Won't start in the cold

dumbmick · 10-01-2009, 08:02 AM

Hi,
My 00 1500 L1 turns over but won't catch when the air temp is lower than 50. It's still on the original battery, so I have a new one on order. The "choke" is engaging, but it's basically just a slight throttle linkage offset gizmo. I pulled the intake covers off and the throttle body throats and butterflies look clean. I'm hesitant to add Seafoam or other solvents because, well, they're solvents. I just got the Clymer Manual so I'll start going thru the steps outlined in there. Unfortunately, there's quite a number of components to the FI system and I have ZERO experience working on bikes. Ok, that's my sob story. ;^) Any ideas before I start getting all covered in oil and road dirt this weekend?
Thanks,
Tom

macmac · 10-01-2009, 10:24 AM

With injection, any engine needs full battery power as there is a hell of a lot turned on at crank the start motor time.

There is about 365 amp draw (load) on the battery, which is 18 Ah (Amp hour).

So in cooler weather you want thinner oil, and a damned good battery with clean connections.

If this battery is orginal it is time to test it.

To do this you need a volt meter.

First remove the seats so you can probe the battery, and read that voltage.

With the meter hooked up still, pull the spark plug wires off the plugs so the engine can't start.

Crank the starter for 10 seconds and take a volt reading.

Next with a battery charger rated at no more than 1.5 amps, charge the battery for 10 hours, or with a charger rated at no more than 10 amps, charge the battery 1 hour.

Once more crank the start motor for 10 seconds and take a reading. Wait 30 to 45 minutes and take a standing reading, to see if the battery recovered.

It just might be your battery life is used up and it will not hold a load (take a charge) or deliver full current at starting time.

A battery that can't hold a charge is dead, and it will not deliver current enough.

Fall is a time when a marginal battery will fail.

If you have other things that come on with the key you need to turn these off.

**ringadingh** · 10-01-2009, 12:29 PM

Ive noticed that on my bike if the battery is down a bit it will crank and crank, and maybe sputter a couple of times. When I put a boost on it the motor fires and roars to life almost instantly. A good charge in the battery is a must for it to start, especially in cooler weather, this is when your battery has less cranking power in it.

dumbmick · 10-01-2009, 01:30 PM

Ok, battery check it is. Maybe the new one will arrive by the weekend.
Thanks,
Tom

macmac · 10-01-2009, 01:48 PM

Well if you are expecting a new battery, and just want to be more able to get a cold engine started, a way to cheat i used to do with early bikes was use a heat lamp under the oil pan for about 1 hour.

These newer bikes tend to start better at 40 degrees, than older 60's - later 80's bikes ever did.

As a test place a set of jumpers on it from any 12 volt source, but not a running one... Just hook up the battery as normal to jump start, with out any engine running at all.

If the assist helps, it more or less prives your battery is very marginal, which means once the engine is runningm and so long as it stays warm, the bike will run all that day more or less.

dogdoc · 10-01-2009, 01:48 PM

new battery will make ya smile.

AlabamaNomadRider · 10-01-2009, 10:58 PM

Sounds like sound advice. A battery that goes back to 2000, and the battery could be older, that means it is going on 10 years of age. I would never trust a battery that is that old. I think once you have the new one installed it should fire right up.

dumbmick · 10-05-2009, 01:23 AM

To all, Thanks for the suggestions. New battery it was. Fires right up and I don't even need to use the choke. Forecast this week looks like 4 out of 5 days I can ride to work.

10-01-2009, 08:02 AM	#1
dumbmick Jr. Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 7	Won't start in the cold Hi, My 00 1500 L1 turns over but won't catch when the air temp is lower than 50. It's still on the original battery, so I have a new one on order. The "choke" is engaging, but it's basically just a slight throttle linkage offset gizmo. I pulled the intake covers off and the throttle body throats and butterflies look clean. I'm hesitant to add Seafoam or other solvents because, well, they're solvents. I just got the Clymer Manual so I'll start going thru the steps outlined in there. Unfortunately, there's quite a number of components to the FI system and I have ZERO experience working on bikes. Ok, that's my sob story. ;^) Any ideas before I start getting all covered in oil and road dirt this weekend? Thanks, Tom Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

10-01-2009, 10:24 AM	#2
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Won't start in the cold With injection, any engine needs full battery power as there is a hell of a lot turned on at crank the start motor time. There is about 365 amp draw (load) on the battery, which is 18 Ah (Amp hour). So in cooler weather you want thinner oil, and a damned good battery with clean connections. If this battery is orginal it is time to test it. To do this you need a volt meter. First remove the seats so you can probe the battery, and read that voltage. With the meter hooked up still, pull the spark plug wires off the plugs so the engine can't start. Crank the starter for 10 seconds and take a volt reading. Next with a battery charger rated at no more than 1.5 amps, charge the battery for 10 hours, or with a charger rated at no more than 10 amps, charge the battery 1 hour. Once more crank the start motor for 10 seconds and take a reading. Wait 30 to 45 minutes and take a standing reading, to see if the battery recovered. It just might be your battery life is used up and it will not hold a load (take a charge) or deliver full current at starting time. A battery that can't hold a charge is dead, and it will not deliver current enough. Fall is a time when a marginal battery will fail. If you have other things that come on with the key you need to turn these off. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

10-01-2009, 12:29 PM	#3
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Won't start in the cold Ive noticed that on my bike if the battery is down a bit it will crank and crank, and maybe sputter a couple of times. When I put a boost on it the motor fires and roars to life almost instantly. A good charge in the battery is a must for it to start, especially in cooler weather, this is when your battery has less cranking power in it. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

10-01-2009, 01:30 PM	#4
dumbmick Jr. Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 7	Won't start in the cold Ok, battery check it is. Maybe the new one will arrive by the weekend. Thanks, Tom
	0

10-01-2009, 01:48 PM	#5
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Won't start in the cold Well if you are expecting a new battery, and just want to be more able to get a cold engine started, a way to cheat i used to do with early bikes was use a heat lamp under the oil pan for about 1 hour. These newer bikes tend to start better at 40 degrees, than older 60's - later 80's bikes ever did. As a test place a set of jumpers on it from any 12 volt source, but not a running one... Just hook up the battery as normal to jump start, with out any engine running at all. If the assist helps, it more or less prives your battery is very marginal, which means once the engine is runningm and so long as it stays warm, the bike will run all that day more or less. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

10-01-2009, 01:48 PM	#6
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Won't start in the cold new battery will make ya smile.
	0

10-01-2009, 10:58 PM	#7
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Won't start in the cold Sounds like sound advice. A battery that goes back to 2000, and the battery could be older, that means it is going on 10 years of age. I would never trust a battery that is that old. I think once you have the new one installed it should fire right up. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
	0

10-05-2009, 01:23 AM	#8
dumbmick Jr. Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 7	Won't start in the cold To all, Thanks for the suggestions. New battery it was. Fires right up and I don't even need to use the choke. Forecast this week looks like 4 out of 5 days I can ride to work.
	0

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