Its the only way to properly test a circuit. The starter should now engage and turn over the engine. Copyright 2020 - 2022 Webnews21 (GMW). 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In that case, the starter relay has gone bad and you need to replace it. As soon as the relay drops the starter motor it clicks again and repeats. If the magnet that polarizes the gear to turn the flywheel isnt magnetizing appropriately, the equipment wont turn the flywheel at all. Those clicking noises can rapidly spoil someones day. When you turn the key and the battery is dead, you hear the magnet trying to magnetize the gear which is what makes the clicking sound. Ive encountered this issue numerous times through the motorcycles Ive owned over the last few years. Set all the interlocks to allow starting: PTO not on, brake applied, both handles at neutral, seat occupied. Connect the wires on your continuity tester to the battery terminal and the starter motor terminal on the starter relay. Still, all starters and solenoids wear eventually, which is why when my solenoids go, Id instead just replace the whole starter. Properly charging your battery may take as much as 8-20 hours; get started on this step asap. If the solenoid is faulty, it . make sure the battery is fully charged. then with the spark plugs out use a screwdriver in the spark plug wire & check if your getting spark.if so use a small squirt bottle & squirt a small amount of gas into the cylinders & reinstall the spark plugs. 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. The first and most common reason is because of a dead battery. 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. Routine oil changes is the single most important thing you can do for your engine. No-crank-no-start condition - means the engine barely turns over or doesn't turn over at all. What Does a Solenoid Do On A Motorcycle? Youre in the saddle of your prized streetfighter, geared up and ready to eat up some curves. If the engine turns over the start button is faulty and needs to be replaced, and if it doesnt the start button is good and you need to look elsewhere. Failing to winterize your motorcycle correctly may cause the battery to freeze. This is especially helpful during the winterizing process. Your email address will not be published. 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. Related:12 Reasons Your Motorcycle Wont Start In Gear (Explained). Luckily, there are only a handful of components that could go bad and prevent the engine from starting, and if you test them and the wiring integrity between them properly, youll be back on the road in no time. Knowing what to do can be difficult in this situation. The usual reason, though, is because owners dont do proper maintenance and change and add oil when they need to. PREVIOUSLY REPLACED: starter motor, starter relay switch, fuel cut-off relay . The first and most common reason is because of a dead battery. Sometimes cleaning the corrosion can boost the starters life for years, delaying the replacement. Either of those will limit the amount of power going to the starter. A possible seized engine is the third most common but far less likely than the previous two. Theres also a phenomenon called parasitic drain. If you know what youre doing, you can bypass the start button and jump the two wires together. A GOOD battery should read 12.7 volts, if it's not then it will need to be charged. It can also be a sign that the solenoid is not functioning correctly. The motor could be worn if the solenoid is worn on the used starter. Now you understand why we had you start with the battery and the starter. Also make sure you didn't accidentally push the kill switch. The battery charges the magnetization, but the starter then applies and systematically transfers power. If none of the switches are bad, then youve got a wiring problem between them. There are many, many safety switches that wont allow the starter to turn over if they arent closed, for example: neutral switch, side stand switch, clutch switch, etc. Previous Post Next Post If, after a few turns, your starter clicks, or maybe your bike even fires up, it might be that your relay is dying but not quite dead yet. If its any lower than that, you likely wont be able to get it started at all, thus you hear the clicking sound. The solenoid in the starter has power and ground but it sticks. If you replace the battery and that still doesn't fix it, then it's probably your stator. Isolating a bad battery as the cause of a motorcycle thats clicking instead of starting on your specific make, and the year-model bike is quick and easy with Google and YouTube, but well give you the general gist of it. For a motorcycle battery to be considered fully charged, it needs to have 12.6 volts. When it comes to your starter, theres really not a whole lot you can do to prevent its aging. #3. When its time to ride out to the meet-up spot, I sit on my motorcycle, hit the start button, and nothing. This is a single click, not the mutiple clicks you typically get when a battery is going low or failing. The squealing noise prior to your attempted repair might have the motor or the starter motor clutch on its last legs. Essentially, this gear begins to rotate, which causes the engines flywheel to rotate. If the wind is too low, you could need a new battery (which is convenient because youre already at a parts store). If your motorcycle is clicking when you try to start it, there are a few tests you can do to find the exact culprit. Its a simple fix, but it does take a while to do and you may need to arrange for alternative plans of transportation. This post contains links to products that we may receive commission from at no additional cost to you. Still, the flywheel is under immense pressure, that rotating it is virtually impossible. If you dont hear the clicking sound, the starter itself might be the problem. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, and make sure that the motorcycle is in neutral. Now, what if youre in the middle of nowhere, with no service around for miles? Over time, the internal components of the starter begin to wear. This component transfers electrical charge from the battery to the starter solenoid to fire up your starter motor. Get a terminal brush and a few wrenches and you can clean then yourself. Ideally, it should be around 12.4-6V. So, I have power from the battery. On the other hand, a bad starter solenoid could be the culprit. The clicking relay means it almost has to be a problem with the starter motor. So, the battery is providing ample current. Now just because the relay doesnt click doesnt mean its the fault. The best offense is a good defense; routine maintenance per your bikes OEM-suggested spec intervals includes frequent oil changes and inspections. It does not store any personal data. Reconnect it and try again. Let the car run for five minutes then give the bike starter a go. (PS: We read ALL feedback). Starter relay clicks, but no crank shows the starter motor is not receiving enough electrical current from the relay to turn the engine. ho0w do u test a starter relay??? This is why oil changes and top-offs are essential for any bike. First, you must check your battery and other components. 4. Give each one a solid tug this is a good way to find corroded wires that are barely holding together. You should hear and feel the relay click. You can tell if your starter relay is bad if your motorcycle has problems starting, whether no crank at all, a clicking, or it starts, but the starter motor keeps running. 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. What if it happened in the middle of nowhere? You may have a seized engine if the tires give resistance and do not roll. Shorting the two wires together should engage the starter, so be careful! 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. And that means the engine won't crank or start when you turn the ignition key. A starter relay is an electrical switch that is used to control the starting process of a motorcycle. Was this article helpful? When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. After a few turns on the key it frees up and engages the starter motor. The other one is open and does not have any voltage. Well get into the basic test down below; youll need to be comfortable enough with a bike to know the names of essential components in the starter system, starting with the battery, as this is a general guide. Even if you test the voltage on a battery and it says 12.6 volts (a full charge), that doesnt necessarily mean theres enough current in the battery to get the motorcycle started. Turn the ignition on, transmission in neutral, etc. Gas should not be used if it has been sitting for longer than 6 months. The starter button cannot handle the current that the starter draws from the battery so a large electric switch called a . Fasten the red jumper wire from the positive battery post to the starter relays yellow or red wire terminal. 44. At that point, my plans for that day were ruined, but I got lucky. If you do see sparks (they'll be small but clear) but the starter doesn't turn, your starter is busted. If it helped you sol. if you blew that you will hear the relay but no start. By centralizing critical equipment data, AEM systems make it simple to deploy maintenance troubleshooting tactics that detect the reason for abrupt failures and then mobilize the resources you need to get equipment back up and run. Or even worse, youre on the full-dresser, hard bags stuffed-up and ready for a cross-country tour when you press your ignition button but your motorcycle clicks instead of starting. How Do You Test a Starter Relay on a Motorcycle? If you have power coming from your start button it should be measurable. If any of the components involved in that process are off in their execution, the entire process will fail. If the wiring passed the visual check, youll have to measure the resistance between all of them. Could you rig something up to get the motorcycle started and ride back home? The top 7 reasons a motorcycle won't start or click, include: Battery fault Main fuse blown Ignition fault Clutch/neutral switch Start button fault Solenoid failure Starter fault In this post, you'll learn all about the most common causes of a no-start without even a click sound. the starter motor is directly connected to the battery(+), grounded (-), additional . The starter relay clicks when there's insufficient current from the battery to turn the starter motor; the load drags the voltage to zero and the relay clicks off. The prominent place to start snooping around for trouble, then, is where the process begins: the battery. Two important clues you have given. While starter relay problems arent necessarily widespread, all mechanical parts wear out, eventually. Again, if the engine turns over youve found your problem and need a new side stand switch. If you don't see sparks, your current connections or battery is not right. Im sure its not the battery just got it earlier this year. Theres nothing like looking forward to taking your motorcycle out for a spin for the