Hi all, I am new to this site and new to Ducati's and need some help as my 2004 749 will not start. I was travelling up the dual carriageway from Forfar to Aberdeen when the bike started to run on one cylinder. The RAC came and found one of the wires to the rear coil was worn through to the copper core. At the time we could not remove the rear spark plug as suspected there could be a lot of unburnt petrol to clear from the cylinder. Suspecting the rear coil I purchased a good second hand one but still the bike would not start and no signs of life from the front cyclinder which has started since the bike was recovered. Everthing works okay and the bike is charging and has new battery, belts and rollers fitted. No error codes are being displayed Does anyone have any ideas how to progress further? Will it need a new ECU and if so can I use a second hand one? Thanks in advance
The more knowledgeable will be along to help shortly but they will need more information, what works and what doesn't, does it turn over, can you hear the fuel pump, any other info that can narrow it down. Steve
Thanks Steve, The engine turns over okay and the fuel pup pressures up the tank and you can hear it when you first switch the ignition on. I wait for the mobiliser to clear then press the start button with no choke or use any throttle. There is a strong smell of petrol so I am pretty sure its sparks which is the problem why it wont start. Cannot remove the NGK sparkplugs, but have read about this problem and need to grind down the socket. Cheers Keith
Sounds like the plug needs cleaning or replacing, plus are you 100% that the new coil is working? First thing I would do is get the plugs changed, plus when you refit the tank ensure that the fuel lines sit in the channels on the underside of the tank before bolting back down this may have been the root cause for your wires to be worn through due to inproper routing and vibration.
it really needs a 749/999 specialist here as said, I don't know if there is a main ignition related fuse on yours - did it run after RAC visit? meanwhile all the above suggestions re: spare plug to check spark plus I know that there is a vital component that can ping out when/if you go to unplug the coil assembly and if you are not aware then it won't work as a result. Also front coils are prone to breaking down or working intermittently due to damp and water ingress. I would confirm no spark to both cylinders with known good coils/intact ignition supply before next step.
Latest update to my 749 not starting: Thanks for all your replies and suggestions: I ground down a spark plug socket and removed the plugs and tested for sparks...and there were good sparks coming from both coils. Placed the tank back on and checked all electrical connections then tried to start the bike. The bike was trying to start and could hear the one of the cylinders firing up briefly, then nothing. Note battery is fully charged and fuel pump is working okay and no error codes! Not sure what the next step is but would appreciate if any further help. Cheers Keith
Kill switch activated? You have the sparks now, does it make the plugs wet after turning the engine over for a while? Can you smell petrol? If not could be blocked fuel filter, or one of the internal fuel pipes split/perished/ come adrift! presume you have sufficient petrol in the tank?
The spark plugs are wet and I can smell petrol quite strongly. It recently had a new fuel filter and the petrol tank is full. I am starting to suspect the engine is flooding on start up. I am new to Ducatis so is there a correct way to start the engine? The spark plugs are recent and are NGK CR9EB...are these correct?
With no fault codes on the dash it's likely that one or both or your plugs are goosed or one or both of your coils have seen better days. I realise you've got spark but it depends on how good it is. The cheapest way forward is to try a brand new set of plugs. I'm not trying to sell you a set here but if you use old ones you could be introducing another variable into the issue. Let the bike sit with the plugs out for a while to vent it to the outside air. Fit the new ones and switch the ignition on - you should hear the pump prime as usual, give her a prod on the starter with no throttle and 0% travel turned on the fast idle (looks like an old style choke on the left switchgear). If that doesn't work, turn the fast idle to 40%-50% of its travel and hit the starter but still leave the throttle alone. If she doesn't fire up almost immediately, don't keep thumbing the starter. Add a little more fast idle and give it another quick go but again don't lean on the button for ages, you'll just drown another set of plugs. If she still doesn't go, try the same again but with 100% fast idle. Every 749 is a little different (hand built) some like a bit more fast idle than others, see what makes yours start easiest, you'll develop the feel very quickly. If she still isn't running, you need to have a look at the coils again. Are you 100% the donor one you have found is good? If it's not; again you've introduced a variable that you'll struggle to resolve. You need to make sure both coils are in top nick and the battery is properly charged prior to going on. If all that fails, it's probably better to get in touch with one of our techs for a quick chat on the phone to see if they've got any other ideas. But DO NOT buy a second hand ECU as they are coded to each bike and you might waste a chunk of cash there. Our techs will steer you clear on that one too. Best of luck. Mart:smile:
Very tempting to touch the throttle whilst starting, but Don't! Just press the start button and let the engine turn over without any throttle. Did you dry and clean the plugs? Sorry don't have plug info' to hand.
