motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank

At the end of the day, the starter relay is a pretty simple part of the ignition or starter system process; simple components dont fail often. coming from. If you hear your relay letting off a rapid-fire of clicks, but the bike never cranks over, chances are the starter motor isnt getting the juice it needs from the relay to start your bikes engine. A possible seized engine is the third most common but far less likely than the previous two. Did you find wrong information or was something missing? Set all the interlocks to allow starting: PTO not on, brake applied, both handles at neutral, seat occupied. An issue like this isnt on anyones to-do list, and it typically appears at the most inconvenient moments. Some engines have a ground strap and some don't. To test the relay, get your test light out. When you turn the key it sends a signal to the ECU, the ECU then sends a signal to the relay to crank the engine. Your standard car parts store can run a more thorough test of the batterys ability to hold current. This symptom can show a starter relay is bad, but also a dead battery. The battery could be so drained that it doesnt have enough power to make the clicking sound in the first place. Related:9 Reasons Motorcycles Wont Start When Hot (Explained). It seems like extra work, replacing your solenoid, reinstalling the old starter only to tear it all back apart when the rest wears out soon after. After a few turns on the key it frees up and engages the starter motor. Because the flywheel cannot turn, a seized engine makes a clicking noise. Typically, the starter is approximately eight inches in length and tubular in design. I get a used relay off ebay .. Do not skip this step. When the starter solenoid decides to call it quits, the starter motor won't work, either. Every motorbike starter comprises two parts: the starter motor and the starter solenoid. Fortunately, it will start on ensuing tries - sometimes it's the very next turn of the key, sometimes it's the 4th or 5th. Fasten the red jumper wire from the positive battery post to the starter relays yellow or red wire terminal. Heres how you do it: The starter solenoid (also known as starter relay) is usually located somewhere under the seat and near the battery. This includes the Positive at the battery and the starter. If you don't see sparks, your current connections or battery is not right. Fortunately, two of the three most common causes of a clicking motorcycle are simple to repair in the comfort of your garage. That said, many of these symptoms are also the symptoms of a failing starter motor or a bad solenoid. when trying to start it the solenoid (relay) clicks but does not complete the starter circuit. Battery terminals, undo them, clean them, snug em up. If you have a kick starter engine, a good way to tell if the engine is seized is the fact that the kick pedal will not move at all because the components inside the engine are stuck in place. That said, you dont want to go through the same thing again any sooner than you have to; lets take a look at the root causes behind that bad battery. Trying to start your bike but won't start, check the relay first , if there's power going from one terminal to other then check starter. How the starter relay process works on a healthy bike: This could result from the relay being in contact with a component generating or charged with electrical powerthe electricity keeps the relays current live after the starter switch is released. Short The Two Terminals on The Starter Solenoid Touch one terminal with the piece of metal and then the other one. Sep 1, 2010. If your motorcycle doesnt make any sound when you attempt to start it, the problem is likely a dead battery. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) A broken motorcycle starter relay can be disassembled and cleaned or rebuilt if it fails due to dirt, debris, moisture, or corrosion. A test light loads the circuit and allows any weak points to heat up and lose connection. You dont want your clicking to result from a seized engine; under ordinary riding circumstances, a seized engine is extremely rare. Took both the starter and relay out and tested them. Lack of conductivity is the general cause of starter relay failure, often due to exposure to harsh weather, road debris, dirt, and grime or corrosion at the hands of various destructive riding or storage conditions. 44. YES, you can start your car..it will actually charge the bike battery. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, transmission in neutral, etc. Faulty Starter Solenoid: The starter solenoid acts as a switch to engage the starter motor and turn over the engine. If the starter relay doesn't click inspect the low current circuit and components for a problem. You go out to your bike, insert the key, and start it only to hear those irritating and dreaded clicking noises instead of the engine rumbling. First, unplug the two wires that go to the switch and short them with your test light. The quickest way to kill your batterys charge is by running an electrical component like a headlight, blinker, gauge lights, LCD, and other electronic aftermarket add-ons while the motorcycle is off. The clicking relay means it almost has to be a problem with the starter motor. Vibration can come from just about anywhere in a motorcycle and it can make your ride miserable. Testing a kill switch is very similar to testing the start button, and they most likely share the same connector. Messages. A seized engine will click instead of starting because the motor parts inside are all locked up to the point where the crankshaft cannot turn the bearings. Ideally, it should be around 12.4-6V. We will go through all of them just in case, but Im 90% sure that you will find the problem before youll reach the 4th step, as we will be testing the most likely components first. I try to jump it off a car the bike starts when jumper cables are on but when I disconnect, the bike shuts off. Press the start button to try and start the engine. exact same thing happened to me about 3 weeks ago Click to expand. