2004 Ignition Failure. Really?

[Awesomesean]

Sooooo, I have a brand new/old 2004 FJR with 11,500 miles on it that I bought a few weeks ago. I love the bike and have lived on it these last few weeks. I was hoping that wioth low miles and proper care this would be a good buy and was looking forward to some worry free riding. Last night I left the house with my GF (who hated me buying the bike) pulled up to the light and it died. No power, no nothing. My GF starts freaking out because we are in the middle of the road.

I cycled the ignition switch a few times and it came back alive and started then died again. I cycled the key a few more times and it started again. It did this a total of 3 times in a 2 block area. It has not died since (maybe 40 miles on it so far). After reading the awesome FJR forum I have all kinds of worries about these problems some people have with the unreliable ign switch. I was hoping someone could lead me in the right direction with the repair or cause due do their experience. I have read a few posts about installing a relay and about hotwiring the bike. I hope that I don't spend all my time worried about my bike dying and working on it all the time (forums are great but can be bad by giving someone all kinds of worries they may have never had before).

I know it seems the ign swith comcern was with 2006-2009 years but what are the possibilities about the 2004 having the same problem?

Here are some other things I noticed. After it died, all lights and display went out. When power was restored, the clock was reset as well as the trip meter. This to me means that all power even backup was lost. Does anyone have any ideas?

I hate the idea of knowing my bike can die at anytime. I don't want to be stranded on a new bike. I have had a Gold Wing for 18 years with no real problems and really, really wanted this FJR. Please tell me this is a stupid fix and I will never, ever have another problem again.

 

[wmadoty]

I would check the battery cables and battery. I would likely replace the battery even if it tested good. Check those cables at both ends, don't just look at them. Did I mention to check your battery cables?

 

[RadioHowie]

Hopefully, Ionbeam, Wfooshee or FredW will come along shortly to either contradict me, or back me up, but I don't believe backup power, which keeps the clock and trip meters set, goes through the ignition switch.

To me, it sounds like you may have loose connections at the battery, which could cause your problems, not to mention a multitude of other issues you haven't experienced yet.

While Gen I ignition failures HAVE occurred, they are no where near the endemic numbers of Gen II failures.

1st suggestion....smack the GF, tell her to STFU.

2nd suggestion....make sure your battery cables are nizentite.

 

[dcarver]

1st suggestion....smack the GF, tell her to STFU.

2nd suggestion....make sure your battery cables are nizentite.

Sure wish it was Friday I'd have some fun with that statement! :lol:
Like earlier posters said, clean, tighten batt cables then if problem persists, load test battery.

 

[RadioHowie]

1st suggestion....smack the GF, tell her to STFU.

2nd suggestion....make sure your battery cables are nizentite.

Sure wish it was Friday I'd have some fun with that statement! :lol:
Like earlier posters said, clean, tighten batt cables then if problem persists, load test battery....and start looking for GF Gen II.

Yep....

 

[Afast03nNJ]

You should check your battery cables, both ends.

And never smack your GF, you wont get to use the love canal.

 

[FJRay]

As has been stated check the cables on both ends. I'll leave smacking thr GF up to you.

The ignition switch on my 03 took a shit on the way to WFO in Park City. Nursed it home and repaired the switch by taking it apart and cleaning everything. I then built my own relay assy. like the nice ones Brodie made up. Been trouble free ever since.

It's a poor design to run the whole load through the small contacts of the switch but Gen1 bikes are tougher so they don't screw up as bad but it can and does happen.

Mine was also a ticker long before it was made infamous here but is still superior to the GenII IMHO

 

[SkooterG]

If battery cables are good, try jiggling the wires just a little coming out from below the ignition switch. If doing that causes anything to happen you have the classic bad switch where one of the wires has come undone where it is soldered onto the switch.

 

[ionbeam]

...try jiggling the wires just a little coming out from below the ignition switch. If doing that causes anything to happen you have the classic bad switch where one of the wires has come undone where it is soldered onto the switch.

...you have a Gen II. Gen I does not fail like that. Almost all Gen I switches fail from contact degradation and not a melt down like Gen II.

The ignition switch is made in two halves. The top half is the mechanical tumbler part of the switch. The bottom of the switch contains the electrical contacts. The top and bottom are separated from each other and in theory what goes in the key slot can not get into the electrical contacts. Sometime between the beginning of the '03 models and the late '04 models there was a drain hole in the bottom of the switch on some FJRs. This served to let rain and dirt into the switch and actually caused switch problems. If your ignition switch has a drain hole you can use a can of electrical contact cleaner and the supplied straw to spritz the switch.