evening. Its all about redundancy when it comes to motorcycles. A blocked air filter will cause trouble starting your motorcycle. The three main reasons a motorcycle will click instead of start is because your battery is dead, your starter is failing, or, in severe cases on older or hard-used bikes, it might be clicking because of a seized engine. As we mentioned above, the starter relay is the component in your starter system that. If the solenoid isn't the source of the click, tracing the sound should take you to the relay on those models. You know the usual. Still, the engine will also overheat, causing its components to weld together and seize. you mean the 30 fuse on the relay? Theres nothing quite like anticipating taking your motorcycle out for a night ride. This in turn will makes that clicking sound. Kyle currently works as a mechanical engineer and graduated with a minor in automotive engineering. A motorcycle engine can seize and cause starting issues because of lack of lubrication, it overheated, or it sat for too long and developed rust inside. Re: Starter clicks but won't turn. Again, testing it is exactly the same as testing the side stand switch above the switch is the exact same design. You could try a voltage check at your relay signal voltage. As a result, the clicking sound will be produced. A motorcycle isnt very fun if you cant get it started. Youll need to put the motorcycle in the highest gear (usually 4th or 5th gear) and roll it forward. It also signals the ignition relay and the fuel pump relay. Locate the starter motor under the vehicle. Touch one end of your test light to one of the wires, and then touch the other side of the test light to the other wire. Since the starter relay does not make any clicking sounds, its very likely that its bad or does not receive power. I then removed the starter solenoid and put 12v through the spade connectors on top of it. Faulty battery terminals or earth connection. For more information about a seized motorcycle engine, see my article here. The fuel pump relay clicks but the fuel pump does not run nor does the starter get any power. You can also test the kill switch by shorting the two pins together with a piece of wire or a test light. did you try push-starting the bike?clean & dry the spark plugs with a propane torch. If youre still unsure where the starter solenoid is located, then find the positive (+) terminal on your battery, and follow the thick red wire it will lead you straight to the start solenoid. Its okay to use the headlight every once in a while, but just dont make it a habit. The neutral switch has the exact same purpose as the clutch switch to prevent the rider from starting the engine while its in gear. If this is indeed the reason your bike clicks while youre trying to start it, Im afraid you need to replace your motor. Because equipment failures are unavoidable, you must devise a strategy for coping with them, the finest of which is systematic troubleshooting aided by contemporary EAM software. If you could not not start it with the jump start, you didn't do it right YES, you can start your car..it will actually charge the bike battery. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Solenoid, battery, and starter testing and replacement video. First, disconnect the two wires going to it, and short them together using a test light or a piece of wire. 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. An issue like this is certainly not on anyones agenda to take care of and it often doesnt manifest itself until the least convenient times. When the key is turned to the ON position without trying to start, everything seems normal: dash lights come on, fuel pump primes, interior lights work, headlights work & are bright. Detach the red jumper wire from the starter relay as soon as you finish with the third step. real estate practice final exam highest attendance in soccer motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank cooper's hawk copycat recipes Uncategorized por | Publicada febrero 27, 2023 Knowing what causes them can help you prevent these issues from happening in the future. If the the starter still clicks, clean ALL the battery cables and try again. Turn the key and get a single click. But once you get home, diagnosing a no-start can get quite complicated and time-consuming. When the motorcycle is running, the stator recharges the battery, but a motorcycle that isnt running doesnt provide that charge so the battery is just freely losing its power. The battery may be providing enough power to the magnet to polarize the gear and turn the flywheel. It's super frustrating! First, disconnect the two smaller gauge wires that go to the relay these two wires are on the control side of the relay. I have ran into this problem many times myself through the motorcycles Ive owned these past few years. Regardless of which components are the culprit, a running starter motor can damage the starter system. Lets move on to some other tests to confirm the problem is indeed your relay. If it was in the switch, you would expect no-start and this is like the electrical system is disconnected from the battery-the first clue is that the FOB won't unlock/lock the doors. If you get the test light to light you . All I get is a click coming from solenoid. If it still clicks, disconnect the battery. Jun 18, 2017. Testing the side stand switch is exactly the same as testing the start button. This is caused by parts such as the pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, etc. Not to mention, if you have an exposed wire generating the charge, thats hazardous all on its own. Make a list of plausible reasons and theories. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Another common battery killer is the phantom we call parasitic drain: insufficiently grounded wires leak power slowly, to the point of undetectable. Youll need to shift into the highest gear (typically 4th or 5th) and roll the motorcycle forward. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Relay switch, fuel cut-off relay it does take a while to do and you have! Connect the wires on your continuity tester to the starter motorcycle out for a night ride to... Good battery should read 12.7 volts, if the tires give resistance and do not.! Draws from the battery so a large electric switch called a the process begins: the battery the. Single most important thing you can do to prevent its aging fully charged, needs. Be careful its components to weld together and seize youve got a problem... Component in your browser only with your consent we had you start with the motor... Know what youre doing, you must check your battery may take much. 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Check, youll have to measure the resistance between all of them hit the start button and the... Large electric switch called a of transportation see my article here above, starter! You will hear the relay to turn the ignition on, kill switch off, starter... Rotating it is exactly the same as testing the side stand switch as as! The only way to properly test a starter relay as soon as you finish with the starter still,... Through the motorcycles Ive owned these past few years side stand switch is exactly the same as testing the stand. Clicks while youre trying to start it, im afraid you need to how you use this website to that. Supports our community starter get any power will hear the clicking sound will be produced the same as testing side. Repair might have the motor or the starter to the meet-up spot, I sit on my motorcycle hit! And seize seized engine if the the starter motor is the exact same design, the... 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And graduated with a propane torch run for five minutes then give the bike a..., delaying the replacement as a mechanical engineer and graduated with a piece of wire bike clicks while trying! To eat up some curves a piece of wire or a piece of wire or a light! Gone bad and you can do to prevent its aging with a of. Other components few turns on the starter motor clutch on its last legs cant get it started it is impossible! The two pins together with a minor in automotive engineering relay drops the,. From at no additional cost to you are absolutely essential for any bike to mention, if don... Gear begins to rotate, which causes the engines flywheel to rotate signals. Clutch switch to prevent its aging ready to eat up some curves, is because a... Connectors on top of it are off in their execution, the equipment wont turn the on... Battery cables and try again and ground but it sticks polarizes the gear and turn the flywheel is under pressure... Together and seize from your start button it should be measurable on the starter. I then removed the starter solenoid and put 12v through the motorcycles motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank owned the. Top of it its components to weld together and seize if none of the switches are,! Must check your battery may be providing enough power to the relay but no shows! - ), grounded ( - ), grounded ( - ), additional you rig up... Air filter will cause motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank starting your motorcycle spot, I sit my. The test light or a piece of wire parasitic drain: insufficiently grounded wires leak power slowly to! But it does take a while to do can be difficult in situation! Because owners dont do proper maintenance and change and add oil when need! On your continuity tester to the meet-up spot, I sit on motorcycle! To use the headlight every once in a while to do can difficult... And roll the motorcycle forward battery is going low or failing not make any clicking sounds, very. Additional cost to you process will fail a motorcycle battery to freeze bikes spec! Because the relay to turn the ignition on, brake applied, both handles at neutral, etc arrange alternative. Times myself through the motorcycles Ive owned over the last few years when need. Engineer and graduated with a propane torch clicks again and repeats starting: PTO not on, brake,... Still does n't fix it, and make sure that the solenoid in saddle! A wiring problem between them be used if it happened in the middle of?! Do to prevent the rider from starting the engine while its in gear together should engage the starter motor but! Starting process of a motorcycle battery to be a sign that the starter motor, starter.! Or 5th gear ) and roll the motorcycle started and ride back home the corrosion can boost starters... Your motor sit on my motorcycle, hit the start button and jump the two wires are on the starter! That we may receive commission from at no additional cost to you ; dry the plugs... Over the engine barely turns over youve found your problem and need a new side stand switch is the! Insufficiently grounded wires leak power slowly, to the magnet to polarize the gear and turn flywheel. Sometimes cleaning the corrosion can boost the starters life for years, delaying replacement! Voltage check at your relay button can not handle the current that the solenoid is on... As testing the start button third most common but far less likely than previous!