What's the cylindrical unit under the seat?

[paulB]

The one with a few wires going into it. Near the rear of the rider's seat.
I ask because bike wouldn't even attempt to start and there was a distinct click from that end of the bike each time I pressed the starter button.
In all likelihood the issue is probably the FPC again (05 bike I've owned since new, 44000 miles, on third FPC) but I just wondered what the unit at the back was because I had given the pannier an almighty slam just before the bike refused to get me home and I wonder if I dislodged something electrical at the rear.

Thanks in advance.

 

[the beer hunter]

It's a socket for your mechanic to plug the diagnostics into.
Clicking sounds like a flat battery - not enough punch in the battery so the starter's teeth click against the flywheel without the power to turn it over.

 

[paulB]

Ah, that makes sense about it being a socket.

I'm thinking it's unlikely to be the battery because it (the battery) is under a year old and it had a healthy 30 mile ride in the morning. Also it gets connected to the Optimate each weekend. However I guess when they fail they fail.

The click was quiet and from the rear of the bike. It sounded more like a relay/switch type click. Unless the cold was playing tricks with my hearing that was. Maybe the click is normally there but I don't normally hear it over the bike starting/earplugs.

Anyway thank you for the suggestion because I will take jump leads with me tomorrow when I get the wife to drive me to work via a dealer to collect a FPC.

 

[Pukmeister]

The starter relay is fitted in the tooltray under the seat, it was probably that which you heard clicking ?

 

[Mr K]

If the FPC was faulty the engine would still turn over - it just wouldn't start.

 

[paulB]

"If the FPC was faulty the engine would still turn over - it just wouldn't start."

Thank you, cold light of day and that makes perfect sense. Was too obsessed with the FPC being the only problem previously encountered was ignoring the obvious.

Off I go with jump leads and crossed-fingers.

 

[st247]

If it still won't start it might be worth having a look at the starter relay wiring.

 

[paulB]

Yep was the starter relay wiring!

Had Bahnstormer collect the bike and they found the wiring loom had been chafing on the black plastic bit to the left of the battery.

They soldered in a new bit of wire and it is now fine.

Thanks for all the help everyone.