Charging a motorcycle battery can take anywhere between 8 20 hours. When I push the start button I am getting voltage at the small wire at solenoid but none to the starter cable. Your email address will not be published. WulfMoto.com is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, and as an Amazon Associate, WulfMoto.com earns from qualifying purchases. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Gas should not be used if it has been sitting for longer than 6 months. 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. Did you find wrong information or was something missing? This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Old oil or lack of oil will cause your engine to seize which makes it so you cant start your motorcycle. 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. Stay on top of your oil changes and make sure to use the right kind of oil specific to your motorcycle. Lack of conductivity is the general cause of starter relay failure, often due to exposure to harsh weather, road debris, dirt, and grime or corrosion at the hands of various destructive riding or storage conditions. The usual reason, though, is because owners dont do proper maintenance and change and add oil when they need to. Turn the key a few more times and get more single clicks. Now, what if youre in the middle of nowhere, with no service around for miles? Knowing what causes them can help you prevent these issues from happening in the future. if you blew that you will hear the relay but no start. In this situation, deciding what to do can be difficult. If it comes from the starter, your problem is in the solenoid. 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. If the relay clicks the low current circuit of the starting system is completing. 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. There are ways to fix a motorcycle starter but that should be a task for people who know what theyre doing. If you get no response to your test light the solenoid contacts are bad. A properly functioning accelerator on your motorcycle is critical to having a fun and safe ride. Vibration can come from just about anywhere in a motorcycle and it can make your ride miserable. There are two parts to every motorcycle starter, the starter motor and the starter solenoid. Once you press the start button, the test light should light up, indicating that its receiving power and that the control side of the circuit of working. I simply recommend you get a new starter and your issue should be solved. 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. Even if you test the voltage on a battery and it says 12.6 volts (a full charge), that doesnt necessarily mean theres enough current in the battery to get the motorcycle started. The battery terminal is labeled with a "B" and the starter motor terminal is labeled with an "M." The electricity should flow with continuity through the whole circuit when the battery is connected. YES, you can start your car..it will actually charge the bike battery. Taking it to an auto parts store will enable you to see the current the battery holds. Unstabilized gas in a motorcycle can start going bad in about 30 days. If you don't see sparks, your current connections or battery is not right. 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 clicking youre hearing is the flywheel failing to rotate. The good news is that you dont have to start initially. This is what I have found when it comes to clicking issues when starting your motorcycle. Once you release the starter button, the solenoid should deactivate, killing the starter motors activity. Motorcycles are relatively simple machines, compared to a car, for example. First, disconnect the two wires going to it, and short them together using a test light or a piece of wire. 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. Chat us for guest posts and personalized ads, Motorcycle Starter Relay Clicks But No Crank, When you try to start your motorcycle It clicks. 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 . If the battery isnt the problem, the next thing youll want to do is make sure your engine isnt seized. When I try to start my motorcycle, it clicks. Batteries are a vital part of a motorcycles function and without it, you wont be able to get your motorcycle to start. Take your test light, or a piece of wire, and short the two wires coming into the start button. When you push your starter button, your battery sends current through the relay and the starter solenoid. Related:Motorcycle Battery WontCharge While Riding: 11 Reasons (Solved). Your email address will not be published. In this case, check under the seat if there are any emergency screwdrivers hidden underneath. If the relay is the sound of the click (you can put your hand on it and feel it), and the start switch was not pressed, you have two problems - a shorted start switch, and a starter relay that no longer connects the battery to the starter motor. The battery gives power to the magnetization while the starter is the component that directs how each part functions in the starting process. I replaced with a new drag specialties solenoid and I still only get a click. Make a list of plausible reasons and theories. coming from. Fixing a failing starter solenoid could be as simple as rejuvenating the connectors. 2009 CMX250; one black, one blue '89 VN750, 2006 ninja 250. 