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General Category => Yamaha FJ1100 / FJ1200 Running Problems => Topic started by: rpickle on July 27, 2010, 11:46:20 PM

Title: No start - dash lights
Post by: rpickle on July 27, 2010, 11:46:20 PM
Hi folks,

Went to jump on bike to head into work tonight, turned the key (all lights looked normal), pressed the starter button and .....  Lost power.  Due to time constraints, I was only able to check the fuses and those rather quickly.  All looked good. 

Is this a good candidate for stuck starter button?

Rick
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: RichBaker on July 28, 2010, 12:09:04 AM
Doesn't sound like it, they stick when released, and only affect headlight and dash lights. On yours, I'd check the battery, then the grounds....I'd bet on a bad battery.
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: hpras on July 28, 2010, 12:38:36 AM
I'd recheck the fuses.  Old fuses can break at one end, they look fine, and work part time, but then won't, and then will, and will drive you friggin' nut's until you find it.
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: Harvy on July 28, 2010, 01:10:44 AM
You haven't unintentionally pressed the kill switch have you?


Harvy
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: rpickle on July 28, 2010, 01:13:25 AM
I put a new AGM battery in last fall, I hope that isn't it.  It gave no indication of being flat beforehand.  

I'll give it a closer look in the AM when I get home.

Appreciate the quick responses!

Harvy, I bagged myself with that before!  I rocked that back and forth a few times.  No good.

Rick
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: hpras on July 28, 2010, 01:29:58 AM
Oh yeah, another thought.  A loose battery cable.  Will do the same thing from time to time.
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: rpickle on July 28, 2010, 01:34:43 AM
Those I know are tight as I had checked them after reassembly.

Good thought.

Rick
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: ukfj on July 28, 2010, 09:55:42 AM
 i would check the wiring connector block by the flasher relay for good connections. I
had same problem. blue wire was at fault(corroded terminal) cleaned and made good. no problems since.
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: racerman_27410 on July 28, 2010, 03:04:37 PM
just because a battery is fairly new does not mean it cannot fail..... suddenly!


BTDT and got a new battery.


Kookaloo!


Frank
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: SlowOldGuy on July 28, 2010, 05:17:54 PM
What Frank said!  Sudden catastrophic battery failure has happened to me 4 time now.  Everything is fine until you hit the starter button.  Then everything is instantly dead.

New battery has been the cure 100% of the time.

DavidR.
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: rpickle on July 28, 2010, 09:17:37 PM
With the key off, battery had 12.55 volts.  Turned the key on, battery dropped to 0.2volts!

What the hec?
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: Yamifj1200 on July 28, 2010, 09:25:09 PM
Quote from: rpickle on July 28, 2010, 09:17:37 PM
With the key off, battery had 12.55 volts.  Turned the key on, battery dropped to 0.2volts!

What the hec?



Sudden catastrophic battery failure, it happens.....


Eric M
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: simi_ed on July 28, 2010, 09:51:44 PM
Sounds like a bad cell connector to me.  Each cell in the battery puts out about 2.2V.  As soon as you apply a load (turn on the key) the voltage is dropped across the bad connector and you get 0.2V.  Or, it's sudden battery failure (Where did I hear that?)

Buy another battery!
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: carsick on July 28, 2010, 10:46:36 PM
Where are you checking the voltage? If the meter leads are on the actual lead coming out of the case, +1 on bad battery. If you're on the cables or anywhere else, even with tight connections corrosion can create a resistance that will drop all the voltage. Sorry to belabor the point, but folks get so jammed up by electrical problems they forget to do the simple stuff like remove and clean cable connections. Of course replacing the battery usually inadvertently "fixes" the bad connection by scraping the oxidized lead off. Keep on trying-
Doug
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: rpickle on July 28, 2010, 11:18:16 PM
I'm right on the battery terminals.

SBD, I've not run into this before...

Great.

Maybe it is partially under warranty, just need to locate the rcpt!

Thanks

Rick
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: pdxfj on July 29, 2010, 12:40:21 AM
Where did you get your AGM battery?

I saw some on the shelf at wally world that claimed to be AGM, but you had to add the acid to it before use.  Uhh.. that's not a "sealed AGM" battery.

I have this companies AGM batteries in all the toys (two bikes and two PWC's).  I bought one of theirs for my FJ 5 years ago and never had an issue.  I took it out and put it in a FJ I fixed up and sold not too long ago.  Still works fine, and I bought my FJ a new one.. just because I could.  :)

http://www.dekabatteries.com/ (http://www.dekabatteries.com/)

Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: rpickle on July 29, 2010, 02:18:49 AM
I got this battery at Batteries Plus. 

Never had an issue with their stuff before.

Thanks for the link.


Rick
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: racerman_27410 on July 29, 2010, 10:01:10 AM
+1 on the Deka brand..... they are some serious tough batteries.



Kookaloo!

Frank
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: SlowOldGuy on July 29, 2010, 04:34:39 PM
Based on local experience, Batteries Plus has a success rate of about 50%.  I've got their AGMs in 3 bikes right now.  One is several years old and still starting fine in my '85.  Another (newer) in my '93 is beginning to crank slowly.  I finally replaced the stock Yuasa in my FZ1 last year before a trip to Ark.  1700 miles and one week later, that battery died instant death.  The replacement is going strong.

Bad batteries, it happens.

DavidR.
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: rpickle on July 29, 2010, 10:55:57 PM
Found my rcpt, so will take the battery back to them tomorrow and see what I can get out of them.

Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: rpickle on July 30, 2010, 07:19:39 PM
New battery, at no cost, makes a whale of a difference!
Title: Re: No start - dash lights
Post by: Flying Scotsman on July 30, 2010, 08:26:09 PM
Awesome I need one too but all I find are the conventional type I want a AGM sealed bat.I have two for my waverunners but they are just a little to large to fit or I would try one of them.I dont want to spend $40-$45 for a conventional bat when I can get a better one for a few bucks more.