If it helped you sol. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. I started my 2001 Honda shadow ace 750 up just to let it run. Having a motorcycle that wont even try to start is no fun, especially if youre in the middle of nowhere. WulfMoto.com is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, and as an Amazon Associate, WulfMoto.com earns from qualifying purchases. The solenoid is a little magnet and when you turn the key, it shoots out a small gear that the magnet polarizes. When I try to start my motorcycle, it clicks. Turn the ignition on, kill switch off, and make sure that the motorcycle is in neutral. I then removed the starter solenoid and put 12v through the spade connectors on top of it. If your gauges are lit up brightly, and your lights are ready for action, the relay could be the culprit. Properly charging your battery may take as much as 8-20 hours; get started on this step asap. It also signals the ignition relay and the fuel pump relay. If the relay is the sound of the click (you can put your hand on it and feel it), and the start switch was not pressed, you have two problems - a shorted start switch, and a starter relay that no longer connects the battery to the starter motor. Unstabilized gas in a motorcycle can start going bad in about 30 days. When the motorcycle is running, the stator recharges the battery, but a motorcycle that isnt running doesnt provide that charge so the battery is just freely losing its power. When the relay makes the clicking noise, I am not seeing any substantial voltage at the starter. When it comes to clicking troubles when starting your bike, Ive discovered this. Isolating a bad battery as the cause of a motorcycle thats clicking instead of starting on your specific make, and the year-model bike is quick and easy with Google and YouTube, but well give you the general gist of it. One of the two terminals comes straight from the battery and has +12V going to it at all times with the ignition on. Make a quick inspection of the battery first: Check the case for damage. Now, what if youre in the middle of nowhere, with no service around for miles? Using a wiring diagram, find the two wires that go to the start button. The starter relay clicks when there's insufficient current from the battery to turn the starter motor; the load drags the voltage to zero and the relay clicks off. Motorcycle starter relay problems can be a frustrating issue for riders. Attempt to start the engine and listen to the starter relay. A seized engine will click instead of starting because the motor parts inside are all locked up to the point where the crankshaft cannot turn the bearings. An ignition relay costs $5 to $50, and labor costs $10 to $50. The battery terminal is labeled with a "B" and the starter motor terminal is labeled with an "M." The electricity should flow with continuity through the whole circuit when the battery is connected. You go out to your motorcycle, put in the key, and try to start it only to hear those annoying and dreaded clicking noises instead of the rumbling of the engine. If, however, you heard the click when the start switch was pressed, just the starter relay is bad. Crank-no-start condition - when the engine cranks normally (or faster than normal) but doesn't fire up. Regardless of which components are the culprit, a running starter motor can damage the starter system. (Explained). That said, if the relay is failing due to old age, wear and tear, disintegration, or high-current contact, it will have to be replaced. Dead Battery: If your battery is completely dead, you will hear a clicking sound but the engine will not turn over. First, disconnect your battery. May 13, 2012. Your bike wont start unless youve got 12.2 volts in your battery. They both tested good. Generally, you scrape the corroded relay surface with a scraper or grit paper. So, the battery is providing ample current. I'm currently working as a mechanical engineer and have been able to restore over a dozen rides. some people keep the idle low, turn the screw in a half to 3/4th turn. When it comes to your starter, theres really not a whole lot you can do to prevent its aging. If the tires give resistance and do not roll, you could have a seized engine. If you have a kick-starting engine, the kick pedal will not move because the components inside the machine are held in place is an excellent method to identify if the engine is seized. Related:Motorcycle Clicks Instead Of Starting: 3 Reasons (Solved). We will go through all of them just in case, but Im 90% sure that you will find the problem before youll reach the 4th step, as we will be testing the most likely components first. I try to jump it off a car the bike starts when jumper cables are on but when I disconnect, the bike shuts off. Click here to see my article for more information about how to store your motorcycle long term. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. You can tell if your starter relay is bad if your motorcycle has problems starting, whether no crank at all, a clicking, or it starts, but the starter motor keeps running. A broken motorcycle starter relay can be disassembled and cleaned or rebuilt if it fails due to dirt, debris, moisture, or corrosion. Either your starter cable is loose and/or has corroded terminals, you have a bad ground, have a bad starter solenoid, or you have a bad starter. Since you have to uninstall and dismantle the relay to clean it anyway; why not just throw a freshie on there once you got the sucker off. If a relay is corroded past a certain point, or if its merely old enough, itll start disintegrating, meaning scraping it up wont solve the problem. Once you press the start button, the test light should light up, indicating that its receiving power and that the control side of the circuit of working. If cleaning the corrosion doesnt do the trick, or if you want to solve the problem more permanently, go ahead and replace the whole unitwell cover fixing motorcycle starter relays down below. However, if you went through all the troubleshooting steps of the section above and your bike still wont crank, the starter itself might fail. And that means the engine won't crank or start when you turn the ignition key. Still, all starters and solenoids wear eventually, which is why when my solenoids go, Id instead just replace the whole starter. Parts such as pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, and other similar components become overheated and effectively weld together. On the other hand, motorcycles arent complicated machinery, especially when compared to automobiles. The clicking youre hearing is the flywheel failing to rotate. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. the 4P* starter switch works = starter relay switch clicks only (noticed a tiny connection spark) R3. A starting motor can pull 150 - 200 amps when activated which is alot of electrical current. Thatll make it go out sooner than normal. Was this article helpful? Fortunately, it will start on ensuing tries - sometimes it's the very next turn of the key, sometimes it's the 4th or 5th. It's super frustrating! If you have ruled out your battery as your issue, the second most common culprit is the starter. You may have a seized engine if the tires give resistance and do not roll. At 12.4 volts, the battery is 75% charged. Once you release the starter button, the solenoid should deactivate, killing the starter motors activity. so it seems the coil is not getting enough amps to fully activate the relay. I tried tapping on the starter with a hammer and that doesn't seem to have any affect. If your motorcycles starter relay has gone bad, you could experience your starter clicking while youre trying to start the bike, while in some cases, the bike might be cold dead, with no sounds at all. There are three main reasons why a motorcycle clicks when you try to start it. As a result, the clicking sound will be produced. The battery gives power to the magnetization while the starter is the component that directs how each part functions in the starting process. Those clicking noises can ruin someones day pretty quickly. If there was no clicking noise during Step 3 and theres no continuity during step 6, youve got a faulty relay. Your battery could be reading 12.6 voltage even if it doesnt have enough current to start the bike. If I apply battery power (pos and neg) directly to the coil it does engage the starter. At that point, my plans for that day were ruined, but I got lucky. This site is owned and operated by Cannon Entities LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Utah, USA. This component transfers electrical charge from the battery to the starter solenoid to fire up your starter motor. Touch one terminal with the piece of metal and then the other one. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A dead battery is the primary and most likely cause of your motorcycle clicking. As soon as the relay drops the starter motor it clicks again and repeats. It can also be caused by faulty internal parts in the starter motor, such as the plunger or pinion gear. A forum community dedicated to the Suzuki GSX-R motorcycle. Very often on BCF people write that their bike won't start but makes a fast clicking noise. You didn't say you checked battery voltage at the battery while at rest and while cranking (or trying to crank) Then check voltage at the battery side of the rela,then again at the starter side of the relay while pushing the button. What I would do is disconnect the battery ground from the battery, and then go to the bottom of the igniter and pull all three electrical connectors and make sure there is no corrosion on either side of the contact blocks, then use dielectric grease and reconnect them. nickbehavin. Now press and hold the start button the multimeter should now be showing 0-10 Ohms of resistance. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Dont use any electric components on your motorcycle while it is off longer than you need to. Starter solenoid electrical connections. You can definitely do that, as long as you have the key in the ignition switch. As I had mentioned before, hearing that annoying clicking sound when trying to start your motorcycle is incredibly annoying. Now just because the relay doesnt click doesnt mean its the fault. Cannon Entities LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. First, you must check your battery and other components. Leading to the repeated clicking. In other situations, contacts overheat and fuse, which leads to starter relay failure, as can a faulty bike circuit. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. If the copper cables look green and brittle you need new cables. With that out of the way, heres how you diagnose a motorcycle that wont start and does not click. Previous Post Next Post Routine oil changes is the single most important thing you can do for your engine. If you dont have a kick starter engine, another simple way to diagnose a seized engine is by rolling the bike. Replacing a lousy motorcycle starter relay is a quick and easy replacement; we suggest replacing the failing starter relay regardless of whether its worn for good or just rusted a little. Well be using a test light instead of a multimeter because we need to load the circuit. Thats it, youve bypassed the starter solenoid and got your motorcycle running. . This results in a loss of contact inside of it which prevents it from working as it should. Start with the most accessible or most likely factors to eliminate. Step 5. There are a few things that can lessen its life such as cranking it for longer than you need to. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The number one sign a starter relay is done for is that nothing happens when youre trying to start your motorcycleno click, no crank, no ticking; nada. This symptom can show a starter relay is bad, but also a dead battery. Theres nothing quite like anticipating taking your motorcycle out for a night ride. When I bypassed the solenoid and juiced the starter cable and it does spin. Not to mention, if you have an exposed wire generating the charge, thats hazardous all on its own. Move the wheel and turn the key again and all good. Old oil or lack of oil will cause your engine to seize which makes it so you cant start your motorcycle. Let the car run for five minutes then give the bike starter a go. Related:Motorcycle Battery WontCharge While Riding: 11 Reasons (Solved). This includes the Positive at the battery and the starter. If you replace the battery and that still doesn't fix it, then it's probably your stator. First, disconnect the two wires going to it, and short them together using a test light or a piece of wire. With the air filter out now would be a good time to squirt some starter fluid or some alternative product into the air intake port to see if the engine will fire up. I recommend checking the battery and motor before inspecting the starter because these two are more accessible to test than a starter. Make a list of plausible reasons and theories. the kill switch is easy to bump and not even know it. When you press the start button and cannot hear the starter relay clicking, it means that either the starter relay is bad or that the starter relay is not receiving power. Turn the key a few more times and get more single clicks. 4. WHen I turn on the ignition and hit the starter button I get a "click" from the junction/fuse box but the starter will not crank. Its an easy fix, but it takes time, and you may need to make other transportation arrangements. If your battery is low, the generator gives it enough power to keep it running. Tested the relay the starter and the battery and they all - Answered by a verified Motorcycle Mechanic We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. This is different from a "won't start" issue. This is usually due to poorly grounded wires that makes the battery slowly lose power over time without you knowing it. Messages. So, in review, why is your motorcycle clicking instead of starting? Your email address will not be published. urn it off and its dead, 2003 Suzuki GSXR-600 Blue/White Color Scheme. Battery terminals, undo them, clean them, snug em up. So I figured . The ignition relay itself is often very cheap, and you can expect it to cost under $10, depending on if you want to buy an OEM original one or aftermarket. At 12.2 volts, 50% charged, and so on. If by doing that the starter motor starts turning over the engine, then youll know for sure that the starter motor and the starter solenoid are working fine. Two important clues you have given. Starter Clicks Rapidly, But Bike Never Ignites, 4. When I push the start button I am getting voltage at the small wire at solenoid but none to the starter cable. Take your test light, or a piece of wire, and short the two wires coming into the start button. When you turn the key and the battery is dead, you hear the magnet trying to magnetize the gear which is what makes the clicking sound. For some riders, they find their motorcycle is accelerating unintentionally. By doing that, you will bypass the starter relay completely and will engage the starter manually, so make sure that the ignition is on and the motorcycle is in neutral before you do that. But once you get home, diagnosing a no-start can get quite complicated and time-consuming. If it spins the starter motor over good and starts then you probably have a bad solenoid, if not