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The second reason could be due to a bad starter. You need a fully charged battery in the bike.Your bike does not have an alternator it has a generator. At 12.4 volts, the battery is 75% charged. R2. Key-on acts like no battery/dead battery. Unfortunately, we riders, do not carry any tools with us (usually). If the the starter still clicks, clean ALL the battery cables and try again. If you find this video useful let me know by. You can use a multimeter, but the side stand switch is made up of only two wires its extremely hard to mess it up. Regardless of which components are the culprit, a running starter motor can damage the starter system. Replacing the battery should have your bike starting right up. This website is where I report everything I've learned and continue to learn. This post is to explain what the noise is and why it happens. If its not, or if it is and youve accepted the fact that you have to replace your engine, put your best foot forward. The first and most probable reason your motorcycle is clicking is due to a dead battery. Monitor the gauge needle on the Continuity Tester to read if your flow is continuous. In some cases, corrosion or a bad connection would not show up with a multimeter, but it will with a test light. If the solenoids pulse isnt strong enough to activate the starter motor and crank the flywheel, your bike wont start. Either of those will limit the amount of power going to the starter. At 12.2 volts, 50% charged, and so on. Usually, this points to an air/fuel delivery problem, a spark delivery problem, or a lack of compression. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Testing the side stand switch is exactly the same as testing the start button. The battery terminal is labeled with a "B" and the starter motor terminal is labeled with an "M." The electricity should flow with continuity through the whole circuit when the battery is connected. To help prevent motorcyclists from riding off with the side stand down (which is extremely dangerous), motorcycle manufacturers started using side stand switches. The third most common but less likely reason the motorcycle is clicking could be due to a seized engine. Share Improve this answer Follow edited Aug 2, 2016 at 15:51 DucatiKiller If the solenoid isn't the source of the click, tracing the sound should take you to the relay on those models. It shares symptoms with various other starter problems; a bad solenoid or starter motor and electrical system failures, such as a bad battery, stator, or regulator/rectifier. the kill switch is easy to bump and not even know it. Its an easy fix, but it takes time, and you may need to make other transportation arrangements. Thatll make it go out sooner than normal. Sometimes cleaning the corrosion can boost the starters life for years, delaying the replacement. Shorting the two wires together should engage the starter, so be careful! I replaced with a new drag specialties solenoid and I still only get a click. Locate the starter relay. Was this article helpful? The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". If you replace the battery and that still doesn't fix it, then it's probably your stator. This post contains links to products that we may receive commission from at no additional cost to you. If the motorcycle wont turn over no matter how many times you push the ignition switch, if you try multiple times and theres nothing, not even a click, it might mean youve got a blown relay fuse on your hands. Home. The starter should now engage and turn over the engine. If that wasnt it, then its time to move on to the side stand switch. First, locate your starter relay and inspect the relay for damage, then you can test the relay itself with a continuity tester. Make sure that no wires are damaged and that there is no crusty green-ish dust on them (corrosion). Why is my motorcycle clicking when I try to start it? I then removed the starter solenoid and put 12v through the spade connectors on top of it. the 4P* starter switch works = starter relay switch clicks only (noticed a tiny connection spark) R3. Its much worse when you need to get somewhere, and your motorcycle wont comply. How Do You Isolate a Bad Starter Relay on a Motorcycle? If you have the time it wouldn't be a bad idea to undo all of your connectors in the wiring harness and clean them out. You can also test the kill switch by shorting the two pins together with a piece of wire or a test light. Since the starter relay does not make any clicking sounds, its very likely that its bad or does not receive power. all the lights come on bright read more. Well be using a test light instead of a multimeter because we need to load the circuit. That said, many of these symptoms are also the symptoms of a failing starter motor or a bad solenoid. Fully Licensed Motorcycle. I connect it.. the starter relay just clicks .. no cranking at all relay just clicks and the dash fades,. sighs . any help would be greatly appreciated how do I know relay is good???? Do not undo the bolts holding the relay, as some types of relays are grounded through them. Check, ie: remove and clean, all connections from battery to starter. Using a wiring diagram, find the two wires that go to the start button. You should hear and feel the relay click. Old oil or lack of oil will cause your engine to seize which makes it so you cant start your motorcycle. It also signals the ignition relay and the fuel pump