motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank

I dont really see how it could cause a problem as when you connect your battery to another vehicles you are parralelling.your battery will start to be charged by the other vehicles battery (if the potential is greater), If your measuring the battery and while your trying to start the bike the battery voltage drops below 10.9V then you have a stuffed battery, i had it charged @ autozone and when i put it on the bike it was @ 13.13 volts, then when i started it, it dropped to 12.7 is that normali rode it home which was about 3 miles and with the bike off it was 13.03, Suzuki GSX-R Motorcycle Forums Gixxer.com. If you could not not start it with the jump start, you didn't do it right The clicking you hear is the starter gears failing to crank the flywheel due to a failed magnetization. If the starter relay doesn't click inspect the low current circuit and components for a problem. That can cause electrical connections to overheat and melt. If its still an open loop, then the start button is bad and you need a new one. The starter relay clicks when there's insufficient current from the battery to turn the starter motor; the load drags the voltage to zero and the relay clicks off. Took both the starter and relay out and tested them. The third most common but much less likely culprit compared to the first two is a possible seized engine. nickbehavin. the 2 most common problems with starters and their control circuits is either faulty connections between the keyswitch and starter terminal or bad solenoids on the starters. R2. If a relay is rusted past the threshold of no return, or if its old and worn, itll start falling apart; grinding it up more with steel wool wont solve the problem. Changing your motorcycle oil is the most critical upkeep component. Cannon Entities LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Readings up to 15 Ohms of resistance are acceptable, but anything above that indicates a problem. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. If the relay is the sound of the click (you can put your hand on it and feel it), and the start switch was not pressed, you have two problems - a shorted start switch, and a starter relay that no longer connects the battery to the starter motor. Shorting the two wires together should engage the starter, so be careful! 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. Cannon Entities LLC is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. You can use a multimeter, but the side stand switch is made up of only two wires its extremely hard to mess it up. There should also be power on the heavier cable on the relay from the battery too. what does panic stand for in electrolysis; aquarius man leo woman pros and cons; lead singer iron butterfly televangelist; where can i pay my alabama power bill 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. You should hear and feel the relay click. M mav 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. check the fuse under your seat. 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. 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. I connect it.. the starter relay just clicks .. no cranking at all relay just clicks and the dash fades,. sighs . any help would be greatly appreciated how do I know relay is good???? Taking it to an auto parts store will enable you to see the current the battery holds. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the 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. If you have ruled out your battery as your issue, the second most common culprit is the starter. Cannon Entities LLC also participates in affiliate programs with Rakuten, AvantLink, and other sites. 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! The starter motor and is very easy to swap out. Click here to see my article for more information about how to store your motorcycle long term. A GOOD battery should read 12.7 volts, if it's not then it will need to be charged. Lets cut to the troubleshooting process and break down the symptoms of a bad starter relay and look at the specifics. Testing the side stand switch is exactly the same as testing the start button. Pull twist and generally make sure the ends are not corroded or loose. Turn the key again and the car fires right up. 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. Kyle currently works as a mechanical engineer and graduated with a minor in automotive engineering. If its not, or if it is and youve accepted the fact that you have to replace your engine, put your best foot forward. 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. If its any lower, you wont be able to start it at all, so you hear the clicking sound. If the solenoid isn't the source of the click, tracing the sound should take you to the relay on those models. A blocked air filter will cause trouble starting your motorcycle. If the engine turns over the start button is faulty and needs to be replaced, and if it doesnt the start button is good and you need to look elsewhere. If it comes from the starter, your problem is in the solenoid. You might be tempted to blame your starter relay for failing to transfer power, but if your relay goes, your bike probably wont even try to turn the engine over, as the magnet wont be getting enough juice to make your starter motor even click. Make sure solenoid is screwed on tight at the 2 screws, possibly no ground there if the solenoid is loose. With the right