| Author | Message | ||
     Altima02 |
Sorry for another thread, I've been searching for a while, but I had to leave the bike at a friends, so I would really like to have a good idea of whats wrong before I go try to fix er. Riding along, loudly, and I feel a slight hesitation, like a slight miss for about 10 seconds High beam light and neutral light fade some. Engine light comes on and then fades out. Gauges sweep several time during all this. Starts to miss real bad and I had a tough time riding it for a block to a friends. I checked it out, but it was dark. It will start just fine, perfect, and will idle fine. But when you rev it up to 2-3K, the neutral light starts to flicker and fade, gauges sweep and go down to zero, and starts to miss and back fire. After everything, the time is still correct (if that info helps. It didn't reset) My ideas so far: Loose battery connection - I remember messing with this and it wasn't noticeably loose, but don't know for sure. Bad spark wires- Stock on 03. I meant to replace these. I actually ordered them 2 days ago. I got caught in a strong rain last week, and one cylinder would intermittently cut out at low RPM. Hopefully just a bad plug wire Possibly Voltage regulator - But the battery isn't dead, I started the bike several times after this and it starts right up. Seems to have a full charge. Just hoping someone else will have had these exact symptoms and can help me pinpoint it. Please, offer up any other ideas. I do not remember if the engine light comes on with the Key on, I believe it does but I didn't think to wait and see how long. -Also, I replaced the ignition coil pack last year after it went bad. Please help and thank-you! | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
Mine did that and it turned out to be a loose battery cable. | ||
| Altima02 |
Man I hope its just that. Thanks | ||
| Lightning_bug |
+1 on the battery cable...I had the same problem. There are a few posts about it around here somewhere. Use some washers or a shorter bolt for long term cure. Good Luck. | ||
| Altima02 |
I'm starting to feel good! Thanks guys. I was hoping it was this from my searching, but I didn't want to head up there with nothing else in mind. | ||
| Hazeltonkl |
Sounds like a battery connection to me too. Remember to check both ends of the cable.  | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
If you are indeed going to switch out the spark plug wire, ( a very good idea by the way), it might be a good time to think about changing the spark plugs too. They may have gotten fouled. The Denso Iridium IUX24 are an excellent upgrade from the stock plugs. Longer lasting, better spark. Here is a description of their advantages: Due to the properties of Iridium, the spark plugs centre electrode can be made with a much smaller diameter than with platinum, Gold or gold palladium and copper/nickel types without sacrificing service life. The spark plugs potential difference is more concentrated at the tiny Iridium tip and hence less 'spark jump' voltage is required - this can be as much as 5,000 volts less than with standard plug types. Ignition is improved and less strain is placed on the ignition system. Benefits of improved ignition/combustion include better fuel economy, increased power/acceleration and especially better throttle response. | ||
| Altima02 |
Thanks Jon, I replaced the plugs with Pro series plugs maybe 4,000 ago. The didn't have plug wires in stock (Why would they?!?!) and I was riding to another dealer later that week, so I didn't order them and when I went on my ride, I forgot to get some. And then it turned into 'one-of-those-things'. I will still pull one and if they look like they need it, thats what I'll go with. | ||
| Xb9 |
Also, check the ground connection on the front of the steering head,the engine to frame ground strap bolts under the airbox base, and the negative battery cable where it connects to the frame. | ||
| Swordsman |
And remember that multiple people have discovered the battery terminal screws are too long, which keeps them from tightening down all the way. May need to grind a bit off or add a washer. (mine had arced enough that it melted!) ~SM | ||
| Dbird29 |
Check the plug wires for rubbing and wearing thru to the conductor. | ||
| M1combat |
All good suggestions. Sounds like a vibration induced short or open. | ||
| Altima02 |
it was just a bad battery. It would work intermittently, and two good batteries testers said it was good. It would even take a load charge. But as soon as I put it in the bike, nothing at all would happen when i turned the key. I finally got my multimeter and measured the volts. The battery itself would put out 13.5 when the key was in the off position, but when I turned it to on (even though nothing at all happened- no lights, gauges, fuel pump) the volts dropped down to practically nothing. Weird battery. Swapped it out, runs fine. But I did mess with some fuses and relays, and now putting the kick stand down even in neutral will kill the engine. With the clutch in, its fine, but releasing the clutch in neutral with kickstand down kills it. I have an 03. And in first gear, the neutral light comes on with the clutch lever pulled in. As soon as it is released some, the neutral light goes out. Weird. I'll have to play with that. |
