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Bike Not Starting - Starter Relay Click

Discussion in 'Technical Help' started by ck_uk, Oct 22, 2018.

  1. Hi all

    My other bike, an Aprilia, has developed a problem starting.
    Just wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction.

    The bike last started about a week ago.

    Yesterday, it attempted to turn and start on the first attempt, but on the second press of the starter button, nothing but a relay click was heard. Checked all the obvious things like fuses and kill switch etc.

    The battery is good and shows 12.53v across the terminals. Even tried with a new Motobatt battery out of another bike, same issue.

    What would be the next logical sequence to fault find?

    I'm thinking it would have to be starter relay? I found a video on how to test this, but trying to remove the relay from the bike appears quite difficult, as the entire rear fairing has to be removed and it looks very likely it would break during removal.

    EDIT

    Managed to get enough access to test the terminals of the relay.
    It shows steady 11.85v with the ignition on.
    Drops to 11.67v when the starter button pressed. That's within tolerance from what I understand.

    Does this mean the relay is OK, and that the problem is at the starter motor end?

     
    #1 ck_uk, Oct 22, 2018
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2018
  2. Can you access the starter motor terminals?,
     
  3. The starter motor connections appear to be inaccessible, can't even see them!
     
  4. If it's clicking then power is getting to the solenoid, can you hold a screwdriver across the two large terminals of the solenoid to check if the starter turns, this should eliminate a solenoid problem.
    Steve
     
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  5. When the solenoid clicks, do you lose power to dash, lights etc?
     
  6. CK if I measured 12.53v (across the terminals) with no load on either of my Bikes I would be off to get a new battery as the battery would be on its way to a breakdown. Did you get similar voltages on both batteries?
     
  7. Hi all, thanks for the replies;

    When the solenoid (=relay) clicks, no power to dash or lights is lost.

    What voltage *should* I be seeing at the battery terminals?
    I didn't check the voltage of the Motobatt from the other bike, but I can check that tomorrow morning for comparison.

    I've since managed to get access to the positive terminal of the starter, by removing part of the fairing.

    Next step (in daylight) will be to short across the terminals of the relay, to rule that out.
     
  8. A good charged battery should be about 12.7 v, your symptoms do suggest a low battery or poor connections.
     
  9. Tested the MOTOBATT this morning, shows 12.85v across the terminals. But as stated, it makes no difference when using that battery either. I'm going to order a MBYZ16HD 16Ah 240 CCA battery anyway.
     
  10. Resolved: managed to short the terminals of the relay/solenoid, and the starter fired.

    I noticed that there was a lot of corrosion on the bolts of the relay terminal from which the lead connects to the starter. Cleaned these up properly, reconnected everything but no difference. Having ruled out the starter button switch, deduced that the internals of the relay must be shot.

    Bought a new 150A relay and fitted that, engine fired up immediately. Chuffed as chips.

    Thanks again.

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/APRILIA-...~~sAAOSwTM5YuqyQ:rk:4:pf:0&LH_ItemCondition=3
     
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  11. Congrats, chuffed as chips dude. :) :upyeah:
     
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  12. Well done
     
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