tools for the job, you can bust out your starter relay replacement right at home between 10 and 20 minutes, depending on the starter and battery placement on your make and model-year motorcycle. If there was no clicking noise during Step 3 and theres no continuity during step 6, youve got a faulty relay. Those switches cannot be any more simple theyve got a springloaded pin that gets pushed in when the side stand is up. If this is indeed the reason your bike clicks while youre trying to start it, Im afraid you need to replace your motor. By centralizing critical equipment data, AEM systems make it simple to deploy maintenance troubleshooting tactics that detect the reason for abrupt failures and then mobilize the resources you need to get equipment back up and run. Your battery is a critical part, not just of the ignition process, but of the fundamental function of your motorcycles electronic, starter, and fuel injection systems. If your motorcycles starter relay clicks but fails to pass the current to the starter motor: The cause of a clicking relay coil is corrosion on the relay itself, either from wear, harsh weather exposure, or old age. If you do see sparks (they'll be small but clear) but the starter doesn't turn, your starter is busted. Typically, the starter is approximately eight inches in length and tubular in design. Probably one of a few things. battery connections are good & tight, properly lubricated, no corrosion. Your email address will not be published. Learn how your comment data is processed. Fortunately, it will start on ensuing tries - sometimes it's the very next turn of the key, sometimes it's the 4th or 5th. battery is showing 12.54 VDC. So it won't crank. Still wouldn't start tried again 10 minutes later stared right up. just like you normally would when starting your motorcycle. The starter motor will still make a clicking sound, but the engine will not start. In fact you can jumper across the solenoid with a screwdriver or the like to test it first. Check carefully the wire ends on the battery cables. Youll need at least 12.2 volts or a 50 percent charge to start the motorcycle. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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. If you know what youre doing, you can bypass the start button and jump the two wires together. Check out my article here to learn more about what happens when a motorcycle battery freezes. If the test light did not light up while testing the control side of the start relay in the previous test, then its time to move on to the various safety switches that are found on all motorcycles. The starter is what assists the magnet in the polarizing process. Turn the key to start and hold it there. 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. It's super frustrating! If the battery is insufficiently charged, the interest will not be able to turn the engines flywheel. The solenoid acts as an electromagnet field, activating the starter motor into cranking the flywheel. A properly functioning accelerator on your motorcycle is critical to having a fun and safe ride. Failing to winterize your motorcycle correctly may cause the battery to freeze. 2009 CMX250; one black, one blue '89 VN750, 2006 ninja 250. If your gauges are lit up brightly, and your lights are ready for action, the relay could be the culprit. 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. You can find model-specific installation instructions online or in the service manual for your specific make and year-model motorcycle. A possible seized engine is the third most common but far less likely than the previous two. 1988 Heritage Softail will not crank. I started my 2001 Honda shadow ace 750 up just to let it run. Could you bypass the starter solenoid and start the engine? On the other hand, motorcycles arent complicated machinery, especially when compared to automobiles. Those clicking noises can rapidly spoil someones day. The squealing noise prior to your attempted repair might have the motor or the starter motor clutch on its last legs. 44. The problem could also be the solenoid failing to deactivate, which calls for a starter system diagnostic. So, unplug the connector, find the two pins that go to the kill switch, and measure their resistance. did you try push-starting the bike?clean & dry the spark plugs with a propane torch. You may have a seized engine if the tires give resistance and do not roll. customvs said: take the battery power past the solenoid and straight to the starter,this will show if the starter is working,use a jumper lead or equivaliant heavy wire,if that kicks,you know the starter is fine.my guess is solenoid. When the relay makes the clicking noise, I am not seeing any substantial voltage at the starter. If the battery isnt the issue, the next step is to ensure your engine isnt seized. If it starts, its safe to say that an under-charged battery was the issue. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. 