TowJam Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 I've noticed that occasionally, the fuel pump would make a low-pitched grinding sound when the ignition key was turned on after my GS had sat overnight. The engine would start but it concerned me enough to add to my checklist when I had my 600 mile service done. Well, well, well.... On the way to the dealer today for my 600 service, I decided to stop and top off the tank so I could also have them check out the fuel gauge (it will only register 3/4 full - even when filled to the top of the filler neck). Went to restart the engine back up and all I got was the sickening "click click click" of the starter. Nothing else. Nada. Zilch. Zero. The check engine icon would light up but otherwise, no other error messages or warning lights other than the usual self check. Fortunately, I was close to the dealership and they were able to send over a trailer to bring it in. But, they still can't get to it until next Wednesday. (Both the service manager and tech told me they saw this exact problem recently on another new GS and it was due to a broken alternator belt.) Looks like I'll be caging it this Memorial Day weekend. Link to comment
Firefight911 Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 OK, now that is absolutely NO fun! Let us know what they find. Link to comment
TowJam Posted May 27, 2006 Author Share Posted May 27, 2006 Thanks for the sympathetic ear. In the grand scheme of things, this is just a very minor annoyance - especially compared to the recent postings about downed riders. But it's the first new bike I've owned (out of 12) that has left me stranded and I just needed to vent. There, I feel better now. Link to comment
Hiawatha Posted May 28, 2006 Share Posted May 28, 2006 My R1200ST did a total die at the gas pumps. No computeer lights nada. I called the dealer and he said wiggle the battery/cables seemed tight. That fired it up. When I got home I found I could tighten the positive terminal cable about an eighth of a turn. There was some sulfate between connections and that killed the computer. No problems since cleaning the terminals. Link to comment
Joel Posted May 28, 2006 Share Posted May 28, 2006 ... wiggle the battery/cables seemed tight. That fired it up. When I got home I found I could tighten the positive terminal cable about an eighth of a turn. That was my first thought. I thought I had tightened things down well after doing electrical mods, but something worked loose. Fortunately, it misbehaved in the garage, not on the road. I've since found the terminals a bit loose on other occasions. So that will be the first thing I check in case of a starting problem. Link to comment
TowJam Posted May 31, 2006 Author Share Posted May 31, 2006 Let us know what they find. Just spoke with the service manager. Turns out to be a bad starter. They're got a replacment ordered. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it comes in before the weekend. So now I'm wondering... am I getting a rebuilt starter??? Link to comment
BFish Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 bummer could be worse i guess. new parts under warranty takes the sting out. good thing you hadn't decided to explore offroad. Link to comment
ben1364 Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 "...it was due to a broken alternator belt." It should take a dalership 5 minutes to determine if the alternator belt is the culprit, though I seriously doubt it onm a new bike engine. Link to comment
TowJam Posted May 31, 2006 Author Share Posted May 31, 2006 It should take a dalership 5 minutes to determine if the alternator belt is the culprit, though I seriously doubt it onm a new bike engine. Supposedly, they had seen another GS recently with just under 600 mile that a broken belt. According to them, the belt was just a hair too loose and since there is no tensioner, the belt moved around on the pulleys to the point that it shredded. At least that's what they told me. Link to comment
ButtUgly Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 Were they kind enough to get you a loaner bike 'til yours is repaired? Just wondering.... Hope everything works out for you. Link to comment
TowJam Posted June 1, 2006 Author Share Posted June 1, 2006 Were they kind enough to get you a loaner bike 'til yours is repaired? Just wondering.... Hope everything works out for you. Yeah - they've always been good about getting me a loaner. Although the loaners are usually older used models. In this instance, they gave me a pretty heavily ridden F650cs. Link to comment
TowJam Posted June 1, 2006 Author Share Posted June 1, 2006 Grrrrrrrrrrrr..... Just talked to the service manager. Well, the starter apparently is on a slow boat from the fatherland and is not in yet. They can't do my 600 mile service until the starter is replaced. It's looking like I'm going to go yet another weekend without my bike. I'm not a happy camper. Link to comment
Angel Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 What side of the metroplex D or FW? more importantly which of the two shops? Link to comment
TowJam Posted June 1, 2006 Author Share Posted June 1, 2006 What side of the metroplex D or FW? more importantly which of the two shops? Ft.Worth store. Link to comment
TowJam Posted June 2, 2006 Author Share Posted June 2, 2006 Dealer called and said my GS is ready to go. They ended up replacing the starter and battery. So my question for the technical experts... what are the odds that both the battery and starter were bad? Or is it possible that one is related to the other? Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.