BMW starting problems... I'm begining to hate this bike

[beanz]

Hi,

Its a 2000 BMW F650GS Dakar. For the last few months its been a bit temperamental with starting. 50% of the time it wouldn't turn over when I first pressed the starter. On repeated attempts it would eventually turn over and start, but it wasn't very excited about doing it.

Thinking it was the battery, I replaced it, but no change. Today it turned over slowly, then something went pop (I think... had helmet on). Now it either turns over very slowly and doesn't start, or it doesn't turn over at all. Instead the starter relay clicks away.

I tried a few things. I used jumper leads to hook up a mates car battery in parallel to the bikes batt, and tried starting. No change. I disconnected the bikes batt and tried just with the car batt, no change. Weird.

Also, it seems like the bikes batt is flat, as it only reads 10V with a multimeter.

The last symptom is that when I connect the bike battery back in, the speedo needle shakes around and the dash clicks for about 5-10sec before falling silent.

I pulled off the starter motor (to get it checked) and notice some creamy milky fluid round the starter cog area. Either some sort of grease, or water+oil in the wrong place. Anything to be alarmed about?

Any idea's on things to try?

Thanks for any help!

[davereid]

I'm not sure about the milky fluid you describe...

But if your battery is at 10v you either have a seriously munted battery or a crap meter. My money is on munted battery as it fits the other symptoms you have described.

Your battery was replaced, so you may have a faulty alternator, and or Regulator/rectifier.

Unless you are very good at this sort of stuff, I'd suggest you find a good auto electrician who is a biker. You can spend a lot of time and money chasing a fault that a good man will find and fix very quickly.

[kewwig]

Sounds like a bad earth. Check the negative lead where it bolts to the frame (undo, clean), and go through the harness checking connectors. A poor earth will do strange things, including not charging the battery. If the battery needs a charge, do it, check connectors and if there's nothing obvious, it's bike shop time. You could do more, but it's best not to mess with electrickery if you don't know enough, as the results can be expensive

[Taz]

Take out 2nd mortgage, then take it to experience BMW.

[MIXONE]

PM dakar a member of kb who has the same model and has had the same hassles I beleive.

[Dakar]

ive heard its quite common, Right first thing to make sure that you let the bike run through its normal start up, turn the ignition on and wait till the fuel, oil and battery lights go out, (this resets the computer i believe) THEN press the ignition, should start straight away, if this still carries on, slowly turn the throttle to full and back down to closed, this again apparently resets the computer...
the comment earlier about a short earth, give the ignition switch gear a squirt of CRC, should help too.
as for the popping, mine does too, usually when its been sitting for awhile.

When all else fails……http://faq.f650.com/main.html

dont give up with the Beemer, they are terrific bikes, ive never had a break down that i didn't cause, Like falling off....:Punk:

[beanz]

Thanks guys.

I'm systematically going through all the options. Charged the batt back up, and it spins the starter motor over very nicely if directly connected. That rules out batt and starter (thank god).

That leaves the starter relay, and the wiring. My bet is the relay is rooted. Will test this weekend.

Cheers
Chris

[karmobRob]

Go with reply #3,go through the earth cable from battery to engine.