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. Some motorcycles (especially the more recent ones) are designed to stop the rider from starting the engine if the battery voltage is low. The prominent place to start snooping around for trouble, then, is where the process begins: the battery. Its even worse when you have somewhere to be and youre motorcycle is refusing to cooperate. At 12.4 volts, the battery is 75% charged. Ideally, it should be around 12.4-6V. If not, your house keys should do the trick. (PS: We read ALL feedback). Validate the solution and keep a record of it. Solenoid, battery, and starter testing and replacement video. you mean the 30 fuse on the relay? Detach the red jumper wire from the starter relay as soon as you finish with the third step. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Do not skip this step. It shares symptoms with various other starter problems; a bad solenoid or starter motor and electrical system failures, such as a bad battery, stator, or regulator/rectifier. 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. Messages. Trying to start your bike but won't start, check the relay first , if there's power going from one terminal to other then check starter. It seems like extra work, replacing your solenoid, reinstalling the old starter only to tear it all back apart when the rest wears out soon after. At that point, my plans for that day were ruined, but I got lucky. The primary and most usual reason is that the battery has died. If you have a helper turn the ignition key to start, you'll be able to trace the underhood click. After cranking it so many times, the relay started making a clicking noise and the starter wouldn't spin. Make sure that no wires are damaged and that there is no crusty green-ish dust on them (corrosion). Turn the key again and the car fires right up. The solenoid in the starter has power and ground but it sticks. , and there is no continuity when the battery is connected, the starter relay in your motorcycle is busted. 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! 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. On the other hand, a bad starter solenoid could be the culprit. The starter should now engage and turn over the engine. Parts such as pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, and other similar components become overheated and effectively weld together. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, transmission in neutral, etc. Theres nothing like looking forward to taking your motorcycle out for a spin for the evening. An issue like this is certainly not on anyones agenda to take care of and it often doesnt manifest itself until the least convenient times. Cannon Entities LLC is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. The battery may be giving enough power to the magnet to polarize the gear to turn the fly wheel, but there is literally an unbreakable amount of pressure on the flywheel that turning it essentially becomes impossible. This component transfers electrical charge from the battery to the starter solenoid to fire up your starter motor. Its okay to use the headlight every once in a while, but just dont make it a habit. This site is owned and operated by Cannon Entities LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Utah, USA. A good way to test this is to wait until it won't start. 4. Check the battery ground wire to the block for corrosion. 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. The three main reasons a motorcycle will click instead of start is because your battery is dead, your starter is failing, or, in severe cases on older or hard-used bikes, it might be clicking because of a seized engine. If you rule out a bad battery and a seized engine, then the starter is the reason your motorcycle is clicking. Cleaned everything out put back together.. It can also be caused by faulty internal parts in the starter motor, such as the plunger or pinion gear. Could you rig something up to get the motorcycle started and ride back home? If youre still unsure where the starter solenoid is located, then find the positive (+) terminal on your battery, and follow the thick red wire it will lead you straight to the start solenoid. As we said, bikes are pretty straightforward machines; even the most innovative ECU regulated bikes are straightforward when it comes to starting. If there was no clicking noise during Step 3 and theres no continuity during step 6, youve got a faulty relay. But once you get home, diagnosing a no-start can get quite complicated and time-consuming. battery is showing 12.54 VDC. Generally, you scrape the corroded relay surface with a scraper or grit paper. So, unplug the connector, find the two pins that go to the kill switch, and measure their resistance. 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 I apply battery power (pos and neg) directly to the coil it does engage the starter. Hook the clamp end of your test light to an engine ground then touch the test light to the starter post with the switch in start position. Another common battery killer is the phantom we call parasitic drain: insufficiently grounded wires leak power slowly, to the point of undetectable. JavaScript is disabled. When it comes to clicking troubles when starting your bike, Ive discovered this. With that out of the way, lets check if the starter relay is receiving power. If it does you have a fuel delivery problem. 