Is this normal when battery flat??

[WestyLancs]

Apologies in advance for a long post.

I have a 2006 R12RT with 50k miles on it.

I'm in the process of changing sat nav, and had the panels off to wire into an Autocom.

I tried to start the bike to check for interference, but it wouldn't start !!

The battery is original, but has been on a tender / charger since new.

Long story short, I flattened the battery trying to start the bike. At one point I got an EWS in the display, but only saw it once,

and it disappeared with ignition off and on again.

I checked to make sure I hadn't dislodged any connectors, which I hadn't.

Connected my GS-911 and found a host of low battery fault codes, which were no longer present, but nothing to indicate why no start,

but the real time values showed an engine load of 49% !!! (ignition on but not running)

I connected a start/charger to get some power into the battery, but try as I might I couldn't get any sign of the engine starting.

After running idle control, and injector tests with no trouble, in frustration I opened the throttle halfway and jabbed the button again.

This time the bike started, and ran fine. No faults showing on the GS-911 either.

 

The question is, would trying to start the bike with a flattened battery cause a throttle sensor issue, such that without opening

the throttle, the bike wouldn't start?

I did try a couple of throttle relearns whilst trying to get it started, but without success.

Is this sort of starting problem normal with a dead battery, or is it the start of something more sinister looming??

 

And YES a new battery is next on the list.

[LPOL]

I've experienced the same NO START after being on a battery tender.

 

Opening the throttle HALF WAY seems to have performed the needed magic to get it started. Don't know HOW it works to fix...just that it DOES.

[Hall Vince]

I've found the last two winters of owning the RT I need to use a little throttle on a cold start in the morning or the bike won't fire up first spin. New Odyssey battery Mid way through first one didn't change things.

Temp usually around less then 5c.

Above this it seems ok.

Was it very cold when you tried to start yours?

\v/

[dirtrider]

It's in the older 1200 riders manuals.

 

"at extremely low temperatures it may be necessary to operate the twist grip (re that as open the throttle) during starting"

 

[WestyLancs]

Was 0c or thereabouts, but I've never had that problem before, even at sub zero (as low as -4 or -5c) temps.

Never thought to check the manual with this being a first time.

We live and learn.

[dirtrider]

Evening LAN

 

Well in the U.S. here we have a wise old saying-- "when ALL ELSE fails read the manual".

 

[w2ge]

Evening LAN

 

Well in the U.S. here we have a wise old saying-- "when ALL ELSE fails read the manual".

 

Funny, I've kinda heard it said a little bit "different" DR;

 

something like RTFM (Whatever that means????) ;-)

[WestyLancs]

Manual ?? - read that cover to cover when I got the bike. You mean I need to read it again? lol

 

Feel kinda STUPID now though, the penny has finally dropped......

Last Oct I added a 'spoofer' to try to cure a cut out (since sorted by other means), but left it fitted as it seems to help

with low speed on/off throttle response.

That would explain everything. Although the temp was around 0c, the bike was reading it as -12c or thereabouts. DOH !!!

[I812]

Evening LAN

 

Well in the U.S. here we have a wise old saying-- "when ALL ELSE fails read the manual".

Men do need no stinking manual!

Just kidding as I totally agree with you.