2000 1500FI Trouble starting

[law2339]

Hi Guys . Just joined.
I have starting trouble with my bike. Had to mechanic and checked battery, starter, voltage regulator and all electrical. The problem is sometimes it starts fine but other times it won't and after trying a few times the battery dies. As soon as I boost it will start instantly.
It almost seems like not enough power in battery to turn it over fast enough to start. I tried a new battery without success, took starter off and had checked. Even looking at buying a battery boasty pack to carry with me but pretty not cool when you stop for gass and everyone is looking at your bike and when you go to start nothing.
Any suggestions.

[ringadingh]

It sure sounds like a bad battery, but if you tried a new one I guess you can rule that out. Although you say it will start with a boost. Are you sure your new battery is good? And if you say the starter is good that leaves either a bad starter relay or bad battery cable connections.
Check the battery wires at BOTH ends, and the starter wire connection. Clean them and make sure they are all tight.
And welcome to the forum, you should go intruduce yourself on the new members board and say hi.

[law2339]

I have ruled out pretty much all electrical and load tested the battery. Almost seems like something is draining the battery at times but will have the starter relay checked out as well.
Very frustrating and thanks.
I will go to the new members and say Hi.

[ells]

drain or not charging properly.

[delivery58]

I'd be curious to know if... at the first moment that it does not start, can you take the seat off and check the voltage at the battery, you would then definately be able to rule out the battery. I've recently made the mistake of "assuming" that a new part was good.

[ringadingh]

If something is draining the battery you should be able measure a slight voltage drop with a meter. First take a reading with the battery not connected to anything. then connect it on the bike and see if it is drawing power with the key off.
Also if there is a problem you can usually see a spark when you attach the battery cable, if it does spark you are drawing power somewhere. Try pulling fuses one by one and see if it goes away. This will only work if the problem is on the fused side of the circuit. Check everything one by one. Is the bike charging when its running? it should read at least 14.1volts, if not it could be the rectifier or stator gone bad.

[law2339]

Thanks Guys.
checked the battery last night was at 10.80 not running.
Started bike and went to 13.92 and 14.02 on a rev and even ideling. started and stopped bike last night 10 times with no issue. Had bike in shop last summer and all wiring checked, pulled started and had it checked, load tested battery and everything is fine. I am leaning towards voltage regulator failing at times if this makes sence. There seems to be nothing draining battery when not started because I parked all winter in heated garage without unhooking battery and it started this spring.
Ran around 100 miles the other day stopped for gass and I know after 1st attempt that it will not start. Can only attempt 2 -3 times and roll over 5 times per try and completly dead. Ordered in voltage regulator ( cheapest out) Mechanic told me next time it happens call him and he will come with meter and check but to me its random. When I boost it fires instantly.
Dazed and confused in Newfoundland.

[ffron69]

I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong but 10.8 not running I thought was too low. On the load test anything below 10 is bad & you'll surely loose .8 in starting.

With the volt meter hoked up & starting it how low does it drop? I'll bet when it starts it's close to 10 and when it's not it's under...Again, please someone correct me of I am wrong here but seems to me that you got a bad battery.

[Yellow Jacket]

10.80 is not good. A fully charged good battery with no load should read at least 12.8. If you're getting 13.92 to 14.02 when running I doubt that the voltage regulator is bad. You might try disconnecting the battery and putting it on a charger overnight. Then take it off the charger and let it sit for at least four hours. Read the voltage. If it has dropped under 12 you have a bad battery.

[law2339]

Checked Bike again this evening.
It was showing 12.24 cold. Started a couple time and it happened again. It just turned a couple times and clicked out.
Battery was still showing 11.89 and after a couple tries it started but drawed down to 8.98 when turning over.
Started was taken off and checked so I am thinking soloniod?
Soon will be like Johnny Cash and have one built from scratch.
Still dazed and confused in Newfie.

[macmac]

Do this.....

Shut off the key, pull the ground cable, then looking very hard in dim light as dim as possible and still see touch the ground cable to the battery.

Spark or no spark?

No spark no draw.

I will bet that battery is junk. Nomads can not tollerate a marginal battery.

When the key is ON the ecu and assoted senders come ON as does the coils. Also it does a self test and runs the fuel pump a moment, and then guys add stuff like lights to this mix all taking AMPs, and thats before cranking..

If I were you I would get a volt meter, and hook it up to the battery, then crank the engine with the plug wires pulled off, for 10 seconds, if that battery will even run the starter for 10 seconds...

So far this spring I have read, and then begged guys to do these tests and they all tell ne the battery is just fine.....

After a week of suffering they buy a new battery....

Has the clock re-set? has the trip meter gone to 0000's?

[macmac]

AND what kind of mechanic? Does he even know this bike has 2 alternators 2 voltage regulators and 18 diodes?

[upside22]

A fully charged battery will read 12.6 to 12.8 volts. A fully discharged battery will read about 11.8v open circuit. If your battery is reading that low then you either have a bad battery or a bad charging circuit. Since your battery started out at 12. 2 volts it probably is not the charging circuit. This sure sounds like a battery with a high resistance cell. It will read fine with no load but a load will kill it quickly. Takes forever to recharge since you can't shove in enough current. If your battery sat discharged over the winter it may also be sulfated which prevents it from holding a charge.

[Yellow Jacket]

Originally Posted by law2339

Checked Bike again this evening.
It was showing 12.24 cold. Started a couple time and it happened again. It just turned a couple times and clicked out.
Battery was still showing 11.89 and after a couple tries it started but drawed down to 8.98 when turning over.

If your voltage is dropping as you say it sure sounds to me like that battery is bad. If it's a new battery then it was either never properly charged or it's bad.

There is no solenoid. There is a starter relay. The relay will not cause the voltage to drop like that. If the battery is not bad about the only other thing that could cause the voltage to drop like that is a shorted armature in the starter motor.

I think the battery is bad.

P.S. A brand new battery needs to be charged properly on a battery charger.

Hang in there and good luck!

[law2339]

Thanks Guys. I do have a new battery slow charging overnight and will install tomorrow evening. Will update tomorrow evening as to the outcome.
Glad I found this club and if you every make it to Newfoundland beer is on me.