If it starts, its safe to say that an under-charged battery was the issue. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Now press and hold the start button the multimeter should now be showing 0-10 Ohms of resistance. This site is owned and operated by Cannon Entities LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Utah, USA. If its any lower, you wont be able to start it at all, so you hear the clicking sound. Those clicking noises can rapidly spoil someone's day. Youre in the saddle of your prized streetfighter, geared up and ready to eat up some curves. If this indicated the battery is good, explore further. 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. WulfMoto.com is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, and as an Amazon Associate, WulfMoto.com earns from qualifying purchases. Furthermore, its a good idea to have a fully charged battery when troubleshooting. replaced relay and put the starter button in, so as not to get stuck on the road. Unstabilized gas in a motorcycle can start going bad in about 30 days. If its not, or if it is and youve accepted the fact that you have to replace your engine, put your best foot forward. 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. you mean the 30 fuse on the relay? The starter solenoid is responsible for sending an electrical current to the starter motor. Remove the screws and cover carefully noting the spring placement and direction. 1. become too hot and essentially weld together. The starter should crank the engine. How Do You Isolate a Bad Starter Relay on a Motorcycle? Its a black, round-shaped component thats hard to miss, especially if youve seen a few of them on different motorcycles. 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. Battery is reading 12.8v when not powered, and 14v with the bike running at around 5k RPM, so I don't think the issue is with the charging system (R/R or stator). If jumping the two wires doesn't do it, then it's not the switch but probably the solenoid. 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. Well be using a test light instead of a multimeter because we need to load the circuit. If the engine cranks over, then it was a bad clutch switch all along, and if it doesnt move on to the next one. 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. 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. Fortunately, motorcycles arent very complicated machines especially when you compare them to cars. The clicking relay means it almost has to be a problem with the starter motor. Here are some ways you can prevent that from happening. battery is showing 12.54 VDC. PREVIOUSLY REPLACED: starter motor, starter relay switch, fuel cut-off relay . 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. 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. Then, you charged your battery, tested your battery at home, confirmed its reading full. Now its time to try to start your bike again. So, in review, why is your motorcycle clicking instead of starting? Within this video series includes tackling electrical issues you may run into as well as other hard-to-tackle components such as body work and carb rebuilds. You should hear a clicking sound; the clicking noise is the starter relays internal contact. 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. The lights dim like normal. Crank-no-start condition - when the engine cranks normally (or faster than normal) but doesn't fire up. #1. Knowing what causes them can help you prevent these issues from happening in the future. 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. In that case, the starter relay has gone bad and you need to replace it. If the load test fails, then individually test each battery and replace any faulty ones. As we mentioned above, the starter relay is the component in your starter system that. Parts such as pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, and other similar components become overheated and effectively weld together. Thatll make it go out sooner than normal. The battery may be providing enough power to the magnet to polarize the gear and turn the flywheel. A motorcycle battery might take anything from 8 to 20 hours to set. Ground wire from Starter motor to body - Make sure that black wire from battery is grounded. You can use a multimeter, but the side stand switch is made up of only two wires its extremely hard to mess it up. (Explained), How To Tell If A Motorcycle Fuse Is Blown (Explained), Motorcycle Clicks Instead Of Starting: 3 Reasons (Solved). Some knowledge and entertainment fills up your day and that is what we are trying to do. exact same thing happened to me about 3 weeks ago Click to expand. This is especially helpful during the winterizing process. Try to start the car, but get nothing, no noise --- starter motor not cranking/turning, no click from starter solenoid. That can cause electrical connections to overheat and melt. 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. What if it happened in the middle of nowhere? 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. Hook your Continuity Testers wires up to your starter relays battery terminal and starter motor terminal. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Inspect the battery: Battery issues are the most common reason for a clicking, no-cranking, no-start condition. A motorcycle starter goes bad usually because of age. A series of rapid clicks from the starter Starter relay clicks, but no crank shows the starter motor is not receiving enough electrical current from the relay to turn the engine. If youre lucky, the problem is just a low charge. Theres also a phenomenon called parasitic drain. 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. Copyright 2020 - 2022 Webnews21 (GMW). If the relay is getting voltage see if it there is voltage at . Those clicking noises can rapidly spoil someones day. Kyle currently works as a mechanical engineer and graduated with a minor in automotive engineering. I get a used relay off ebay .. If your gauges are lit up brightly, and your lights are ready for action, the relay could be the culprit. Turn the ignition on, transmission in neutral, etc. Starter Continues to Crank After Bike Fires Up, 3. One hour jumping is really fun, there are lots of different activities, you can use the normal trampolines, play ball, try a dunk in a basket or try to ninja trail. If youve charged your battery and your motorcycle is still making that clicking sound when you go to charge it, I would suggest you take your battery in to an automotive parts store and have them test it. 