motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank
The problem could also be the solenoid failing to deactivate, which calls for a starter system diagnostic. The neutral switch has the exact same purpose as the clutch switch to prevent the rider from starting the engine while its in gear. First, locate your starter relay and inspect the relay for damage, then you can test the relay itself with a continuity tester. Motorcycles and automotive repair have been a big part of his family for generations, therefore its only natural that he decided to become a heavy-duty diesel tech. The fuel pump relay clicks but the fuel pump does not run nor does the starter get any power. What Does a Solenoid Do On A Motorcycle? the starter motor is directly connected to the battery(+), grounded (-), additional . When you try to create a bike, there are three fundamental reasons it relates. Solenoid, battery, and starter testing and replacement video. some people keep the idle low, turn the screw in a half to 3/4th turn. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Generally, you scrape the corroded relay surface with a scraper or grit paper. 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. At 12.4 volts, the battery is 75% charged. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Check wiring at solenoid to make sure all is correctly connected and secure. But once you get home, diagnosing a no-start can get quite complicated and time-consuming. I'm currently working as a mechanical engineer and have been able to restore over a dozen rides. Hook your Continuity Testers wires up to your starter relays battery terminal and starter motor terminal. Testing the side stand switch is exactly the same as testing the start button. Sep 1, 2010. Its a bit sketchy and you will see some sparks while doing it, but it can save your bacon in an emergency situation. I try to jump it off a car the bike starts when jumper cables are on but when I disconnect, the bike shuts off. If it still clicks, disconnect the battery. A bike engine can seize and essentially become inoperable, including triggering the starting issues discussed here due to a lack of lubrication. However, a lot of them come with only a single wire, because they are already grounded through the engine. To help prevent motorcyclists from riding off with the side stand down (which is extremely dangerous), motorcycle manufacturers started using side stand switches. Your standard car parts store can run a more thorough test of the batterys ability to hold current. If you could not not start it with the jump start, you didn't do it right With a little help from YouTube, you should be able to be on your way without any further issues. When it comes to your starter, theres really not a whole lot you can do to prevent its aging. 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. If you don't see sparks, your current connections or battery is not right. power from the battery to the starter motor. Not even a click from the starter relay. Youll need to shift into the highest gear (typically 4th or 5th) and roll the motorcycle forward. You can also test the kill switch by shorting the two pins together with a piece of wire or a test light. Jump the starter at the post with a long flat head screwdriver. Taking it to an auto parts store will enable you to see the current the battery holds. Over time, the internal components of the starter begin to wear. 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. I simply recommend you get a new starter and your issue should be solved. When you press the start button and cannot hear the starter relay clicking, it means that either the starter relay is bad or that the starter relay is not receiving power. Starter relay clicks, but no crank shows the starter motor is not receiving enough electrical current from the relay to turn the engine. 2009 CMX250; one black, one blue '89 VN750, 2006 ninja 250. Its a black, round-shaped component thats hard to miss, especially if youve seen a few of them on different motorcycles. First, disconnect the two smaller gauge wires that go to the relay these two wires are on the control side of the relay. By doing this you will bypass the start button. 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. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, transmission in neutral, etc. 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. So, in review, why is your motorcycle clicking instead of starting? If the wiring passed the visual check, youll have to measure the resistance between all of them. A good way to test this is to wait until it won't start. A frozen battery can lose its ability to hold current. When its time to ride out to the meet-up spot, I sit on my motorcycle, hit the start button, and nothing. Use your multimeter in continuity mode to measure the resistance between the two wires that go to the start button. 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. If you rule out a bad battery and a seized engine, then the starter is the reason your motorcycle is clicking. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. A properly functioning accelerator on your motorcycle is critical to having a fun and safe ride. 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. A motorcycle battery must have 12.6 volts to be considered wholly charged. If they do roll, your engine is fine. the coil + terminal does measure 12V when attempting to start. Batteries are a vital part of a motorcycles function and without it, you wont be able to get your motorcycle to start. Get a quick visual check on the wiring. 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. If it spins the starter motor over good and starts then you probably have a bad solenoid, if not then look at the starter. If the current is too low, you may need to simply get a new battery by that point (which is convenient because youre already at a parts store). Dont use any electric components on your motorcycle while it is off longer than you need to. The usual reason, though, is because owners dont do proper maintenance and change and add oil when they need to. A seized engine is the third most prevalent but less likely, cause of the motorcycle clicking. As we said, bikes are pretty straightforward machines; even the most innovative ECU regulated bikes are straightforward when it comes to starting. exact same thing happened to me about 3 weeks ago Click to expand. Relays have the potential to go bad and prevent high current from reaching the starter. #3. If its still an open loop, then the start button is bad and you need a new one. Battery terminals, undo them, clean them, snug em up. all the lights come on bright read more. Regardless of which components are the culprit, a running starter motor can damage the starter system. In this case, check under the seat if there are any emergency screwdrivers hidden underneath. 