some progress anyway! apart from new suggestions particularly re: filter, I know that earlier injected bikes could have a ruptured hose run within tank between feed and pump resulting in low fuel pressure and similar symptoms to yours. Does fuel pump sound different to normal? have a look in tank while it primes and try and see if there is some 'turbulence'.
I did a bit of reading up when my 749 had issues and was firing on one cylinder; after cranking for a long time and bike not starting I flooded the engine and it stunk of petrol. So I found a post on a US ducati site which said "Most fuel injected motors have a flood clear mode. I have done it several times with my 03 999. It's WOT. Hold it at WOT and crank it. Make sure your battery is good. This will bring in only air and no fuel and dry the plugs out for you. No need to take the plugs out." I'm not sure how true the first statement is but the procedure worked for me.
Hi Yets, Thanks for the info, but can you explain WOT as I do not have an owners manual. I take it you hold down one of the buttons on the clock? Thanks in advance and a big thank you to all the other members who are helping me with this problem. I have wanted to own a Ducati for some time and I'm sure willl get this sorted soon. Cheers Keith
as all of above,and like Martin says only stab start button once and let it run through start sequence , do not be tempted to keep pushing button as if you were trying to start an il4.
It's strange that you aren't getting any error codes at all, I would have thought this ruled out problems with the coils. Long shot but possibly a knackered TPS? When mine died the bike had similar symptoms but again, it was throwing error codes all over the place. Even when my ECU failed I got a bunch of error codes. What voltage is your battery showing when you turn the bike on?
Thanks to all so far...But the Bike still refuses to start. Today I took out both plugs which are new and cleaned them with a blowtorch to remove unburnt fuel, put them back in and followed all your advice by simply touching the start button and let it cycle through. There were a few coughs from the front cylinder and nothing from the rear and it wouldn't start. Prior to this the plugs wer checked against the coils and both could be seen sparking nicely! I have contacted Ducati Glasgow and they suggest contaminated fuel, but I find this unlikely as the original problem was when riding up the dual carriageway, it stopped firing on the rear cylinder. The fuel bought was unleaded from Shell. To recap the bike was recently serviced with new belts and rollers down at ERS Racing at Knockhill (Tried conatcting them by phone and left a message...no answer) They also reset the TPS/throttle bodies and fueling, did a diagnostic check and reset. New fuel filter and plugs Can hear Fuel Pump pressurising up and looked insdie the tank to double check..its okay Battery is new and showing between 11.9 V and 12.2 V on the display and I also have an optimiser hooked up Owning a Ducati has been a long time dream of mine but this bike is more like an nightmare. I exchanged a perfectly good Kawasaki ZX10 for this bike and now wish I hadn't. When I test drove this bike it ran fine and only broke down when riding it home. So all in all I have ridden about 17 miles and thats all! To proceed further then I would have to hire van to take the bike down to Glasgow and leave it with them, unfortunately coming up to xmas this will have to be put on hold. One Question for all members out there and please answer honestly? Are Ducatis as fragile as I am led to believe?
I ride my 749 all year round, rain or shine and as a result have been through just about every problem you'll come across. From what you've written I wouldn't panic as it's probably something silly and simple but you need to get someone who knows the 749 very well and has diagnostic kit to look at it. The reason I suggested a knackered TPS is firstly you seemed to have ruled everything else out and secondly a knocked TPS could be delivering much more fuel than needed and causing the flooding you're describing. But I don't say this from a position of knowledge, more from my own experience with my 749 so it's def a long shot. And the absence of error codes is very fishy.