That said, I agree with the others, it sounds more like a loose cable.

 

[SkooterG]

...try jiggling the wires just a little coming out from below the ignition switch. If doing that causes anything to happen you have the classic bad switch where one of the wires has come undone where it is soldered onto the switch.

...you have a Gen II. Gen I does not fail like that. Almost all Gen I switches fail from contact degradation and not a melt down like Gen II.

The ignition switch is made in two halves. The top half is the mechanical tumbler part of the switch. The bottom of the switch contains the electrical contacts. The top and bottom are separated from each other and in theory what goes in the key slot can not get into the electrical contacts. Sometime between the beginning of the '03 models and the late '04 models there was a drain hole in the bottom of the switch on some FJRs. This served to let rain and dirt into the switch and actually caused switch problems. If your ignition switch has a drain hole you can use a can of electrical contact cleaner and the supplied straw to spritz the switch.

That said, I agree with the others, it sounds more like a loose cable.

Damned Fart Smeller!

 

[RadioHowie]

Since some of the electro-experts HAVE chimed in, I refer back to my original reply...

I don't believe backup power, which keeps the clock and trip meters set, goes through the ignition switch.

Is this correct? Is the "backup power" circuit, which maintains the clock and trip-meters, separate from the ignition switch?

Seems to me it would have to be, since you wouldn't want to be switching the backup power off.

 

[Bungie]

Once per year I stick the noozzle of the contact cleaner down into the ignition switch and give it a spritz. Put a rag up underneath and behind as a lot of spooge will come out.

That being said, I always know when it's time. My key gets 'notchy'. First check your key for straightness (they do bend easily) and if that's good, bust out the cleaner.

Reminds me, my switch is getting notchy again.

 

[SkooterG]

Reminds me, my switch is getting notchy again.

Whoa! TMI!!! Some things you should just keep to yourself.

 

[ionbeam]

Since some of the electro-experts HAVE chimed in, I refer back to my original reply...

I don't believe backup power, which keeps the clock and trip meters set, goes through the ignition switch.

Is this correct? Is the "backup power" circuit, which maintains the clock and trip-meters, separate from the ignition switch?

Seems to me it would have to be, since you wouldn't want to be switching the backup power off.

Here it comes, prepare yourself -- YOU ARE RIGHT -- there, didn't that feel good. :lol: Glad to help. Cleanup in isle 3 The backup power circuit does indeed maintain the clock and trip-meters and is independent from the key switched power. The odometer is stored in static RAM that doesn't require power.

Most important is that 'Howie is saying that you lost main power, therefore it is 99.8% unlikely that you are experiencing an ignition switch failure. So, we have another check the battery terminals vote. If you don't have a loose battery terminal, check that the terminal itself on the battery doesn't have an issue and closely inspect the battery cable to terminal junction and be sure it is good.

 

[Awesomesean]

So when I got the bike, the guy told me he just charged the battery to get it started. Funny I looked past this. I guess I was just so caught up with the ign switch concern I had my blinders on.

I just walked out and checked the battery. Guess what? Both f**king cables were finger tight and loose. I can't believe it. I feel sheepish! I love this forum and you guys are awesome. What skill that right off the get-go was to check the battery connections. I hope this was the only problem. Thanks guys!!!!!

I will keep my fingers crossed hoping this was it.

Now for the GF issue..........

 

[Fred W]

Don't feel bad...

At the last EOM the hoards had one of the guys' bike all stripped down to parade rest, searching for possible reasons for his intermittent stalling and "won't start" symptoms.

Someone eventually suggested to take a look at the battery terminals. You guessed it: loose as a goose.

Enjoy your new ride.

PS - Maybe the GF just needs a little "tighten up" too? Hopefully you've got the right tools for that.

 

[Bounce]

1st suggestion....smack the GF, tell her to STFU.

some tactless bastard will probably come along and ask what it means when a GF has 2 black eyes. then that hateful S.O.B. will probably think it funny to say, that she didn't shut up the first time.

what a jerk.

 

[ionbeam]

...Last night I left the house with my GF (who hated me buying the bike) pulled up to the light and it died...My GF starts freaking out because we are in the middle of the

She was with you on the bike? You have a keeper that's worth the effort!

Now that you have a reliable Gen I FJR take her someplace scenic that she would enjoy, take her someplace she would like to eat, take her someplace she would like to go. Reinforce the Ride to Pleasure ratio. Hopefully she will become GLAD you bought that lovely FJR.

 

[wfooshee]

Damn. Problem solved and I missed it.

But: check the battery cables. And the backup power is not through the ignition switch.

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