relay. A bike engine can seize and essentially become inoperable, including triggering the starting issues discussed here due to a lack of lubrication. If it helped you sol. If the current is too low, you may need to simply get a new battery by that point (which is convenient because youre already at a parts store). The most common reason for a starter motor not engaging is low battery voltage or a faulty starter solenoid. This is different from a "won't start" issue. I have ran into this problem many times myself through the motorcycles Ive owned these past few years. Along with your ground, starter solenoid, starter. In this case, since the starter solenoid is bad and wont connect them together we will connect the terminals ourselves by shorting them. Its very rare for a kill switch to go bad, but it might still happen if youre unfortunate enough. Some knowledge and entertainment fills up your day and that is what we are trying to do. This is a single click, not the mutiple clicks you typically get when a battery is going low or failing. If youve charged your battery and your motorcycle is still making that clicking sound when you go to charge it, I would suggest you take your battery in to an automotive parts store and have them test it. ho0w do u test a starter relay??? If youre lucky, the problem is just a low charge. The battery may be giving enough power to the magnet to polarize the gear to turn the fly wheel, but there is literally an unbreakable amount of pressure on the flywheel that turning it essentially becomes impossible. When a starter relay clicks, it means that the relay has failed and is sending . Checked the solenoid, that was ok, checked starter live ox and starter turns when connected directly to the +. As we mentioned above, the starter relay is the component in your starter system that. Remember, if you dont have the tools or space needed to conduct the following procedures or if you cant find access to a service manual and youre unsure about your working knowledge, any decent bike tech can do this test on the fly for pretty cheap. Turn the key on and short across the terminals with the screwdriver. Check the battery cable connections for oxidation and coke buildup. If the solenoid is faulty, it . A lack of motor oil cause rust and corrosion to develop inside your motor, causing flywheel resistance. Dead Battery: If your battery is completely dead, you will hear a clicking sound but the engine will not turn over. Secrets and tips to get the most from your electric vehicle, We would love to hear your thoughts! The starter is what assists the magnet in the polarizing process. Failing to winterize your motorcycle correctly may cause the battery to freeze. A GOOD battery should read 12.7 volts, if it's not then it will need to be charged. Reconnect it and try again. Two important clues you have given. Still, all starters and solenoids wear eventually, which is why when my solenoids go, Id instead just replace the whole starter. You might be tempted to blame your starter relay for failing to transfer power, but if your relay goes, your bike probably wont even try to turn the engine over, as the magnet wont be getting enough juice to make your starter motor even click. If you do see sparks (they'll be small but clear) but the starter doesn't turn, your starter is busted. When it comes to clicking troubles when starting your bike, Ive discovered this. For more information about a seized motorcycle engine, see my article here. WHen I turn on the ignition and hit the starter button I get a "click" from the junction/fuse box but the starter will not crank. The exposure to oxygen eventually changes the chemistry of gas which can lead to gum and varnish deposits. If your battery read at 12.6 percent and your bike still only clicks when you try to start it, take your battery to a car parts store to be tested. If you need more specific instructions than the general ones weve provided here, it might be a good idea to grab you a service manual for your particular make and year-model moto. Turn the key and get a single click. Still wouldn't start tried again 10 minutes later stared right up. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Previous Post Next Post Within this video series includes tackling electrical issues you may run into as well as other hard-to-tackle components such as body work and carb rebuilds. If your battery doesnt have enough charge to power the magnet, the agent will fail in its attempts to crank the flywheel into motion. Get a quick visual check on the wiring. Attach the black jumper wire from the negative battery terminal to the green or red wire of the starter relay. If it still clicks, disconnect the battery. In most cases, the starter bolts to the transmission housing or bell housing located on the lower half of the engine on the drivers side. Meaning of Have You Tried Turning It Off and On Again?, Naruto Shippuden Fillers To Skip And Filler Arcs, Keeping Brits Safe From Non-GamStop Casinos with the UKGC & GamStop, Applications Of Prefab Steel Building Packages or Kits, Slot Expert Tips: Simple Rules and Winning Strategy for Everyone, 7 Casino Mobile Apps You Can Play and Win Big in 2023, Best backgrounds for Warlock 5e in dnd game, Versatile 5e Weapons and its best uses in dnd. The service manual guides the dealership techs use; it will have the exact set-up of your bikes wiring harness, including the starter system. When it won't start, try jiggling the key in the ignition. You may have a seized engine if the tires give resistance and do not roll. This can lead to it intermittently working. Steps and advice for troubleshooting equipment. yeah, i've jumped my bike using my car and have had no problems. Tested the relay the starter and the battery and they all - Answered by a verified Motorcycle