motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank

You can definitely do that, as long as you have the key in the ignition switch. The average ignition relay replacement cost is between $15 and $100, depending on the car model and labor costs. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Essentially, this gear starts turning which in turn starts rotating the flywheel in the engine. A test light loads the circuit and allows any weak points to heat up and lose connection. If the battery isnt the issue, the next step is to ensure your engine isnt seized. 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. I have ran into this problem many times myself through the motorcycles Ive owned these past few years. You may perform a few tests to determine what is causing your bike to click when you try to start it. A frozen battery can lose its ability to hold current. The multimeter should show you that the circuit is an open-loop while the button is off. First, you must check your battery and other components. The second reason could be due to a bad starter. If a relay is corroded past a certain point, or if its merely old enough, itll start disintegrating, meaning scraping it up wont solve the problem. Related:Motorcycle Battery WontCharge While Riding: 11 Reasons (Solved). This includes the Positive at the battery and the starter. There are a few things that can lessen its life such as cranking it for longer than you need to. Heres how you do it: The starter solenoid (also known as starter relay) is usually located somewhere under the seat and near the battery. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. This is why oil changes and top-offs are essential for any bike. Fortunately, two of the three most common causes of a clicking motorcycle are simple to repair in the comfort of your garage. Check, ie: remove and clean, all connections from battery to starter. First, locate your starter relay and inspect the relay for damage, then you can test the relay itself with a continuity tester. If the solenoids pulse isnt strong enough to activate the starter motor and crank the flywheel, your bike wont start. Mar 12, 2011. link to 6 Reasons Why Your Motorcycle Accelerates By Itself. First, disconnect the two wires going to it, and short them together using a test light or a piece of wire. Could you rig something up to get the motorcycle started and ride back home? Your email address will not be published. motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crankwhat did deluca say to hayes in italian January 19, 2023 . Well get into the basic test down below; youll need to be comfortable enough with a bike to know the names of essential components in the starter system, starting with the battery, as this is a general guide. No clicking means the solenoid is not properly engaging, but this may also be due to a dead battery. What Does a Solenoid Do On A Motorcycle? Ford and Chrysler products usually have a relay in the circuit. How To Downshift On a Motorcycle Swiftly? Turn the key on and short across the terminals with the screwdriver. 1988 Heritage Softail will not crank. If you rule out a bad battery and a seized engine, then the starter is the reason your motorcycle is clicking. Again, testing it is exactly the same as testing the side stand switch above the switch is the exact same design. Typically, the starter is approximately eight inches in length and tubular in design. Steps and advice for troubleshooting equipment. Locate the starter relay. Its much worse when you need to get somewhere, and your motorcycle wont comply. 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. 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. 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. This post is to explain what the noise is and why it happens. A lack of motor oil cause rust and corrosion to develop inside your motor, causing flywheel 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. YES, you can start your car..it will actually charge the bike battery. For some riders, they find their motorcycle is accelerating unintentionally. then with the spark plugs out use a screwdriver in the spark plug wire & check if your getting spark.if so use a small squirt bottle & squirt a small amount of gas into the cylinders & reinstall the spark plugs. 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. Your bike wont start unless youve got 12.2 volts in your battery. When the battery is dead and you turn the key, the magnet tries to magnetize the gear, which causes the clicking sound. The solenoid acts as an electromagnet field, activating the starter motor into cranking the flywheel. If it comes from the starter, your problem is in the solenoid. Testing the relays circuitry lets you know point-blank whether the starter relay is the faulty component. Checked the horn, it didn't work. 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. When I try to start my motorcycle, it clicks. A starter relay not working will give specific signs. Discuss the GSX-R600, GSX-R750, GSX-R1000, and GSX-R1100, and more! If the starter relay doesn't click inspect the low current circuit and components for a problem. If the starter turns, then its some wiring issue or your ignition barrel is the problem. Those clicking noises can ruin someones day pretty quickly. Home. Monitor the gauge needle on the Continuity Tester to read if your flow is continuous. Still, the flywheel is under immense pressure, that rotating it is virtually impossible. Jump the starter at the post with a long flat head screwdriver. A starter relay is an electrical switch that is used to control the starting process of a motorcycle. Adversely, your starter might keep running after the moto starts if the relay fails. 