going... right?!?!

Looking for a voltmeter now... Guess it could be worth checking the fuses?

 

[Fanum]

Thanks Bill - checked the leads and no movement. Attached a car charger, and then tried the ignition and still completely lifeless. I wouldn't surprise me if it took some time to give it enough charge to start the bike... but it should give it enough juice to get the lights going... right?!?!

Looking for a voltmeter now... Guess it could be worth checking the fuses?

It'll take a few minutes to put anything at all in......don't try that!!

Put it on charge (off bike or at least both cables isolated if possible then bugger off and chill for a bit....have a beer then come back to it later.

Is there a gauge on the car charger? How many amps does it say the charger's putting out?

It's an HP2.....they don't have fuses do they?

Have you got a car there you can jump it from? That will at least tell you that the bike's still alive
Don't forget to connect the cables in the right order then wait a minute before trying to start the bike....it should go

 

[Mav]

It'll take a few minutes to put anything at all in......don't try that!!

Put it on charge (off bike or at least both cables isolated if possible then bugger off and chill for a bit....have a beer then come back to it later.

Is there a gauge on the car charger? How many amps does it say the charger's putting out?

It's an HP2.....they don't have fuses do they?

Have you got a car there you can jump it from? That will at least tell you that the bike's still alive
Don't forget to connect the cables in the right order then wait a minute before trying to start the bike....it should go

OK, so it's now on charge but - unless I'm reading it wrong I think the charger thinks the battery is full. The needle on the scale is not even registering - it flicks up to 2 or 3 for a second then quickly drops back to the bottom of the scale. Which means it thinks it's charged - right??

I guess jump start is the next test - negative then positive, right??

And as for fuses... you're probably right

PS: What's your hourly charge for tech support these days?

 

[Mav]

Jump leads are giving me nothing and the HP2 CD shows no hits on "fuse" or "fusebox"

I guess it's time for BMW Assist

 

[Fanum]

Is the key turning properly and does it feel like it's doing anything?

Check around the bike for earth straps loose- even if the battery is utterly shagged, you should still get lights an' stuff with jump leads attached, unless the circuit isn't being made (key etc) or there is no circuit to make (earth strap loose etc)

 

[Mav]

Is the key turning properly and does it feel like it's doing anything?

Check around the bike for earth straps loose- even if the battery is utterly shagged, you should still get lights an' stuff with jump leads attached, unless the circuit isn't being made (key etc) or there is no circuit to make (earth strap loose etc)

I'm reaching the conclusion that something else is loose, possibly even within the ignition. When turning the key - I've tried repeatedly turning it, trying to wiggle it to see if there is some screw up there... It feels totally dead - I can't even get a flicker out of the dash

Thanks for trying Fanum - another beer owed to you!

 

[andyclift]

Did you leave it unlocked?

If its like the GS (probably is) the dash display could be powered although you see nothing. It happened to mine as I keep it in a garage and don't bother to lock the steering. Although it was used every few days, when the battery failed, the dealer noted frequent very high change discharge cyles on the dygnostics. Software change and new battery (under warranty) and all is well.

A check (when you have a working battery) is to lock it, then unlock it without turning on the ignition. If the display comes on for a few seconds it could be the problem. If it is there is a software fix for GSs that may apply to HP which prevents the display being powered until the ignition is turned on.

 

[Mav]

So the BMW assist chap turned up today to take a look. As much as I didn't want the embarrassment, I was kinda hoping that he would use jump leads correctly and start the bike... however, even hooked up to his van, he couldn't get any juice to the dash, let alone make it start He thinks there is a fault with the ignition switch it's being picked up today to be taken to the dealer.

The only good news is - I found my pump! I thought I had lost on a trail but it was lodged under the saddle! I can only assume that when it was serviced that the techs put it back under there Anyone else had that happen?

 

[Spout]

The only good news is - I found my pump!

No good for a flat battery tho

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Tough luck on the electricals but great news on the pump

At least we won`t have to harrass any passing mountain bikers in Snowdon in two weeks.....

 

[Mav]

No good for a flat battery tho

Very funny

Tough luck on the electricals but great news on the pump

At least we won`t have to harrass any passing mountain bikers in Snowdon in two weeks.....

Well should we happen to bump in to female mountain bikers this time, I'll be happy to lose it again

 

[NZGSer]

So, questions:

Is it possible that the battery is just totally and completely dead?
Could this be the dreaded antenna ring thingy?
And finally, can I use a car battery charger if I connect direct to the battery?

Thanks for your help!

Won't be the battery going on your past history with it Mav.

Won't be the antenna ring, you'd still get ignition lights just bike won't start.

You can use pretty much any charger rated for 12v but I'd discontect the neg lead from the bike first.

But it won't be any of these things. Good battery + no sign of life on dash = ignition problem. I bet it ends up that the micro-switches at the base of the ignition barrel are corroded or are not connecting. If you have a 2005/06, then this part has been upgraded, the micro switch is different on the '07 to avoid this.

 

[Mav]

Won't be the battery going on your past history with it Mav.

Won't be the antenna ring, you'd still get ignition lights just bike won't start.

You can use pretty much any charger rated for 12v but I'd discontect the neg lead from the bike first.

But it won't be any of these things. Good battery + no sign of life on dash = ignition problem. I bet it ends up that the micro-switches at the base of the ignition barrel are corroded or are not connecting. If you have a 2005/06, then this part has been upgraded, the micro switch is different on the '07 to avoid this.

You're spot on They replaced the ignition switch this morning, although they didn't mention anything about an upgraded switch being available... Is it safe to assume that they would've put the upgraded switch in? They had to order it so it won't their old stock?

It did make me wonder - if the ignition switch died, away from the wonders of BMW assist, I guess you would be buggered

 

[Fanum]

You're spot on They replaced the ignition switch this morning, although they didn't mention anything about an upgraded switch being available... Is it safe to assume that they would've put the upgraded switch in? They had to order it so it won't their old stock?

It did make me wonder - if the ignition switch died, away from the wonders of BMW assist, I guess you would be buggered

Naaaa......after running a new earth strap and checking the existing ones, we would have taken the ign switch apart and shorted it across to get you going.

Funnily enough we had almost exactly this in the Sahara on the first commercial trip Moto Morocco ran in 2006- some ginger twat borrowed RickA's HP2 and rode it off the top of a large sand dune........flipped it, buried it and knackered the engine cut out.

With a few phone calls and a little bit of bent wire, we got it running that night

If it was the ring antennae though, that's a different story and if you ever go wandering in places where there are no BWM dealers, TAKE A SPARE!!!!

 

[Mav]

Naaaa......after running a new earth strap and checking the existing ones, we would have taken the ign switch apart and shorted it across to get you going.

Funnily enough we had almost exactly this in the Sahara on the first commercial trip Moto Morocco ran in 2006- some ginger twat borrowed RickA's HP2 and rode it off the top of a large sand dune........flipped it, buried it and knackered the engine cut out.

With a few phone calls and a little bit of bent wire, we got it running that night

If it was the ring antennae though, that's a different story and if you ever go wandering in places where there are no BWM dealers, TAKE A SPARE!!!!

Trying to work out if you know that my bike is/was RickA's

 

[JimboGSA]

You're spot on They replaced the ignition switch this morning, although they didn't mention anything about an upgraded switch being available... Is it safe to assume that they would've put the upgraded switch in? They had to order it so it won't their old stock?

It did make me wonder - if the ignition switch died, away from the wonders of BMW assist, I guess you would be buggered

glad to hear its in the process of being sorted mate! best get that third year warranty lined up though! you're well on the way to a complete new bike what with the drivetrain and now this!