2004 won't start

[fjrer]

I've got a 2004, hasn't been run in 10 days, (been outta town). I went to crank it this evening and it spins but won't start. I checked the ign and pump fuses. You can hear the pump when you turn the key on. Last time I rode I came the last 20 miles in a down pour. I dried it off and moved it a couple hours later. Now won't begin to start, spins over but acts like it's not "catching". Help help Thanks for any Help

 

[fjrer]

Well I when back out, turned it on hit the starter and it fired up. Turned it off and started back, let it run to 2 bars and turned it off and started it back> WTF?????

 

[rPGoatBoy]

Eh, fluke. Make sure your battery isn't dead (how old is it?). My '06 FJR has exhibited the same symptoms on a battery that wasn't fully charged. Even though it's cranking, it's either A) not producing enough voltage to turn the motor and fire the plugs at the same time or B> not spinning the motor fast enough. Probably more A than B if I had to guess.

 

[wfooshee]

Ignition switch flakiness? Did you see a 19 on the LCD?

Ignition switch is a double-pole switch, and if the "heavy" circuit makes but the "light" one doesn't, it will crank forever and never fire. It ought to throw a 19 if that happens, I think.

The heavy circuit is main power, and the light circuit passes the ground from the sidestand switch to the ECU. Start would be enabled, but the ECU will be in shutoff mode because it can't see the sidestand switch..

 

[SkooterG]

Most likely the occasional FJR anomaly of not starting, often caused by a flooded condition. It happens sometimes. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[C&C]

You said you moved it after you had dried it off (did the move involve a startup?), if it did and you didn't run it too long, you might have had the 'cold start' flood problem reported here many times. Just a guess.

 

[fjrer]

Thanks for the replies, the battery is 2 yrs old and may be nearing the end of it's useful life, I'll look at the codes and I did start it for the short move, but it had been 10 days since that.

Thanks again

 

[Fred W]

Thanks for the replies, the battery is 2 yrs old and may be nearing the end of it's useful life, I'll look at the codes and I did start it for the short move, but it had been 10 days since that.
Thanks again

It doesn't really matter how long it was after the "short start". This is not a classic "flooded" situation where the engine won't start due to excessive fuel richness. Nobody has been able to ascertain the actual cause but it isn't unusual for it to happen after sitting for weeks after the short start cycle.

Did you happen to notice that the starter motor was spinning the engine over a bit faster than it normally does when it wasn't starting?

The phenomenon is documented in this pinned thread in the Technical Mechanical Problems subforum:

FJRF011: Fast Starter Syndrome

 

[Constant Mesh]

One wonders if the wasted spark two plugs per coil ignition makes the FJR a bit more susceptible to occasional difficult starts. If a plug is inundated with gas and fouls and doesn't fire correctly it probably adversely affects the other plug sharing that coil. So half of the FJR's cylinders have ignition problems.

It's likely good that the '13 was converted to a four coil system. Now all the plugs work independently and aren't paired, they can't interact.

 

[fjrer]

It did indeed spin faster as if it wasn't turning anything but the starter, Thanks again for the responses

 

[mcatrophy]

One wonders if the wasted spark two plugs per coil ignition makes the FJR a bit more susceptible to occasional difficult starts. If a plug is inundated with gas and fouls and doesn't fire correctly it probably adversely affects the other plug sharing that coil. So half of the FJR's cylinders have ignition problems....

If a plug fouls, it essentially goes short circuit. This will not have any significant effect on the "paired" plug since they are in series. It could even make the spark from the "good" plug stronger.
Diagram shows typical wasted spark plug circuit (ignore the pin numbers, this was from my Trophy times)

(click on image for larger view)

 

[Geezer]

Mine does the same thing. It seems to happen when I put it away right after a long hard ride and then don't use it for a few days or more. I suspect a drip from one or more of the injectors. It doesn't seem to matter how old the battery is. I keep mine on a tender and fully charged. I always manage to get it to start after a few tries with the throttle in various positions.

 

[user 39896]

Mine is doing this now,

its been outside under a cover and its been cold at night (20s - 30s) and it seems the battery is strong enough to spin the motor but it just wont start.

I put it on the battery tender over night and it started up just fine. A week later it did it again (last night)

I'm assuming the battery is on its way out ? (i've had it several years now)

guess i'll put a meter on the battery and replace it when i bring it inside for the winter?