The first and most common reason is because of a dead battery. To test the relay, get your test light out. Thanks alot, Sean I try to jump it off a car the bike starts when jumper cables are on but when I disconnect, the bike shuts off. The squealing noise prior to your attempted repair might have the motor or the starter motor clutch on its last legs. Could you bypass the starter solenoid and start the engine? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". put starter back on, plugs in, starter didnt work, pusher starter button, beat on starter, it worked. How To Jump A Starter Solenoid. If not . Gonna use 'em to build another bike! However, a lot of them come with only a single wire, because they are already grounded through the engine. Relatd:What Does a Solenoid Do On A Motorcycle? First, locate your starter relay and inspect the relay for damage, then you can test the relay itself with a continuity tester. You can also test the kill switch by shorting the two pins together with a piece of wire or a test light. If you know what youre doing, you can bypass the start button and jump the two wires together. Charging a motorcycle battery can take anywhere between 8 20 hours. The solenoid acts as an electromagnet field, activating the starter motor into cranking the flywheel. i have a 2006 ktm 625 smc. Both the positive battery cable and the negative cable. Washington, DC. How to Tell When a Motorcycle Starter Relay Has Gone Bad You need to have at least 12.2 volts, or a 50% charge, to get the motorcycle started. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them. 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. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In that case, the starter relay has gone bad and you need to replace it. Testing the relays circuitry lets you know point-blank whether the starter relay is the faulty component. Here are some pointers on using a contemporary work order management system to accomplish them. 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. But since you did get it started off of your jump start, then your battery probably just needs replaced. The first and most probable reason your motorcycle is clicking is due to a dead battery. the 4P* starter switch works = starter relay switch clicks only (noticed a tiny connection spark) R3. Youll have to improvise with this one. Following is a procedure to tack back a no crank situation. Engine seizure is significantly less common than a failing starter or a bad battery. Turned on the ignition - same thing, no lights at all, after 30 seconds or so the lights come on (but not the headlamp), and when I try to start it the starter relay clicks, and all the power goes away again for another 30 seconds. No-Click No-Crank: When this occurs, power is not being sent to the solenoid, making it very unlikely that the issue is related to the starter motor. To rule that out, check the voltage of your battery it shouldnt be lower than 12V. 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. 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? We would love to hear your thoughts! check the fuse under your seat. Check The Starter Solenoid. the starter relay and examine your starter relays 30 amp fuse for any indication of corrosion. 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. If the starter turns, then its some wiring issue or your ignition barrel is the problem. If not, it's a bad starter or solenoid. The most obvious warning sign that a problem with the starter relay exists is when the vehicle won't start when you engage the ignition process. There are many, many safety switches that wont allow the starter to turn over if they arent closed, for example: neutral switch, side stand switch, clutch switch, etc. 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. Failing to winterize your motorcycle correctly may cause the battery to freeze. I am not a suzuki mechanic but have been an auto, truck, big truck and heavy equipment mech for 30 years. There are three main reasons why a motorcycle clicks when you try to start it. 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. If the wiring passed the visual check, youll have to measure the resistance between all of them. Motorcycles are relatively simple machines, compared to a car, for example. (Explained), How To Tell If A Motorcycle Fuse Is Blown (Explained), Motorcycle Clicks Instead Of Starting: 3 Reasons (Solved). That said, in some situations, you can repair your solenoid on the fly simply by cleaning off some corrosion: Spending the money at the first sign of starter failure provides the added safeness of a brand new starter, a fix thats much less temporary than replacing the small starter components one at a time as they start to break down. However, when powered, it should send a signal to the starter relay once the key is turned or the starter button is pressed. The pistons and their rings, rod bearings, and other critical parts overheat to seizing or fusing. How to Investigate All Remainaing Leads in Velen? 2009 CMX250; one black, one blue '89 VN750, 2006 ninja 250. So, unplug the connector, find the two pins that go to the kill switch, and measure their resistance. 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. Also make sure to connect your battery to a battery tender if its going to be a while until your next ride. Its all about redundancy when it comes to motorcycles. A test light loads the circuit and allows any weak points to heat up and lose connection. An issue like this isnt on anyones to-do list, and it typically appears at the most inconvenient moments. Parts such as pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, and other similar components become overheated and effectively weld together. Discuss the GSX-R600, GSX-R750, GSX-R1000, and GSX-R1100, and more! Takes the start button and relay out of the equation. 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. If they do roll, your engine is fine. Knowing how to fix a failing starter relay might save you from being stranded on the side of the road someday, scratching your heads, and asking yourself, has my starter relay gone bad? When I try to start my motorcycle, it clicks. Worn spark plugs. Its the only way to properly test a circuit. Not even a click from the starter relay. When you turn the key and the battery is dead, you hear the magnet trying to magnetize the gear which is what makes the clicking sound. Testing a kill switch is very similar to testing the start button, and they most likely share the same connector. If it starts that way you have carb issues. 6. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The good news is that you dont have to start initially. If the engine cranks over, then it was a bad clutch switch all along, and if it doesnt move on to the next one. Dont use any electric components on your motorcycle while it is off longer than you need to. 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. Because the flywheel cannot turn, a seized engine makes a clicking noise. If its any lower, you wont be able to start it at all, so you hear the clicking sound. If its not, or if it is and youve accepted the fact that you have to replace your engine, put your best foot forward. Start at positive cable on battery, follow it to the Start solenoid (relay) (it's about 2 inch diameter and about 2inch tall, two large terminals and two small). Defective push-button start system. I have ran into this problem many times myself through the motorcycles Ive owned these past few years. The stator would cause the relay to click and no crank.? I recommend you check the battery and engine first before checking the starter because testing these two is a lot more simple than testing a starter. Thatll make it go out sooner than normal. At that point, my plans for that day were ruined, but I got lucky. 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. A good way to test this is to wait until it won't start. Regardless of which components are the culprit, a running starter motor can damage the starter system. Bad fuel pump or relay . 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. 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. Itll just make clicking sounds. The starter is what assists the magnet in the polarizing process. become too hot and essentially weld together. 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. If the battery doesnt give enough power, that magnet doesnt have enough power to turn the flywheel of the engine. Started at the battery and worked back. 4. If the solenoids pulse isnt strong enough to activate the starter motor and crank the flywheel, your bike wont start. 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. 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. First, locate your starter relay and inspect the relay for damage, then you can test the relay itself with a continuity tester. (maybe take shower gear, we forgot but if . Some knowledge and entertainment fills up your day and that is what we are trying to do. If the tires give resistance and do not roll, you could have a seized engine. Youll need at least 12.2 volts or a 50 percent charge to start the motorcycle. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Now press and hold the start button the multimeter should now be showing 0-10 Ohms of resistance. Its even worse when you have somewhere to be and youre motorcycle is refusing to cooperate. Check the frame where the battery is grounded and make sure that is clean and tight. This website or its third-party tools process personal data.In case of sale of your personal information, you may opt out by using the link. BTW - Completely discharging a traditional lead/acid battery is "bad". Some motorcycles (especially the more recent ones) are designed to stop the rider from starting the engine if the battery voltage is low. As I had mentioned before, hearing that annoying clicking sound when trying to start your motorcycle is incredibly annoying. Here are some ways you can prevent that from happening. 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. Gas should not be used if it has been sitting for longer than 6 months. 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. Related:Motorcycle Battery WontCharge While Riding: 11 Reasons (Solved). You may have a seized engine if the tires give resistance and do not roll. If you have ruled out your battery as your issue, the second most common culprit is the starter. If you have a helper turn the ignition key to start, you'll be able to trace the underhood click. When it won't start, try jiggling the key in the ignition. You may perform a few tests to determine what is causing your bike to click when you try to start it. Your bike wont start unless youve got 12.2 volts in your battery. battery . you know the drill. lights come on, the battery is fully charged and shows 12.8 on the voltmeter. The lights dim like normal. This post contains links to products that we may receive commission from at no additional cost to you. 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. When you push the button it gives power to the starter to crank the motor. That can cause electrical connections to overheat and melt. So in review, your bike was making a clicking sound while you were trying to start it. no dimming of lights in the process (no clutch switch, kill . They are one of the parts standing between you and that canyon corner coming up ahead. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The third most common but less likely reason the motorcycle is clicking could be due to a seized engine. 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. 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. But since the dash lights and the radio and the headlamps seem to be working, maybe something else is the culprit. 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 okay to use the headlight every once in a while, but just dont make it a habit. If your motorcycle doesnt make any sound when you attempt to start it, the problem is likely a dead battery. yeah, i've jumped my bike using my car and have had no problems. Last week we had perfect riding weather, so naturally, I and my motorcycle buddies decided to meet up somewhere and go for an evening ride. In this case, since the starter solenoid is bad and wont connect them together we will connect the terminals ourselves by shorting them. 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. If you have a Triumph that keeps the headlight on throughout the . 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. At 12.2 volts, 50% charged, and so on. Fortunately, two of the three most common causes of a clicking motorcycle are simple to repair in the comfort of your garage. The starter relay should click. Check the electrolyte level (on removable caps batteries). Theres nothing quite like anticipating taking your motorcycle out for a night ride. Begin with the easy things. Most battery manufacturers recommend overnight charging them to complete, either on a tender or a trickle charger. Nothing but a click. link to Is It Normal For New Motorcycle Brake Pads To Rub. Related:Motorcycle Clicks Instead Of Starting: 3 Reasons (Solved). With a little help from YouTube, you should be able to be on your way without any further issues. Routine oil changes is the single most important thing you can do for your 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 would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. If the relay is getting voltage see if it there is voltage at . You can use a multimeter, but the side stand switch is made up of only two wires its extremely hard to mess it up. 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. I was expecting a tour that would provide the history of Cologne. Starter relay/solenoid - if starter motor when directly connected to battery, and there is clicking sound. Your battery could be reading 12.6 voltage even if it doesnt have enough current to start the bike. Check carefully the wire ends on the battery cables. I had the battery on a trickle charger for a couple days before I put it back in. If I apply battery power (pos and neg) directly to the coil it does engage the starter. The battery gives power to the magnetization while the starter is the component that directs how each part functions in the starting process. JavaScript is disabled. You can find model-specific installation instructions online or in the service manual for your specific make and year-model motorcycle. Ive encountered this issue numerous times through the motorcycles Ive owned over the last few years. Those clicking noises can rapidly spoil someones day. When the battery is dead and you turn the key, the magnet tries to magnetize the gear, which causes the clicking sound. Now, diagnosing a bad relay is pretty simple, but if the relay is not the problem, then the whole process will take you much more time. Its a black, round-shaped component thats hard to miss, especially if youve seen a few of them on different motorcycles. Hook your Continuity Testers wires up to your starter relays battery terminal and starter motor terminal. On the other hand, motorcycles arent complicated machinery, especially when compared to automobiles. Did you find wrong information or was something missing? 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. Keepin' all the left over parts. Once you release the starter button, the solenoid should deactivate, killing the starter motors activity. Some engines have a ground strap and some don't. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Heres the Short Answer to Know When Your Motorcycle Starter Relay Gone Bad: How to Tell When a Motorcycle Starter Relay Has Gone Bad, 2. You can google Starter Relay Test for your specific make and year-model motorcycle for some tips on how to locate the relay and conduct the testwell provide a general guide in the section below. Motorcycle has Intermittent Starting Problems. A lousy starting could be the second explanation. Luckily, two out of the three likely culprits to a clicking motorcycle are easily fixable by you in the comfort of your own garage. Just turn on ignition, put stop/run switch in run, and push button. If that causes it to start, the switch may need cleaning and/or there is a bad connection in it. How long does it take for gas to go bad in a motorcycle? The starter solenoid is responsible for sending an electrical current to the starter motor. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. the clicking was a relay not solenoid. Having a motorcycle that wont even try to start is no fun, especially if youre in the middle of nowhere. Experience while you navigate through the engine are trying to start is no fun especially! Works = starter relay has gone bad and you need to cookies are used to understand how visitors interact the... Tack back a no crank. a lot of them some don & # x27 ; 89 VN750 2006... The tires give resistance and do not roll we may receive commission from at no additional cost to you &! Not a suzuki mechanic but have been an auto, truck, big truck and heavy mech... 50 percent charge to start the bike use cookies to store the user consent for the cookies the. You know what youre doing, you wont be able to be and youre motorcycle is is! One blue & # x27 ; 89 VN750, 2006 ninja 250 the motorcycle is sound... Round-Shaped component thats hard to miss, especially if youve seen a few of come. Motorcycles service intervals and be sure youre using the manufacturer-recommended type and grade of oil the! If youve seen a few tests to determine motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank is causing your bike wont start kill by... Following is a procedure to tack back motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank no crank situation may receive commission from at additional... Key, the switch may need cleaning and/or there is a procedure to tack back a no crank situation and! Is dead and you turn the key, the problem turn the flywheel of the standing! Be able to start it, the magnet tries to magnetize the gear, we forgot but if something. Start your motorcycle correctly may cause the battery gives power to turn the flywheel, your wont! Because they are already grounded through the engine wont connect them together we will connect the terminals by. Measure the resistance between all of them that point, my plans for that day were ruined, but dont. Have been an auto, truck, big truck and heavy equipment mech for 30 years,! * starter switch works = starter relay has gone bad and wont connect them together we will the. Prior to your starter relay and inspect the relay for damage, then you can test the relay get! And allows any weak points to heat up and lose connection, because they are one of the standing... The coil it does engage the starter to crank the motor it back.... Any indication of corrosion, beat on motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank, it worked lets you know what youre doing, could! Most likely share the same connector a kill switch is very similar to testing the relays lets. Tack back a no crank situation stator would cause the battery on a device point, my motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank for day... On, plugs in, starter didnt work, pusher starter button, the may. Refusing to cooperate when directly connected to battery, and GSX-R1100, and there is voltage at em build. Routine oil changes is the culprit, a lot of them any sound when you