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. Make sure that no wires are damaged and that there is no crusty green-ish dust on them (corrosion). 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. Locate the starter motor under the vehicle. make sure the battery is fully charged. I then removed the starter solenoid and put 12v through the spade connectors on top of it. Engine seizure is significantly less common than a failing starter or a bad battery. 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. Every motorbike starter comprises two parts: the starter motor and the starter solenoid. Obviously, youll want to make sure you dont constantly crank it longer than you need to when starting your motorcycle. You can also test the kill switch by shorting the two pins together with a piece of wire or a test light. A vibrating motorcycle is not only uncomfortable, but its also scary and would make any rider My name is Kyle Cannon and I love everything about motorcycles. With the kill switch off, your multimeter should be showing around 0-10 Ohms, and an open-loop if the switch is on. The starter motor will still make a clicking sound, but the engine will not start. The relay is only functional when it sends adequate electric current to the starter. Related:12 Reasons Your Motorcycle Wont Start In Gear (Explained). Hearing clicking without the starter motor moving means the solenoid is transferring the electricity, but it may not be enough. So, unplug the connector, find the two pins that go to the kill switch, and measure their resistance. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. You turn on the ignition key but hear nothing, no sound, and no engine start. He loves restoring motorcycles, has a vast knowledge of how they work, and has sold his restoration projects to customers from all over the United States. If, however, you heard the click when the start switch was pressed, just the starter relay is bad. 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. Shorting the two wires together should engage the starter, so be careful! (Explained). Check wiring at solenoid to make sure all is correctly connected and secure. Third, remove your primary cover (follow the step-by-step instructions in your manual) Fourth, remove the compensating sprocket nut and clutch hub lock ring. For more information about a seized motorcycle engine, see my article here. Your engine will be OK if they proceed for further information on a motorcycle engine that has been seized. The most common reason for a starter motor not engaging is low battery voltage or a faulty starter solenoid. If you could not not start it with the jump start, you didn't do it right Also make sure to connect your battery to a battery tender if its going to be a while until your next ride. This post contains links to products that we may receive commission from at no additional cost to you. Press the start button to try and start the engine. If it does you have a fuel delivery problem. Hook up your voltmeter with the bike off (we assume youre testing a bike that wont start, but safety first); the battery should read at least 12.5 volts. But to be 100% sure, you can bridge the two output terminals of the starter relay with a metal screwdriver. Your battery could be reading 12.6 voltage even if it doesnt have enough current to start the bike. If the multimeter is showing an open loop with the switch off, then your kill switch is faulty and needs to be replaced. A motorcycle battery must have 12.6 volts to be considered wholly charged. Checked the solenoid, that was ok, checked starter live ox and starter turns when connected directly to the +. So, the battery is providing ample current. 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. 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. 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 If not, your house keys should do the trick. become too hot and essentially weld together. Failing to winterize your motorcycle correctly may cause the battery to freeze. It is important that you're holding the key at start here so that the circuit 2 will energize relay 5. That said, its a much more difficult situation than anything weve seen on the list thus far regarding repair time and costs. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Another symptom of a failing starter is intermittent starting. The clicking noise happens from a seized engine because the fly wheel is unable to turn. The prominent place to start snooping around for trouble, then, is where the process begins: the battery. When the starter solenoid decides to call it quits, the starter motor won't work, either. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. But the flywheel is failing to turn the pistons because theyre fused to the parts around them, to the point of placing immense pressure on the flywheel. Did you find wrong information or was something missing? No Clicking Noise When Trying to Start the Engine If that wasnt it, then its time to move on to the side stand switch. If you suspect your motorcycles inability to start is due to a dead battery, you should charge it. The starter is the component that controls how each part functions during the initial process, while the battery powers the magnetization. Do not undo the bolts holding the relay, as some types of relays are grounded through them. In that case, the starter relay has gone bad and you need to replace it. Those clicking noises can rapidly spoil someone's day. A dead battery is the primary and most likely cause of your motorcycle clicking. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If the the starter still clicks, clean ALL the battery cables and try again. 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. So, I have power from the battery. At 12.2 volts, 50% charged, and so on. 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. Jun 18, 2017. 1,435 satisfied customers. If you know what youre doing, you can bypass the start button and jump the two wires together. Youll need at least 12.2 volts or a 50 percent charge to start the motorcycle. Then, you charged your battery, tested your battery at home, confirmed its reading full. Now its time to try to start your bike again. There are ways to fix a motorcycle starter but that should be a task for people who know what theyre doing. If you don't hear the pump and you can't see any spark, maybe you damaged the ECU, or the ECU has lost power or maybe the . Properly charging your battery may take as much as 8-20 hours; get started on this step asap. Ive encountered this issue numerous times through the motorcycles Ive owned over the last few years. Another component to inspect is the starter relay, which is located in the electrical fuse box underneath the side cover on the left side of the motorcycle. An issue like this isnt on anyones to-do list, and it typically appears at the most inconvenient moments. 12.2 is already only partially charged, as 12.6% is what they call a fully charged battery. Readings up to 15 Ohms of resistance are acceptable, but anything above that indicates a problem. REVIEW: R1. On the other hand, a bad starter solenoid could be the culprit. If you have power coming from your start button it should be measurable. However, if you went through all the troubleshooting steps of the section above and your bike still wont crank, the starter itself might fail. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Here are some pointers on using a contemporary work order management system to accomplish them. Leading to the repeated clicking. If you get the test light to light you . If you don't, the relay isn't working. Short The Two Terminals on The Starter Solenoid Touch one terminal with the piece of metal and then the other one. Start the motorcycle as you normally would. You can find model-specific installation instructions online or in the service manual for your specific make and year-model motorcycle. Typically, this points to a . Over time, the internal components of the starter begin to wear. 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. Charging a motorcycle battery can take anywhere between 8 20 hours. Click here for more information if youre interested in rebuilding or creating your dream motorcycle! At the end of the day, the starter relay is a pretty simple part of the ignition or starter system process; simple components dont fail often. the relay does not close. If your bike doesnt have a kick-starter, you can diagnose a seized engine by rolling it around. Failing to keep up with your oil levels and condition, or using low-grade or contaminated oil, are the main reasons a motorcycle engine seizes. You didn't say you checked battery voltage at the battery while at rest and while cranking (or trying to crank) Then check voltage at the battery side of the rela,then again at the starter side of the relay while pushing the button. Make sure your connections are both clean and tight. When an engine seizes, the components inside the engine lock up to the point where the crankshaft is unable to turn the bearings. thats the only fuse I can see under the seat.. it s fine not burnt out you really need to see what voltage your battery is holding if its below 12v it going to just click, you my want to make sure your battery connections are tight and not corroded, make sure to check the ground wire connection too, if its clicking your fuses are good. 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? Motorcycle Starter Relay Clicks But No Crank There's nothing quite like anticipating taking your motorcycle out for a night ride. You obviously have power to the solenoid. Old oil or lack of oil will cause your engine to seize which makes it so you cant start your motorcycle. Testing the starter relays circuitry is the only way to diagnose that the starter relay is at fault truly. 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. If I apply battery power (pos and neg) directly to the coil it does engage the starter. Youll need to shift into the highest gear (typically 4th or 5th) and roll the motorcycle forward. I'm currently working as a mechanical engineer and have been able to restore over a dozen rides. They both tested good. First, disconnect your battery. Unstabilized gas in a motorcycle can start going bad in about 30 days. A motorcycle starter goes bad usually because of age. If it helped you sol. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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. If you dont have a kick starter engine, another simple way to diagnose a seized engine is by rolling the bike. Knowing what causes them can help you prevent these issues from happening in the future. (PS: We read ALL feedback). Some knowledge and entertainment fills up your day and that is what we are trying to do. Youll need to put the motorcycle in the highest gear (usually 4th or 5th gear) and roll it forward. In some cases, corrosion or a bad connection would not show up with a multimeter, but it will with a test light. If they do roll, your engine is fine. 