Starting Issue

[staningrimsby]

Hi blokes,

I have a 2003 (53) Suzuki V-Strom 1000 with full service history and much much more, but I seem to have an intermittent starting problem, normally she starts fine but every so often I press the starter button and it turns for a while before it fires.

I have no idea why it takes so long but at other times will fire as soon as I press the button, I have heard it could be the clutch switch etc but being new to bikes I'm not sure, is there any opinions from you blokes as to what I could look at to resolve the problem ???

I'm hesitant to go anywhere on her at the moment in case she doesn't start when I need her to, any help is appreciated so thanks in advance.

Stan.

[greywolf]

It isn't the clutch switch. If that was a problem, the starter motor will not spin at all. Often, such a problem comes from too much fuel in the intakes even before the key is turned on. Whether there is fuel injector leakage or some unknown situation, it normally works to open the throttle if the engine doesn't fire right away and keep opening until it does start to fire. That lets in more air to offset the excess fuel.

[Jacko]

Any problems with the clutch switch would prevent the starter kicking in at all, same with the sidestand switch and cut off switch.

Once it's running its fine I assume? Does it only struggle to start when hot?

[staningrimsby]

Thanks for the replies blokes it is kind of odd, yesterday morning at 7:30 it turned for about 5 seconds before firing then it sat 4 7 hours while I was at work, came out of work and turned for about 20 seconds before finally firing :-( I got home and left it on the front for ten minutes before putting her away and she still had to turn over longer than expected before starting but once she's running there is no problem what so ever. Its a definite puzzler that needs sorting as it's putting me off using her in case she doesn't start when I'm out and about :-(

[greywolf]

Did you try what I said?

[staningrimsby]

Did you try what I said?

Yeh I did give it a go but it didn't make any difference, today I went out to the garage held in the clutch and pressed the starter and it wasn't perfect but a lot better than it has been, think I may need to invest in a Haynes manual I suppose :-).

[kwackboy]

Prelonged starting can be a number of things but is quite rare in fuel injected bikes and should start with zero throttle. When you say "full service history", do you have receipts as to what was done ..? For example, when was the last time your plugs/airfilter were changed, shims checked ect..? what mileage does your bike have ..?

[greywolf]

Prelonged starting can be a number of things but is quite rare in fuel injected bikes and should start with zero throttle

Yes. The throttle should only be opened if the starter is turning over the engine but no firing is detected. Flooding is more of a problem in hotter weather unless there is a mechanical issue like a leaking injector.

Yeh I did give it a go but it didn't make any difference

Flooding is not the problem then.

[JRS81]

Could it be as simple as an old and therfore weak battery? Mine went recently but for the few weeks before it did I was finding that starting was taking longer than usual and for the first few minutes after starting it was struggling a little on idle. Could be worth checking...

[Parademic]

Mine was doing a similar thing...  Yet the battery voltage was showing 12.5v at rest,  and once it eventually started,  around 13.8v... However,  after trying all sorts of things,  I gave in and changed the battery...  It works a treat now! Bargain heavy duty battery for less than £20 from europarts...

Another little thing I'd noticed was that the digital clock would flicker or fade when trying to start the bike with the dying battery...  Sometimes it even knocked my odometer trip counter back to the total mileage...  

As I say,  all good since the new battery has been on.  

Good luck.

Gareth

[staningrimsby]

Well believe it or not blokes I have been out all day today and stopped and started her oooodles of time and she's fired up first go every time, whilst I am happy she's been good today it doesn't help me resolve the issue.

With regards to the battery I did have an issue a few weeks ago where the bike was completely flat after around 4 hours of it sitting in the work car park, I presume I left the sidelights on for the full 4 hours and that killed the battery, so think I will go and get it checked out tomorrow and see what they say, hopefully that's it as it would be a quick and easy fix :-0

[Parademic]

Did it work then?

[msharpe]

1. Don't waste your money on a Haynes manual, you can probs get a full Suzuki manual if not off here off ebay for a lot less than a Haynes and get a lot more information.
2. As stated by others my thoughts would be turning towards the battery, as for checking the voltage I wouldn't really be interested what it is giving out static and with the bike running to start with if it was a starting fault I was looking in to. You want to see what the voltage is dropping to when you hit the start button really.