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Author Topic: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?  (Read 11536 times)

Offline marku8a

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Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« on: July 11, 2011, 09:21:23 PM »
It's a 2009 with 1300 miles. The starter motor turns the engine over but the engine does not light up. Things I tried...

Yes it has gas!
Recharged the battery and checked the voltage (no load)
The starter turns at what sounds like a normal speed
Checked all fuses in fuse boxes 1,2 & 3 with a continuity tester

The funny thing is that it has never fired right up right away when cold. I don't mean cold cold. I am in southern California. Other EFI bikes I have owned or ridden have fired up with a short press (2-5 seconds) of the starter button. Not this one.

Any recommendations for other troubleshooting? I am about ready to give up and take it to the dealer. That's another question, how do you get your dead bike to a shop to be repaired? I have always done my own work or managed to limp to help.

Mark

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Offline Jeremy Mitchell

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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #1 on: July 11, 2011, 09:25:33 PM »
Do you have an aftermarket tuner installed on it?

If so you might check your connections and pay special attention to your ground. 

Could it be bad fuel?  When was the last time you rode your 2009 with 1300 miles?

If not then you would be better off to have a friend lend you trailer to take it to the dealer. 
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Offline JRT

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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2011, 10:57:34 PM »
Mark,
When you turn the key on do you hear the fuel pump activate for a few seconds?
If not then you have a fuel pump, fuse, or safety circuit issue.
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Offline PH14

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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #3 on: July 12, 2011, 03:08:55 AM »
Battery cables tight on the terminals?
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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #4 on: July 12, 2011, 04:16:26 AM »
We've had a couple of bikes come through here with cold start issues.  Unfortunately, I don't remember what the outcomes were.  Starting issues with this bike are totally abnormal.  If it's turning over at normal speed then the battery should be ok but it doesn't have to go down much to not start and still crank.  They are totally dependent on the correct voltage.  You might try seeing if there are any codes showing up.  Hold the upper and lower buttons on the dash display for more than two seconds.  If there is a code it will come up.  If there aren't any codes it could be bad gas.  You may also want to make sure the battery is charged fully as well.
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Offline JoeR

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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #5 on: July 12, 2011, 08:32:17 AM »
When my battery started going south, the starter would turn what sounded fast enough to start the bike, but it wouldn't start.  A new battery solved the problem.  It might be worth taking your battery off and having it tested.
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Offline mcclaskeyj

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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #6 on: July 12, 2011, 09:44:17 AM »
This might sound strange...but make sure the RED SWITCH is in the proper position on your right handlebar.  ::)
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Offline Jeremy Mitchell

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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #7 on: July 12, 2011, 09:53:37 AM »
Quote from: mcclaskeyj on July 12, 2011, 09:44:17 AM
This might sound strange...but make sure the RED SWITCH is in the proper position on your right handlebar.  ::)

Pretty sure the motor wouldn't turn over if that was the case.   ::)

But maybe my "RED SWITCH" is just weird like that.
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Offline mcclaskeyj

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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #8 on: July 12, 2011, 11:24:19 AM »
Quote from: Jeremy Mitchell on July 12, 2011, 09:53:37 AM
Pretty sure the motor wouldn't turn over if that was the case.   ::)

But maybe my "RED SWITCH" is just weird like that.
Lol I forgot this bike has a sensor for that.  ::)
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Offline Jeremy Mitchell

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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #9 on: July 12, 2011, 02:01:03 PM »
Quote from: mcclaskeyj on July 12, 2011, 11:24:19 AM
Lol I forgot this bike has a sensor for that.  ::)

You lost me.
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Offline mcclaskeyj

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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #10 on: July 12, 2011, 02:41:22 PM »
Quote from: Jeremy Mitchell on July 12, 2011, 02:01:03 PM
You lost me.
My other 7 bikes would actually allow the user to crank the engine while the engine "kill switch" is in the off position. This was advantagious when the engine became "flooded" with fuel and you could open the throttle all the way and turn the engine a few times to "clean" the excess fuel. I forgot the C14 doesn't allow this...but I never really use the off position on the switch anyway.

 :deadhorse:

FWIW I had this issue last week and disconnecting the wiring harness from the PCV and re-connecting the stock ones made it start right up.
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Offline Mighty

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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #11 on: July 12, 2011, 04:47:20 PM »
That's what happened when my PC V took a dump.
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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #12 on: July 12, 2011, 05:40:26 PM »
Me too! But mine ran just long enough to get me about a mile down the road! It's not fun pushing this monster!   ;D
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Offline ZG

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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #13 on: July 12, 2011, 07:26:55 PM »
Quote from: mcclaskeyj on July 12, 2011, 02:41:22 PM

FWIW I had this issue last week and disconnecting the wiring harness from the PCV and re-connecting the stock ones made it start right up.


