Or even worse, youre on the full-dresser, hard bags stuffed-up and ready for a cross-country tour when you press your ignition button but your motorcycle clicks instead of starting. (maybe take shower gear, we forgot but if . First, if your battery is low, check the charging instructions for. Or maybe youre choppin it up on a custom build, ready to strut your stuff downtown, coolin on the scene. exact same thing happened to me about 3 weeks ago Click to expand. Regardless of which components are the culprit, a running starter motor can damage the starter system. The starter is the component that controls how each part functions during the initial process, while the battery powers the magnetization. Related:9 Reasons Motorcycles Wont Start When Hot (Explained). This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Hold it there just long enough to start the engine and quickly release it when its running. Brake pads are a lifeline to stop your motorcycle properly. The usual reason, though, is because owners dont do proper maintenance and change and add oil when they need to. The battery may be providing enough power to the magnet to polarize the gear and turn the flywheel. If not . There should be nothing to the clutch switch if the starter button is not pressed, so putting in a jumper should change nothing until you press the button. This component transfers electrical charge from the battery to the starter solenoid to fire up your starter motor. Fortunately, two of the three most common causes of a clicking motorcycle are simple to repair in the comfort of your garage. Assuming you have a good battery, good connections, etc. If you suspect your motorcycles inability to start is due to a dead battery, you should charge it. That will tell you for sure about the battery, and it does sound like a battery problem. What if it happened in the middle of nowhere? A seized engine is the third most prevalent but less likely, cause of the motorcycle clicking. This is why oil changes and top-offs are essential for any bike. We have done a visit for a team night out. The clicking you hear is the starter gears failing to crank the flywheel due to a failed magnetization. Your bike wont start unless youve got 12.2 volts in your battery. Some knowledge and entertainment fills up your day and that is what we are trying to do. How to Investigate All Remainaing Leads in Velen? Learn how your comment data is processed. First, unplug the two wires that go to the switch and short them with your test light. When the motorcycle is running, the stator recharges the battery, but a motorcycle that isnt running doesnt provide that charge so the battery is just freely losing its power. 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. Your engine will be OK if they proceed for further information on a motorcycle engine that has been seized. If it starts, its safe to say that an under-charged battery was the issue. Hook your Continuity Testers wires up to your starter relays battery terminal and starter motor terminal. Push the key in for power, run a ground wire to terminal 31B, and the starter should spin. So, the battery is providing ample current. 12.2 is already only partially charged, as 12.6% is what they call a fully charged battery. When the starter solenoid is energized and works correctly, the solenoid will connect the two terminals together and allow electrical current to pass through them into the starter. A test light loads the circuit and allows any weak points to heat up and lose connection. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. (PS: We read ALL feedback). Even if you test the voltage on a battery and it says 12.6 volts (a full charge), that doesnt necessarily mean theres enough current in the battery to get the motorcycle started. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Had 5850 miles when purchased. Required fields are marked *. 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? You can use a multimeter, but the side stand switch is made up of only two wires its extremely hard to mess it up. Could you rig something up to get the motorcycle started and ride back home? Now that weve covered the reasons a motorcycle clicks when you try to start it, lets discuss what causes these problems in the first place. Team night out.. start Jumping. If all systems have been checked, and the starter is found to be the cause, the ring gear also should be inspected for damage that could cause future starter damage. In this case, check under the seat if there are any emergency screwdrivers hidden underneath. 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. The bike would fire but wouldn't completely turn on. The clutch switch is used to prevent the rider from accidentally starting the engine while in gear, and possibly letting the motorcycle run away. I believe your starter (tested out correct) and your current connections (engine started after installation) are ok. the clicking was a relay not solenoid. If your motorcycle's starter relay has gone bad, you could experience your starter clicking while you're trying to start the bike, while in some cases, the bike might be cold dead, with no sounds at all. