Surging, stalling and difficult to start 02 R1150RT

[Hennepinboy]

Friday I rode about 200 miles in a heavy rain with strong cross and head winds.

 

Friday night the 2002 R1150RT started giving me problems 375 miles from home. The problem started with the engine just killing while riding about 30 mph, riders display appeared normal all lights on, none of the dash lights came on. The engine fired when the starter was engaged but the engine took lots of cranking before starting. After this it ran fine for for over 100 miles.

 

Later in the day the engine died again at low speed and was difficult to restart.

 

Saturday evening the engine engine was very difficult to start after sitting for an hour while I had dinner. Then on the way back to the campground it died again this time at 50 mph but it restarted while coasting, clutch out.

 

Sunday it was difficult to start in the morning. I rode it home 375 miles with few problems other then the engine is now surging bad at in town speeds.

 

Runs fine at highway speeds.

 

It has never given me these types of problems. I am running Autolite plugs and have pulled the CAT code plug.

 

This evening I pulled the right side spark plug and it is whiter then I like to see on a engine, running lean. (The surging problem?)

 

Could the problem be

1. The O2 sensor? and how do I check one for proper range. OHMs

 

2. Could it be water in one of the electrical connections?

 

I am at a loss!

[dirtrider]

Hi Hennepinboy

 

There are some tests that can be used to verify proper 02 sensor operation. Nothing as simple as an ohmmeter test.

The easiest way I know to test an 02 sensor as far as effecting engine operation goes is to simply disconnect it. If you disconnect it and the engine runs better then suspect the 02 sensor or its wiring was causing the problems.

My last GS ran pretty crappy after crossing a deep water stream . At first thought it was water in the ignition system. I cleaned and dried a lot of things but it really didn’t run much better. I finally decided to disconnect the 02 sensor to see if that would make a difference. When I disconnected the 02 sensor I found a lot of moisture in the 02 sensor connector, once that was cleaned up and dried out the engine ran good again. It seems just a little moisture in the 02 connector can really foul the way it operates.

I wouldn’t place too much importance on white spark plugs as the newer fuel injection systems in conjunction with unleaded gasoline leave the plugs white as sheets even when running correctly.

Water in the fuel is also a possibility but how it would get in there is something you might have to think about. If you didn’t buy fuel with water in it and didn’t open the fuel cap in a heavy rain then not sure water would have gotten in there.

 

[dirtrider]

Just did a quick search on the site here and found this. Might help ya if you have a fuel nanny.

 

http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=530415&Searchpage=1&Main=48457&Words=techlusion&Search=true#Post530415

[skinny_tom (aka boney)]

Those sound like the classic symptoms of a failing hall effect sensor wiring harness. Especially the wet weather part.

 

Look up the many hall effect sensor threads on the board here and see if what you read sounds familiar.

 

I believe the job is not difficult, but it may be a bit time consuming.

[janoc1]

Have you ever replaced the fuel filter? Had similar symptoms and finally had it replaced. Runs like hell ever since:)

 

Good luck!

 

Kostas

[philbytx]

It COULD be an HES sensor issue. However, with wet electrickery, it could be several things getting shorted!

However, if it happens again, watch to see if the tach jumps around when you try to start it. If it does, that points to an HES issue .

[AndyS]

It doesn't sound too much like an HES to me.

Water in an elctrical connector?

Water in tank?

Air filter condition?

 

Andy

[Hennepinboy]

I have ridden the bike all week now that it has dried out with no problems. I need to adjust (check as I not touched the adjustment in over 25,000 miles) the valves. While the plastic is off I will check the wires to the hall sensor.

 

Thanks for the replies

 

Curt the Minnesota Marshall