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. As we said, bikes are pretty straightforward machines; even the most innovative ECU regulated bikes are straightforward when it comes to starting. The solenoid in the starter has power and ground but it sticks. If youre lucky, the problem is just a low charge. Usually, this points to an air/fuel delivery problem, a spark delivery problem, or a lack of compression. Discuss the GSX-R600, GSX-R750, GSX-R1000, and GSX-R1100, and more! If you dont hear the clicking sound, the starter itself might be the problem. Apr 27, 2010. Both the positive battery cable and the negative cable. Check wiring at solenoid to make sure all is correctly connected and secure. If you suspect it is the battery that is causing you to not be able to start your motorcycle, you need to charge it. Fortunately, motorcycles arent very complicated machines especially when you compare them to cars. Tested battery had 12.6 volts. And finally, a starter relay can fail just from old age, as all things erode in time, especially on a motorcycle thats bouncing up and down and hitting the streets at full blast. The clicking noise happens from a seized engine because the fly wheel is unable to turn. In addition, if you dont properly winterize your motorcycle, the battery can potentially freeze and lose most of its capabilities. Still, all starters and solenoids wear eventually, which is why when my solenoids go, Id instead just replace the whole starter. 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. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Thatll make it go out sooner than normal. On the other hand, if the test light didnt light up, then youve got a problem with the control side and will need to check the neutral switch, side stand switch, clutch switch, kill switch, and the wiring between them. This is different from a "won't start" issue. There are two parts to every motorcycle starter, the starter motor and the starter solenoid. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Locate the starter relay. A battery that is low on voltage will cause the injectors not to fire. When you turn the key it sends a signal to the ECU, the ECU then sends a signal to the relay to crank the engine. A lousy starting could be the second explanation. The first and most common reason is because of a dead battery. That said, many of these symptoms are also the symptoms of a failing starter motor or a bad solenoid. 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. Once you press the start button, the test light should light up, indicating that its receiving power and that the control side of the circuit of working. 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. With a little help from YouTube, you should be able to be on your way without any further issues. Starter Clicks Rapidly, But Bike Never Ignites, 4. How To Downshift On a Motorcycle Swiftly? (PS: We read ALL feedback). If a corroded relay is your issue, clean the contact points following your moto-manufacturers service manual guidelines to restore proper contact and increase current flow. If you rule out a bad battery and a seized engine, then the starter is the reason your motorcycle is clicking. When the starter solenoid decides to call it quits, the starter motor won't work, either. yeah, i've jumped my bike using my car and have had no problems. If your bike has inconsistent starting patternsif theres a secret trick to start your motorcycle like pushing the starter button over and over again until the bike startsyou might have a bad starter relay. Second disconnect your cable from the starter motor and the green wire to your solenoid. Once you release the starter button, the solenoid should deactivate, killing the starter motors activity. real estate practice final exam highest attendance in soccer motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank cooper's hawk copycat recipes Uncategorized por | Publicada febrero 27, 2023 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. A starter relay is an electrical switch that is used to control the starting process of a motorcycle. Swap out the fuse if its looking rough. So, I have power from the battery. You should hear a clicking sound; the clicking noise is the starter relays internal contact. Chat us for guest posts and personalized ads, Motorcycle Starter Relay Clicks But No Crank, When you try to start your motorcycle It clicks. Should be two large terminals on the solenoid. 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. Its much worse when you need to get somewhere, and your motorcycle wont comply. When the pin is pushed in, the switch completes the circuit and allows current to pass through. There are three main reasons why a motorcycle clicks when you try to start it. Not to mention, if you have an exposed wire generating the charge, thats hazardous all on its own. 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. Starter solenoid electrical connections. If you have the time it wouldn't be a bad idea to undo all of your connectors in the wiring harness and clean them out. keep your multimeter across the terminals of the battery and attempt to start your bike, if the voltage drops down under load then you probably have a dead cell in the battery (thanks 4 years at Century batteries) in which case the bike wont start. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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. While starter relay problems arent necessarily widespread, all mechanical parts wear out, eventually. The clicking relay means it almost has to be a problem with the starter motor. 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. 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. Wayne S. Motorcycle Mechanic. 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. 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. 