But once you get home, diagnosing a no-start can get quite complicated and time-consuming. This results in a loss of contact inside of it which prevents it from working as it should. the starter relay and examine your starter relays 30 amp fuse for any indication of corrosion. So, unplug the connector, find the two pins that go to the kill switch, and measure their resistance. Hearing clicking without the starter motor moving means the solenoid is transferring the electricity, but it may not be enough. If I apply battery power (pos and neg) directly to the coil it does engage the starter. Make sure solenoid is screwed on tight at the 2 screws, possibly no ground there if the solenoid is loose. Changing your motorcycle oil is the most critical upkeep component. This is different from a "won't start" issue. A motorcycle battery must have 12.6 volts to be considered wholly charged. You can tell if your starter relay is bad if your motorcycle has problems starting, whether no crank at all, a clicking, or it starts, but the starter motor keeps running. (PS: We read ALL feedback). If its any lower than that, you likely wont be able to get it started at all, thus you hear the clicking sound. They both tested good. Secrets and tips to get the most from your electric vehicle, We would love to hear your thoughts! Discuss the GSX-R600, GSX-R750, GSX-R1000, and GSX-R1100, and more! Yes, that means disconnecting the wires from one end and the other, then measuring the resistance of each one. Do not undo the bolts holding the relay, as some types of relays are grounded through them. Kyle currently works as a mechanical engineer and graduated with a minor in automotive engineering. Thatll make it go out sooner than normal. Tested the relay the starter and the battery and they all - Answered by a verified Motorcycle Mechanic We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. The motorcycle is charged by a system that converts energy power into electrical charge while you ride; if the bike sits with the lights on while the engine is off, youre killing your battery. The clicking you hear is the starter gears failing to crank the flywheel due to a failed magnetization. Heres how you do it: The starter solenoid (also known as starter relay) is usually located somewhere under the seat and near the battery. When the starter solenoid decides to call it quits, the starter motor won't work, either. It does not store any personal data. Start the motorcycle as you normally would. Motorcycles and automotive repair have been a big part of his family for generations, therefore its only natural that he decided to become a heavy-duty diesel tech. Its even worse when you have somewhere to be and youre motorcycle is refusing to cooperate. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Mar 6, 2012. So, the battery is providing ample current. To help prevent motorcyclists from riding off with the side stand down (which is extremely dangerous), motorcycle manufacturers started using side stand switches. A starting motor can pull 150 - 200 amps when activated which is alot of electrical current. Previous Post Next Post Press the start button to try and start the engine. But before you even do this make sure the battery is fully charged, that can also be a major factor in a starter failing. If the current is too low, you may need to simply get a new battery by that point (which is convenient because youre already at a parts store). If a relay is rusted past the threshold of no return, or if its old and worn, itll start falling apart; grinding it up more with steel wool wont solve the problem. The first and most common reason is because of a dead battery. Youll need at least 12.2 volts or a 50 percent charge to start the motorcycle. Simply put, a starter system uses three main components: As we discussed earlier, if the battery is dead, the clicking you hear instead of starting is the solenoid trying to magnetize the motor to life. Typically, this points to a . battery is showing 12.54 VDC. Taking it to an auto parts store will enable you to see the current the battery holds. the relay does not close. Youll need to put the motorcycle in the highest gear (usually 4th or 5th gear) and roll it forward. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. At the end of the day, the starter relay is a pretty simple part of the ignition or starter system process; simple components dont fail often. Monitor the gauge needle on the Continuity Tester to read if your flow is continuous. exact same thing happened to me about 3 weeks ago Click to expand. Cannon Entities LLC is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. If your motorcycles starter relay clicks but fails to pass the current to the starter motor: The cause of a clicking relay coil is corrosion on the relay itself, either from wear, harsh weather exposure, or old age. Youll have to improvise with this one. To test the start button, unplug the two start button connectors or the handle switch connector. Cannon Entities LLC also participates in affiliate programs with Rakuten, AvantLink, and other sites. If you have ruled out your battery as your issue, the second most common culprit is the starter. Testing the relays circuitry lets you know point-blank whether the starter relay is the faulty component. Within this video series includes tackling electrical issues you may run into as well as other hard-to-tackle components such as body work and carb rebuilds. A starter relay is an electrical switch that is used to control the starting process of a motorcycle. Essentially, this gear begins to rotate, which causes the engines flywheel to rotate. No-crank-no-start condition - means the engine barely turns over or doesn't turn over at all. For the rest of us, the first step to diagnosing a seized engine is to roll the bike up and down the block. If youre overwhelmed with the electrical components on your motorcycle, I have created an entire videos series about restoring a motorcycle that may be helpful for you. Related:How To Tell If A Motorcycle Fuse Is Blown (Explained). You go out to your bike, insert the key, and start it only to hear those irritating and dreaded clicking noises instead of the engine rumbling. Make sure that no wires are damaged and that there is no crusty