Can't turn the bike off - Strange electrical problem

[Himself]

Having decided to wash the bike today, I pointed the Hosepipe at the headlight, let the water flow and the headlight came on.

Prior to this, I'd squirted Dr Wack S100 cleaner on the bike. In the normal way, nothing direct, just a normal covering of the bike.

The dash is also lit up, but only the main beam is on. With the keys out the parking light isn't on. The bike will start, but the fuel injection doesn't appear to be running. It coughed a couple of time when I tried to start it, rumbled into life and quit as soon as I opened the throttle. The fuel pump is priming the system though.

So it was out with the dog dryer and I've been drying ever where I can see. I've had the dash out, disconnected the rev counter and the headlight remains on. I'm assuming the dash is also still live, despite me drying the loom and everything inside.

Any suggestions on where to focus my efforts or what to start looking for, please?

Keys Out - Dash lit up


Keys out Headlight On

[Brockett]

Water in the ignition switch maybe

[Himself]

Stripped it down and there is asmall smoke trail coming from rider right of the airbox.

Now to work out how to remove the air box

[Fat Rat]

Starter solenoid stuck?

[Himself]

Delving deeper into the bike ... Tank off - Airbox out (is it really push the forward carb rubber through the airbox?? no way to get to the allen head bolt, anyway, I digress.

I've unplugged the low beam bulb as this seems to be how the short is completed. When I reconnect the low beam, there is smoke coming from the centre of the three connectors you can see in the photo. The one the allen key is pointing to.

Do any of you smart people know what this connecter is for? What runs through those wires, please?

There is also some insulation tape binding the wires running from the back of the bike into that connector - Evidence of a bodge by the former owner?

[bosnjo]

Finding where the watter is now is very difficult. I'd simply disconnect the battery and leave the bike for 2 days to see if it'd dry out. And if you have a chance to leave it under direct sun shine it'd be even better. Once I had a problem after pressure washing my DL1000. It was not a big deal. Whenever I used indicators, left or right, hazards would turn on. It went away after 2 days, after it dried out.

[kwackboy]

First of all disconnect the battery. It's obvious water is causing a short circuit somewhere.
My advice is to leave it standing for a day or two, the water will eventually dry out.

[Himself]

Thank you folks ... I am now at the tea and think about it stage.

I opened up the connector and traced it and @brockett you were spot on - The short is the ignition switch wiring.

Having cleaned up all the connectors and blasted the dog dryer in there, there is no improvement. So, I'll follow the advice of leaving it for a day or two while I think about whether I need to do more than let it dry out.

Anyone had a problem with water in the ignition switch before?

[kwackboy]

Personally no, but then I never drown my bikes in water , I use a low powered jet wash with the nozzle on a mist setting to rinse.

[Fat Rat]

I had a DL1000 that wouldn't shut off after a wash, that was the starter solenoid sticking, disconnecting the battery for a few minutes resolved that.

[Himself]

Amazing .... Electrics do fascinate me. No idea how it all works, but you tickle one bit and something daft happens.

Battery disconnected. Hopefully sunshine tomorow

[bosnjo]

It would help even further if you have a chance to disconnect those connectors and leave them like that so they can also dry well.

[Graham62]

@ Himself rain for Newark tomorrow from about 10 am till 3pm. I've got fencing panels coming tomorrow.

[Himself]

The problem has gone away, so I'm after it with a water spray after work today. Saint Amazon is delivering some contact cleaner. Figured while I had it apart I may as well clean all the multi-block connectors under the tank.

Whereas I like the idea of leaving it, if water got in with just a hosepipe, it will get in again doing 60mph in the rain, so I need to find the short.

Never ever go looking for something to do on a Sunday 

[porter]

Similar thing happened to my 15 Veek, after a long ride in the wet, very wet, it wouldn't turn off at the B&B, dried out over night in the owners heated garage. I removed the tank, airbox and cleaned all the connectors and placed bicycle inner tubes over the connectors, no trouble from that.
Also looking at your pictures looks like your bike has missed the Suzuki recall. It was to cover that central connector with a rubber boot, r replace the wiring loom it damaged.  I missed the recall too as I'd already covered the connectors before that.  You need a long 3mm allen key for the front airbox connection, longer than a normal long key. Good luck

[Himself]

Top man Porter -- Thanks.

As the fault had cleared I took to spraying water on the connectors to see if I could recreate the fault.

Idiot that I am I sprayed the connector and the ignition switch - Yes the fault is back, but I wonder which spray did it 

Sometimes I amaze myself - Doh!

[porter]

Well at least you know what it is now! Check with a Suzuki dealer once they're open again to get the recall sorted just in case that loom is damaged.
After my trouble I got an old rubber pat and cut it up to block the gap between the frame and the top of the radiator, just cable tied in place. Yes it could stop air getting to the airbox but I notice no difference in how she runs. And at my 30k valve check all was clean (ish) and dry in there.

[user650]

Have a quick check here 

https://bikes.Suzuki.co.uk/owners/check-outstanding-recall/

[Barbel Mick]

It might be just me ....... but if the smoke is coming from the connector isn't that where the fault would be?
If it was all good with the wires and the connection tight why would it smoke? I suspect corrosion in the wiring or a poor/loose connection. 

[Froglodyte]

Nope. It's not just you Mick. That's what I'd be checking too. Smoke = current flow and heat.