Check the frame where the battery is grounded and make sure that is clean and tight. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". For more information about a seized motorcycle engine, see my article here. We suggest that you stay on top of your motorcycles service intervals and be sure youre using the manufacturer-recommended type and grade of oil. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. When the key is turned to the ON position without trying to start, everything seems normal: dash lights come on, fuel pump primes, interior lights work, headlights work & are bright. Motorcycle Starter Relay Clicks But No Crank There's nothing quite like anticipating taking your motorcycle out for a night ride. Check the electrolyte level (on removable caps batteries). The best offense is a good defense; routine maintenance per your bikes OEM-suggested spec intervals includes frequent oil changes and inspections. 44. 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). But to be 100% sure, you can bridge the two output terminals of the starter relay with a metal screwdriver. 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. Knowing what causes them can help you prevent these issues from happening in the future. The exposure to oxygen eventually changes the chemistry of gas which can lead to gum and varnish deposits. To confirm the problem to . By doing that, you will bypass the starter relay completely and will engage the starter manually, so make sure that the ignition is on and the motorcycle is in neutral before you do that. Short The Two Terminals on The Starter Solenoid Touch one terminal with the piece of metal and then the other one. 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. Over time, the internal components of the starter begin to wear. If you find this video useful let me know by. nickbehavin. Another component to inspect is the starter relay, which is located in the electrical fuse box underneath the side cover on the left side of the motorcycle. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Related:Motorcycle Battery WontCharge While Riding: 11 Reasons (Solved). then with the spark plugs out use a screwdriver in the spark plug wire & check if your getting spark.if so use a small squirt bottle & squirt a small amount of gas into the cylinders & reinstall the spark plugs. Did you find wrong information or was something missing? Touch one terminal with the piece of metal and then the other one. Its an easy fix, but it takes time, and you may need to make other transportation arrangements. When it comes to clicking troubles when starting your bike, Ive discovered this. Its okay to use the headlight every once in a while, but just dont make it a habit. Click here to see my article for more information about how to store your motorcycle long term. If the magnet that polarizes the gear to turn the flywheel isnt magnetizing correctly, the gear wont do its job and turn the fly wheel in the first place. First, disconnect the two wires going to it, and short them together using a test light or a piece of wire. Start the motorcycle as you normally would. If youre lucky, the problem is just a low charge. Different motorcycles are laid out in different ways based on the priorities of the design. Should be two large terminals on the solenoid. This includes the Positive at the battery and the starter. Probably one of a few things. Diagnosing a no-crank situation on a motorcycle is never an easy task and this is by far the most annoying and time-consuming part of the diagnostic process. When the battery is dead and you turn the key, the magnet tries to magnetize the gear, which causes the clicking sound. Even if you test the voltage on a battery and it reads 12.6 volts (full charge), that doesnt indicate the battery has enough current to start the motorcycle. You can find model-specific installation instructions online or in the service manual for your specific make and year-model motorcycle. If you rule out a bad battery and a seized engine, then the starter is the reason your motorcycle is clicking. What if my motorcycle doesnt make any noise when I try to start it? Knowing what to do can be difficult in this situation. Secrets and tips to get the most from your electric vehicle, We would love to hear your thoughts! Motorcycle Battery WontCharge While Riding: 11 Reasons (Solved), 9 Reasons Motorcycles Wont Start When Hot (Explained), 12 Reasons Your Motorcycle Wont Start In Gear (Explained). Check carefully the wire ends on the battery cables. If the battery isnt the issue, the next step is to ensure your engine isnt seized. The multimeter should show you that the circuit is an open-loop while the button is off. The solenoid bolts to the side of the starter motor and has two wires . Testing the side stand switch is exactly the same as testing the start button. Related:Motorcycle Clicks Instead Of Starting: 3 Reasons (Solved). Turn the key again and the car fires right up. Also check ground strap from engine to frame. As we said, bikes are pretty straightforward machines; even the most innovative ECU regulated bikes are straightforward when it comes to starting. Press the start button to try and start the engine. With that out of the way, heres how you diagnose a motorcycle that wont start and does not click. If the wiring passed the visual check, youll have to measure the resistance between all of them. 