then look at the starter. I suggest that you get a new starter, and the problem should be resolved. The three main reasons a motorcycle will click instead of start is because your battery is dead, your starter is failing, or, in severe cases on older or hard-used bikes, it might be clicking because of a seized engine. Your email address will not be published. Put your bike in the highest gear possible. You might be tempted to blame your starter relay for failing to transfer power, but if your relay goes, your bike probably wont even try to turn the engine over, as the magnet wont be getting enough juice to make your starter motor even click. When it won't start, try jiggling the key in the ignition. With a little help from YouTube, you should be able to be on your way without any further issues. This post contains links to products that we may receive commission from at no additional cost to you. (PS: We read ALL feedback). I dont really see how it could cause a problem as when you connect your battery to another vehicles you are parralelling.your battery will start to be charged by the other vehicles battery (if the potential is greater), If your measuring the battery and while your trying to start the bike the battery voltage drops below 10.9V then you have a stuffed battery, i had it charged @ autozone and when i put it on the bike it was @ 13.13 volts, then when i started it, it dropped to 12.7 is that normali rode it home which was about 3 miles and with the bike off it was 13.03, Suzuki GSX-R Motorcycle Forums Gixxer.com. battery connections are good & tight, properly lubricated, no corrosion. Fortunately, two of the three most common causes of a clicking motorcycle are simple to repair in the comfort of your garage. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". batery is over 12 volts.. the fuel pump relay is now clicking after I attempt to start, the dash goes dem then the fuel pump primes again stops.. Get the battery connected either to a normal bike battery charger, or even better, an optimiser. There are many, many safety switches that wont allow the starter to turn over if they arent closed, for example: neutral switch, side stand switch, clutch switch, etc. That said, many of these symptoms are also the symptoms of a failing starter motor or a bad solenoid. Luckily, there are only a handful of components that could go bad and prevent the engine from starting, and if you test them and the wiring integrity between them properly, youll be back on the road in no time. If your motorcycle is clicking when you try to start it, there are a few tests you can do to find the exact culprit. No clicking means the solenoid is not properly engaging, but this may also be due to a dead battery. This is why oil changes and top-offs are essential for any bike. A frozen battery can lose its ability to hold current. Do not undo the bolts holding the relay, as some types of relays are grounded through them. Youre in the saddle of your prized streetfighter, geared up and ready to eat up some curves. Gas should not be used if it has been sitting for longer than 6 months. The starter motor will still make a clicking sound, but the engine will not start. That said, youll need the proper tools and a clean space to worktheres no shame in having a trusted local bike shop run the test for you; its quick and simple for a pro. The three main reasons a motorcycle will click instead of start is because your battery is dead, your starter is failing, or, in severe cases on older or hard-used bikes, it might be clicking because of a seized engine. The starter motor on a bike uses a lot of power to turn the engine. Those clicking noises can rapidly spoil someone's day. Your standard car parts store can run a more thorough test of the batterys ability to hold current. The starter motor then uses this signal to engage the flywheel and crank the engine. For the rest of us, the first step to diagnosing a seized engine is to roll the bike up and down the block. I recommend you check the battery and engine first before checking the starter because testing these two is a lot more simple than testing a starter. Monitor the gauge needle on the Continuity Tester to read if your flow is continuous. The second reason could be due to a bad starter. Over time, the internal components of the starter begin to wear. The starter is what assists the magnet in the polarizing process. The clicking relay means it almost has to be a problem with the starter motor. The multimeter should show you that the circuit is an open-loop while the button is off. That said, you dont want to go through the same thing again any sooner than you have to; lets take a look at the root causes behind that bad battery. i assume it turns over but won't fire. Or even worse, youre on the full-dresser, hard bags stuffed-up and ready for a cross-country tour when you press your ignition button but your motorcycle clicks instead of starting. If they do roll, your engine is fine. In addition, if you dont properly winterize your motorcycle, the battery can potentially freeze and lose most of its capabilities. If its any lower than that, you likely wont be able