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. 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. For more information about a seized motorcycle engine, see my article here. When it won't start, try jiggling the key in the ignition. The second reason could be due to a bad starter. The multimeter should show you that the circuit is an open-loop while the button is off. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If the magnet that polarizes the gear to turn the flywheel isnt magnetizing correctly, the gear wont do its job and turn the fly wheel in the first place. Related:9 Reasons Motorcycles Wont Start When Hot (Explained). If it starts, its safe to say that an under-charged battery was the issue. The primary and most usual reason is that the battery has died. This is also a sign of low or dead battery. By aiding the magnet, the starter aids the polarization process. Inspect the battery: Battery issues are the most common reason for a clicking, no-cranking, no-start condition. If you suspect it is the battery that is causing you to not be able to start your motorcycle, you need to charge it. 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. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. A motorcycle starter can be repaired using a variety of methods. Also make sure to connect your battery to a battery tender if its going to be a while until your next ride. If you know what youre doing, you can bypass the start button and jump the two wires together. Im sure its not the battery just got it earlier this year. Turn the ignition on, select neutral, side stand up, pull the clutch in, etc., and try starting the engine like you normally would. When the battery is dead and you turn the key, the magnet tries to magnetize the gear, which causes the clicking sound. Touch the 86 wire to the battery's positive post, and the 85 wire to the battery's negative post. So, I have power from the battery. 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. Routine oil changes is the single most important thing you can do for your engine. This is caused by parts such as the pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, etc. Today I jumped the connection across the solenoid with a pair of pliers and the bike turned over. Since the starter relay does not make any clicking sounds, its very likely that its bad or does not receive power. Now, what if youre in the middle of nowhere, with no service around for miles? battery connections are good & tight, properly lubricated, no corrosion. Thatll make it go out sooner than normal. You need a fully charged battery in the bike.Your bike does not have an alternator it has a generator. When I try to start my motorcycle, it clicks. The average ignition relay replacement cost is between $15 and $100, depending on the car model and labor costs. No clicking means the solenoid is not properly engaging, but this may also be due to a dead battery. 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. Its the only way to properly test a circuit. Your battery could be reading 12.6 voltage even if it doesnt have enough current to start the bike. If you replace the battery and that still doesn't fix it, then it's probably your stator. The clicking you hear is the starter gears failing to crank the flywheel due to a failed magnetization. That said, its a much more difficult situation than anything weve seen on the list thus far regarding repair time and costs. If the relay clicks the low current circuit of the starting system is completing. So I figured . If your battery has been charged and your motorcycle still makes that clicking sound when you try to capture it, I recommend taking it to an automotive parts store to be tested. If that causes it to start, the switch may need cleaning and/or there is a bad connection in it. Learn how your comment data is processed. Check carefully the wire ends on the battery cables. If it comes from the starter, your problem is in the solenoid. 6 Reasons Why Your Motorcycle Accelerates By Itself. Theres also a phenomenon called parasitic drain. Parts such as pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, and other similar components become overheated and effectively weld together. An issue like this isnt on anyones to-do list, and it typically appears at the most inconvenient moments. The starter motor then uses this signal to engage the flywheel and crank the engine. 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 your motorcycle doesnt make any sound when you attempt to start it, the problem is likely a dead battery. If you have a helper turn the ignition key to start, you'll be able to trace the underhood click. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. Move the wheel and turn the key again and all good. You dont want your clicking to result from a seized engine; under ordinary riding circumstances, a seized engine is extremely rare. Did you find wrong information or was something missing? Another common battery killer is the phantom we call parasitic drain: insufficiently grounded wires leak power slowly, to the point of undetectable. I recommend you check the battery and engine first before checking the starter because testing these two is a lot more simple than testing a starter. Make a list of plausible reasons and theories. No-crank-no-start condition - means the engine barely turns over or doesn't turn over at all. Even if you test the voltage on a battery and it reads 12.6 volts (full charge), that doesnt indicate the battery has enough current to start the motorcycle. Secrets and tips to get the most from your electric vehicle, We would love to hear your thoughts! Cannon Entities LLC also participates in affiliate programs with Rakuten, AvantLink, and other sites. The starter motor and is very easy to swap out. 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. 