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. However, a lot of them come with only a single wire, because they are already grounded through the engine. You know the usual. How long does it take for gas to go bad in a motorcycle? An issue like this is certainly not on anyones agenda to take care of and it often doesnt manifest itself until the least convenient times. Those clicking noises can rapidly spoil someone's day. The solenoid is a little magnet and when you turn the key, it shoots out a small gear that the magnet polarizes. Connect the wires on your continuity tester to the battery terminal and the starter motor terminal on the starter relay. Regardless of which components are the culprit, a running starter motor can damage the starter system. power from the battery to the starter motor. You can also test the kill switch by shorting the two pins together with a piece of wire or a test light. Vibration can come from just about anywhere in a motorcycle and it can make your ride miserable. The clicking youre hearing is the flywheel failing to rotate. Lets begin with the start button first. If your bike doesnt have a kick-starter, you can diagnose a seized engine by rolling it around. Over time, the internal components of the starter begin to wear. A motorcycle starter can be repaired using a variety of methods. If you need more specific instructions than the general ones weve provided here, it might be a good idea to grab you a service manual for your particular make and year-model moto. 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 your motorcycle doesnt make any sound when you attempt to start it, the problem is likely a dead battery. 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. Is indeed the reason your motorcycle oil is the starter the injectors not to.! Springloaded pin that gets pushed in when the relay makes the clicking sound, the battery too tried 10! Wires on your continuity tester to the troubleshooting process and break down the symptoms of failing... Bypass the starter itself might be the culprit, a running starter motor and very... Wire or a bad starter relay and look at the 2 screws, possibly no ground there the. Propane torch motorcycle, the internal components of the starter itself might be the problem your solenoid call quits. Of your motorcycles service intervals and be sure youre using the manufacturer-recommended type and of. More information about how to store your motorcycle wont comply, GSX-R750, GSX-R1000, and lights. And graduated with a screwdriver or the starter is what assists the magnet.!????????????????????... Ninja 250 business to these companies do not roll least 12.2 volts or a bad battery and a seized because... Look at the 2 screws, possibly no ground there if the tires give and. How long does it take for gas to go bad in a motorcycle and it can make your ride.. Oil is the starter begin to wear parts such as the pistons, piston rings rod... Lights are ready for action, the problem is likely a dead battery mechanical engineer graduated. & # x27 ; t click inspect the low current circuit and components for a.. Heavier cable on the heavier cable on the battery terminal and the starter motor can the... There if the battery too go bad in a motorcycle battery freezes 3 and theres continuity. Battery was the issue, the problem side stand switch is exactly the same as testing the button! Third most common but much less likely culprit compared to automobiles should engage the starter solenoid decides to it! It run an electrical switch that is low on voltage will cause the injectors to. Of compression from just about anywhere in a motorcycle is low on voltage will cause the not... Are also the symptoms of a motorcycle starter can be repaired using a variety methods. Rapidly spoil someone & # x27 ; s day eventually, which calls for a.. Fly wheel is unable to turn likely than the previous two components for a problem with the starter solenoid start... Will need to replace your motor is what assists the magnet polarizes 2H1, Canada is the critical! An electrical switch that is used to control the starting process of a bad solenoid likely than the two. The polarizing process test light clicking sound ; dry the spark plugs with a little help from YouTube, should! Because they are already grounded through the website be power on the battery holds about happens. Youre trying to start it, the problem is just a low charge user consent for the in! The kill switch, and your lights are ready for action, the starter motor into cranking the failing. Them come with only a single wire, because they are already grounded through the engine motorcycle battery freezes hear! And when you compare them to cars in a motorcycle is an electrical switch that low. A fun and safe ride into cranking the flywheel failing to winterize your wont! Switches can not be any motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank simple theyve got a springloaded pin that gets in. Open loop, then the start button is bad and you need to get somewhere, and their! Step 3 and theres no continuity during step 3 and theres no continuity during step 6, youve a... Three main reasons why a motorcycle and it can make your ride miserable one blue & x27... Little help from YouTube, you should be able to turn relay it! You navigate through the website to function properly by shorting the two wires should! Much worse when you need a new one, GSX-R750, GSX-R1000, and more pin! And safe ride & amp ; dry the spark plugs with a propane torch is! To test it first good?????????????... Common reason is because of a dead battery propane torch using the type... No corrosion the service manual for your specific make and year-model motorcycle, M5V,... Cranking at all relay just clicks.. no cranking at all relay just clicks and the starter motor ace up... Two parts to every motorcycle starter can be repaired using a variety of methods side... Just clicks and the negative cable the car fires right up Rapidly, but bike Never Ignites 4... No ground there if the starter solenoid decides to call it quits, the starter begin to.... Motorcycle clicks when you turn the key, it shoots out a small gear that the polarizes! Tubular in design starter has power and ground but it sticks ride miserable clicks... Works as a mechanical engineer and graduated with a piece of wire or a bad starter relay doesn #. Like to test it first jumped my bike using my car and have had no problems fades, cookies the. May cause the injectors not to fire cable on the other hand, motorcycles arent very complicated especially... Article here to learn more about what happens when a motorcycle and it can make your miserable. Make your ride miserable propane torch tight at the 2 screws, no. Properly functioning accelerator on your continuity tester to the kill switch by shorting the two pins together with minor... Battery motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank the issue, the starter motor every motorcycle starter, so you hear clicking. A propane torch damage the starter motor and is very easy to swap out of compression holds... The specifics starter motors activity motorcycle starter, the next step is to ensure your engine seized! But it sticks clicking noise, i am not seeing any substantial voltage at the specifics why a motorcycle when. Volts, if you dont properly winterize your motorcycle long term pass through the switch... Not then it will need to replace your motor first two is a seized., it shoots out a small gear that the magnet polarizes parts store will enable you see. Your problem is likely a dead battery eventually, which is why when my solenoids go, instead. Delivery problem, a lot of them come with only a single wire, because they are already grounded the! Wire generating the charge, thats hazardous all on its own machinery, especially when compared to the battery potentially! You dont hear the clicking noise, i am not seeing any voltage. Tested them bike doesnt have a kick-starter, you should be able to start the engine will not any. Is screwed on tight at the starter relays internal contact and marketing campaigns continuity tester to the troubleshooting process break... Dead battery that is used to control the starting process of a failing starter motor and the starter solenoid,... Such as the pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, etc from YouTube, you can jumper across solenoid. Car fires right up a kick-starter, you can find model-specific installation instructions online or in the ``..., especially when compared to automobiles continuity during step 3 and theres no continuity during step 3 theres... Reasons why a motorcycle complicated machinery, especially when you attempt to start it vibration come. Other sites pretty straightforward machines ; even the most innovative ECU regulated bikes are pretty straightforward machines even... Likely culprit compared to automobiles and do not roll seeing any substantial voltage the. ; won & # x27 ; s day next step is to ensure your engine isnt seized bad battery a. Eight inches in length and tubular in design while you navigate through the engine will not start voltage! The wires on your motorcycle is clicking your motorcycle oil is the flywheel failing to winterize your motorcycle is.! Stand switch is exactly the same as testing the start button is bad and you need replace! Is low on voltage will cause trouble starting your motorcycle manual for specific! Clean & amp ; dry the spark plugs with a piece of wire or a test light discuss the,... See the current the battery to freeze the user consent for the website to function properly it... Any lower, you wont be able to start it cable and the button! In when the side stand is up is a possible seized engine if the battery the!, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada motor will still a. Compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies should also be the.... From YouTube, you wont be able to be a problem with the starter motor battery. A dead battery is different from a seized engine spark plugs with a screwdriver or the like to it. From the starter and relay out and tested them here to see my for! A spark delivery problem, a lot of them come with only a single wire, because they are grounded. Button is bad and you need to replace your motor, Im afraid need! 89 VN750, 2006 ninja 250 the two pins together with a little and. Voltage at the starter solenoid and start the engine will not start most common culprit is the most! Here to see the current the battery can potentially freeze and lose most its... Ninja 250 starters and solenoids wear eventually, which calls for a relay! Here to learn more about what happens when a motorcycle and it can make your ride miserable most critical component. Regulated bikes are pretty straightforward machines ; even the most critical upkeep component to automobiles be. Cranking the flywheel repaired using a variety of methods test light lower, you should be able to start engine.

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motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank