Anyone have this happen

[gibvel]

Go out to start the bike at work yesterday. Hit the switch, turns over but doesn't start. Hit the switch again, engine turns and stops (kinda like the hot start issue sound), hit the switch again bike starts.

 

Get on and notice that the odometer is actually on the odometer (I usually leave it on trip 1 and have left trip 2 unreset since I got the bike (to keep track of how many miles I've actually ridden it since getting it.) Both the tripometers are reset to zero. However, all of the radio stations I have set are still set as normal.

 

It was 42 one the ride in and dipped to about 30 in the morning but was about 57 or so when I went to start it.

 

Have no idea how old the battery is. It's a sealed, yamaha branded battery so I figure it's probably the second battery and is, roughly about 4 or 5 years old. It was low enough winter before last to not even turn the scoot over. Put it on the battery minder and it was good to go again and rode with it all last summer. Kept it on the minder every week or so this winter so no problem till yesterday.

 

I'm thinking this is a sign that the battery is dying and the voltage dropped low enough to, have the hard start, reset the trip meters and put the odometer back showing.

 

Any thoughts?

[Kregerdoodle]

I`m not the pro mech. but sounds like it could just be that the Battery is on its way out... I have an `01, bought it 8mths, ago with 2700miles on her and think its the orig. battery, havn`t had any problems with it, but wondering if I should go ahead and change the battery just cause? Good luck with yours..

 

 

K

[SaltyDawg]

Could be a battery, it might be the ignition switch. I had something like that happen to me a few months ago on a cold day and if you saw my post from last night you know I now have a shorted battery. What happened to me a few months back was, the bike started, warmed it up and headed off to work. Got to the end of my street and accelerated into traffic when the bike just died. I had lights, the kill switch was in the right position but I still had no fire. Tried to start, engine turned over no fire, several times. Went to push it off the highway and out of the turn lane and tried it one last time, she fired right up and I had no problems until last night. If you are not sure as to how old the battery is, I would change it ASAP.

[gibvel]

Thought about the ignition switch too but it was changed last June of July by the PO (only reason I know that is because the stupid tech who did the work dropped one of the bolts and it landed between the frame and the radiator and wore a hole in the radiator by the time I got back home from Amarillo with it).

 

Not saying that the switch still couldn't have gone bad in that time but I would think it's less likely to have.

[Redneck]

I had that happen yesterday when I tried to start it to go home it cranked but did not start. I turned the key off then back on and it started it reset my trip meters. I believe it was the ignition switch which is 2 years old.

[gibvel]

Thanks Redneck, didn't want to hear that!!

 

And Mama Yama wants me to pay over $100 for a new switch that may last another 2 years?

[SaltyDawg]

  gibvel said:

Thought about the ignition switch too but it was changed last June of July by the PO (only reason I know that is because the stupid tech who did the work dropped one of the bolts and it landed between the frame and the radiator and wore a hole in the radiator by the time I got back home from Amarillo with it).

 

Not saying that the switch still couldn't have gone bad in that time but I would think it's less likely to have.

 

Yeah I remember that post. You were not too happy about that. Sucks when you can't trust a mechanic.

 

I would have to look at the wiring diagrams, but I don't see where an ignition switch would reset the trip meters. They get power constantly from the battery in order to keep their memory. Only time mine have ever reset is when I disconnected the battery. Anything is possible though. Just so you are aware I keep a battery tender on my bike every night, so that in itself will not keep the battery from going bad.

 

Here is a link to my problem a couple months ago.

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=18234

 

I will try to look at the wiring diagrams today and see if I can determine whether or not the ignition problem will reset the trip odometers.

[gibvel]

Yeah, just a little miffed at the POs mechanic (you drop a bolt, you find a bolt. If it's not on the floor it's in the scoot and you'd better find it) but very, very thankful that I made it 500 some odd miles before it went south. Very helpful that Dale had the exact same thing happen to him about 2 weeks prior to mine. That experience was fresh in my mind so it all made sense quickly

 

I understand about the tripometer resetting only when disconnecting the battery, that's what made me think it was the battery, but how about the station presets on the radio staying and not the tripometer settings. Seems to me, if the battery were going, the stations would reset as well. Unless their reset voltage is below the tripometer's or they have a flash kind of memory for that...which I doubt.

[SaltyDawg]

I know what it is. Our rides have been invaded by "Pinko Commie Gremlins" bent on forcing all of us back to the 1st Gens.:stirthepot:

[gibvel]

Shoot, and I just sold my 1st gen.

 

Hmmmm which reminds me, I haven't put my gremlin bell on yet...maybe that's it. Thought it was too cold out, still, for the gremlins to get out and about.

 

Makes sense though. Fewer motorcycles out, more gremlins per bike. It's all a percentage thing I guess.

[BradT]

I would guess a Battery problem. Check the battery cables for Corrosion/contact. Also check the frame end of the negative.

 

Did you keep the battery charged all winter ??

 

You could always run the jumper wire on the Ignition and put a switch in and hide it under the seat, this would help you figure out which one. Also a good backup, for the just in case.

 

 

Brad

[Everette]

This is exactly the problem that I've been having with my bike. I have also been blowing fuses. I'm going to change the battery out first, it is about 5 years old and probably needs to be replaced. It seems if I put it on charge at night, I have no problem in the morning, but when I leave work is when I have the problem. I think for me it is a first start.

If it is the ingnition, is it difficult to change?

[gibvel]

  BradT said:

I would guess a Battery problem. Check the battery cables for Corrosion/contact. Also check the frame end of the negative.

 

Where would this be?

 

Did you keep the battery charged all winter ??

 

Yes

 

Brad

 

Could I take it to an auto parts store and have it tested with a load tester?

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Different computers, different drop-out voltage...nothing unusual there.

 

Your battery is slowly dying, and the voltage sag during your starting event caused the trip meters to reset, while the radio was still happy with what it was getting.

 

Try not to 'overthink' this. Just get a new battery. Check your charging voltage. Then ride.

 

 

[gibvel]

  tx2sturgis said:

Different computers, different drop-out voltage...nothing unusual there.

 

Your battery is slowly dying, and the voltage sag during your starting event caused the trip meters to reset, while the radio was still happy with what it was getting.

 

Try not to 'overthink' this. Just get a new battery. Check your charging voltage. Then ride.

 

 

 

Friend said a similar thing. Possible that the radio has a capacitor that holds the voltage for awhile as opposed to the trip meter. And about the sag voltage during the stating event.