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. So in review, your bike was making a clicking sound while you were trying to start it. 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. Check the electrolyte level (on removable caps batteries). If the solenoid is faulty, it . Short The Two Terminals on The Starter Solenoid Touch one terminal with the piece of metal and then the other one. Your email address will not be published. Unstabilized gas in a motorcycle can start going bad in about 30 days. You can definitely do that, as long as you have the key in the ignition switch. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Touch one end of your test light to one of the wires, and then touch the other side of the test light to the other wire. Theres nothing like looking forward to taking your motorcycle out for a spin for the evening. If the tires give resistance and do not roll, you could have a seized engine. If youre lucky, the problem is just a low charge. Some engines have a ground strap and some don't. If it doesnt, move on to the next switch. Check out my article here to learn more about what happens when a motorcycle battery freezes. The good news is that you dont have to start initially. and the solenoid is polarizing the starter motor just fine. Validate the solution and keep a record of it. They are: No Crank, No Start; The starting process fails completely. How the starter relay process works on a healthy bike: This could result from the relay being in contact with a component generating or charged with electrical powerthe electricity keeps the relays current live after the starter switch is released. This component transfers electrical charge from the battery to the starter solenoid to fire up your starter motor. When the starter solenoid decides to call it quits, the starter motor won't work, either. If your gauges are lit up brightly, and your lights are ready for action, the relay could be the culprit. 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. The exposure to oxygen eventually changes the chemistry of gas which can lead to gum and varnish deposits. If the battery doesnt give enough power, that magnet doesnt have enough power to turn the flywheel of the engine. There are many, many safety switches that wont allow the starter to turn over if they arent closed, for example: neutral switch, side stand switch, clutch switch, etc. Tested battery had 12.6 volts. Put your bike in the highest gear possible. 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. So, the battery is providing ample current. nickbehavin. coming from. . The second reason could be due to a bad starter. If the wind is too low, you could need a new battery (which is convenient because youre already at a parts store). EXPERT TIP Jason Shackelford Auto Technician Step 1. 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. This is what I have found when it comes to clicking issues when starting your motorcycle. A dead battery is the primary and most likely cause of your motorcycle clicking. Both the positive battery cable and the negative cable. The clicking relay means it almost has to be a problem with the starter motor. Knowing what to do can be difficult in this situation. 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. This is usually due to poorly grounded wires that makes the battery slowly lose power over time without you knowing it. Lets start with the basics first, as theyre so easy to overlook. WulfMoto.com is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, and as an Amazon Associate, WulfMoto.com earns from qualifying purchases. 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. , and there is no continuity when the battery is connected, the starter relay in your motorcycle is busted. urn it off and its dead, 2003 Suzuki GSXR-600 Blue/White Color Scheme. 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. It starts, its very likely that its bad or does not have an alternator it has a.... Like looking forward to taking your motorcycle clicking then uses this signal to engage the flywheel due to lack! Power to turn the screw in a half to 3/4th turn, that magnet doesnt have power... Diagnosing a no-start can get quite complicated and time-consuming taking your motorcycle test... To wear to see the current the battery to a battery tender if its still an open loop, the! Navigate through the engine brightly, and other sites youve seen a few them. Good news is that you dont want your clicking to result from a seized engine, then can..., but no crank, no corrosion terminal with the piece of and... Is dead and you turn the key in the middle of nowhere, with no service around for miles clean! If there are any emergency screwdrivers hidden underneath some don & # x27 ; t start clicking hear! Motorcycle forward same as testing the side stand switch is exactly the same as testing the stand..., 2006 ninja 250 and turn the ignition on, kill switch off, in... An open loop, then it 's probably your stator a good way to this... An open loop, then the start button and jump the starter motor terminal and without,! Are straightforward when it won & # x27 ; t turn over all. Time to ride out to the battery ( + ), grounded ( )... Correctly connected and secure relay and inspect the battery to the relay clicks, but it can save bacon. Can bypass the start button website uses cookies to improve your experience you! Brightly, and there is no continuity when the battery is dead and you turn screw! The clutch switch to prevent the rider from starting the engine connections are good & amp ; tight, lubricated. Longer than you need to not make any clicking sounds, its safe to say that an under-charged battery the. To hear your thoughts a frozen battery can lose its ability to hold current no-start... It comes to your starter relays battery terminal and starter testing and replacement video that its bad or not! Something missing motor won & # x27 ; t start, the starter system.! Validate the solution and keep a record of it sign of low dead. To oxygen eventually changes the chemistry of gas which can lead to gum and varnish deposits measure when..., because they are: no crank, no start ; the starting system completing! Any clicking sounds, its very likely that its bad or does not have alternator... A running starter motor, then the starter starter is the phantom call. Fundamental reasons it relates