06 AE won't start

[dustyrains]

Been riding the bike regularly, recently had the 26k major service done, new YCCS clutch actuator installed.

Started the bike, it ran for about one second, then shut down. Turned the key off and back on, no joy. All fuses ok. Original battery, on a battery tender.

Now for the strangness. With the key turned on, this is what is happening.

1. The fuel gauge bar display shows a full tank and the whole bar display is blinking on and off.

2. Horn won't work

3. The headlight high beam indicator is on, although the headlight is not on and switch is in the low position

4. Both turn signal indicators are steady on

5. No error codes

6. Neutral indicator is on

7. Windshield up and down won't work

8. The button to actuate the hand clutch switch won't come on

9. Kill switch is in the on position

10. Emergency flasher switch does not work

Some areas of suspicion.

1. Bad battery

2. Ground problem

I did the prerequisite search and found nada. Anyone ever seen this combination of symptoms?

 

[FJR Steve]

Can you provide what the voltage is from the battery? I'm guessing that the battery is kaput (going on a similar situation with an AE member here in Perth recently).

Also...what reading do you get from the battery when the ignition is switched on? Chances are..it's not holding any sort of load and the YCCS system (IIRC) locks the ignition system up if there is insufficient juice form the battery to turn the engine over. Forum AE members may know more about this.

 

[dustyrains]

Can you provide what the voltage is from the battery? I'm guessing that the battery is kaput (going on a similar situation with an AE member here in Perth recently).
Also...what reading do you get from the battery when the ignition is switched on? Chances are..it's not holding any sort of load and the YCCS system (IIRC) locks the ignition system up if there is insufficient juice form the battery to turn the engine over. Forum AE members may know more about this.

Going to the garage right now to check the voltage. (Had to run uptown to get a multi meter before the stores closed).

 

[JamesK]

Sounds like a Ground Block Spider problem - and from the description of the symptoms, sounds like the spider at the front left under the tank.

Have fun reading through the lengthy posts, but you'll see the info is there.

Ground Spider Search Results

Also here to get you started:

Original Spider thread

Likely the problem spider

 

[dustyrains]

Sounds like a Ground Block Spider problem - and from the description of the symptoms, sounds like the spider at the front left under the tank.
Have fun reading through the lengthy posts, but you'll see the info is there.

Ground Spider Search Results

Also here to get you started:

Original Spider thread

Likely the problem spider

Dayumm, yer good. Thank you very much. Sounds zackley like what I've got.

 

[Harald]

Been riding the bike regularly, recently had the 26k major service done, new YCCS clutch actuator installed. Started the bike, it ran for about one second, then shut down. Turned the key off and back on, no joy. All fuses ok. Original battery, on a battery tender.

Now for the strangness. With the key turned on, this is what is happening.

1. The fuel gauge bar display shows a full tank and the whole bar display is blinking on and off.

2. Horn won't work

3. The headlight high beam indicator is on, although the headlight is not on and switch is in the low position

4. Both turn signal indicators are steady on

5. No error codes

6. Neutral indicator is on

7. Windshield up and down won't work

8. The button to actuate the hand clutch switch won't come on

9. Kill switch is in the on position

10. Emergency flasher switch does not work

Some areas of suspicion.

1. Bad battery

2. Ground problem

3. The tech that worked on the bike recently left a plug or some other connection loose and it finally arced and fused or came completely apart

I did the prerequisite search and found nada. Anyone ever seen this combination of symptoms?

I vote for a grounding spider. I had the same problem with no headlights, both turn signal indicators on, high beam indicator on and windshield not working. My horn still worked though. My problem was confirmed by me to be the spider in the nose fairing above the left headlight. Check THIS THREAD I STARTED for details of my repair. I'd suggest inspecting, cleaning and dielectric greasing all 7 spiders on the bike.

 

[JamesK]

I vote for a grounding spider. I had the same problem with no headlights, both turn signal indicators on, high beam indicator on and windshield not working. My horn still worked though. My problem was confirmed by me to be the spider in the nose fairing above the left headlight. Check THIS THREAD I STARTED for details of my repair. I'd suggest inspecting, cleaning and dielectric greasing all 7 spiders on the bike.

Harald, actually there are now 8 known ground spiders, counting the one i posted that's located near the ECU plug Ground Spider # 8.

 

[Harald]

Harald, actually there are now 8 known ground spiders, counting the one i posted that's located near the ECU plug Ground Spider # 8.

Damn it! :angry2: B) That'll be the next one to cause me trouble because it's the only one I haven't modded or cleaned and lubed. I guess it's time to dig back into the wiring harness again. :huh:

Thanks for the heads up. :clapping:

 

[dustyrains]

Thanks for the responses guys. I would have had no idea where to start looking. Bike is in the shop today. My regular tech says he has seen this problem with several Hondas, but did not say which model. He has not seen any FJR's with it but then he has not dug into mine yet. I will post back when I find out what is going on, hopefully with some pics.

 

[turbodave_98]

I suggest that it is the ground most likely at left front of motor. Take it to the dealer and let them deal with it. I had YES warranty and a non-nonse dealer that ensured a new main electrical harness was installed under warranty. Once again, this newest failure strenthens my belief that GenII bikes have electrical issues absent in Gen I bikes.

 

[dustyrains]

I suggest that it is the ground most likely at left front of motor. Take it to the dealer and let them deal with it. I had YES warranty and a non-nonse dealer that ensured a new main electrical harness was installed under warranty. Once again, this newest failure strenthens my belief that GenII bikes have electrical issues absent in Gen I bikes.

From what I have read so far, I also think it will be the ground spider at the left front of the motor. I do have the YES warranty, thankfully. It has already paid off in spades on my 06 AE.

 

[dustyrains]

Just got a call from the tech working on my bike. Sure enough, it was a smoked ground spider. It melted so badly that the plastic ran down into other parts of the harness. A new main harness is on the way. Yamaha has requested the old harness be returned to them for inspection. I am heading over to the dealership with camera in hand to get some good pics before it ships out.

 

[dcarver]

Another smoked harness, dang.

 

[dustyrains]

Ok, here are the pics of the fried, and I mean fried ground spider from the left front of the engine. My tech says Honda did a recall on their ST1300 for the same problem. I will heading on over to the saferauto.gov site to report this. Hopefully Yamaha will initiate a safety recall on this. Soon.

 

[Big Sky]

I have just got to wonder what the hell goes on with these engineers. Yes, a few of the Gen 1s (mine's an '03) had the tick and there was the TPS recall. But other than that, none of the problems that were INTRODUCED into the subsequent models such as "altitude sickness," ignition switch failures, instant mpg instrument failures, too abrupt throttle pull, now wiring harness failures (i probably missed some)... Are these problems the result of poorly executed attempts at "improvements"? They seem to be mostly related to changes that were made. Just wondering...

Those pictures look scary. Why isn't a fuse blowing before this much heat builds? Who will be the first to burn their FJR down?

 

[dustyrains]

Here is the text of my complaint on the NHSTA site. The complaint confirmation number, or ODI is 10299664

"This is on a 2006 Yamaha FJR1300AE model motorcycle with about 26k miles on it. I started the motorcycle, it ran for about 1 to 2 seconds then shutdown and would not restart. This was the first and only occurrence. Upon inspection by an authorized dealership service technician it was found to have an overheated, melted ground junction in the main electrical harness. The manufacturer is going to replace the entire main harness under the extended warranty I have. The old harness is being sent back to the OEM for inspection. It is my understanding from monitoring certain internet forums for this machine that other owners are having identical failures. Inasmuch as this defect can cause the motorcycle engine to suddenly stop running, there is the potential for a serious or fatal crash injury."

 

[BwanaDik]

Here is the text of my complaint on the NHSTA site. The complaint confirmation number, or ODI is 10299664
"This is on a 2006 Yamaha FJR1300AE model motorcycle with about 26k miles on it. I started the motorcycle, it ran for about 1 to 2 seconds then shutdown and would not restart. This was the first and only occurrence. Upon inspection by an authorized dealership service technician it was found to have an overheated, melted ground junction in the main electrical harness. The manufacturer is going to replace the entire main harness under the extended warranty I have. The old harness is being sent back to the OEM for inspection. It is my understanding from monitoring certain internet forums for this machine that other owners are having identical failures. Inasmuch as this defect can cause the motorcycle engine to suddenly stop running, there is the potential for a serious or fatal crash injury."

Nicely written! "Inasmuch" always gets their attention.

Now you've got me worried. 35,000 on Miss Piggy and no problem yet (knock on head). And you don't have you bike totally farkled up, do you? I know it's been discussed elsewhere but if I find a problem, I may de-farkle (is that a word?) my bike before I take it in.

Edit: Has anybody tried to make a comparison between the spider failures and the frame manufacturing numbers? i.e. the first or last series of manufacturing dates? Did all the failures occur at the beginning or end of a production run? The thread started by TurboDave for the AE posters might be useful as it includes the serial number for each bike. (Think we need a Retired Person with enough time to do the cross checking! )

 

[mcatrophy]

... Why isn't a fuse blowing before this much heat builds? ...

Because in no case does the current through the wiring become excessive. The heat is caused by the normal current passing through a connector whose resistance has increased, so dissipating energy where it shouldn't be dissipated. There is no sensible way to protect from this sort of fault [edit] other than design it out[/edit].

 

[BwanaDik]

... Why isn't a fuse blowing before this much heat builds? ...

Because in no case does the current through the wiring become excessive. The heat is caused by the normal current passing through a connector whose resistance has increased, so dissipating energy where it shouldn't be dissipated. There is no sensible way to protect from this sort of fault.

+1 Ya beat me to it!