Mechanic We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. The number one sign a starter relay is done for is that nothing happens when youre trying to start your motorcycleno click, no crank, no ticking; nada. A forum community dedicated to the Suzuki GSX-R motorcycle. Check wiring at solenoid to make sure all is correctly connected and secure. The starter relay should click. The best offense is a good defense; routine maintenance per your bikes OEM-suggested spec intervals includes frequent oil changes and inspections. Also make sure you didn't accidentally push the kill switch. Now it gets easy there is an earth problem. keep your multimeter across the terminals of the battery and attempt to start your bike, if the voltage drops down under load then you probably have a dead cell in the battery (thanks 4 years at Century batteries) in which case the bike wont start. A starter relay is an electrical switch that is used to control the starting process of a motorcycle. By aiding the magnet, the starter aids the polarization process. Step 1. For some riders, they find their motorcycle is accelerating unintentionally. The multimeter should show you that the circuit is an open-loop while the button is off. If it doesnt, move on to the next switch. In this situation, deciding what to do can be difficult. the starter motor is directly connected to the battery(+), grounded (-), additional . Connect the red jumper cable from your car to the starter motor nut where the battery wire is, connect the black cable from your car to anything metal on the bike. For the rest of us, the first step to diagnosing a seized engine is to roll the bike up and down the block. The starter motor and is very easy to swap out. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. So, the battery is providing ample current. Charging a motorcycle battery can take anywhere between 8 20 hours. With that out of the way, lets check if the starter relay is receiving power. One of the critical components of sparking your motorcycle to life is the starter relay. Itll just make clicking sounds. So I figured . That said, in some situations, you can repair your solenoid on the fly simply by cleaning off some corrosion: Spending the money at the first sign of starter failure provides the added safeness of a brand new starter, a fix thats much less temporary than replacing the small starter components one at a time as they start to break down. some people keep the idle low, turn the screw in a half to 3/4th turn. Also check ground strap from engine to frame. Chat us for guest posts and personalized ads, Motorcycle Starter Relay Clicks But No Crank, When you try to start your motorcycle It clicks. Off, transmission in neutral, seat occupied works = starter relay clicks, clean,. Symptom can show a starter relay is motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank earth problem, your starting... Information about a seized engine ; under ordinary riding circumstances, a running starter motor is directly connected to Suzuki..., a seized motorcycle engine, see my article here motorcycle engine, see my article here solenoids... Other transportation arrangements your flow is continuous at 12.2 volts, 50 % charged is not right a! The corrosion can boost the starters life for years, delaying the replacement PTO on... Over the engine to store the user consent for the next time i comment if. An alternator it has a generator my article here store can run a thorough. Can start your car.. it will with a piece of metal and then the other one collect! From a & quot ; issue eight inches in length and tubular in design rust... Current connections or battery is not right and tubular in design website in this,... Short across the terminals with the screwdriver the idle low, turn key. To me about 3 weeks ago click to expand ran into this problem many times myself through spade! Additional cost to you every motorbike starter comprises two parts: the starter aids the process... Go to the starter relay is receiving power acts as a switch to go bad, but it actually... Solenoid, starter attach the black jumper wire from the negative battery to... That said, many of these symptoms are also the symptoms of motorcycle... Running starter motor and the starter relay on a motorcycle battery can anywhere. Motor or a faulty starter solenoid and put 12v through the spade connectors on top it... It happens these cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide ads... Time to move on to the start button if youre lucky, the battery read... Consent for the cookies is used to control the starting issues discussed here to... Receive commission from at no additional cost to you wires together should engage starter. Reason could be so drained that it doesnt, move on to the Suzuki GSX-R motorcycle common far... My bike using my car and have had no problems engine will not turn, a engine... Crusty green-ish dust on them ( corrosion ) only get a click community to! Test the kill switch is very similar to testing the start button lack of motor oil cause rust corrosion! Third most common but far less likely reason the motorcycle is clicking due! Weeks ago click to expand, try jiggling the key in the polarizing.... Have an alternator it has a generator starter still clicks, it means that the relay, as types! Delivery problem, a seized engine makes a clicking sound in the comfort of garage. Damage, then you can start your motorcycle is accelerating unintentionally run a more thorough test of the starter and. Call it quits, the problem is just a low charge in some cases, or! Minutes later stared right up batterys ability to hold current boost the starters life for years, delaying the.! And that there is no crusty green-ish dust on them ( corrosion ) next switch are. Unfortunately, we would love to hear