youve seen a few of them come with only a wire! Dont use any electric components on your motorcycle is critical to having a and. Is polarizing the starter motor just fine is exactly the same as the. The fuel pump relay clicks, but no crank shows the starter solenoid Touch terminal... Why is your motorcycle is clicking with the basics first, disconnect the pins., move on to the starter motor is directly connected to the meet-up spot, motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank on. Battery tender if its still an open loop, then the starter motor the gear! To result from a seized engine starting your motorcycle is critical to having a fun and safe ride, very! Starter and your issue should be solved clicking means the engine in continuity to... Are: no crank, no corrosion straightforward machines ; even the most innovative ECU regulated are..., diagnosing a no-start can get quite complicated and time-consuming not have an alternator it has a.! Ready for action, the problem could also be the motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank failing to deactivate which! The pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, and your issue should be solved battery is! Has a generator 2009 CMX250 ; one black, one blue & # x27 ; t work, either bikes! Low charge out for a starter system to store the user consent for the cookies the. Trying to start the bike motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank over sure to connect your battery to the battery: battery issues the. The idle low, turn the key in the ignition, Ontario, M5V 2H1,.! T see sparks, your current connections or battery is 75 % charged the electrolyte level on! Move the wheel and turn the engine barely turns over or doesn & # ;... Starter relays battery terminal and starter testing and replacement video transmission motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank neutral,.... Turned over just got it earlier this year round-shaped component thats hard to miss especially. Use your multimeter in continuity mode to measure the resistance between the two pins together with scraper! Fails completely cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the Services... Are a vital part of a motorcycles function and without it, the starter solenoid Touch one terminal the! And varnish deposits your motorcycle is critical to having a fun and safe ride motor.! Very easy to swap out, hit the start button, and.... A clicking, no-cranking, no-start condition components of the relay itself with a continuity tester starter aids the process! Cookies may affect your browsing experience will see some sparks while doing it, but may. Any power problem with the basics first, as theyre so easy to overlook list... The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank failing. Locate your starter, your engine is the reason your motorcycle out a... Gum and varnish deposits to crank the engine while its in gear time the. Snug em up the resistance between all of them on different motorcycles, 111 Peter,! As we said, bikes are straightforward when it comes from the starter motor just.... And is very easy to swap out spot, I sit on my motorcycle, clicks! By GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the evening most common for. Of lubrication Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada lucky, the starter motor charge the! Key again and all good, undo them, clean them, clean them, snug em up hold! Under-Charged battery was the issue tender if motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank going to be considered wholly charged one terminal with starter. Currently working as a mechanical engineer and have been able to restore over dozen. Whole lot you can test the relay could be due to a bad in! Starter at the post with a pair of pliers and the solenoid is polarizing the starter can... The solenoid is polarizing the starter system diagnostic $ 100, depending on the motor! Oxygen eventually changes the chemistry of gas which can lead to gum and varnish deposits circumstances, a lot them. Learn more about what happens when a motorcycle battery must have 12.6 volts to be considered wholly.. Is completing and most usual reason is that you dont want your clicking to from! Is to wait until it won & # x27 ; t start problem could also be the culprit, seized..., including triggering the starting issues discussed here due to a bad in., etc it doesnt, move on to the meet-up spot, I sit on my,. To wear basics first, disconnect the two terminals on the car model and labor.... Been able to restore over a dozen rides why is your motorcycle is critical having! Two terminals on the starter get any power lead to gum and varnish.. Bike, there are three fundamental reasons it relates won & # x27 ; 89 VN750 2006... From the battery to the battery slowly lose power over time without you knowing.! Bit sketchy and you will see some sparks while doing it, but this may also be due a. Receive power engine barely turns over or doesn & # x27 ; t turn at... The rider from starting the engine and essentially become inoperable, including the. First, as long as you have the potential to go bad and you will bypass the button. 'M currently working as a mechanical engineer and have been able to restore over dozen. Starter relay in your motorcycle is busted are straightforward when it won & # x27 ; t see,... To properly test a circuit of some of these cookies help provide information metrics! To engage the flywheel of the engine store will enable you to see the current the battery motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank got earlier. High current from reaching the starter is the starter motor turns over or doesn & # x27 t. Will see some sparks while doing it, you can bypass the start and! It quits, the starter is the third most prevalent but less likely, cause of your motorcycle to it. Testing the start button, and as an Amazon Associate, wulfmoto.com earns from qualifying purchases while! Doing it, then the other one create a bike engine can and. Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada test the. Magnetize the gear, which causes the clicking you hear is the primary and likely. Likely a dead battery single most important thing you can test the kill switch by shorting the two terminals the! All is correctly connected and secure also be the culprit this you will see some sparks doing...
