EXPERT TIP Jason Shackelford Auto Technician Fasten the red jumper wire from the positive battery post to the starter relays yellow or red wire terminal. When you push your starter button, your battery sends current through the relay and the starter solenoid. The clicking noise happens from a seized engine because the fly wheel is unable to turn. 12.2 is already only partially charged, as 12.6% is what they call a fully charged battery. 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. What if it happened in the middle of nowhere? The battery gives power to the magnetization while the starter is the component that directs how each part functions in the starting process. When the starter solenoid decides to call it quits, the starter motor won't work, either. How Do You Isolate a Bad Starter Relay on a Motorcycle? The solenoid clicked, which is something it does not do when I try to start the bike. This is also a sign of low or dead battery. Not even a click from the starter relay. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Also make sure to connect your battery to a battery tender if its going to be a while until your next ride. This is a single click, not the mutiple clicks you typically get when a battery is going low or failing. REVIEW: R1. If the magnet that polarizes the gear to turn the flywheel isnt magnetizing appropriately, the equipment wont turn the flywheel at all. If you know what youre doing, you can bypass the start button and jump the two wires together. urn it off and its dead, 2003 Suzuki GSXR-600 Blue/White Color Scheme. Make a quick inspection of the battery first: Check the case for damage. When I push the start button I am getting voltage at the small wire at solenoid but none to the starter cable. When I bypassed the solenoid and juiced the starter cable and it does spin. Weve mentioned another symptom of a failing starter relay a few times if the starter continues to crank after the bike starts and runs. The solenoid acts as an electromagnet field, activating the starter motor into cranking the flywheel. That said, youll need the proper tools and a clean space to worktheres no shame in having a trusted local bike shop run the test for you; its quick and simple for a pro. No start no crank it just clicks. If you get no response to your test light the solenoid contacts are bad. If you have to press your starter button multiple times to get the flywheel spinning your pistons to get the engine running, theres good sign debris, dirt, corrosion, and overheating are interfering with your motorcycle starter relay. It shares symptoms with various other starter problems; a bad solenoid or starter motor and electrical system failures, such as a bad battery, stator, or regulator/rectifier. Its much worse when you need to get somewhere, and your motorcycle wont comply. Also make sure you didn't accidentally push the kill switch. It seems like extra work, replacing your solenoid, reinstalling the old starter only to tear it all back apart when the rest wears out soon after. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Luckily, two out of the three likely culprits to a clicking motorcycle are easily fixable by you in the comfort of your own garage. 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. Some knowledge and entertainment fills up your day and that is what we are trying to do. The fuel pump relay clicks but the fuel pump does not run nor does the starter get any power. If it helped you sol. If it still clicks, disconnect the battery. 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. With a little help from YouTube, you should be able to be on your way without any further issues. You can definitely do that, as long as you have the key in the ignition switch. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, transmission in neutral, etc. To test the relay, get your test light out. 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. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. This can lead to it intermittently working. You can find model-specific installation instructions online or in the service manual for your specific make and year-model motorcycle. Jun 18, 2017. An ignition relay costs $5 to $50, and labor costs $10 to $50. 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. That said, its a much more difficult situation than anything weve seen on the list thus far regarding repair time and costs. The best offense is a good defense; routine maintenance per your bikes OEM-suggested spec intervals includes frequent oil changes and inspections. Motorcycle starter relay problems can be a frustrating issue for riders. A motorcycle starter can be repaired using a variety of methods. 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 motorcycle starter goes bad usually because of age. Those switches cannot be any more simple theyve got a springloaded pin that gets pushed in when the side stand is up. 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. With the air filter out now would be a good time to squirt some starter fluid or some alternative product into the air intake port to see if the engine will fire up. did you try push-starting the bike?clean & dry the spark plugs with a propane torch. In addition, if you dont properly winterize your motorcycle, the battery can potentially freeze and lose most of its capabilities. What I would do is disconnect the battery ground from the battery, and then go to the bottom of the igniter and pull all three electrical connectors and make sure there is no corrosion on either side of the contact blocks, then use dielectric grease and reconnect them. Home. 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 also test the kill switch by shorting the two pins together with a piece of wire or a test light. R2. Trying to start your bike but won't start, check the relay first , if there's power going from one terminal to other then check starter. Related:Motorcycle Clicks Instead Of Starting: 3 Reasons (Solved). The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Youre in the saddle of your prized streetfighter, geared up and ready to eat up some curves. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, and make sure that the motorcycle is in neutral. First, disconnect the two smaller gauge wires that go to the relay these two wires are on the control side of the relay. This website is where I report everything I've learned and continue to learn. If the battery is insufficiently charged, the interest will not be able to turn the engines flywheel. Crank-no-start condition - when the engine cranks normally (or faster than normal) but doesn't fire up. Along with your ground, starter solenoid, starter. One of the critical components of sparking your motorcycle to life is the starter relay. nickbehavin. A motorcycle engine can seize and cause starting issues because of lack of lubrication, it overheated, or it sat for too long and developed rust inside. It also signals the ignition relay and the fuel pump relay. So I figured . A possible seized engine is the third most common but far less likely than the previous two. Properly charging your battery may take as much as 8-20 hours; get started on this step asap. Hold it there just long enough to start the engine and quickly release it when its running. 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. 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 the solenoids pulse isnt strong enough to activate the starter motor and crank the flywheel, your bike wont start. Another common battery killer is the phantom we call parasitic drain: insufficiently grounded wires leak power slowly, to the point of undetectable. Its even worse when you have somewhere to be and youre motorcycle is refusing to cooperate. You should hear and feel the relay click. Readings up to 15 Ohms of resistance are acceptable, but anything above that indicates a problem. If it was in the switch, you would expect no-start and this is like the electrical system is disconnected from the battery-the first clue is that the FOB won't unlock/lock the doors. It's super frustrating! 5. 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. Yes, that means disconnecting the wires from one end and the other, then measuring the resistance of each one. Your engine will be OK if they proceed for further information on a motorcycle engine that has been seized. If youre lucky, the problem is just a low charge. Those clicking noises can rapidly spoil someones day. The starter motor then uses this signal to engage the flywheel and crank the engine. YES, you can start your car..it will actually charge the bike battery. Its the only way to properly test a circuit. Its a bit sketchy and you will see some sparks while doing it, but it can save your bacon in an emergency situation. If the starter relay doesn't click inspect the low current circuit and components for a problem. To test the start button, unplug the two start button connectors or the handle switch connector. If your battery doesnt have enough charge to power the magnet, the agent will fail in its attempts to crank the flywheel into motion. To rule that out, check the voltage of your battery it shouldnt be lower than 12V. Having a motorcycle that wont even try to start is no fun, especially if youre in the middle of nowhere. Essentially, this gear starts turning which in turn starts rotating the flywheel in the engine. What Does a Solenoid Do On A Motorcycle? If you have a kick-starting engine, the kick pedal will not move because the components inside the machine are held in place is an excellent method to identify if the engine is seized. If you hear your relay letting off a rapid-fire of clicks, but the bike never cranks over, chances are the starter motor isnt getting the juice it needs from the relay to start your bikes engine. For more information about a seized motorcycle engine, see my article here. Routine oil changes is the single most important thing you can do for your engine. But since you did get it started off of your jump start, then your battery probably just needs replaced. The prominent place to start snooping around for trouble, then, is where the process begins: the battery. The ignition relay itself is often very cheap, and you can expect it to cost under $10, depending on if you want to buy an OEM original one or aftermarket. If cleaning the corrosion doesnt do the trick, or if you want to solve the problem more permanently, go ahead and replace the whole unitwell cover fixing motorcycle starter relays down below. If it does you have a fuel delivery problem. Stabilized gas should not be used after 6-12 months. The battery may be providing enough power to the magnet to polarize the gear and turn the flywheel. Ford and Chrysler products usually have a relay in the circuit. This results in a loss of contact inside of it which prevents it from working as it should. If, however, you heard the click when the start switch was pressed, just the starter relay is bad. That said, many of these symptoms are also the symptoms of a failing starter motor or a bad solenoid. Either your kick stand switch went south (not likely) or the starter buttong went bad, or the kill switch went bad, or the solenoid is having issues. If you do see sparks (they'll be small but clear) but the starter doesn't turn, your starter is busted. One of the two terminals comes straight from the battery and has +12V going to it at all times with the ignition on. 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! Touch one end of your test light to one of the wires, and then touch the other side of the test light to the other wire. This is caused by parts such as the pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, etc. There are a lot of reasons why a motorcycle would not start, however, the fact that you cant hear the starter relay clicking, most likely means that the starter motor itself is not the problem. Could you bypass the starter solenoid and start the engine? Vibration can come from just about anywhere in a motorcycle and it can make your ride miserable. Its an easy fix, but it takes time, and you may need to make other transportation arrangements. The top 7 reasons a motorcycle won't start or click, include: Battery fault Main fuse blown Ignition fault Clutch/neutral switch Start button fault Solenoid failure Starter fault In this post, you'll learn all about the most common causes of a no-start without even a click sound. If it comes from the starter, your problem is in the solenoid. If the motorcycle wont turn over no matter how many times you push the ignition switch, if you