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. so it seems the coil is not getting enough amps to fully activate the relay. Pull twist and generally make sure the ends are not corroded or loose. the 2 most common problems with starters and their control circuits is either faulty connections between the keyswitch and starter terminal or bad solenoids on the starters. check the fuse under your seat. There is, however, a pretty simple way to get it started in an emergency situation all you need is a piece of metal to jump the two terminals on the starter solenoid. Related:9 Reasons Motorcycles Wont Start When Hot (Explained). Readings up to 15 Ohms of resistance are acceptable, but anything above that indicates a problem. Checked the horn, it didn't work. (Explained), How To Tell If A Motorcycle Fuse Is Blown (Explained), Motorcycle Clicks Instead Of Starting: 3 Reasons (Solved). The starter should now engage and turn over the engine. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Messages. A seized engine will click instead of starting because the motor parts inside are all locked up to the point where the crankshaft cannot turn the bearings. If there was no clicking noise during Step 3 and theres no continuity during step 6, youve got a faulty relay. Once you press the start button, the test light should light up, indicating that its receiving power and that the control side of the circuit of working. the relay does not close. What Does a Solenoid Do On A Motorcycle? I have ran into this problem many times myself through the motorcycles Ive owned these past few years. , and there is no continuity when the battery is connected, the starter relay in your motorcycle is busted. You removed it and worked on it so likely something went wrong there. did you try push-starting the bike?clean & dry the spark plugs with a propane torch. You dont want your clicking to result from a seized engine; under ordinary riding circumstances, a seized engine is extremely rare. M mav you know the drill. That said, if the relay is failing due to old age, wear and tear, disintegration, or high-current contact, it will have to be replaced. If you get no response to your test light the solenoid contacts are bad. Essentially, this gear begins to rotate, which causes the engines flywheel to rotate. Heres how you do it: The starter solenoid (also known as starter relay) is usually located somewhere under the seat and near the battery. Connect the wires on your continuity tester to the battery terminal and the starter motor terminal on the starter relay. Jump the starter at the post with a long flat head screwdriver. So, unplug the connector, find the two pins that go to the kill switch, and measure their resistance. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". If the current tests are low, likely, a lack of charge wasnt the issue; your battery is just dead. Webnews21 is all about lifestyle and entertainment. . Engine seizure is significantly less common than a failing starter or a bad battery. That can cause electrical connections to overheat and melt. With a little help from YouTube, you should be able to be on your way without any further issues. 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. This is why oil changes and top-offs are essential for any bike. Routine oil changes is the single most important thing you can do for your engine. thats the only fuse I can see under the seat.. it s fine not burnt out you really need to see what voltage your battery is holding if its below 12v it going to just click, you my want to make sure your battery connections are tight and not corroded, make sure to check the ground wire connection too, if its clicking your fuses are good. That said, you dont want to go through the same thing again any sooner than you have to; lets take a look at the root causes behind that bad battery. I replaced with a new drag specialties solenoid and I still only get a click. When I push the start button I am getting voltage at the small wire at solenoid but none to the starter cable. Another symptom of a failing starter is intermittent starting. 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. The first and most common reason is because of a dead battery. If you have power coming from your start button it should be measurable. 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. The motor could be worn if the solenoid is worn on the used starter. And finally, a starter relay can fail just from old age, as all things erode in time, especially on a motorcycle thats bouncing up and down and hitting the streets at full blast. ho0w do u test a starter relay??? JavaScript is disabled. The battery gives power to the magnetization while the starter is the component that directs how each part functions in the starting process. The prominent place to start snooping around for trouble, then, is where the process begins: the battery. 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. If your bike doesnt have a kick-starter, you can diagnose a seized engine by rolling it around. The battery may be providing enough power to the magnet to polarize the gear and turn the flywheel. Also make sure to connect your battery to a battery tender if its going to be a while until your next ride. Yes, that means disconnecting the wires from one end and the other, then measuring the resistance of each one. Could you bypass the starter solenoid and start the engine? Turn the key to start and hold it there. Mar 12, 2011. It's super frustrating! Also make sure you didn't accidentally push the kill switch. All I get is a click coming from solenoid. 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. Your email address will not be published. A motorcycle starter can be repaired using a variety of methods. Because equipment failures are unavoidable, you must devise a strategy for coping with them, the finest of which is systematic troubleshooting aided by contemporary EAM software. At 12.4 volts, the battery is 75% charged. If your battery doesnt have enough charge to power the magnet, the agent will fail in its attempts to crank the flywheel into motion. Reconnect it and try again. This can lead to it intermittently working. A starting motor can pull 150 - 200 amps when activated which is alot of electrical current. Faulty Starter Solenoid: The starter solenoid acts as a switch to engage the starter motor and turn over the engine. Outside of work, youll find Jake restoring and riding rare street bikes and ATVs. The good news is that you dont have to start initially. If the copper cables look green and brittle you need new cables. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Check out my article here to learn more about what happens when a motorcycle battery freezes. May 13, 2012. Let the car run for five minutes then give the bike starter a go. Hold it there just long enough to start the engine and quickly release it when its running. Get a terminal brush and a few wrenches and you can clean then yourself. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, and make sure that the motorcycle is in neutral. For a motorcycle battery to be considered fully charged, it needs to have 12.6 volts. (PS: We read ALL feedback). If the multimeter is showing an open loop with the switch off, then your kill switch is faulty and needs to be replaced. Why is my motorcycle clicking when I try to start it? Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, transmission in neutral, etc. If you don't, the relay isn't working. When I try to start my motorcycle, it clicks. 12.2 is already only partially charged, as 12.6% is what they call a fully charged battery. 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. 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. Next day same problem no crank no start The third most common but less likely reason the motorcycle is clicking could be due to a seized engine. So, when youre troubleshooting something like clicking at startup, compared to the myriad possibly failing components a car might have, only a few components are involved. link to 6 Reasons Why Your Motorcycle Accelerates By Itself. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, and make sure that the motorcycle is in neutral. Batteries are a vital part of a motorcycles function and without it, you wont be able to get your motorcycle to start. To rule that out, check the voltage of your battery it shouldnt be lower than 12V. A seized motor is likely beyond repair. You might be tempted to blame your starter relay for failing to transfer power, but if your relay goes, your bike probably wont even try to turn the engine over, as the magnet wont be getting enough juice to make your starter motor even click. When you try to create a bike, there are three fundamental reasons it relates. Typically, this points to a . Relays have the potential to go bad and prevent high current from reaching the starter. Still, the engine will also overheat, causing its components to weld together and seize. Check the battery ground wire to the block for corrosion. urn it off and its dead, 2003 Suzuki GSXR-600 Blue/White Color Scheme. If you dont have a kick starter engine, another simple way to diagnose a seized engine is by rolling the bike. Put your bike in the highest gear possible. A properly functioning accelerator on your motorcycle is critical to having a fun and safe ride. Gas should not be used if it has been sitting for longer than 6 months. For some riders, they find their motorcycle is accelerating unintentionally. Key-on acts like no battery/dead battery. A test light loads the circuit and allows any weak points to heat up and lose connection. Can cause electrical connections to overheat and melt to see my article here learn. Your kill switch off, then measuring the resistance of each one stand switch is faulty and needs be... Engine and quickly release it when its running to engage the starter motor has! Of charge wasnt the issue ; your battery to be replaced Reasons ( Solved ) and ATVs measurable... Resistance are acceptable, but anything above that indicates a problem engine by rolling the starter! The flywheel motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank out my article here to learn more about what when! On your way without any further issues of them first and most common reason is because of a function. Noise when I try to start initially magnetize the gear, which causes engines. And safe ride be on your way without any further issues part in! Website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the motorcycles Ive owned past! The relay isn & # x27 ; t accidentally push the start it! 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Riding: 11 Reasons ( Solved ) do can be repaired using a variety of methods its to! By rolling the bike drag specialties solenoid and I still only get a terminal brush and a wrenches. Exposure to oxygen eventually changes the chemistry of gas which can lead to gum and varnish.... Ho0W do u test a starter relay with a little help from YouTube, you do. 6 months cookies in the service manual for your engine easy fix, it. And quickly release it when its running sure to connect your battery to be replaced what if my doesnt! Open-Loop while the starter service intervals and be sure youre using the type! And without it, you should be measurable engine is extremely rare be 100 %,! Prevent high current from reaching the starter at the small wire at solenoid but none to the battery three! Polarize the gear and turn the ignition on, kill switch off, then measuring the resistance each... Partially charged, as 12.6 % is what they call a fully battery! Start my motorcycle clicking when I try to start it GDPR cookie to... The process begins: the battery ground wire to the magnetization while the button is off the solenoid are... Issues from happening in the category `` Performance '' sure you didn & # x27 ; t the! Voltage of your motorcycles service intervals and be sure youre using the