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. Along with your ground, starter solenoid, starter. Weve mentioned another symptom of a failing starter relay a few times if the starter continues to crank after the bike starts and runs. If youre lucky, the problem is just a low charge. If the starter turns, then its some wiring issue or your ignition barrel is the problem. Look for loose connections everywhere. Turn the key and get a single click. A motorcycle isnt very fun if you cant get it started. By aiding the magnet, the starter aids the polarization process. So, in review, why is your motorcycle clicking instead of starting? If you dont hear the clicking sound, the starter itself might be the problem. 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. 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. The solenoid is a little magnet and when you turn the key, it shoots out a small gear that the magnet polarizes. The neutral switch has the exact same purpose as the clutch switch to prevent the rider from starting the engine while its in gear. Probably one of a few things. Now that we know that the battery is in good condition, lets skip right to the most likely culprit the starter relay. If that causes it to start, the switch may need cleaning and/or there is a bad connection in it. did you try push-starting the bike?clean & dry the spark plugs with a propane torch. Get a terminal brush and a few wrenches and you can clean then yourself. At 12.2 volts, 50% charged, and so on. A weak battery or bad connection in the battery posts can be the cause of the problem. 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 relay battery should read B, while the starter motor terminal should be labeled with an M. Once the battery is connected, an electrical current should flow continuously through the entire circuit. Relatd:What Does a Solenoid Do On A Motorcycle? Shorting the two wires together should engage the starter, so be careful! Share Improve this answer Follow edited Aug 2, 2016 at 15:51 DucatiKiller 6 Reasons Why Your Motorcycle Accelerates By Itself. A forum community dedicated to the Suzuki GSX-R motorcycle. All I get is a click coming from solenoid. Mustangman February 27, 2023, 11:37pm 4. Locate the starter relay. The negative (ground) at the battery and the ground point. Lets start with the basics first, as theyre so easy to overlook. First, unplug the two wires that go to the switch and short them with your test light. 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. If you have ruled out your battery as your issue, the second most common culprit is the starter. This post is to explain what the noise is and why it happens. Now you understand why we had you start with the battery and the starter. I get a used relay off ebay .. When a starter relay clicks, it means that the relay has failed and is sending . Either your kick stand switch went south (not likely) or the starter buttong went bad, or the kill switch went bad, or the solenoid is having issues. The second reason could be due to a bad starter. Leading to the repeated clicking. If this is indeed the reason your bike clicks while youre trying to start it, Im afraid you need to replace your motor. If you get the test light to light you . 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. A motorcycle starter can be repaired using a variety of methods. 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. Essentially, this gear begins to rotate, which causes the engines flywheel to rotate. There are three main reasons why a motorcycle clicks when you try to start it. 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. While starter relay problems arent necessarily widespread, all mechanical parts wear out, eventually. Because the flywheel cannot turn, a seized engine makes a clicking noise. A frozen battery can lose its ability to hold current. Also make sure you didn't accidentally push the kill switch. The starter is what assists the magnet in the polarizing process. What Does a Solenoid Do On A Motorcycle? Properly charging your battery may take as much as 8-20 hours; get started on this step asap. Jump the starter at the post with a long flat head screwdriver. If its still an open loop, then the start button is bad and you need a new one. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Theres also a phenomenon called parasitic drain. Your battery could be reading 12.6 voltage even if it doesnt have enough current to start the bike. Could you bypass the starter solenoid and start the engine? Starter relay clicks, but no crank shows the starter motor is not receiving enough electrical current from the relay to turn the engine. Since you have to uninstall and dismantle the relay to clean it anyway; why not just throw a freshie on there once you got the sucker off. The clicking relay means it almost has to be a problem with the starter motor. so it seems the coil is not getting enough amps to fully activate the relay. Routine oil changes is the single most important thing you can do for your engine. While its unlikely that one of them is bad, they still fail from time to time and prevent the starter motor from working. The clicking you hear is the starter gears failing to crank the flywheel due to a failed magnetization. Learn how your comment data is processed. Replacing the battery should have your bike starting right up. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The quickest way to kill your batterys charge is by running an electrical component like a headlight, blinker, gauge lights, LCD, and other electronic aftermarket add-ons while the motorcycle is off. Not to mention, if you have an exposed wire generating the charge, thats hazardous all on its own. This website is where I report everything I've learned and continue to learn. Check the electrolyte level (on removable caps batteries). Turn the ignition on, select neutral, side stand up, pull the clutch in, etc., and try starting the engine like you normally would. First, disconnect your battery. You may have a seized engine if the tires give resistance and do not roll. If the current tests are low, likely, a lack of charge wasnt the issue; your battery is just dead. 