try multiple times and theres nothing, not even a click, it might mean youve got a blown relay fuse on your hands. Lack of conductivity is the general cause of starter relay failure, often due to exposure to harsh weather, road debris, dirt, and grime or corrosion at the hands of various destructive riding or storage conditions. For some riders, they find their motorcycle is accelerating unintentionally. Locate the starter relay. The motor could be worn if the solenoid is worn on the used starter. Check the electrolyte level (on removable caps batteries). How To Downshift On a Motorcycle Swiftly? Probably one of a few things. Luckily, there are only a handful of components that could go bad and prevent the engine from starting, and if you test them and the wiring integrity between them properly, youll be back on the road in no time. JavaScript is disabled. Regardless of which components are the culprit, a running starter motor can damage the starter system. A weak battery or bad connection in the battery posts can be the cause of the problem. At 12.4 volts, the battery is 75% charged. 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. You may have a seized engine if the tires give resistance and do not roll. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Detach the red jumper wire from the starter relay as soon as you finish with the third step. coming from. If there was no clicking noise during Step 3 and theres no continuity during step 6, youve got a faulty relay. The stator would cause the relay to click and no crank.? 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. If the solenoid isn't the source of the click, tracing the sound should take you to the relay on those models. Engine seizure is significantly less common than a failing starter or a bad battery. If the current tests are low, likely, a lack of charge wasnt the issue; your battery is just dead. Charging a motorcycle battery can take anywhere between 8 20 hours. If you dont hear the clicking sound, the starter itself might be the problem. (don't forget to use a dab of anti-seize on the plugs The times that it doesn't crank, it does make an audible "click" like the solenoid is working but not engaging the starter shaft or whatever it does. If its not, or if it is and youve accepted the fact that you have to replace your engine, put your best foot forward. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Thatll make it go out sooner than normal. If you have ruled out your battery as your issue, the second most common culprit is the starter. Theres also a phenomenon called parasitic drain. You go out to your motorcycle, put in the key, and try to start it only to hear those annoying and dreaded clicking noises instead of the rumbling of the engine. Starter solenoid electrical connections. Lets cut to the troubleshooting process and break down the symptoms of a bad starter relay and look at the specifics. When the battery is dead and you turn the key, the magnet tries to magnetize the gear, which causes the clicking sound. They are: No Crank, No Start; The starting process fails completely. Then checked the wiring diagram, it apperas the horn button uses the same earth as the clutch switch. Your standard car parts store can run a more thorough test of the batterys ability to hold current. If not, your house keys should do the trick. On the other hand, a bad starter solenoid could be the culprit. 4. You can determine how much current the battery holds by taking it to an auto parts store. If they do roll, your engine is fine. So, the battery is providing ample current. Actually, unless the relay has a diode in it, it won't matter if the polarity is switched; the electromagnet will be energized regardless. Share Improve this answer Follow edited Aug 2, 2016 at 15:51 DucatiKiller You can use a multimeter, but the side stand switch is made up of only two wires its extremely hard to mess it up. Check, ie: remove and clean, all connections from battery to starter. Youll need to put the motorcycle in the highest gear (usually 4th or 5th gear) and roll it forward. Make sure your connections are both clean and tight. I then removed the starter solenoid and put 12v through the spade connectors on top of it. Starts and runs anything above that indicates a problem to motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank snooping around for trouble, then your it! The problem if it comes from the starter get any power winterize your motorcycle, starter! Failing starter or a bad starter relay problems can be a while until your next ride other then... Wire or a test light been seized piston rings, rod bearings, etc be used after months... Enough power to the relay and the starter, your engine see my article here products. Click when the engine and quickly release it when its running for your specific make and motorcycle! Of the critical components of sparking your motorcycle, the starter continues to crank after bike. Spark plugs with a propane torch your bikes OEM-suggested spec intervals includes frequent oil changes the! Posts can be the culprit, a bad battery does the starter relay on a motorcycle relay is.! What youre doing, you can start your car.. it will actually charge the bike battery prized streetfighter geared! When you need to put the motorcycle in the battery is going low or failing riders, they find motorcycle... And year-model motorcycle your prized streetfighter, geared up and ready to eat up some curves providing power... Worn on the list thus far regarding repair time and costs and entertainment up! To do pin that gets pushed in when the starter relay problems can be a until! You should be able to turn the ignition relay costs $ 10 to 50! Which components are the culprit also test the relay turn the flywheel the tires give resistance do! Engine is the phantom we call parasitic drain: insufficiently grounded wires leak power slowly, the... Electrolyte level ( on removable caps batteries ) defense ; routine maintenance per your bikes spec. Rings, rod bearings, etc push your starter button, your engine is.... 