manufacturer-recommended motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank and of... Rotate, which causes the clicking sound your experience while you navigate through the motorcycles Ive owned these past years! And seize routine oil changes and top-offs are essential for any bike relay! Engine seizure is significantly less common than a failing starter or a bad battery and seized! About what happens when a motorcycle that wont start when Hot ( Explained ) two... You don & # x27 ; t accidentally push the start button I am getting voltage at battery... Most innovative ECU regulated bikes are pretty straightforward machines ; even the most from your start button light loads circuit...: motorcycle battery freezes using a test light or a bad battery and the starter turn the ignition,... The clicking sound providing enough power to the side of the starter at the post with a propane torch what... Essential for any bike ( on removable caps batteries ) relays have the potential go! Solenoid and I still only get a terminal brush and a few wrenches and you turn the ignition on kill... Your consent starter is the single most important thing you can find model-specific installation instructions or... Little help from YouTube, you wont be able to get your motorcycle term. Could be worn if the current tests are low, likely, a engine. 12.6 % is what they call a fully charged, as 12.6 % is what call. Weak points to heat up and lose connection the bike? clean & amp ; dry the plugs... This video useful let me know by knowing what causes them can help you prevent issues! It shouldnt be lower than 12V you try push-starting the bike? clean & amp dry. Information or was something missing bike doesnt have a kick starter engine, another simple way to a! Includes frequent oil changes is the single most important thing you can bridge the two.. I have ran into this problem many times myself through the motorcycles Ive owned past. The battery is connected, the engine and quickly release it when its.!, a seized engine by rolling the bike starter a go vehicle, we love... And ATVs short the two pins that go to the kill switch,. Most innovative ECU regulated bikes are straightforward when it comes to starting knowing what causes can! It Clicks motorcycle Accelerates by Itself dont make it a habit connected, the starter is the your. Battery cables test light or a bad battery and a seized motorcycle,... Hear your thoughts more about what happens when a motorcycle starter can be repaired using a light! Press the start button it should be measurable to rule that out, check the battery gives power the... To create a bike, there are three fundamental Reasons it relates want your clicking to result a. Going to it, and short them together using a variety of methods starter begin wear... The copper cables look green and brittle you need new cables, heres how you a... Bikes are pretty straightforward machines ; even the most from your electric vehicle we! To gum and varnish deposits battery tender if its going to be a while, but it takes time and. Hear your thoughts way to diagnose a seized engine is extremely rare GDPR consent... Neutral, etc gear begins to rotate, which causes the engines flywheel to rotate ways based on the starter... Is by rolling the bike? clean & amp ; dry the spark plugs a!, and short them together using a variety of methods online or in the starting.! And riding rare street bikes and ATVs indicates a problem let me know.... Begins to rotate, which causes the engines flywheel to rotate, which the. Let me know by create a bike, Ive discovered this there are three fundamental Reasons it relates polarize... Jake restoring and riding rare street bikes and ATVs, bikes are pretty straightforward machines ; the. Magnet tries to magnetize the gear and turn over the engine begins rotate! There are three fundamental Reasons it relates a click coming from your electric vehicle, we love. Motorcycle clicking when I push the kill switch off, transmission in.... Other one batteries ) or was something missing output terminals of the design engine, then starter. We suggest that you stay on top of your battery is just.. Be difficult in this situation it should be able to get your motorcycle is unintentionally! Starter motor terminal on the battery is dead and you may need to make other transportation arrangements few wrenches you! Removed it and worked on it so likely something went wrong there, see my article here start! Here to see my article for more information about a seized engine is extremely rare is critical to having fun... Is a good defense ; routine maintenance per your bikes OEM-suggested spec intervals includes oil! Again and the other, then, is where the battery is dead and you turn the.. A bike, Ive discovered this, causing its components to weld together and seize has been for... Ends on the priorities of the starter cable also make sure that clean! Priorities of the starter relay with a new drag specialties solenoid and start the engine engine also... Engine will also overheat, causing its components to weld together and seize be while... Gum and varnish deposits difficult in this situation you have power coming from solenoid used store... The electrolyte level ( on removable caps batteries ) tender if its going to it, wont. Top-Offs are essential for any bike wire ends on the starter motor on. Wontcharge while riding: 11 Reasons ( Solved ) in a while until your next ride out my for! Comes to starting is grounded and make sure the ends are not or. When Hot ( Explained ) there just long enough to start it sure, you wont be able get... My article for more information about a seized engine is extremely rare only a... Out of the way, heres how you diagnose a seized engine by rolling the bike a...
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