Wet bike no start

[FJR Bill]

My 09 has always started in one or two seconds after starter engagement. This morning departing work at 1AM the bike was soaked with dew with temps in the 50's. Cranked and cranked, no start. Let the battery recover for about 20 minutes then finally got the bike to weakly fire then start.

I'm thinking the problem had to do with the heavy dew and wet bike. Don't understand this as all the modern bikes I've owned have started normally after suffering a severe rain storm. Wonder why this moisture caused this starting issue. Any ideas?

Thanks, Bill

 

[Ignacio]

See Fast Starter Syndrome.

 

[RaYzerman19]

Normally there shouldn't be 'wet' issues. Could be a few things, depends on the weather conditions (breeze, no breeze, etc.) but heavy dew/fog may have gotten a few things wet under the fairings, so chance of a spark plug wire or coil wires leaking to ground enough to cause a no-start. Remedy, remove front fairings, locate coils and associated wiring and spark plug wires, give a spray of Dry & Go or silicone spray (never hurts to do this once) or use some dielectric grease at connectors that aren't waterproof. It's probably not the spark plug wire portion on top of the engine. Could also be spark plugs not changed in a while (you didn't mention mileage). Put a cover on it if storing outside. I am assuming you're commuting, bike doesn't sit for long periods or gas in the tank is less than a week old to prevent fuel phase separation (water in fuel). When you shut it down, the dew may have come early, you got condensation as the hot parts cooled........ has it repeated or was it fixed with fresh fuel or Seafoam?

 

[Donal]

I would be surprised it the 'wet' had anything to do with it. We have all ridden these bikes in heavy rain for long periods with absolutely no issues.

I am in the same camp as Iggy above. Had you briefly started/run the bike at all since it was shut down?

I can simulate these symptoms by allowing the bike to run for 15-20 seconds (starting from cold). Shut it down for about 30 seconds and then try re-starting. It will usually cough, splutter, run roughly etc and takes several good blips on the throttle to get it back to running normally.

If I shut it down after it has warmed up then there are no problems in re-starting.

 

[garyahouse]

A couple years ago, my Gen 1 got wet and wouldn't start. I'd washed it with the hose, left it out in the rain, and then it sat in a cold (50-55 or so) garage for 2 days. It crank just fine, but no start. Finally, I took it in to the shop. Long story short, the wires leading to the coils were soaked. The tech popped them off, wire brushed the terminals, put in some dielectric grease, shoved everything back together, and It's run perfectly ever since.

Gary

darksider #44

 

[rbentnail]

I think the wet had nothing to do with it. Have your battery load tested. It's going on 5 y/o ya know...