Ignition Won’t turn off when I remove the Key

[Artyman]

Been out for a long ride today. When I got home I shut the engine off, turned the key off and removed it - but my lights and the dash stayed illuminated. I put the key back in and jiggled it a bit and removed it, but it stayed the same - the lights are on, the clocks and dials illuminated and everything is still ‘on’ except that with the key removed it will turn over but not start and it also gives an F1 error.

Strange.

So, I quickly popped the seat and unscrewed the negative terminal and everything went off. I popped the seat on, went for a brew, and about 20 mins later came out and connected the terminal - and she’s still the same. Everything is ‘on’ but without the key inserted.

So…. Is my ignition/key unit buggered…!

Yep, it’s had some wd40 down there. I do it each time I wash it.

Other than that, it’s never done this before. Anyone else had this?

[Tiggerbits]

It's not something as simple as you passing the lock and turning it to park (p)…
Only ask as I've done it before a d come back to a flat battery 🤦‍♂️

[kwackboy]

Did it rain on your ride out ..? Sounds like you have a short of some kind.

[Artyman]

No. Blazing sunshine today. Been dry here for nearly a week. She’s been fine all week.

My gut feeling is that the lock unit is buggered.

[kwackboy]

That's possible although to confirm I'd try to disconnect the block connector to the ignition. 

[Artyman]

I went down, connected the battery, removed all the fuses, left it a while, put the fuses back in - and my dashboard was lit up like Blackpool. And that was without the key in.

I put the key in, started her up, then turned the key off and removed the key - and the bike was still running and ticking over.

So I think my key/ignition mechanism is buggered. Only thing I can think of.

[porter]

It's the main ignition connector under the tank and airbox. It's not waterproof and the water gets in between the frame and radiator, runs down the wires and shorts the key out. There was a recall for this from Suzuki. You can cover all the connectors with bicycle inner tubes yourself like I did but if that main block is to far gone you may need a new loom.

[Artyman]

Cheers mate.

I didn’t realise there was a unit under the tank. I just assumed the ignition barrel had died. We’ve not been out in the rain for about two weeks, and she hasn’t been washed, so it must be this unit.

I’ll whip the tank and air box off tomorrow and have a fiddle, but if it’s gone - like it seems it has - then she’s into the Suzuki shop on Tuesday for new tyres and an MOT so I’ll bat it over to them and see what they can do. I suppose I’ll have to take my credit card, too.

[Artyman]

I took the tank off today to get the air box off and have a look at the connections but my hex driver couldn't reach the front air-box/carb inlet, and I just couldn't get an allen key in from underneath - so I had to put it all back together.

She's in the Suzuki shop tomorrow for new tyres and an MOT so I'll let you know what the diagnosis was - and how expensive the prognosis is... 

[porter]

Sorry I should have mentioned you need a very long 3mm allen key for the front airbox mount. I use about four 1/4 extensions taped together to reach (from the left side just below the base of the airbox, there's a wee groove)

[Artyman]

Hells bells…!

And now you tell me…!!!

No worries. She’s in the shop tomorrow so I’ll let the ‘man who can’ hopefully find the problem.

Today was the third time I’ve had the tank off in three weeks. I’m getting quite good at it now so the practice was useful..! It also gave me the opportunity to do some cleaning.

[glenwatt]

May be worth speaking to your local dealer as I believe there was an ignition switch issue with some 2014 DL1000s and the work may not have been done in the past.

https://blog.motorcycle.com/2016/01/11/manufacturers/Suzuki/Suzuki-v-strom-1000-recalled-for-three-separate-electrical-issues/

[Artyman]

Thanks for that, Glen. I’ll mention it tomorrow.

[UK_Vstrom650]

When mine was last in the garage I'm sure they just pulled the airbox off without undoing the front clamp (mine's a Philips / JIS on the front on the 650). I know this as the next time I had the tank off, the front of the airbox was resting on top of the inlet & I had to unscrew it to refit it properly and clamp it on.

Suzuki should be ashamed for not waterproofing those connectors behind the radiator.

[Artyman]

Took her into the Suzuki shop this morning in Glasgow and the godlike mechanic says it's a short circuit somewhere.

It's £670 for a new loom and with labour about a grand, so bless his cotton socks, he's going to fault-find on the loom to find the short circuit and then bypass it.

He checked all the stuff under the airbox and the ignition key block and he says they're fine. So, fingers crossed he finds the short...

[Graham62]

The usual place is under the seat the loom rubbing on the frame.

[TLPower]

The link in glenwatt's post is the key. If the recall work hasn't been carried out (or if it was done incorrectly) it would lead to your symptoms. It's not unheard for a dealer to claim for doing work and never actually carry it out.

I would imagine there will be a record on the Suzuki database if indeed the work has been done.

My last bike pulled exactly the same stunt, I traced that back to a faulty fuel pump relay. With the ignition off it was sending the constant 12v feed back to the ignition circuit via the ignition trip.

[Artyman]

Well, problem solved.

I read a post on here abut those relays that you connect your external devices to - such as the sanav and heated handlebars - so I thought I would give it a punt. I fitted the black box about three months ago and its been great since then. Not a problem. But its this that threw a wobbly and was messing up my electrics and my ignition.

So, the device has now been disconnected, removed and thrown into the nearest bin in the workshop. And THAT is the last time I connect a bit of gizmo circuitry to my bike.

I collect the Strom tomorrow, so I don't know what the bill is yet....but I don't care because things are back to normal. I also had new tyres fitted, an oil change, air filter change and an MOT - so I'll definitely be taking my credit card... 🙃

I'm pretty relieved, though. Mechanical things are pretty straightforward, but electrical problems are a royal pain because sometimes it can be difficult to diagnose. Thankfully the mechanic at Mickey Oates in Glasgow is a superstar and managed to find and sort the problem.

Phew....!!!!

[Rusty Nuts]

That surprises me. These devices are usually pretty much non-invasive as far as the bike's electrics are concerned. What was it that you removed, who fitted it and what were you running from it?

[Barbel Mick]

Interesting. Like Rusty, I would like to know more details.