| Author | Message | ||
     Adventoris |
Had been blasting away on a motorway (escaping a thunderstorm) for some 30-40 min, steady 140 km/h (90 mph), when it happened: engine cutting out, speedo & rev needles sweeping back and forth, all indicator lights flashing off/on etc. 4-5 cut-outs, assume ignition/main power. Slowed down, problem gone. Rain had not started yet so wasn't that. Temp around 20C, humid. Any idea what could it have been, where to look to avoid? Love the bike but hate the uncertainty. XB9R 2003. Yeah... got soaked eventually. Curiously enough, bike worked fine even in torment. | ||
| Fasted |
most likely a faulty connection at positive post on battery....could also be less than 100% clean and/or tight connection of grounding at frame or negative battery post. i vote for funky positive post connection, especially if you have any additional accessory power wires added to the stock setup | ||
| Reepicheep |
Look at where the wiring harness for the ECM routes through the tail section as well, make sure it isn't chafing on any sharp edges. | ||
| Adventoris |
Thanks guys. Checked these, all looks OK to me, battery posts as tight as can be etc. But... now won't start at all. After turning the power on looks fine (clocks sweep, lights on etc). Hitting the start button gives just one click and all power dies out. Power off-on, again looks fine but after that the same. Hmm. | ||
| Sparky |
There are several things to check. It could be a bad battery. If you can, put voltmeter leads on the battery posts to see if the battery may have an internal open when hitting the start button. The scenario is the VM would read approx 12VDC before hitting the start button but drop to near 0 VDC after. If you don't have a VM, a 12V light bulb would suffice. The other thing to check out is the 30A Main Fuse. Pull it and see if it looks OK. If it does, put an ohmmeter across it making sure it reads 0 ohms. Next is the Start Relay in the Relay Center. There are 3 relays there, Key, Ignition and Start. Try swapping one of the other relays into the Start Relay position and see if it cranks. If it does, then the Start Relay is likely toast. If swapping relays doesn't help, then the problem is likely the Starter Solenoid. But if all power dies out, I'm not sure the Solenoid is the root cause unless there is a short in it (unlikely). | ||
| Adventoris |
Yep, when it appears like the battery, the battery it is. Could't believe and looked for anything else since it was virtually brand new, maybe 700 km. Well, dealer replaced it for free, starts superbly. He said everything indicates a manuf. defect and no fault in the bike could toast a new battery like that. But can I trust that? Broken charger maybe, worth testing? Would hate if next time really get stranded in the backwoods. Thanks for a great checklist, will save it for later (hope no need though...) | ||
| Supamotard |
Scary - I can relate. I suggest you try cleaning the ECM plugs contacts. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/565729.html (Message edited by supamotard on June 11, 2010) | ||
| Adventoris |
Didn't know this one either, thanks, will check. ECM is under the front fairing, right? Although mine isn't the original one, it's a race ECM... To close this one, with the new battery, voltage at start-up drops a notch below 10V, with 2000 rpm charging 14.27V... all ok I trust. | ||
| Xb9lover |
hey guys im having a wierd little bout with my 03 xb9s as well. when i turn my key on the headlights dont light up, the dash needles sweep and lights are on. no fuel injection obviously because the lights dont kick on and if i toggle the key back and forth (on off) a few times the lights kick on and the injection goes through and i can start the bike. i was riding home from a buddies house last night and it stalled on me twice and the lights just cut out at that time. i toggled the key on and off and got it started again and made it home. do you think its the ignition switch or the ignition relay. i can hear something under the seat clicking but i dunno if thats normal or not. | ||
| Xb9lover |
hey guys i figured out what was causing the problem. i went back and checked the ignition relay and the it turned out when i wiggled em it was the start relay. its melted on one side and one of the prongs is pretty black. i moved it and the lights kicked on and wiggled it back and they kicked off. several times so if anyone has a similar situation....check the start relay. | ||
| Half_buell |
My son last night had the same thing happen down in Memphis on his 03XB9S. Can one get the relay elsewhere? He is 1400 miles away from me. I was just curious, for he rides quite aways from a Buell shop often. His bike was running perfect and all of a sudden his headlights went out and the motor died. No starter, no fuel pump, no headlights. I had him switch relays and his lights came on and the starter would crank, but still no fuel. He is getting a relay at the shop there this morning, it is only $5. But it would be nice to know if the relay is available elsewhere. |