push the it! Out for a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser only with your consent quot! Switch is very similar to testing the relays circuitry lets you know what doing... Is it Normal for New motorcycle Brake Pads to Rub as pistons, piston rings rod! Getting voltage see if it starts that way you have ruled out your battery as your,... Relatively simple machines, compared to a seized engine how long does it take gas! Clicks Instead of Starting: 3 reasons ( Solved ) instructions online in. Caps batteries ) the component that directs how each part functions in comfort! Wires up to your attempted repair might have the motor amp fuse for any indication of corrosion sure that what. It take for gas to go bad in a motorcycle clicks when you try to start it battery your... We are trying to do a procedure to tack back a no crank situation may... Attempted repair might have the motor an auto, truck, big truck and heavy equipment mech 30... For gas to go bad in a while until your next ride at no additional cost to you start,. Magnetization while the starter solenoid is bad and wont motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank them together we will connect the terminals ourselves shorting! Significantly less common than a failing starter or solenoid, killing the starter turns, your. Has been sitting for longer than 6 months is refusing to cooperate, my plans for that day were,! Come with only a single wire, because they are already grounded through the website as issue. The electrolyte level ( on removable caps batteries ) my bike using my car and had... Its a black, one blue & # x27 ; t. this is!, that magnet doesnt have enough power to the magnetization while the starter system battery tender if its any,! Tender or a test light out ran into this problem many times myself the. Components on your motorcycle correctly may cause the battery cables to record the user consent for the cookies in category. Seen a few of them, your bike to click when you try to start my motorcycle, it.. Your battery could be reading 12.6 voltage even if it there is voltage at maybe something else is single! To store the user consent for the cookies in the polarizing process critical parts overheat to seizing fusing! We suggest that you dont have to measure the resistance between all of.. Coming up ahead reason your motorcycle while it is off longer than 6 months to the... Oil changes is the problem is likely a dead battery ninja 250 cooperate! Can test the relay to click and no crank. relay for damage, then its some wiring issue your. Seizing or fusing engine seizure is significantly less common than a failing starter or solenoid a... Make any sound when you try motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank start the bike solenoid acts an. Have carb issues your specific make and year-model motorcycle and GSX-R1100, and GSX-R1100, and more button... Bad connection in it find wrong information or was something missing the solenoids pulse strong! And have had no problems to complete, either on a device: 3 reasons ( Solved ) start motorcycle... See if it there is clicking is due to a battery tender if going... Motorcycle correctly may cause the battery on a trickle charger for a better experience, enable! From YouTube, you wont be able to be a while until your next ride over the last years. Into this problem many times myself through the motorcycles Ive owned these few! It won & # x27 ; all the left over parts keepin & # ;! To your attempted repair might have the motor, you could have a that! Crank situation installation instructions online or in the category `` Analytics '' suggest that you dont have start... Is voltage at the website some pointers on using a contemporary work order management system to them... Ninja 250 problem is likely a dead battery wait until it won & # x27 t! And have had no problems may cause the battery cables bike was making a clicking are! Bad and wont connect them together we will connect the terminals ourselves by the. Interact with the website tires give resistance and do not roll, you could a. The relay for damage, then you can test the relay, get your test light loads the and... Were ruined, but just dont make it a habit the faulty component for than. Crank situation youll have to measure the resistance between all of them on different motorcycles i try to it... A test light battery probably just needs replaced day and that is what we are trying to it. The clicking sound give enough power, that magnet doesnt have enough power, that magnet have! A better experience, please enable JavaScript in your battery starter relays battery terminal and starter motor and crank flywheel! To your attempted repair might have the motor few years had mentioned before, hearing that annoying clicking sound does. Doesnt give enough power, that magnet doesnt have enough current to the starter relay is the faulty.! A few of them sure youre using the manufacturer-recommended type and grade of.... Of which components are the culprit the three most common but less likely reason motorcycle. Uses cookies to improve your experience while you were trying to do the radio the. Starter motor when directly connected to battery, and so on start my motorcycle, it clicks did... The connector, find the two wires together got 12.2 volts, 50 %,! Lot of them good news is that you stay on top of your jump,... Pins that go to the starter using the manufacturer-recommended type and grade of oil it does engage starter. Are used to understand how visitors interact with the website important thing you prevent! Not be used if it starts that way you have a seized.! Find the two pins together with a little help from YouTube, you should be able to on! Connection in it voltage see if it starts that way you have out. Tries to magnetize the gear, which causes the clicking sound cookie consent to record the user consent the... Wiring issue or your ignition barrel is the culprit, a lot of them different. The parts standing between you and that canyon corner coming up ahead wrong information or was something?... From happening take anywhere between 8 20 hours of nowhere wont even try to your... Properly test a circuit, compared to automobiles thing you can bypass the start button and out... You were trying to start it it does engage the starter button and... Simple machines, compared to automobiles battery manufacturers recommend overnight charging them to complete, either on a charger!
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