 :popcorn:
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Offline JetJock

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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #14 on: July 12, 2011, 07:52:17 PM »
With all the threads reporting PCs crapping out, I think I'll be skipping this farkle.
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Offline B.D.F.

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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #15 on: July 12, 2011, 08:10:08 PM »
A C-14 will not crank with the kill switch set to 'OFF'. Nor will any other Japanese bike I've seen but of course I have not seen them all.... Allowing the engine to crank with the kill switch set to off is sort of like playing 'stump the dummy' I think.  ;)

Brian


Quote from: mcclaskeyj on July 12, 2011, 02:41:22 PM
My other 7 bikes would actually allow the user to crank the engine while the engine "kill switch" is in the off position. This was advantagious when the engine became "flooded" with fuel and you could open the throttle all the way and turn the engine a few times to "clean" the excess fuel. I forgot the C14 doesn't allow this...but I never really use the off position on the switch anyway.

 :deadhorse:

FWIW I had this issue last week and disconnecting the wiring harness from the PCV and re-connecting the stock ones made it start right up.
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Offline marku8a

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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #16 on: July 12, 2011, 08:47:34 PM »
Quote from: Jeremy Mitchell on July 11, 2011, 09:25:33 PM
Do you have an aftermarket tuner installed on it?

If so you might check your connections and pay special attention to your ground. 

Could it be bad fuel?  When was the last time you rode your 2009 with 1300 miles?

If not then you would be better off to have a friend lend you trailer to take it to the dealer.

No Tuner. Checked ground. Rode last weekend. Found a "Bike tow service" Going to cost about $80.

Quote from: JRT on July 11, 2011, 10:57:34 PM
Mark,
When you turn the key on do you hear the fuel pump activate for a few seconds?
If not then you have a fuel pump, fuse, or safety circuit issue.

Yes I hear the pump.

Quote from: PH14 on July 12, 2011, 03:08:55 AM
Battery cables tight on the terminals?

Yes. I removed and installed the battery to charge it.

Quote from: VirginiaJim on July 12, 2011, 04:16:26 AM
You might try seeing if there are any codes showing up.  Hold the upper and lower buttons on the dash display for more than two seconds.  If there is a code it will come up.

That's a new one for me. I just tried it. No codes. It just enters the setup menu.

Quote from: JoeR on July 12, 2011, 08:32:17 AM
When my battery started going south, the starter would turn what sounded fast enough to start the bike, but it wouldn't start.  A new battery solved the problem.  It might be worth taking your battery off and having it tested.

I did experience this on another vehicle. I will give that a shot.

Quote from: Mighty on July 12, 2011, 04:47:20 PM
That's what happened when my PC V took a dump.

No PC installed....  yet!!!

I am going to have the battery load tested. If that checks out ok, its off to the dealer for repair. I asked if Kawa would pick up the $80 for the transport. I was told no. If its a warranty repair I think I will challenge that.

Thanks for all the recommendations! You guys are great!!

Mark
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Offline gflint

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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #17 on: July 13, 2011, 09:28:54 AM »
If you have AAA they should cover the haul cost.  Your insurance may also.  If they say it was not a roadside haul, push it out to the street.
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Offline JamminJere

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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #18 on: July 13, 2011, 01:23:38 PM »
Are you getting any error at all on the display? It almost sounds like a cam sensor is bad... but you'd think you'd fire an error code for that.

JJ
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Offline lt1

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Re: Starter motor turns. No fire. Any suggestions?
« Reply #19 on: July 13, 2011, 03:19:07 PM »
Quote from: B.D.F. on July 12, 2011, 08:10:08 PM
A C-14 will not crank with the kill switch set to 'OFF'. Nor will any other Japanese bike I've seen but of course I have not seen them all.... Allowing the engine to crank with the kill switch set to off is sort of like playing 'stump the dummy' I think.  ;)

Brian

Either you haven't been riding as long as I thought or your memory is starting to fade.  I'm guessing the "no cranking with the kill switch off" took place about the same time as the sidestand ignition lock.  My early '80's Hondas have neither of those features.

As to PC problems, there have been more reported strandings caused by Power Commanders than by KiPass, but fortunately the PC failures do not seem to provoke the vitriol.
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