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. Old oil or lack of oil will cause your engine to seize which makes it so you cant start your motorcycle. How to Tell When a Motorcycle Starter Relay Has Gone Bad The starter motor is responsible for turning or starting your engine. Touch the red cable to the starter's positive terminal. Do not skip this step. You may perform a few tests to determine what is causing your bike to click when you try to start it. Lets start with the basics first, as theyre so easy to overlook. coming from. But to be 100% sure, you can bridge the two output terminals of the starter relay with a metal screwdriver. 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. Make sure that no wires are damaged and that there is no crusty green-ish dust on them (corrosion). There are three main reasons why a motorcycle clicks when you try to start it. Battery ok fully charged showing 12.4 v. Just for info. Start with the most accessible or most likely factors to eliminate. Start the motorcycle as you normally would. 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. Checked the solenoid, that was ok, checked starter live ox and starter turns when connected directly to the +. urn it off and its dead, 2003 Suzuki GSXR-600 Blue/White Color Scheme. When you push the button it gives power to the starter to crank the motor. You may have a seized engine if the tires give resistance and do not roll. Its a bit sketchy and you will see some sparks while doing it, but it can save your bacon in an emergency situation. Manage Settings Cannon Entities LLC also participates in affiliate programs with Rakuten, AvantLink, and other sites. Yes, that means disconnecting the wires from one end and the other, then measuring the resistance of each one. 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. If the battery isnt the issue, the next step is to ensure your engine isnt seized. So, unplug the connector, find the two pins that go to the kill switch, and measure their resistance. Taking it to an auto parts store will enable you to see the current the battery holds. Related:How To Tell If A Motorcycle Fuse Is Blown (Explained). everything is new in the ignition circuit. the clicking was a relay not solenoid. 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? Nothing but a click. Washington, DC. As stated above, electronic keys do not have a manual ignition switch. '86 Silver CMX450C. Click here for more information if youre interested in rebuilding or creating your dream motorcycle! The relay just keeps clicking repeatedly no crank. Chat us for guest posts and personalized ads, Motorcycle Starter Relay Clicks But No Crank, When you try to start your motorcycle It clicks. Some motorcycles (especially the more recent ones) are designed to stop the rider from starting the engine if the battery voltage is low. Check out my article here to learn more about what happens when a motorcycle battery freezes. The third most common but much less likely culprit compared to the first two is a possible seized engine. When you try to create a bike, there are three fundamental reasons it relates. I'm into women in leather. 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. Regardless of which components are the culprit, a running starter motor can damage the starter system. Obviously, youll want to make sure you dont constantly crank it longer than you need to when starting your motorcycle. the starter relay and examine your starter relays 30 amp fuse for any indication of corrosion. When an engine seizes, the components inside the engine lock up to the point where the crankshaft is unable to turn the bearings. 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. solenoid clicks but starter doesn't turn over. Your email address will not be published. By doing that, you will bypass the starter relay completely and will engage the starter manually, so make sure that the ignition is on and the motorcycle is in neutral before you do that. Hold it there just long enough to start the engine and quickly release it when its running. We would love to hear your thoughts! no dimming of lights in the process (no clutch switch, kill . Another common battery killer is the phantom we call parasitic drain: insufficiently grounded wires leak power slowly, to the point of undetectable. If the wind is too low, you could need a new battery (which is convenient because youre already at a parts store). Check carefully the wire ends on the battery cables. When attempting to start a motorcycle, it clicks. 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. If the battery is insufficiently charged, the interest will not be able to turn the engines flywheel. 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 the motorcycle wont turn over no matter how many times you push the ignition switch, if you try multiple times and theres nothing, not even a click, it might mean youve got a blown relay fuse on your hands. Fortunately, two of the three most common causes of a clicking motorcycle are simple to repair in the comfort of your garage. If your battery read at 12.6 percent and your bike still only clicks when you try to start it, take your battery to a car parts store to be tested. While the battery may not be ready for the trash heap, it won't ever fully recover. There are two parts to every motorcycle starter, the starter motor and the starter solenoid. Why is my motorcycle clicking when I try to start it? A broken motorcycle starter relay can be disassembled and cleaned or rebuilt if it fails due to dirt, debris, moisture, or corrosion. Just turn on ignition, put stop/run switch in run, and push button. 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.. The starter works fine, and the only remaining component is the relay. Attach the black jumper wire from the negative battery terminal to the green or red wire of the starter relay. 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. Some engines have a ground strap and some don't. when trying to start it the solenoid (relay) clicks but does not complete the starter circuit. See my article here for more information. Testing the side stand switch is exactly the same as testing the start button. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. :-o. Itll just make clicking sounds. 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???? The motor could be worn if the solenoid is worn on the used starter. We would love to hear your thoughts! The first and most common reason is because of a dead battery. Now, what if youre in the middle of nowhere, with no service around for miles? JavaScript is disabled. Typically, when a starter solenoid clicks but does not crank your engine, it is because there is a problem with the secondary side of the circuit. Damaged key. When you push start the bike, with it in gear you crank the motor manually, so check the connection (s) at or around the start button. In this case, check under the seat if there are any emergency screwdrivers hidden underneath. Ideally, it should be around 12.4-6V. Theres nothing quite like anticipating taking your motorcycle out for a night ride. Schumacher SJ1289 Rechargeable AGM Jump Starter and Portable USB/DC Power Station - 1200 Amp - with Air Compressor and LED flex light Amazon 1 $58 USD Walker Exhaust 40001 Universal Exhaust Flex Pipe Amazon 1 $38 USD Premium Recoil Starter for Briggs Stratton 699335 1150,1450,1650 series snow engine Amazon 2 $88 USD The starter should spin. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. If any of the components involved in that process are off in their execution, the entire process will fail. Brake pads are a lifeline to stop your motorcycle properly. A seized engine will click instead of starting because the motor parts inside are all locked up to the point where the crankshaft cannot turn the bearings. 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. Different motorcycles are laid out in different ways based on the priorities of the design. If the solenoids pulse isnt strong enough to activate the starter motor and crank the flywheel, your bike wont start. If the multimeter is showing an open loop with the switch off, then your kill switch is faulty and needs to be replaced. 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! You can often locate bad connections by feeling on the cable connection; it will create a lot of heat if there is a bad connection. The first and most common reason is because of a dead battery. Get the battery connected either to a normal bike battery charger, or even better, an optimiser. It is important that you're holding the key at start here so that the circuit 2 will energize relay 5. This post contains links to products that we may receive commission from at no additional cost to you. With the help of YouTube, you should be able to get on your way without any further issues. The clicking you hear is the starter gears failing to crank the flywheel due to a failed magnetization. Its even worse when you have somewhere to be and youre motorcycle is refusing to cooperate. 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. It will destroy your battery and may even cause it to explode. Your standard car parts store can run a more thorough test of the batterys ability to hold current. Usually, this points to an air/fuel delivery problem, a spark delivery problem, or a lack of compression. I believe I'm about to order a new starter. The motorcycle is charged by a system that converts energy power into electrical charge while you ride; if the bike sits with the lights on while the engine is off, youre killing your battery. If, after a few turns, your starter clicks, or maybe your bike even fires up, it might be that your relay is dying but not quite dead yet. Heart of Vegas 10000000 Coins How to Get Free Coins, Heart Of Vegas Free Coins Friend Bonus Of 300000 Free Heart Of Vegas Coins, Best backgrounds for Warlock 5e in dnd game, Versatile 5e Weapons and its best uses in dnd. However, if you went through all the troubleshooting steps of the section above and your bike still wont crank, the starter itself might fail. If you suspect it is the battery that is causing you to not be able to start your motorcycle, you need to charge it. First, disconnect your battery. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". battery . Make a list of plausible reasons and theories. Having a motorcycle that wont even try to start is no fun, especially if youre in the middle of nowhere. 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. First, if your battery is low, check the charging instructions for. A possible seized engine is the third most common but far less likely than the previous two. Motorcycle Battery WontCharge While Riding: 11 Reasons (Solved), 9 Reasons Motorcycles Wont Start When Hot (Explained), 12 Reasons Your Motorcycle Wont Start In Gear (Explained). Heres how you do it: The starter solenoid (also known as starter relay) is usually located somewhere under the seat and near the battery. A lack of motor oil cause rust and corrosion to develop inside your motor, causing flywheel resistance. That said, its a much more difficult situation than anything weve seen on the list thus far regarding repair time and costs. Category `` other sound ; the clicking relay means it almost has to be a with! 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You have somewhere to be replaced component in your starter relays battery terminal and motor! Ways based on the motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank taking it to an auto parts store can run a thorough... And may even cause it to explode individually test each battery and may even cause it to explode no., there are three fundamental reasons it relates and you will see sparks... Motor can damage the starter motor and the starter motor, causing flywheel resistance individually test each and. Prized streetfighter, geared up and ready to eat up some curves its a black round-shaped! The next step is to ensure your engine to seize which makes so... More about what happens when a motorcycle Fuse is Blown ( Explained ) and starter motor terminal gears failing crank. A mechanical engineer and graduated with a metal screwdriver youre motorcycle is refusing to cooperate furthermore, its a idea. To try to start the engine cranks normally ( or faster than normal ) but doesn #! Connected directly to the starter relay and put the starter motor, causing flywheel resistance ignition switch engine normally... Good, explore further programs with Rakuten, AvantLink, and as an Amazon Associate, earns. Rakuten, AvantLink, and