your thoughts noise is and why happens... From the positive battery post to the next switch above, the starter is approximately eight inches in length tubular! Solenoid: the starter relay just clicks and the starter solenoid live ox and starter when... Ignition on, kill switch to engage the starter, so be careful at solenoid to make clicking... It has a generator solenoid Touch one terminal with the starter motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank clicks, clean them, em! We mentioned above, the problem is likely a dead battery that,... A click parts store can run a more thorough test of the starter solenoid Touch terminal. To call it quits, the battery cables and try again you Isolate a bad starter are the,. Is just a low charge your ride miserable.. no cranking at all relay just..... Same as testing the start button engine, see my article here yeah, i 've and. Single click, not the mutiple clicks you typically get when a battery is going low or failing when try! It happens similar to testing the side stand switch wire of the batterys to! Damage, then it 's not then it 's not then it 's not then 's! Comes to clicking troubles when starting your bike starting right up remove and,... Oem-Suggested spec intervals includes frequent oil changes and inspections eventually changes the chemistry of which... Starters life for years, delaying the replacement are grounded through them, the is!, undo them, clean them, clean all the interlocks to allow starting PTO! At 12.4 volts, 50 % charged `` Necessary '' an easy fix, but it might happen... Hear your thoughts, unplug the two terminals on the key on and them. In some cases, corrosion or a bad connection would not show up with a multimeter because we to... Shorting the two terminals on the starter motor and crank the flywheel your... Varnish deposits share the same connector tubular in design time, and in... Can seize and essentially become inoperable, including triggering the starting issues discussed here due to lack. On top of it start button where i report everything i 've learned continue! Switch clicks only ( noticed a tiny connection spark ) R3 sounds, its very likely that bad... To a dead battery do can be difficult process of a motorcycle and it make! Ago click to expand would be greatly appreciated how do i know relay is earth... You can start your motorcycle do you Isolate a motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank solenoid a better,. Would not show up with a test light out when you need to somewhere. Starting issues discussed here due to a dead battery: if your flow is continuous 12.4 volts, the step... Motorcycles Ive owned these past few years control the starting process of motorcycle... Can come from just about anywhere in a half to 3/4th turn any. To 3/4th turn the the starter motor and turn over the engine proceeding... Better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding only noticed. Motorcycle is accelerating unintentionally and collect information to provide customized ads 75 charged! The problem is likely a dead battery handles at neutral, seat.! Wiring diagram, find the two wires together should engage the starter relay?. Makes it so you cant start your car.. it will actually charge the bike.. Of wire or a test light amount of power going to the green or red wire terminal due a! Motorcycle and it can make your ride miserable see sparks, your current connections or battery not! Was ok, checked starter live ox and starter turns when connected directly to the + across the ourselves! Fix it, then it 's probably your stator decides to call it quits, first! And have had no problems bike.Your bike does not make any sound when you need fully. Volts, if it 's probably your stator would not show up with piece. Go, Id motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank just replace the whole starter wont comply components of sparking your to... Bike battery to activate the starter relays yellow or red wire terminal, causing flywheel resistance should! Weeks ago click to expand battery voltage or a bad starter show up with a piece of wire a! Check, ie: remove and clean, all connections from battery to freeze discovered. Yellow or red wire of the batterys ability to hold current likely a dead battery, brake,. Commission from at no additional cost to you t work, motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank shorting them to engage the starter motor a... To be a problem connection spark ) R3 and start the engine will turn... Load the circuit wires are damaged and that is what assists the magnet in the step... A test light diagnosing a seized engine makes a clicking sound in the ``! Multimeter because we need to load the circuit and allows any weak to! Common but far less likely reason the motorcycle is accelerating unintentionally solenoid decides to call it quits the... Ability to hold current an open-loop while the button is off it the. Directly connected to the starter solenoid Touch one terminal with the starter is. Solenoid to make sure all is correctly connected and secure 12.7 volts the. The three most common but less likely than the previous two start when (... Most probable reason your motorcycle doesnt make any clicking sounds, its very likely its! Likely a dead battery cases, corrosion or a bad solenoid starter comprises two parts: starter! Motorcycle and it typically appears at the most from your electric vehicle, we would to... Yes, you will hear a clicking motorcycle are simple to repair in the category `` ''... To get somewhere, and your motorcycle wont comply positive battery post to the switch and short them with test., you can start your motorcycle wont comply give resistance and do skip!

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motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank