2003 FJR Won't Start

[Abigail]

I'm sure y'all have discussed this problem before, but I have searched diligently and can't find it, so here goes:

About a month ago I bought an '03 FJR with only 24k miles on it. She'd been garage kept and babied, looked new, and I began riding everywhere. A couple of weeks ago I began to have intermittent trouble starting the bike. The starter would turn slowly, as if the battery was going dead, but after sitting for a minute or two, it would seem to gather enough power to start. This mostly seemed to happen when hot. A friend checked the battery with a voltmeter and it registered 10 volts while cranking, 12 otherwise, and the alternator WAS charging the battery. Nevertheless, he recommended getting a new battery, since he'd seen that clear up a lot of problems. I ordered and installed the WestCo battery recommended by several forum members and here's the history with the new battery:

Installed it straight out of the box, bike won't quite start. Hooked it up to a trickle charger for several hours (which showed the battery as being 100% charged), still wouldn't quite start. Left the trickle charger on all night, and the bike barely started in the morning. Rode 30+ miles, came back, shut the bike off, and it wouldn't start again. An hour later, it started up easier than it had earlier. Rode about 5 miles, turned it off, tried it right away and it started up perfectly. Turned it off again and tried again, but the fan started up and the starter couldn't turn over fast enough to start. Took the battery out and tried it in another bike, it cranked it right up. Let the bike sit for about 20 minutes and it started again. Turned it off and it wouldn't restart, was turning over too slowly.

I've been combing the internet, but this doesn't quite sound like anything I've read. I'm hoping and praying it's not the starter, since that sounds like a pain to replace. The starter solenoid/relay looks perfectly fine, really, everything in the bike looks clean and in good condition. Any suggestions?

 

[AlleyCat]

I am no expert, but from some of the other posts I have seen, it sure sounds like a starter issue (ex. hot engine is more difficult to crank). You have used 2 different batteries to end up with the same symptoms (assuming good tight connections). So we know that the batteries are not the source of the problem (what are the odds of 2 bad batteries - not to mention that the charging unit confirms full charge). Unless you have something else going on with the engine, I'd be taking a long and serious look at the starter.

This kind of sounds like what you are going through : https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=121196&hl=starter&st=0

 

[roger dodger]

"Installed it straight out of the box, bike won't quite start"

Again ....I am no expert. I seem to think every NEW battery needs to be fully charged before using it at all. So maybe that's why the initial start didn't go as planned. I would hook up the trickle charger (off of the bike) for a FULL charge, then reinstall in the bike. It should 'pop right off', or you clearly have another problem, but at least you can rule out the battery.

 

[AlleyCat]

The fact that the battery was installed in another bike and it started right up simply tells me that the issue here is not battery related...

 

[Abigail]

Thanks Alleycat, I read the thread you linked. It sounds pretty similar except mine doesn't seem as predictable. Sometimes it starts more easily when hot than when cold, sometimes it doesn't start at all when hot, once or twice it didn't start when it was cold. I'm having a hard time nailing down a pattern. I did go ahead and order a rectifier/regulator, but if that's not it I guess the next step is to pull everything apart and look at the starter.

 

[AlleyCat]

If the connections are solid at the battery, is it possible to have a loose connection at the starter or in between the two ? If so, any drain will have an effect on the starter for sure. I just ordered the CD repair manual for the FJR because I do plan to service mine as much as I can (basic stuff with regards to my skill level).

Any one here ever experienced a bad starter to find out later that is was a loose connection OTHER than at the battery ?

 

[garauld]

Ditto on the connections. Does it spin over quickly or sluggish? I would look at the starter brushes next if the conns are clean and tight.

 

[SkooterG]

With those miles, I seriously doubt it's your starter or regulator/rectifier. I am going with loose connections, or the starter relay.

 

[dcarver]

Check ground conn at engine?

 

[wfooshee]

Battery connections, both plus and minus cables. Starter relay can be tested by turning the bike on and jumpering the relay terminals with something metal and stout, making sure not to touch the frame or any other ground. If the starter runs with that, then your rely is toast. Starter relay is on the frame behind the battery, under the upper fairing.

 

[Abigail]

It turns over slowly when it won't start, sounds a lot like it's the battery. (But as far as I can tell, it's not.) I checked the connections at the starter relay, but haven't checked to make sure the relay itself works. I'll do that soon and report back. The battery connections are definitely tight, but I'll poke around and check every other connection I can find.

The bike seems to have settled into a pattern of starting when warm, but not after sitting for several hours. Luckily for me, it's easy to push start!

 

[fjrob1300]

You might want to try another battery too. Just saying.

 

[SkooterG]

The bike seems to have settled into a pattern of starting when warm, but not after sitting for several hours. Luckily for me, it's easy to push start!

Interesting. Usually it's the other way around. Good start cold, no start hot.

 

[Abigail]

Yeah, interesting all right. Turned over too slow to start both Monday and Tuesday mornings, so I didn't ride it, but this afternoon it started right up and kept starting as I ran some errands. I just don't get it. On the plus side, when I finally do solve this, someone else may be able to benefit from this thread. :-/

 

[Goody]

Luckily for me, it's easy to push start!

You're a better man than me!

 

[RadioHowie]

Luckily for me, it's easy to push start!

You're a better man than me!

MAN???

"quote name='Abigail'"

 

[Goody]

Luckily for me, it's easy to push start!

You're a better man than me!

MAN???

"quote name='Abigail'"

Yes, that why I had the winking eye. I didn't find an emoticon with a tongue in cheek.

 

[fudgejerkin1188]

I had the same issue earlier this year on an 03 ABS, random slow starts (sometime would start fine) , LCD display would go out as if the battery was very low, didn't matter if it was hot or cold. Tried a new battery and it was exactly the same, put the old battery in one of my other FJRs and it starts fine all the time. I put a spare starter motor in and its been perfect ever since. 23,000miles seems very low for a starter issue (mine had 90,000 on it at the time) but the connection where the live feed bolts to the starter motor has got to be worth checking. I've since stripped and cleaned the starter motor and it working ok now.

 

[Abigail]

Luckily for me, it's easy to push start!

You're a better man than me!

Lol I did push it a couple of times while my boyfriend was on it, but last few times he pushed it while I was riding. I doubt I could paddle fast enough to start it solo...managed that once on a VFR, but I was desperate.