green-ish dust on them (corrosion). Were here to get to the bottom of the 3 most common reasons your motorcycle clicks instead of starting; lets put her in gear and get back on the road! There are three main reasons why a motorcycle clicks when you try to start it. Connect the red jumper cable from your car to the starter motor nut where the battery wire is, connect the black cable from your car to anything metal on the bike. WulfMoto.com is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, and as an Amazon Associate, WulfMoto.com earns from qualifying purchases. Keepin' all the left over parts. If the battery isnt the issue, the next step is to ensure your engine isnt seized. Apr 27, 2010. If your motorcycles starter relay has gone bad, you could experience your starter clicking while youre trying to start the bike, while in some cases, the bike might be cold dead, with no sounds at all. Hook up your voltmeter with the bike off (we assume youre testing a bike that wont start, but safety first); the battery should read at least 12.5 volts. Hold it there just long enough to start the engine and quickly release it when its running. I try to restart clicks come from the starter relay then the fuel pump relay clicks and the dash dims with no numbers or anything.. WTF I m going to try to run line directly to starter to seee if its not the starter will the fuel pump relay cause bike not to crank? I recommend checking the battery and motor before inspecting the starter because these two are more accessible to test than a starter. If the battery isnt the problem, the next thing youll want to do is make sure your engine isnt seized. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Or maybe youre choppin it up on a custom build, ready to strut your stuff downtown, coolin on the scene. The relay is only functional when it sends adequate electric current to the starter. Battery terminals, undo them, clean them, snug em up. A seized motor is likely beyond repair. Put your bike in the highest gear possible. some people keep the idle low, turn the screw in a half to 3/4th turn. Put your motorcycle battery back on. An issue like this is certainly not on anyones agenda to take care of and it often doesnt manifest itself until the least convenient times. You know the usual. A possible seized engine is the third most common but far less likely than the previous two. And that means the engine won't crank or start when you turn the ignition key. The number one sign a starter relay is done for is that nothing happens when youre trying to start your motorcycleno click, no crank, no ticking; nada. The usual reason, though, is because owners dont do proper maintenance and change and add oil when they need to. Youll need to shift into the highest gear (typically 4th or 5th) and roll the motorcycle forward. When the relay makes the clicking noise, I am not seeing any substantial voltage at the starter. If you plan on letting your bike sit unused, hook your battery up to a battery tender to keep it charged, and so the next time you get in the saddle, you dont have to worry about your motorcycle clicking instead of starting. Sometimes cleaning the corrosion can boost the starters life for years, delaying the replacement. I can't speak from experience, but I've heard that you should not under any circumstances jump a bike from a car batteryway to many cranking amps and can kill your starter. Motorcycle has Intermittent Starting Problems. Its a black, round-shaped component thats hard to miss, especially if youve seen a few of them on different motorcycles. Heres a good video showing you how to test the neutral switch on a basic one wire design: Youll most likely have to remove the switch and test it for continuity at the neutral position with a multimeter. He loves restoring motorcycles, has a vast knowledge of how they work, and has sold his restoration projects to customers from all over the United States. Unstabilized gas in a motorcycle can start going bad in about 30 days. If youre on an old school bike, youll know pretty quick if a seized engine is your problem because your kick pedal wont be able to move due to the pressure resistance of the fused motor parts. Either your starter cable is loose and/or has corroded terminals, you have a bad ground, have a bad starter solenoid, or you have a bad starter. Batteries are a vital part of a motorcycles function and without it, you wont be able to get your motorcycle to start. The starter should now engage and turn over the engine. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. First, unplug the two wires that go to the switch and short them with your test light. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. If you have power coming from your start button it should be measurable. Well get into the basic test down below; youll need to be comfortable enough with a bike to know the names of essential components in the starter system, starting with the battery, as this is a general guide. Because the flywheel cannot turn, a seized engine makes a clicking noise. Now it gets easy there is an earth problem. How To Downshift On a Motorcycle Swiftly? A properly functioning accelerator on your motorcycle is critical to having a fun and safe ride. The starter is what assists the magnet in the polarizing process. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". You should hear a clicking sound; the clicking noise is the starter relays internal contact. Those clicking noises can rapidly spoil someone's day. You can use a multimeter, but the side stand switch is made up of only two wires its extremely hard to mess it up. A battery can lose its charge when an electrical component is left on when the motorcycle is not running such as a headlight or a blinker. Make a quick inspection of the battery first: Check the case for damage. Here are some ways you can prevent that from happening. Tested battery had 12.6 volts. If the starter turns, then its some wiring issue or your ignition barrel is the problem. With that out of the way, lets check if the starter relay is receiving power. Outside of work, youll find Jake restoring and riding rare street bikes and ATVs. Those clicking noises can ruin someones day pretty quickly. 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