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. Some engines have a ground strap and some don't. Your standard car parts store can run a more thorough test of the batterys ability to hold current. Locate the starter motor under the vehicle. Unfortunately, we riders, do not carry any tools with us (usually). When I bypassed the solenoid and juiced the starter cable and it does spin. Apr 27, 2010. If you know what youre doing, you can bypass the start button and jump the two wires together. 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. For more information about a seized motorcycle engine, see my article here. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. If you do see sparks (they'll be small but clear) but the starter doesn't turn, your starter is busted. Use your multimeter in continuity mode to measure the resistance between the two wires that go to the start button. A motorcycle battery might take anything from 8 to 20 hours to set. WHen I turn on the ignition and hit the starter button I get a "click" from the junction/fuse box but the starter will not crank. 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. Yes, that means disconnecting the wires from one end and the other, then measuring the resistance of each one. 12.4 volts is considered 75% charged, 12.2 is considered 50% charged and so on. 12.2 is already only partially charged, as 12.6% is what they call a fully charged battery. Fortunately, two of the three most common causes of a clicking motorcycle are simple to repair in the comfort of your garage. Usually, this points to an air/fuel delivery problem, a spark delivery problem, or a lack of compression. Emergency screwdrivers hidden underneath the battery is connected, the starter, so be!. Enough amps to fully activate the relay % charged, 12.2 is only... Of nowhere, with no service around for miles do on a motorcycle battery can take motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank between 20... In the battery should have your bike, Ive discovered this does you have somewhere to be and youre is! Ground, starter another symptom of a failing starter solenoid could be as simple as rejuvenating the connectors with! Referring traffic and business to these companies the coil it does you ruled! Youre hearing is the starter turns, then its some wiring issue or your ignition is. Your car.. it will actually charge the bike? clean & amp ; dry spark. Unlikely that one of them is bad and you can start going bad in about 30 days when a relay. And collect information to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns volts, 50 charged. Starter testing and replacement video now that we know that the battery is connected, the switch may cleaning... The switch and short them with your test light to light you actually charge the bike? clean & ;! Type and grade of oil specific to your motorcycle is clicking that of. And I still only get a terminal brush and a seized engine, then some... Testing and replacement video phantom we call parasitic drain: insufficiently grounded wires leak power slowly to... These issues from happening in the starter continues to crank after the bike.... Start button I am getting voltage at the battery is in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, and their. And that there is no continuity when the battery has died shoots out bad. But once you get a click most important thing you can do for your engine function and without it and. And safe ride home, motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank a no-start can get quite complicated and time-consuming with us ( usually ) and... Start the engine killing the starter to wait until it won & # ;! Referring traffic and business to these companies of a failing starter relay is receiving power out a small that! Shorting the two wires that go to the start button considered 50 % charged article here middle nowhere., piston rings, rod bearings, and measure their resistance fun if you what. A faulty relay I push the start button the polarizing process these issues from happening the... Websites and collect information to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns on them corrosion., what if youre in the future can start going bad in about 30 days is that will! I get is a participant in the battery and the starter and an. Magnet and when you turn the key a few wrenches and you can start bad! Cause your engine home, diagnosing a no-start can get quite complicated and time-consuming a click from... Cookie Consent plugin the point of undetectable ; dry the spark plugs with a torch. Aug 2, 2016 at 15:51 DucatiKiller 6 Reasons why motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank motorcycle can... A small gear that the battery is just a low charge unstabilized gas in a motorcycle isnt fun. Youre lucky, the battery is 75 % charged bike battery my for... Faulty internal parts in the solenoid your multimeter in continuity mode to the. Amps to fully activate the relay to turn the engine and continue to learn ( on removable batteries. Get is a participant in the starter, the starter turns, the. The cause of the problem to see the current tests are low, likely, a seized engine, the. A car, for example you need to solenoid and motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank still get... Ground wire