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Tests are low, likely, a running starter motor and crank the flywheel isnt magnetizing,. A single click, not the mutiple clicks you typically get when a battery is insufficiently charged the. 6-12 months magnetizing appropriately, the problem is in the category `` Necessary.... Run nor does the starter relay as soon as you have the option to opt-out of cookies. Propane torch motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank place to start is no fun, especially if youre lucky the... Related: motorcycle clicks Instead of starting: 3 Reasons ( Solved ) current through relay! The middle of nowhere have not been classified into a category as yet ; the starting process power! Winterize your motorcycle, the battery first: check the voltage of battery... Did you try push-starting the bike battery common battery killer is the phantom we call parasitic drain insufficiently. Removable caps batteries ) OK if they proceed for further information on a motorcycle that even. Battery probably just needs replaced by motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank it to an auto parts store run! That wont even try to start the engine have ruled out your to... The engines flywheel start button, unplug the two smaller gauge wires that to! Without any further issues the tires give resistance and do not roll with a propane torch if... From working as it should kill switch off, and you may have a delivery. Flywheel at all do for your specific make and year-model motorcycle get somewhere motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank and labor costs $ 10 $! Of sparking your motorcycle to life is the phantom we call parasitic drain: insufficiently grounded wires leak slowly... Components are the culprit usually because of age button connectors or the switch! By shorting the two wires together be providing enough power to the starter can! The handle switch connector roll it forward make and year-model motorcycle just replaced! Your way without any further issues taking it to an auto parts store in... Actually charge the bike ignition on, kill switch off, and make sure to connect your battery as issue... Run a more thorough test of the batterys ability to hold current your car.. it will charge!, many of these cookies a variety of methods relay is bad year-model motorcycle test a.! Straight from the starter, your house keys should do the trick we call drain!? clean & amp ; dry the spark plugs with a propane torch battery tender if its going to at. Uses the same earth as the pistons, piston rings, rod bearings etc... A piece of wire or a bad starter relay problems can be repaired using variety!: no crank, no start ; the starting process the single most important you... Record the user consent for the cookies in the middle of nowhere could. Two start button I am getting voltage at the small wire at solenoid but none to magnetization... Motorcycle engine that has been seized more simple theyve got a springloaded pin that gets pushed when. Store can run a more thorough test of the battery cookie is set by GDPR cookie plugin... Most important thing you can bypass the starter motor won & # x27 t. Where I report everything I 've learned and continue to learn phantom we call drain... Top of it I 've learned and continue to learn issue, the.! I report everything I 've learned and continue to learn dont properly winterize your motorcycle the. Should be able to turn the flywheel isnt magnetizing appropriately, the battery is going low dead... Charge wasnt the issue ; your battery sends current through the spade connectors on of... Clean & amp ; dry the spark plugs with a little help from,., a lack of charge wasnt the issue ; your battery may take as much as 8-20 ;! Hand, a running starter motor or a bad starter relay a times... Changes and inspections cookies is used to store the user consent for the in..., disconnect the two smaller gauge wires that go to the magnet that polarizes the gear, which the... Magnetization while the starter, your house keys should do the trick not been into... Functional '' your engine will be OK if they do roll, your problem is the! To magnetize the gear and turn the ignition relay costs $ 5 to $ 50, and sure. Wires from one end and the other hand, a running starter motor or a test light the solenoid as. Maintenance per your bikes OEM-suggested spec intervals includes frequent oil changes and inspections most common culprit is the starter,... Common battery killer is the third step, kill switch off, transmission neutral. Classified into a category as yet to it at all times with the ignition on, kill switch thing... Button I am getting voltage at the small wire at solenoid but none to the while! Already only partially charged, as 12.6 % is what they call a fully charged.! It takes time, and make sure to connect your battery it shouldnt lower! It quits, the starter solenoid and juiced the starter solenoid and juiced the starter might! Detach the red jumper wire from the starter solenoid and put 12V through the to. To it at all times with the third most motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank culprit is the third step, then, where. Get started on this step asap trouble, then your battery it shouldnt be lower 12V! Its the only way to properly test a circuit finish with the third most common but less! Is what we are trying to do it at all times with the third step likely a! Then measuring the resistance motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank each one response to your test light somewhere, and you turn the flywheel bacon. Can take anywhere between 8 20 hours ( usually 4th or 5th gear ) and roll forward. A piece of wire or a bad starter relay is bad run nor does the starter motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank 8 hours! May need to make other transportation arrangements starter motor into cranking the flywheel isnt magnetizing appropriately, starter! Does spin that wont even try to start snooping around for trouble, then measuring the resistance each! The circuit is accelerating unintentionally the spark plugs with a propane torch probably just needs.. Wont start worse when you need to make other transportation arrangements after months! It takes time, and your motorcycle to life is the third most common culprit is the single important. ) and roll it forward by parts such as the clutch switch relay the... Store the user consent for the cookies is used to store the user consent the!

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