Drove my 2001 BMW R1100RS to a burger joint. It won't start after lunch. I took the battery out. Charged it over night. Still will not start. Tried jump starting with my car battery, no. The lights are on. It makes a noise and the lights dim, just will not turn over. Any suggestions? Any suggestions on how I can get it to Calmoto? It is about two miles away. Hank
BMW won't start
- Thread starter Hank Wong
- Start date
HappyHighwayman
Warning: Do Not Engage
1. Does it have fuel?
2. If you're a member of the AMA you get free tows. Otherwise, call for a tow?
3. Call Calmoto and see if they can help you get it there since it's so close.
4. Worst case, push it.
2. If you're a member of the AMA you get free tows. Otherwise, call for a tow?
3. Call Calmoto and see if they can help you get it there since it's so close.
4. Worst case, push it.
fast4ward
Tired and Emotional
is (1) the starter turning, and it won't fire up? Or (2) is the starter not turning ?
If (1), then check gas, spark and air are getting to the cylinders. Can you smell gas fumes out the pipes?
Spark? Take plug out, put it back in the lead and turn engine over with plug held against the cylinder head (by the lead, not the plug!). You should see the spark. Repeat for each cylinder.
Air ? Just a clogged filter or other blockage.
If (2), could be a failed starter relay or a failed/seized starter motor. Or just a loose connection to the starter.
An old joke (usually played on Brit iron riders back in the UK, it's that old) was to draw a line down the top of a spark plug with a soft pencil - causes the plug to short out and not spark.
If (1), then check gas, spark and air are getting to the cylinders. Can you smell gas fumes out the pipes?
Spark? Take plug out, put it back in the lead and turn engine over with plug held against the cylinder head (by the lead, not the plug!). You should see the spark. Repeat for each cylinder.
Air ? Just a clogged filter or other blockage.
If (2), could be a failed starter relay or a failed/seized starter motor. Or just a loose connection to the starter.
An old joke (usually played on Brit iron riders back in the UK, it's that old) was to draw a line down the top of a spark plug with a soft pencil - causes the plug to short out and not spark.
Dr. Evil
Mother of God.
I had similar problems about a year ago on my '99 R1100R.
You'll want to check:
1. Alternator. Your brushes may be kaput, and that means your entire electrical system is running on the battery, rather than the generator. Because of this, your battery, in turn, has been deep-cycled and is thus unhappy. This is the likely cause. It's not something bikers think about because 95% of bikes don't have an alternator, but rather a crank-driven thingy. BMW bikes have honest-to-god car-style alternators, and a bike of your vintage is approaching the age where the brushes will need replacement.
2. Hall-effect Sensor (aka crankshaft position sensor). Less likely, but check it out anyhow. If your alternator is going, the insulation on the wires leading to your HES are also likely dead.
Both parts may be had from a place called Euro Moto Electrics. They have good prices and great service.
You'll want to check:
1. Alternator. Your brushes may be kaput, and that means your entire electrical system is running on the battery, rather than the generator. Because of this, your battery, in turn, has been deep-cycled and is thus unhappy. This is the likely cause. It's not something bikers think about because 95% of bikes don't have an alternator, but rather a crank-driven thingy. BMW bikes have honest-to-god car-style alternators, and a bike of your vintage is approaching the age where the brushes will need replacement.
2. Hall-effect Sensor (aka crankshaft position sensor). Less likely, but check it out anyhow. If your alternator is going, the insulation on the wires leading to your HES are also likely dead.
Both parts may be had from a place called Euro Moto Electrics. They have good prices and great service.
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Dr. Evil
Mother of God.
A busted HES will do that. I'll bet your starter and relay are fine. Because your HES is likely borked, the computer doesn't know where your crankshaft is, and thus doesn't know which cylinder to start first. Do you ever get a bouncing tach? Do you ever have problems in the wet?
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Erbuck
Power Lurker
connect some jumper cables from your battery to a car battery (w/ the car off) and try starting again. Its weird that your battery may have died so suddenly and then won't hold a charge, but the symptom you just described sounds like a weak battery.
Got a volt meter to check your battery?
Got a volt meter to check your battery?
I just replaced the bmw battery with an cheapo off Ebay in early February. It has been working fine until I let the bike sit for two weeks while I swapped out the left cam chain tensioner. Even so, it took a charge over night and the jumpstart should give enough juice to start. Right? Definitely gonna try push start.
Erbuck
Power Lurker
I have to admit that I don't know if your Beemer is FI or not. If the battery is too weak to run the fuel pump and it isn't charging, then a push start won't work, but a car battery will.
Only the volt meter will tell for certain if your battery to too weak. Look in the garage for numbers (I'm too wimpy to give a number for people to dispute). The dimming lights when you press start still makes it sound like battery despite the fact that you jump started from a car.
Only the volt meter will tell for certain if your battery to too weak. Look in the garage for numbers (I'm too wimpy to give a number for people to dispute). The dimming lights when you press start still makes it sound like battery despite the fact that you jump started from a car.
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ST Guy
Well-known member
Well, it's definately not from lack of electrijuicity. The jump start proved that. Though sometimes a shorted or extremely discharged battery will suck too much current from the jumping vehicle. But since the jumping vehicle was a car, I doubt this possibility.
If you hear a clicking sound, then that means the button on the handle bar is working. I'd suspect in this order:
Relay
Starter motor
starter drive mechanism
Good luck!
If you hear a clicking sound, then that means the button on the handle bar is working. I'd suspect in this order:
Relay
Starter motor
starter drive mechanism
Good luck!
Ogier le Danois
Well-known member
Might be the battery not taking a charge. Even though you charged it up over night, it probably didn't actually charge.
mototireguy
Moto Tire Veteran
The attempted jump start from a car battery usually rules out bad battery issues.
Cam chain tensioner replacement and not starting a coincidence?
Just to confirm; starter turns the motor but won't start? Or starter won't turn motor?
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russ69
Backside Slider
I never had any luck with cheap batteries.
It just click when I press the start button and the dashboard lights dim. The motor is not turning over. It may still be the battery. The juice was there. I did have the entire battery out of the bike and resting on a foot stool when I try jumpstart. So the clamps are getting good contact and the jumper cable got a little warm. I will again take the battery off and take it to Kragen's this afternoon. I will try to run and bump start it this afternoon. The BMW is getting a lot of street parking time.
mototireguy
Moto Tire Veteran
The car battery jump start should at least turn the motor unless something was goofed during your cam chain tensioner install.