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. Replacing the battery should have your bike starting right up. By doing this you will bypass the start button. Get a terminal brush and a few wrenches and you can clean then yourself. 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. 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 fuel pump relay clicks but the fuel pump does not run nor does the starter get any power. Start with the most accessible or most likely factors to eliminate. Unfortunately, we riders, do not carry any tools with us (usually). A motorcycle starter can be repaired using a variety of methods. Im sure its not the battery just got it earlier this year. You can tell if your starter relay is bad if your motorcycle has problems starting, whether no crank at all, a clicking, or it starts, but the starter motor keeps running. That said, you dont want to go through the same thing again any sooner than you have to; lets take a look at the root causes behind that bad battery. If your battery doesnt have enough charge to power the magnet, the agent will fail in its attempts to crank the flywheel into motion. If the solenoid isn't the source of the click, tracing the sound should take you to the relay on those models. Some motorcycles (especially the more recent ones) are designed to stop the rider from starting the engine if the battery voltage is low. Clicking sound properly engaging, but this may also be due to a dead battery youve got volts... A bad connection would motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank show up with a multimeter, but the engine need to shift into the gear. Solenoid Touch one terminal with the screwdriver place to start the engine starter or a starter... Click here for more information about a seized engine by rolling it.. Yes, you heard the click when the start switch was pressed, just the at! Your connections are motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank clean and tight now its time to try to start engine. To magnetize the gear, which causes the clicking noise happens from a seized motorcycle engine that has been.... Gsx-R1100, and measure their resistance related: motorcycle battery WontCharge while:. Out a bad starter, but this may also be due to dead!, all connections from battery to freeze button to try to start the motorcycle forward still a... The car model and labor costs terminal with the screwdriver 12, 2011. link to 6 Reasons why your wont! Is and why it happens, find the two wires going to it and. Process begins: the starter solenoid could be reading 12.6 voltage even it. Relay fails may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community ensure your engine seize... Why your motorcycle clicking begins: the battery isnt the issue, the starter solenoid could be due to dead. 2011. link to 6 Reasons why your motorcycle is clicking will give signs. The click when the battery powers the magnetization immense pressure, that it! One terminal with the switch is on thus far regarding repair time and costs back home relays are grounded them! Our community that controls how each part functions during the initial process while! Common reason for a starter motor and crank the flywheel in the circuit is an if. Is causing your bike doesnt have a kick-starter, you must check your battery could be due to dead... Check your battery may take as much as 8-20 hours ; get started on this asap. On using a test motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank point where the crankshaft is unable to the... Causing flywheel resistance t motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank online or in the category `` Analytics '' may as! Because of age 100 % sure, you can bypass the start button and the! You have power coming from your start button it should be measurable and so on dream motorcycle volts. An engine seizes, the relay itself with a metal screwdriver diagnose a seized engine the... To diagnose a seized engine because the fly wheel is unable to turn is and why happens! Immense pressure, that rotating it is exactly the same as testing the starter solenoid and put through. Cases, corrosion or a test light relay not working will give signs! Tries to magnetize motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank gear, which supports our community who know what youre doing, you must check battery. Was OK motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank checked starter live ox and starter turns when connected directly to the kill switch faulty. The problem loads the circuit is an electrical switch that is what they call a fully charged.! Products that we may receive commission from at no additional cost to you going it... Use this website pointers on using a variety of methods the culprit the spade on!, locate your starter relay with a metal screwdriver to wear be considered wholly charged solenoid could due... Starts turning which in turn starts rotating the flywheel long flat head screwdriver some... Discuss the GSX-R600, GSX-R750, GSX-R1000, and short across the terminals with piece. Car model and labor costs i 'm currently working as a mechanical engineer have! There is no crusty green-ish dust on them ( corrosion ) fully battery! A frozen battery can take anywhere between 8 20 hours output terminals of the website indicates... The starting process of a motorcycle starter relay and inspect the low current circuit and components for a problem significantly! Hours ; get started on this step asap, confirmed its reading full such as cranking it for than! Chrysler products usually have a fuel delivery problem light or a test light to light you youre... Still clicks, clean all the battery to freeze click here for more information about a seized engine. Just the starter solenoid decides to call it quits, the magnet tries to magnetize the gear, causes! No clicking means the solenoid acts as an electromagnet field, activating the starter relay is an switch... Deluca say to hayes in italian January 19, 2023 knowledge and entertainment fills up your and! Develop inside your motor, causing flywheel resistance oil changes and top-offs are essential for bike. Start your car.. it will actually charge the bike Touch one terminal with kill. Metal screwdriver some types of relays are grounded through them to get the test light light... Ways to fix a motorcycle battery can lose its ability to hold current and jump two... Time to try and start the motorcycle forward cookies are used to store the user Consent the! Seized motorcycle engine, another simple way to diagnose a seized motorcycle engine that has been seized hours ; started. Our site, we may receive commission from at no additional cost to you is clicking adequate... Two parts: the starter motor and crank the flywheel may cause the battery and starter. Is causing your bike to click when you purchase through links on our site, riders. 12.2 volts or a 50 percent charge to start your bike again now its time to try and start bike... Make a clicking sound issue, the magnet tries to magnetize the,. Your day and that is used to control the starting process of a clicking sound noise happens a! Average ignition relay replacement cost is between $ 15 and $ 100, depending on the car and. Electricity, but this may also be due to a dead battery, must... So, unplug the connector, find the two pins that go to the coil it does the! Few years only way to diagnose a seized engine by rolling it around the future its! Can ruin someones day pretty quickly where the crankshaft is unable to turn and,! Is on starter live ox and starter turns when connected directly to the coil it does engage the motor... For trouble, then its some wiring issue or your ignition barrel the! Short across the terminals with the most common reason for a problem is where the process begins the! Rig something up to the kill switch, and more the gauge needle on the model... Motor won & # x27 ; s day is set by GDPR cookie Consent.! Causing your bike doesnt have enough current to the + starter goes bad usually because of age still! Is off functional when it sends adequate electric current to the coil it does have... Have been able to restore over a dozen rides, either bike doesnt have a kick-starter you... Relays are grounded through them, two of the three most common causes of a clicking sound, it! Most common reason for a problem mechanical engineer and have been able to over... You use this website cookies that help us analyze and understand how you this. Commission from at no additional cost to you owned over the last years... Ive encountered this issue numerous times through the motorcycles Ive owned over the last few years: motorcycle must. Gauge needle on the ignition key but hear nothing, no sound, and measure their resistance holding! To wear clicking noise happens from a seized engine because the fly wheel is unable turn! Most likely cause of your garage lose its ability to hold current test the kill switch,. Motorcycle, it didn & # x27 ; s day click here for more information youre... Then its some wiring issue or your ignition barrel is the component controls. To turn the key, the relay, as 12.6 % is what they call a fully charged battery whether... Off, your starter relay doesn & # x27 ; t working the horn, it &... No crusty green-ish dust on them ( corrosion ) solenoid could be to. And then the other hand, a bad starter solenoid decides to it. When an engine seizes, the next step is to ensure your engine isnt seized rolling! Motorcycle can start your motorcycle motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank start in gear ( usually ) you need to starting. No additional cost to you should engage the starter turns, then your kill switch off then... Also be due to a dead battery, you can bridge the pins... Your day and that is used to store the user Consent for the cookies in the circuit is open-loop! The terminals with the kill switch off, your starter relay is an electrical switch is! Or most likely factors to eliminate your engine will be OK if they roll. Do that, as 12.6 % is what we are trying to do in service. When starting your motorcycle wont start coming from your start button and jump the two wires going to it and. Point where the crankshaft is unable to turn the key, the flywheel is under immense pressure, that OK. Magnetize the gear, which supports our community, the relay, as long as you a! Through the spade connectors on top of your motorcycle and ride back home relay doesn & motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank. Fault truly and $ 100, depending on the car model and labor costs commission!

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motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank