Vstrom 650 won't start - Dim display

[lekyuk]

Hi,

It ticks over but doesn't start and the display is very dim and fades in to display all the 8888 digits in the LCD display.. The bike doesn't do its system check. The starter relay clicks. Voltage 12.65 on batt.

I've checked ignition fuse etc. All lights etc work.

I did ride home last night no probs but gave it a quick wash. I'm guessing its water but what would it be where it affect the bike doing its system check? Could it be water in the display housing???

AA en route but I really should be at work... 

Leky

[kwackboy]

Your battery is weak .. although it's shows the correct voltage it's lost its cranking power .

[greywolf]

Either the battery is weak or the wire connections are. Since the display is dim, the former is more likely. The battery needs to be tested under load. Put the meter on the battery and, turn on the ignition and push the start button. I'll bet the meter plummets.

[lekyuk]

All tested, I've put a new post on.

 

[Fat Rat]

Please update this thread rather than starting a new one which asks the same questions 

[lekyuk]

To Update- Suzuki, AA and I can't find the issue. Suzuki have never seen a bike with this issue where the bike won't start and has a dim display. 

Please assume all the obvious checks are done, this isn't a battery, fuse/relay issue.

Has anyone had a similar experience? My only thought is that replacing wiring looms might be the solution.

Now over a week....

[UK_Vstrom650]

http://www.v-strom.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=31484.0

Mine had similar above. It was a short in the wiring loom. Suzuki had been sent pictures of it. Their response was they're not interested.

Check the wiring loom near the coolant bottle. That's where mine had snapped. Apparently there's a connector within the wiring loom that had broken on mine.

If you need a new wiring loom there was one on eBay a while ago for about £60. Don't get the dealer to do it as the one I went to told me £100 then gave me a bill for £360...

[lekyuk]

OK....I wish I were dreaming or in a nightmare but here it is...

The dealer says a new wiring loom is the first thing at nearly £600. Then 7 hours labour plus what I owe already puts me at around £1500. Then the loom may not be the fault. I'm told it could still need an ECU and other bits unknown getting to £2000. Then it may still need to be reflashed to sort the immobiliser.

I am almost crying (don't tell anyone), devastated. I've asked for a trade in on its condition. I owe about £1000 on Finance and I don't think I'd even get that from the dealer.

I'm currently thinking of taking what they offer, paying the Finacne off and getting a new/used bike.

You can imagine how I feel....I effing love that bike. New baby due in 3 weeks...

Or could get it back a sell on eBay as is.

Anyone...anyone.... 

and the above link is the same issue except mine doesn't talk to the fault code gizmo.

Would an indy garage take on a new wiring loom? Sounds painful.

[kwackboy]

Stop panicking.. you don't need a new loom or an ecu,  the dealer has no clue what's wrong with your bike so they will just replace instead of fault finding. where are you based ? If you are in / near London I can look at it for you ..? Does your bike have an alarm . ?

[Hugo Magnus]

What a fantastic community we bikers are. Kwackboy that's a very generous offer

[lekyuk]

I'm in Lymm, nr warrington but that is a fantastic thing to offer! A very sincere thanks  . I knew all that stopping changes peoples tyres would come back one day!  No alarm, only after market product is the Oxford grips.

In reading the similar issues it looks like the loom is the most likely cause given the very similar symptoms. And...a recent plug change could have disturbed wires near the radiator. That's the one plug I couldn't get to so the garage mentioned below did it for me.

The dealer (to be fair) seems to have done about 2 hours of fault finding with no luck. I'm stuck as its my commuter and I need a fix.

I have contacted a more local bike shop (its currently in Chester) who the AA delivered it to originally asking if they'd put a loom on it just to see. There are a few on eBay for £100 or less. I've even offered to do the dismantling to save their time and my £££s.

The only thing was the dealer seemed (and I quote) almost certain "9 out 10 times" a short can break something else. They said the ECU contains the immobiliser and that was possibly gone too and/or any other number of components. Then if that's the case a new ECU means a re-progamming which could also mean shipping the bike to get that done (why can Suzuki Dealers do that????)

I'm off work tomorrow I'll get the dealers buy back price, a price hopefully off the other garage and then I suppose I'll have to balance it up.

One of those periods of life where things don't go as planned.

[UK_Vstrom650]

I was told 3hrs to fit a new loom. If I were you I'd just cut the loom open and have a look for anything obvious. It could save you a lot of pain. I wouldn't look to get rid of it before doing that as a piece of solder could be all it needs...

[lekyuk]

I've been told 7 hours to fit the loom at £72 per hour.

[kwackboy]

First port of call would be to check all block connectors behind the radiator and the large loom connector behind the side panel .. can't remember if it's the left or right panel ? .

[Hondaman]

Leky, this is dreadful news. I'm really gutted for you.

DO NOT SELL TO THE DEALER.
They will take the pi$$ big time, even putting it on ebay auction with an honest description would yield at least a thousand more I suspect.

I'm just up the road nr Lowton. I don't profess to be any kind of electrics wiz but I could perhaps have a once over checking the usual trouble spots.
You say you are off Tomorrow? I wonder if I could wangle a spare couple of hours...

PM me some details, moby, addy & I'll see what I can do.

Phil

PS, UK vstrom, did you get your loom back after you had the work done, just to see & post pics of where the damage was done??
Excuse if you have and I've missed it.

[UK_Vstrom650]

I mistakenly had mine repaired by the dealer on the grounds they said they'd fix it for £100, and it'd have cost me about £80 from eBay. They also said Suzuki may contribute to the repair as it was my second electrical issue on the bike. Turns out Suzuki won't consider any goodwill gestures on bikes 12 months outside the warranty (even if the first issue was 1 month outside warranty and the same dealer never bothered to submit a goodwill gesture claim at the time), and they only would give some discount off parts only, not labour.

Anyway, changing the wiring loom isn't that hard, just slow going so I reckon you should be able to manage it.

I'd also second checking the connectors behind the radiator as that was were my first issue was.

The damage was near the coolant bottle. Wiggling the loom caused the dash to flicker & come on, go off. The FI fault codes in the video are just because I'd unplugged loads of connectors inc removing the tank fault finding.

Unfortunately my youngest has a bug at the moment so I can't get away to help, but if you can wait until next week I may be able to help as well (though take Phil up on his offer first)

[lekyuk]

Hi,

PM sent to Phil. Issue is the bike is in Chester so I need to either get it home or to another garage. I'm now going Bill Smiths tomorrow to talk to their mechanics who have looked at it. I may ask how they get to 7 hours on the loom change. By then the other garage may have let me know if they can swap the loom and at what price. I suppose throwing £300-£400 may be worth it.

Just watched a bloke on YouTube re-condition his wiring loom, simple really!

I very much appreciate the offers. If I had more time I'd do it but a 2 and a half year old likes to "help" me whenever I'm in the garage.

Thanks again... I will update.

[UK_Vstrom650]

Got one of them too. Very helpful!

Good luck and let us know how you get on 

[lekyuk]

I'm happy to say getting it back! The lads at the dealers said they would put on a second hand loom if it were them so that's the first thing. Then if it's still not alive it's saved me the best part of £1200 which makes getting a new ecu etc much less painful. Hopefully in the strip down of the bike and loom the break may reveal itself.

Update to follow .....

[Pug27]

First place I would look?

http://www.v-strom.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=16745.0