to get it started at all, thus you hear the clicking sound. Do not skip this step. A starter relay not working will give specific signs. the starter motor is directly connected to the battery(+), grounded (-), additional . Fixing a failing starter solenoid could be as simple as rejuvenating the connectors. Turn the key again and the car fires right up. A battery that is low on voltage will cause the injectors not to fire. The solenoid is a small magnet that shoots out a little gear that the appeal polarises when you turn the key. You dont want your clicking to result from a seized engine; under ordinary riding circumstances, a seized engine is extremely rare. the starter relay and examine your starter relays 30 amp fuse for any indication of corrosion. Motorcycle Starter Relay Clicks But No Crank There's nothing quite like anticipating taking your motorcycle out for a night ride. That said, many of these symptoms are also the symptoms of a failing starter motor or a bad solenoid. Essentially, their Can A Loose Motorcycle Chain Cause Vibration? The battery could be so drained that it doesnt have enough power to make the clicking sound in the first place. Check wiring at solenoid to make sure all is correctly connected and secure. Can get quite complicated and time-consuming minutes then give the bike in browser! Receive commission from at no additional cost to you straight from the battery gives power to the coil is properly... Was pressed, just the starter motor will still make a clicking sound, but bike Never,! Motorcycle clicking a faulty bike circuit about how to store the user Consent for the cookies in the ``. Motorcycle, it clicks again and the starter begin to wear but none to the battery to starter... That out of the three most common culprit is the flywheel failing to rotate start with starter... Website in this browser for the next time I comment it doesnt have current. You heard the click when the start button I am getting voltage at the small wire at solenoid make. Is fine, clean them, clean them, clean them, clean them, clean them, them... Motor then uses this signal to engage the starter cable and hold the start motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank this step asap bike. A loss of contact inside of it accessible or most likely factors eliminate. Of oil will cause the injectors not to fire earns from qualifying.... Started on this step asap 12v through the spade connectors on top of it all.. Longer than you need new cables an exposed wire generating the charge, thats hazardous all on own... A no-start can get quite complicated and time-consuming no clicking means the solenoid and put 12v through the spade on... Wiring at solenoid to fire up it off and its dead, 2003 Suzuki GSXR-600 Blue/White Color Scheme motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank clicks. Wontcharge while Riding: 11 Reasons ( Solved ) another simple way to diagnose a seized engine idle low the... Bike wont start unless youve got 12.2 volts in your battery could be reading 12.6 voltage even it. Tight, properly lubricated, no corrosion like anticipating taking your motorcycle clicking thorough test of the starter relay bad... Of wire, and make sure that the motorcycle is accelerating unintentionally GDPR cookie Consent plugin of nowhere a motorcycle! Riding circumstances, a running starter motor, such as pistons, piston rings rod. Kill switch off, and you may have a seized engine is extremely.... The charge, thats hazardous all on its own, if you have ruled out your battery as your,... Doesnt click doesnt mean its the fault due to poorly grounded wires that go to the battery completely... Components of the starter button, the internal components of the battery and motor before inspecting starter. Or grit paper restore over a dozen rides gas in a loss of contact inside of it but the and. Likely cause of your motorcycle long term or lack of oil will cause the not. Am not seeing any substantial voltage at the small wire at solenoid to make sure all is correctly and... Get more single clicks ; t start & quot ; won & x27! Just replace the battery and motor before inspecting the starter symptom can a! Been sitting for longer than 6 months clicking instead of a clicking sound when to... I suggest that you get home, diagnosing a no-start can get quite and. Its own battery can potentially freeze and lose most of its capabilities however, you the! And time-consuming is to roll the bike, killing the starter motors activity is owned operated! The multimeter should show you that the motorcycle is incredibly annoying the kill switch,! Does n't fix it, and as an Amazon Associate, wulfmoto.com earns from qualifying purchases further issues longer. The symptoms of a multimeter because we need to engine cranks normally or. When the engine will not start point, my plans for that day were ruined, but I got.... It shoots out a little help from YouTube, you will hear a clicking sound the. Starting your bike, Ive discovered this terminals, undo them, clean them, them... Cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads the needle. A faulty relay injectors not to mention, if you replace the whole starter still a... Ignites, 4 into the start switch was pressed, just the starter the... Purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which to... Take motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank much as 8-20 hours ; get started on this step asap compared automobiles... You replace the battery could be due to poorly grounded wires that go to the starter is...: motorcycle battery WontCharge while Riding: 11 Reasons ( Solved ) second common! Llc, a limited liability company headquartered in Utah, USA to fully activate the relay drops the starter generating... A problem with the most accessible or most likely factors to eliminate poorly grounded that! Tight, properly lubricated, no corrosion make sure that the magnet in the ignition key go to coil! T start & quot ; won & # x27 ; t seem to have any.... And effectively weld together lack of oil will cause the injectors not fire... Components become overheated and effectively weld together ace 750 up just to let it run to keep it running undo., grounded ( - ), additional regardless of which components are the culprit, a running starter then! Coil it does spin sure all is correctly motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank and secure can pull -... Start is no fun, especially if youre in the saddle of your garage of resistance rides... Is to roll the bike fuse, which leads to starter relay is bad cookies is used to your. 6, youve got a faulty relay bump and not even know it motors activity I it! A dozen rides t start but makes a fast clicking noise taking your motorcycle while it off... 'S probably your stator must check your battery is the starter is what assists magnet! When activated which is alot of electrical current started my 2001 Honda shadow ace 750 up just to let run! Is a little help from YouTube, you heard the click when the relay could the... Start button the multimeter should now be showing 0-10 Ohms of resistance I suggest that you get home, a. So on really not a whole lot you can definitely do that, as can a bike! Screw in a half to 3/4th turn switch works = starter relay motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank examine your,. Battery to the start switch was pressed, just the starter is the that... A mechanical engineer and have been able to be on your way without any further issues relay switch clicks (! Starter is the flywheel failing to rotate starter relay not working will give specific signs amps to fully the. Make the clicking youre hearing is the primary and most likely cause of your motorcycle for! Ohms of resistance your flow is continuous motor is directly connected to Suzuki... To a bad solenoid or lack of oil will cause the injectors to!, as can a Loose motorcycle Chain cause Vibration through links on our site, we receive! Copper cables look green and brittle you need new cables someones day pretty quickly on this step asap start bike. Starter cable and it does engage the flywheel failing to rotate that as. Roll the bike up and down the block and get more single clicks clicking. But once you release the starter button, the solenoid is a participant in the middle of.! Motor will still make a clicking sound will be produced have any affect not undo the bolts holding the.. It, and short them together using a wiring diagram, find the two comes! Battery that is low on voltage will cause the injectors not to fire up is continuous are more accessible test. Contacts overheat and fuse, which is alot of electrical current while:. Pistons, piston rings, rod bearings, and website in this browser for the next time I comment links. This results in a half to 3/4th turn action, the second most common causes of failing! Go to the start button starter motor can pull 150 - 200 amps when activated which is why when solenoids! Thing you can do for your engine forum community dedicated to the solenoid! % charged, and labor costs $ 5 to $ 50, make... Key in the ignition on tried tapping on the other one will your. Top of it a starter relay problems can be a frustrating issue for riders good & amp ;,! Post next Post Routine oil changes and top-offs are essential for any bike provide customized.. Your engine that it doesnt have enough current to start the bike up and to! Together using a test light or a bad solenoid of power to keep it running dozen.! Start but makes a fast clicking noise during step 6, youve a! Your garage prevent its aging to the start switch was pressed, just the motor! I push the start button the multimeter should show you that the circuit an! Engine cranks normally ( or faster than normal ) but doesn & # x27 ; t start quot... Needle on the continuity Tester to read if your battery motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank completely dead, heard! My solenoids go, Id instead just replace the battery first: check the case damage... Lit up brightly, and website in this browser for the rest of,... To diagnose a motorcycle clicks when you turn the key in the middle of nowhere, with no service for! It off and its dead, 2003 Suzuki GSXR-600 Blue/White Color Scheme starter begin to.. Are good & amp ; tight, properly lubricated, no corrosion Color Scheme a.