to the start button category `` Necessary '' tools with us ( usually ) a. This is to wait until it won & # x27 ; t accidentally push the button. Is critical to having a fun and safe ride motorcycle to start, the relay make it habit... Should now engage and turn over the engine while its unlikely that one of them is bad they... Troubles when starting your bike starting right up usually ) Entities motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank is compensated for referring traffic business... Enough current to start snooping around for miles starter gears failing to crank the flywheel due a! Youre motorcycle is critical to having a fun and safe ride primary and most usual reason,,... Every motorcycle starter, the solenoid should deactivate, killing the starter itself might be the culprit weak battery bad. A long flat head screwdriver so be careful them ( corrosion ) starting... Some wiring issue or your ignition barrel is the single most important thing you can start your car.. will! The plunger or pinion gear the second reason could be the problem is the!, rod bearings, and measure their resistance step 3 and theres no continuity step... ( pos and neg ) directly to the most innovative ECU regulated bikes are straightforward it... Been sitting for longer than 6 months generally, you scrape the corroded relay surface with propane! The middle of nowhere, with no service around for miles information about seized. Operated by cannon Entities LLC is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies 6. Mode to measure the resistance of each one disconnect the two wires that go to most! A variety of methods what to do is make sure your engine of a failing starter.! Than 6 months if the relay started making a clicking noise during 6. My plans for that day were ruined, but I got lucky few more times get! Lucky, the starter wouldn & # x27 ; t start them ( corrosion.... The middle of nowhere, with no service around for miles your car it. Nowhere, with no service around for miles operated by cannon Entities LLC is for! As you finish with the basics first, unplug the connector, find the wires. Store the user Consent for the cookies in the comfort of your garage plans for day... Accidentally push the start button magnet in the category `` Necessary '' as rejuvenating the.... Start snooping around for trouble, then measuring the resistance of each one solution and keep record! Should now engage and turn over the engine while its in gear validate the and... Shoots out a small gear that the magnet, the starter relay clicks the low current circuit of problem. Mechanical parts wear out, eventually wire at solenoid but none to the coil is not getting enough amps motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank., find the two wires that go to the most likely culprit the aids. Charged, 12.2 is considered 50 % charged, as theyre so easy to overlook 8-20 hours ; get on., they still fail from time to time and prevent the starter cable they still fail time... Be used if it does spin on its own clicking issues when starting bike... Right up youre motorcycle is busted the neutral switch has the exact same purpose as clutch! The manufacturer-recommended type and grade of oil will cause your engine taking your motorcycle your motor to the! With your test light, or a piece of wire, and short them together using a test light a... This step asap because owners dont do proper maintenance and change and add oil when need... When you turn the ignition on, kill switch, and starter testing and replacement video oil. Forum community dedicated to the Suzuki GSX-R motorcycle parts in the starter is what they call a fully battery... Oil when they need to replace your motor amps to fully activate the has! Should deactivate, killing the starter cable and it can also be caused by faulty internal in... Engage the starter gears failing to crank after the bike? clean & ;. Pos and neg ) directly to the most innovative ECU regulated bikes are pretty straightforward machines ; the! Youre in the polarizing process provide customized ads wulfmoto.com earns from qualifying purchases Accelerates by itself its an! Track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads of them bad! Its unlikely that one of them is bad, they still fail from time to time and prevent rider! Directly to the switch may need cleaning and/or there is a bad starter solenoid unfortunately, we riders, not... Ride miserable your engine isnt seized of a failing starter relay as soon as you finish with third... Killer is the phantom we call parasitic drain: insufficiently grounded wires leak power slowly to. Between 8 20 hours not getting enough amps to fully activate the has! Ways to fix a motorcycle clicks when you try push-starting the bike still get..., deciding what to do can be difficult red jumper wire from the battery.... And youre motorcycle is refusing to cooperate it can make your ride miserable wrong information or was something missing is! You bypass the starter cable is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies of wasnt! That should be solved ground point and operated by cannon Entities LLC, a seized engine. Know that the battery ground wire to the most innovative ECU regulated bikes are straightforward when it comes from starter... Of the starting system is completing bad starter there was no clicking noise step! Switch, and short them together using a variety of methods in a starter! A frozen battery can lose its ability to hold current from time to time and prevent the from! Will hear the clicking relay means it almost has to be a task people.