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non-starting xxy,any pointers?

  • Thread starter bonzodog
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bonzodog

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My 2000 xxy injected model won't fire up, was running fine when parked about 6 weeks ago.Fueled up the day it was parked and over half a tank in it, on a freshly charged battery it spins over fine but makes no attempt to start.HISS light comes on and goes off as normal, FI light goes off and fuel pump appears to prime as normal, and after a few attempts to start I can smell fuel in the exhaust.No lights staying on.Any pointers as to what to check for faults?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
andyBeaker

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Does it have an after market alarm fitted.......?
 
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bonzodog

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No, bike is standard and as far as I know has had the loom fix done.My suspicion is no spark?
 
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bonzodog

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With the kill switch off the fuel pump doesn't prime and the FI light stays on.Kill switch on and fuel pump primes, all lights go off etc.I'm guessing at no spark but haven't stripped it down yet.
 
andyBeaker

andyBeaker

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'No spark' would be a rare if not unique event on a Bird.

Some will objectsh1tehppns - I would fire a shot of East Start down the air intake to see if it fires while spinning it over. If it starts you have spark but no fuel, if it doesn't you have no spark. If the latter you should be able to smell the fuel, assuming it has some.

You can also check for spark by removing very few parts - get a cheap voltage detector and check for voltage along the plug wires while turning it over. This might work but. You can get something specific for 12v in a car accessory shop.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-ms8907-voltage-detector-pen/3222g

My advice is don't start ripping it apart assuming it is something complex - it is probably something simple an d/or blindingly obvious. Have you checked the fuses? Take them out to check (with a meter not the eye!)as you can get false positives if left in the holder (I learned this the hard way8rfl@)

Anyone - can't remember if the FI has a diaphragm in the fuel system like the carb? If so, then these do split and cause fuelling issues. I don't think it does but will stand corrected.

Keep posting.
 
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bonzodog

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I'm hoping its something simple, I've had the bike a couple of years and I've not had any problems up til now.Fuses ok and when I turn it over I can smell fuel in the exhaust which makes me think no spark.Will get a more mechanically minded friend on it.
As an aside can the fuel pump fail and still prime on the key?
 
Centaur

Centaur

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Stick to what is likely, Bonzo.

You can hear the fuel pump prime and smell unburnt fuel in the exhausts so forget fuelling problems and concentrate on why it is not firing. As the saying goes if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it probably is a duck. :-0)

Have you got a spare plug of any type you can use to confirm "no spark"? Can't remember the layout of a Bbird but it should be possible to get a pluglead off without dismantling everything.
 
andyBeaker

andyBeaker

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Centaur said:
You can hear the fuel pump prime and smell unburnt fuel in the exhausts so forget fuelling problems and concentrate on why it is not firing. As the saying goes if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it probably is a duck. :-0)

Have you got a spare plug of any type you can use to confirm "no spark"? Can't remember the layout of a Bbird but it should be possible to get a pluglead off without dismantling everything.
Click to expand...

It's tank slid back, coils and air box off to get to the plugs. Not as much work as it sounds. Hopefully be able to pop a tester in the side somewh to check for a pulse in a plug lead?

If some dis mantling is needed there is no need to disconnect the tank - unit. Can be slid back and the tipped backward to give plenty access; if you are in a garage put a bit of rope round the front and tie it to a beam. And cover the battery terminals before sliding it backsh1tehppns.

Personally I find it hard to point the blame at duff plugs - if one went the bike was probably run, or at least try to, albeit badly. Can't imagine all four going at once ............. unless the cylinders had got flooded?
 
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bonzodog

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It was running perfectly when parked up, that was around 6 weeks ago. Plugs have about 2k miles on them and are ngk iridium so shouldn't be the problem hopefully.It lives in the garage and needs to move to my new garage about 6 miles away which is an issue as it won't start.Fortunately my mechanically minded friend is also being roped in to remove and refit the ground anchor and door security and has a large van so think the bike will end up in the van rather than following it.Will report on what we find wrong, hoping not to replace half the electrics before curing the fault!
 
DEG5Y

DEG5Y

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If you can turn the bike over then all the things designed in for safety are working as they should.

If it was one plug or one coil then surely you would expect it to pop and fart.

If it was a carby I would say the alarm was interrupting the feed to the coils.

But I have never had to do anything with HISS.
 
andyBeaker

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I can only think that the plugs are soaked if there is a signal going down the HT leads. :dunno:

If it is that them with a bit of luck it will sort itself out if left alone.

As above though a bit of spluttering would be expected:dunno:

Keep posting........
 
andyBeaker

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Er, sorry to ask........ It has got fuel in it hasn't it?

All; Are the injectors on a separate fuse?
 
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bonzodog

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over half a tank of fuel,filled up last time I used it in may.Could a poorly/elderly battery cause the same problems? Battery charged up @12.6v but is old and needs charging regularly(bike not used much).My car (1996 BMW) was having starting issues very similar,ie turning over fine but making no effort to start,replacing the 12 year old battery sorted the car out.I've checked all basics,fuel/fuses/tried both keys/charged battery etc.Bike was cheap when I bought it so don't really want to spend loads fixing it if possible.
 
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carler

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Well you seem to have lots of fuel and Andy is correct in saying that all four plugs won't have failed. However the 12v supply to the coils might so start there use a voltmeter or better still a test lamp! I don't suppose you have a little mouse family in your garage??
 
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bonzodog

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Think it will be moving house in my friends van then getting looked at in my new garage.Will report what faults I find.
 
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bonzodog

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I'm taking it to a local bike shop to test (battery that is),as I haven't replaced it and have owned the bike since xmas 2012 if they say its shagged I'll get a new one anyway.From experience bike batteries don't seem to last too many years anyway.My BMW one did 12 years and my old Peugeot 406 HDI still has its original 2001 battery after 185k miles.Bike turns over fine which makes me uncertain about the battery being the fault.
 
noobie

noobie

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You'd be surprised how many batteries have been shagged by being used with an optimate regularly
 
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