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2008 FZ1 won't start

nickyH

nickyH

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Joined
Jul 24, 2011
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16
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Suffolk, England
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Hello!

New here... well I've been watching for a long time but never plucked up the courage to ask a q till now...

I have a 2008 FZ1-N, UK version, had it since new.. never been dropped.. I have Oxford heated grips installed (yes, I'm a girl and a wuss!!), and an R&G tailtidy (hated the fish poo rear end).. but lately, the bike won't start in gear at all (I'm sure it used to)... and sometimes it won't start in neutral either. Especially after I've killed it with the kill switch (which I don't do often, but sometimes when its hot and I have to back into the driveway). It's like the bike thinks the stand is down... absolutely nothing happens. Turn the key, the injector does its usual thing, but hit the switch and nothing.. at all.. it doesn't even try to start, no click like the battery's flat (its not)... etc etc...

After about 3-10 tries the thing starts... but it worries me a lot!! Especially as I have another track day at Snetterton coming up and would be so gutted if it karked it on me there!!!


Er, and of course, the stand isn't down and the kill switch isn't on!!!

Any ideas??

Thanks!!!

Nix
 
I use my kill switch every time I ride, it's actually how I was taught in basic riding school more then 20 years ago. Been doin it ever since.
Are you good with a meter? The first things I'd check are the kill switch wires and switch, you say it won't start in neutral as well, so I'd check that switch and all it's connections for corrosion or looseness. It's not the kickstand switch if it's doing it in neutral as well...I almost asked if you had adjusted your clutch lately as well until you said that part. That can cause it to not start in gear, as well as a bad safety switch on the kickstand. It's not uncommon for those switches to get gunked up.


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Why not turn on diagnostic and see if the kick stand sais its down er up its code number 14 sidestand switch on is down and off is up. I think you might have a loose wire or bad sensor/switch.
 
There are several switches and sensors that will prevent starting/turning over and the neutral switch is one. If the stand is down but the ECU thinks the bike is in gear, it wont turn over. Any and all switches/sensor can be intermittent when they fail, so you'll have to go through them all to see which one is giving you fits. The manual has a good pictoral of the entire bike as far as sensors and switches are concerned.
 
You guys are amazing! Thanks for the quick responses...

As for turning the bike off with the key.. I'm an instructor... and that's what we are programmed here in the UK to tell our guys to do.. something to do with load on the electrics (don't ask me I don't do techie... can you tell!!!)...

Now I think about it, its since the yamaha garage adjusted the clutch after its 2nd service, that it hasn't started in gear. I hadn't really thought about it as being related to the problem, as I really couldn't remember if the bike used to start in gear (one of my training bikes, a suzi i think... will only start in neutral and I kinda got confused between the two... arg...)..

Lots of stuff to work on here, and thankyou all for your comments, I'll dig around and see what I can find out!!!

Cheers guys, happy riding..

Nix
 
Interesting that they teach it that way. I taught in Washington for 10 years and taught the use of the kill switch.
The clutch adjust is an easy fix, hopefully that's your issue.


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papaageorgio said:
its not good for the engine to use the key to turn it off
Click to expand...

Nah, not true. Using the key to turn off the bike is fine and will not cause any problems whatsoever. Some people are taught to use the key, others are taught to use the kill switch. I think why some of the beginner courses tell riders to use the kill switch is it allows the engine to be stopped without the rider taking their hands off the grips. It's a safety thing, but using the key only is fine, too. 35 years riding bikes and have never used the red switch to turn the machine off, and never had any sort of ignition problems. Just do what you feel comfortable with, but don't curse when you come out and discover you 'forgot' to turn the key off and the battery is dead.

OP, sounds like you have a faulty switch in the mix, I'd start by cleaning each of the switches and see if this solves the problem. If not then more intrusive diagnostics will be needed.
 
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You might want to just give a quick check of the ground wire on your battery if it's loose it's possible it won't turn over everytime,I have had this happen before.
 
Fixed!

Hi again,

Just to let you know, my dear bro fixed it yesterday... the problems were within the 2 switches (clutch sensor switch and main ignition starter switch).. they were both full of rubbish and not connecting properly.

So Happy!!

Thanks for your help guys.. :)

Nic.
xx:icon_beer:
 
forgot to mention...

Me again!
Forgot to mention, when we were getting the clutch sensor switch off, the tiny wee screw that holds it onto the clutch lever housing sheared off.. so I think I need to get a new housing.. it's cable tied on for now.

Anyone know of a parts list for UK models so that I can find the part number? I've searched the forum but can't find any..

Thanks!

Nic
x
 
nickyH said:
Me again!
Forgot to mention, when we were getting the clutch sensor switch off, the tiny wee screw that holds it onto the clutch lever housing sheared off.. so I think I need to get a new housing.. it's cable tied on for now.

Anyone know of a parts list for UK models so that I can find the part number? I've searched the forum but can't find any..

Thanks!

Nic
x
Click to expand...

Hi nickyH, It looks like it [lever holder assy left] comes in one piece with the safety switch on it, 4XV-82919-14[GEN 2]. Id try and drill it out or retap it for a new pan head screw. Good luck and riding.:shine:
 
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DJ NEZZ said:
Hi nickyH, It looks like it [lever holder assy left] comes in one piece with the safety switch on it, 4XV-82919-14[GEN 2]. Id try and drill it out or retap it for a new pan head screw. Good luck and riding.:shine:
Click to expand...

That's kinda what I thought, sounds expensive! Trouble is the screw is steel and tiny, the housing is aluminium, so we're worried about messing the whole thing up by retapping it. Think I'm gonna hit a wreckers and see if they have one!

Thanks for your help. :)
 
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