R1200GS starting problem - Help!
Hi guys, my buddy has a 2007 R1200GS, in fact it is my old bike I sold him a few years ago. It wont start. The battery is good. We have also tried jump starting it. The lights and all come on when the key is turned on. When the starter button is pressed I can hear a little click, this comes from the starter relay under the seat. We have opened the relay and cleaned it out with contact switch cleaner. We have even taken a wire from the battery direct to the solenoid on the starter motor, it starts perfectly. Could it be the relay? Do you have a relay like this we could try? I don't know where else to look? Any advice?
This is the relay
...bump
You can start with the starter motor directly, so it is not that. The relay clicks, but the system does not start. One final test on the relay itself:
- With it out the bike, apply 12V to the coil circuit and hear it click (the picture embossed on the relay itself should give you an indication of what is the coil circuit). No harm in experimenting till you get it.
- Now, cause the relay to click, and with it clicked measure the resistance across the switch circuit (the part that would send 12V to the starter motor). If this switch is no longer making good contact you have the cause of the problem.
The starter motor relay takes a lot of strain and can be a point of failure. Instructions above in detail to help those who are less electrically inclined.
Hi
I once had the same problem, the wiring connection under the box (under the seat) where the relay is situated had coroded badly and caused bad contact thus failing to start or ingage the starter motor, cleaned up and voila all good.
If the relay is good, then it must be the wiring. Poke around with a cheap voltmeter that has a continuity tester.
Hi
I once had the same problem, the wiring connection under the box (under the seat) where the relay is situated had coroded badly and caused bad contact thus failing to start or ingage the starter motor, cleaned up and voila all good.
Hi Rony, I read about this known issue but it all looks perfect down there, no corrosion and no bad contacts.
Kevin
You can start with the starter motor directly, so it is not that. The relay clicks, but the system does not start. One final test on the relay itself:
- With it out the bike, apply 12V to the coil circuit and hear it click (the picture embossed on the relay itself should give you an indication of what is the coil circuit). No harm in experimenting till you get it.
- Now, cause the relay to click, and with it clicked measure the resistance across the switch circuit (the part that would send 12V to the starter motor). If this switch is no longer making good contact you have the cause of the problem.
The starter motor relay takes a lot of strain and can be a point of failure. Instructions above in detail to help those who are less electrically inclined.
Hi Charles, we tested the relay like this, dead short accross the two pins when 12v applied to the other two coil pins.
Kevin
If the relay is good, then it must be the wiring. Poke around with a cheap voltmeter that has a continuity tester.
We tried this, the black/red wires from the relay runs down past the battery into the wiring loom and then disappear into the loom. Any idea if it runs direct to the starter motor from there or if there is something in between?
According to this diagram it seems to run direct to the starter and battery. It has to be a wire then surely?
Kevin
There are two wires that go to the Starter Motor: the big fat red one from the battery, and the other one from the relay (which is thin). Presumably this is the one you touched the 12V from the battery onto and it started the bike. Try putting those 12V into the relay socket with the relay removed (or, measure the continuity between the relay socket/wire and the thin wire contact onto the starter motor.
Now I HAVE to know how this ends!
I put my money on a bad connection.
Now I HAVE to know how this ends!
I put my money on a bad connection.
It turned out to be a cable running from the battery to the starter, or maybe from the relay to the starter, not exactly sure yet. The mechanic says it was corroded, possibly from battery acid 
It was replaced.
Thanks, I can sleep again.
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