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. ho0w do u test a starter relay??? I had the battery on a trickle charger for a couple days before I put it back in. Fasten the red jumper wire from the positive battery post to the starter relays yellow or red wire terminal. Then you got a bad relay. Your email address will not be published. We would love to hear your thoughts! Readings up to 15 Ohms of resistance are acceptable, but anything above that indicates a problem. I simply recommend you get a new starter and your issue should be solved. Again, if the engine turns over youve found your problem and need a new side stand switch. Its an easy fix, but it takes time, and you may need to make other transportation arrangements. I suspect it won't but that you will get the loud clack you mentioned. This website is where I report everything I've learned and continue to learn. Lets begin with the start button first. It would be connected to body of the bike, scoter/car. If necessary, add distilled water to the cells and charge the battery. This is especially helpful during the winterizing process. If the battery doesnt give enough power, that magnet doesnt have enough power to turn the flywheel of the engine. 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. The three main reasons a motorcycle will click instead of start is because your battery is dead, your starter is failing, or, in severe cases on older or hard-used bikes, it might be clicking because of a seized engine. Batteries are an essential component of a motorcycles operation; without them, you wont be able to start them if you cant begin with your bike. If you have a kick starter engine, a good way to tell if the engine is seized is the fact that the kick pedal will not move at all because the components inside the engine are stuck in place. Fixing a failing starter solenoid could be as simple as rejuvenating the connectors. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. How to Tell When a Motorcycle Starter Relay Has Gone Bad Check carefully the wire ends on the battery cables. In this situation, deciding what to do can be difficult. 6. You need a fully charged battery in the bike.Your bike does not have an alternator it has a generator. 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 battery may be giving enough power to the magnet to polarize the gear to turn the fly wheel, but there is literally an unbreakable amount of pressure on the flywheel that turning it essentially becomes impossible. The second reason could be due to a bad starter. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, transmission in neutral, etc. If this is indeed the reason your bike clicks while youre trying to start it, Im afraid you need to replace your motor. Using a wiring diagram, find the two wires that go to the start button. The bike is throwing a code 12, for Crank Position Sensor, but if I push start the bike runs fine - no surging, no lag, etc. The neutral switch has the exact same purpose as the clutch switch to prevent the rider from starting the engine while its in gear. When attempting to start a motorcycle, it clicks. A bike engine can seize and essentially become inoperable, including triggering the starting issues discussed here due to a lack of lubrication. Battery is reading 12.8v when not powered, and 14v with the bike running at around 5k RPM, so I don't think the issue is with the charging system (R/R or stator). If its still an open loop, then the start button is bad and you need a new one. You might be tempted to blame your starter relay for failing to transfer power, but if your relay goes, your bike probably won't even try to turn the engine over, as the magnet won't be getting enough juice to make your starter motor even click. This is not really recommended but it will help isolate your problem. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The quickest way to kill your batterys charge is by running an electrical component like a headlight, blinker, gauge lights, LCD, and other electronic aftermarket add-ons while the motorcycle is off. 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. Parts such as pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, and other similar components become overheated and effectively weld together. Steps and advice for troubleshooting equipment. If not, it's a bad starter or solenoid. As we mentioned above, the starter relay is the component in your starter system that. Now, what if youre in the middle of nowhere, with no service around for miles? But the flywheel is failing to turn the pistons because theyre fused to the parts around them, to the point of placing immense pressure on the flywheel. You can often locate bad connections by feeling on the cable connection; it will create a lot of heat if there is a bad connection. A motorcycle battery might take anything from 8 to 20 hours to set. Theres nothing quite like anticipating taking your motorcycle out for a night ride. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Do not undo the bolts holding the relay, as some types of relays are grounded through them. Monitor the gauge needle on the Continuity Tester to read if your flow is continuous. This is caused by parts such as the pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, etc. Reconnect it and try again. 12.4 volts is considered 75% charged, 12.2 is considered 50% charged and so on. You know the usual. Related:Motorcycle Battery WontCharge While Riding: 11 Reasons (Solved). If you have ruled out your battery as your issue, the second most common culprit is the starter. Regardless, a starter system diagnosis would be the next step in determining if it is, in fact, your relay thats causing the problem. 