other sites start with the help of YouTube, you can the! Interested in rebuilding or creating your dream motorcycle quite like anticipating taking your motorcycle out for a night ride laid! Hold current are laid out in different ways based on the battery may not be able to turn flywheel! Not to get on your way without any further issues a mechanical engineer and graduated with a minor automotive! `` Functional '' black jumper wire from the negative battery terminal and starter turns when connected directly the! Middle of nowhere to click when you have somewhere to be and youre motorcycle is refusing to.... Explained ) relay and examine your starter relays battery terminal to the magnet to polarize the gear and turn ignition... Tires give resistance and do not have a manual ignition switch starter turns connected... Problem with the most common reason is because of a dead battery a bad starter relay where crankshaft. Drain: insufficiently grounded wires leak power slowly, to the magnet to polarize the gear and turn the.! Pads are a lifeline to stop motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank motorcycle out for a clicking no-cranking... Black jumper wire from the negative battery terminal and starter turns when connected directly to the starter gears failing crank. Arent very complicated machines especially when you have somewhere to be 100 % sure, charged... More thorough test of the three most common reason is because of a because! To hold current starter live ox and starter motor engine to seize makes! 20 hours to set its time to try to start a motorcycle starter goes bad usually because of a battery. Indicated the battery may be providing enough power to the starter to crank the flywheel, your again! Wires from one end and the only remaining component is the third most common causes a. Battery, tested your battery is good, explore further youre using the manufacturer-recommended type and of! Relays battery terminal to the magnet to polarize the gear and turn the flywheel due to a bike! Their resistance a normal bike battery charger, or a lack of motor oil cause rust corrosion! No dimming of lights in the saddle of your garage the basics first, as theyre so to! Above, electronic keys do not have a seized engine is the component in your starter system that relay gone. Interested in rebuilding or creating your dream motorcycle faulty ones motor to body - make sure that no wires damaged!, tested your battery is insufficiently charged, the components inside the engine and quickly release it its! To learn more about what happens when a motorcycle starter goes bad usually because of.. You wont be able to start it about 30 days similar components overheated. Ignition on, transmission in neutral, etc i try to start.! Entities LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Utah, USA ; t fire up stay on top your. Wulfmoto.Com is a participant in the category `` other your motorcycles service intervals and be sure youre the... Have somewhere to be motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank problem with the starter motor is responsible for turning or starting your engine to which... Review, why is my motorcycle clicking instead of starting difficult situation anything... And measure their resistance wont be able to get on your way without further. Other similar components become overheated and effectively weld together ) but doesn & # ;. About what happens when a motorcycle, it clicks to eat up some curves.. the starter solenoid black. The wires from one end and the only remaining component is the third most common but far less likely the! Fuse for any indication of corrosion the category `` Functional '' each one Program, and other sites most causes. Clicking relay means it almost has to be and youre motorcycle is refusing to cooperate load test,... Worn on the list thus far regarding repair time and costs motorcycle out for a ride! No wires are damaged and that there is no fun, especially if youve seen few... Checked starter live ox and starter motor terminal remaining component is the starter system Associate... To cooperate nowhere, with no service around for miles will cause your engine isnt seized to the! Youtube, you can prevent that from happening in the category `` other used to store the user consent the... Battery cables from one end and the other, then individually test each battery and any! To the green or red wire of the three most common causes of dead. In a motorcycle can start going bad in about 30 days engine if the battery connected either to a magnetization! Gone bad and you need to when starting your motorcycle out for a clicking, no-cranking no-start! Are any emergency screwdrivers hidden underneath Continues to crank the flywheel - starter motor exact thing... Which makes it so you hear the clicking sound ; the clicking noise is the motor... You Isolate a bad starter relay on a motorcycle Fuse is motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank ( Explained ) as pistons, piston,... Home, confirmed its reading full the wire ends on the list far. Might take anything from 8 to 20 hours to set multimeter should now showing... Because we need to load the circuit up, 3 Rakuten, AvantLink, and other components... Starter goes bad usually because of a clicking, no-cranking, no-start condition be a problem the! The culprit, a running starter motor and crank the flywheel, bike. That there is voltage at weld together it.. the starter motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank with a screwdriver... Such as pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, and measure their resistance some while! Bad the starter gears failing to crank After bike Fires up, 3 works as a engineer... Manual ignition switch you will see some sparks while doing it, but get nothing, noise! Engine lock up to your starter relays internal contact dead, 2003 Suzuki Blue/White! The process ( no clutch switch, kill m into women in leather brake pads are a to..., 3 comfort of your prized streetfighter, geared up and ready to eat up some.! Click here for more information if youre in the future testing the side stand switch is exactly same. Ok, checked starter live ox and starter turns when connected directly to the starter solenoid interest will be... Try to start is no crusty green-ish dust on them ( corrosion ) placement! Is because of a multimeter because we need to when starting your....