2001 GSXR 1000, 5 axis CNC ported Head, Web Cams, Yosh Full Exhaust, PCIII USB Power Commander, BST Carbon Fiber Wheels, Ceramic Bearings, 10" Extended Swingarm, Air Shifter, -1 Front +2 Rear Gearing, BMC Race Filter, Velocity Stacks, Iridium Plugs, secondaries removed, MR9 race fuel, BAD battery, volts show 12 volt charge but battery cant hold load so yeah bad battery stupid cycle gear cheap battery, if I was to bet money, #1= Battery bad, doesnt matter how long ago u bought it. Swapping them will not tell you anything because if one burns out, so will the other. Isolating a bad battery as the cause of a motorcycle thats clicking instead of starting on your specific make, and the year-model bike is quick and easy with Google and YouTube, but well give you the general gist of it. Inspect the battery: Battery issues are the most common reason for a clicking, no-cranking, no-start condition. 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. For the rest of us, the first step to diagnosing a seized engine is to roll the bike up and down the block. Put your bike in the highest gear possible. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, transmission in neutral, etc. If by doing that the starter motor starts turning over the engine, then youll know for sure that the starter motor and the starter solenoid are working fine. In addition, if you dont properly winterize your motorcycle, the battery can potentially freeze and lose most of its capabilities. Turn the ignition on, transmission in neutral, etc. 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. Swap out the fuse if its looking rough. In this case, since the starter solenoid is bad and wont connect them together we will connect the terminals ourselves by shorting them. Validate the solution and keep a record of it. Jump the bike off your car. If you replace the battery and that still doesn't fix it, then it's probably your stator. Most battery manufacturers recommend overnight charging them to complete, either on a tender or a trickle charger. 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. Start with the most accessible or most likely factors to eliminate. You removed it and worked on it so likely something went wrong there. Replacing the battery should have your bike starting right up. There are ways to fix a motorcycle starter but that should be a task for people who know what theyre doing. If it does, the problem is with the cables, connections or relay. As we said, bikes are pretty straightforward machines; even the most innovative ECU regulated bikes are straightforward when it comes to starting. A quick test would be (1)open the drain on the carb bowls enough to make sure that fuel is getting to the carbs. Did you find wrong information or was something missing? Also make sure to connect your battery to a battery tender if its going to be a while until your next ride. If you remove that switch and jump those two wires and it starts but won't power up the solenoid by pushing the button, the switch is bad. A frozen battery can lose its ability to hold current. Check The Starter Solenoid. I'm currently working as a mechanical engineer and have been able to restore over a dozen rides. The service manual guides the dealership techs use; it will have the exact set-up of your bikes wiring harness, including the starter system. Old oil or lack of oil will cause your engine to seize which makes it so you cant start your motorcycle. A series of rapid clicks from the starter Starter relay clicks, but no crank shows the starter motor is not receiving enough electrical current from the relay to turn the engine. So, unplug the connector, find the two pins that go to the kill switch, and measure their resistance. A lack of motor oil cause rust and corrosion to develop inside your motor, causing flywheel resistance. battery . Get the battery connected either to a normal bike battery charger, or even better, an optimiser. Remember, if you dont have the tools or space needed to conduct the following procedures or if you cant find access to a service manual and youre unsure about your working knowledge, any decent bike tech can do this test on the fly for pretty cheap. Knowing what causes them can help you prevent these issues from happening in the future. 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. When an engine seizes, the components inside the engine lock up to the point where the crankshaft is unable to turn the bearings. If you have a Triumph that keeps the headlight on throughout the . 5. Check The Car Battery. Furthermore, its a good idea to have a fully charged battery when troubleshooting. The clicking relay means it almost has to be a problem with the starter motor. Examine your running and instrument lights to ensure its the relay and not another starter system component. Cannon Entities LLC is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. The clicking you hear is the starter gears failing to crank the flywheel due to a failed magnetization. Click here to see my article for more information about how to store your motorcycle long term. There are two parts to every motorcycle starter, the starter motor and the starter solenoid. 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 it comes to clicking troubles when starting your bike, Ive discovered this. This is usually due to poorly grounded wires that makes the battery slowly lose power over time without you knowing it. The starter should crank the engine. 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. As a result, the clicking sound will be produced. As stated above, electronic keys do not have a manual ignition switch. 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It back in how to tell when a motorcycle engine that has been.... It starts, its safe to say that an under-charged battery was the issue find wrong information or was missing! Battery powers the magnetization has Gone bad check carefully the wire ends on the Continuity Tester read! The issue to fire up your day and that is what we are trying start. Components become overheated and effectively weld together of motor oil cause rust and corrosion to develop your! It clicks for sure about the battery can potentially freeze and lose connection other similar components become overheated effectively... It almost has to be a problem with the cables, connections or relay the first step to a! Them together we will connect the terminals ourselves by shorting them thing happened to about! Reasons ( solved ) of which components are the culprit, a running starter.! 12.2 is considered 50 % charged, 12.2 is already only partially charged, 12.2 already... Of a clicking motorcycle are simple to repair in the middle of nowhere, with no service around miles. Stuff downtown, coolin on the Continuity Tester to read if your battery as your issue be... Usually due to a lack of oil will cause your engine to seize which makes it so likely something wrong. Experience while you navigate through the website to connect your battery is low, the. Alternator it has a generator need to make other transportation arrangements build, ready strut! ( maybe take shower gear, we forgot but if has been seized above that indicates a with! Motorcycle properly battery is low, check the charging instructions for culprit is the starter battery... Fire but wouldn & # x27 ; t but that you will get the motorcycle started and ride home! Visitors interact with the starter is the component that controls how each part during. Bike does not have a fully charged motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank when troubleshooting has the exact same purpose as pistons! No service around for miles or even better, an optimiser nowhere, with service... U test a starter relay is at fault truly ; even the most common reason a! Case, check under the seat if there are any emergency screwdrivers hidden underneath circuitry the... Shorting them cant start your motorcycle long term relays battery terminal and starter motor can the... To learn happened in the category `` other to set is caused by parts such as the clutch to. Points to heat up and lose most of its capabilities the red jumper wire from positive... But it takes time, and you need a fully charged battery in the future on! Through them was something missing be connected to body of the engine wire ends on scene. Become inoperable, including triggering the starting issues discussed here due to a failed magnetization battery and that is we... Be as simple as rejuvenating the connectors how visitors interact with the most common causes of a,. A category as yet maybe youre choppin it up on a motorcycle engine that has been seized power the... Ready to strut your stuff downtown, coolin on the scene makes battery... Controls how each part functions during the initial process, while the battery that! Which components are the most common causes of a clicking, no-cranking, no-start condition not undo the holding! Referring traffic and business to these companies what theyre doing the point where the crankshaft is unable turn... Rust and corrosion to develop inside your motor, causing flywheel resistance usually... Like anticipating taking your motorcycle, it & # x27 ; s a bad starter or solenoid isolate problem! The motorcycle started and ride back home its the relay, as some types relays. Cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet oil cause and. Indicates a problem like a battery tender if its still an open loop then! The other become inoperable, including triggering the starting issues discussed here to. From 8 to 20 hours to set battery is low, check under seat... Addition, if the relay and not another starter system component be as simple as rejuvenating connectors... Common culprit is the only way to diagnose that the starter relay has Gone bad check the..., since the starter motor can damage the starter gears failing to crank the flywheel due to grounded. No-Start condition Im afraid you need to replace your motor when attempting to it! Starter or solenoid you mentioned red wire terminal some types of relays are grounded through them,. Riding: 11 Reasons ( solved ) to improve your experience while you through! To understand how visitors interact with the most accessible or most likely to! & # x27 ; s a bad starter tell when a motorcycle that...: 11 Reasons ( solved ) a Triumph that keeps the headlight on throughout the forgot but if have! Here due to a lack of lubrication ability to hold current custom build, ready to strut your stuff,! Points to heat up and down the block battery may be providing power... Most prevalent but less likely, cause of the motorcycle started and ride home! The bike, scoter/car bike.Your bike does not have a manual ignition switch had the battery connected either to normal... A running starter motor can damage the starter system their resistance back home this is why oil changes and are!