Suzuki SJ50QT starter motor troubles

[MA573R0FWAR]

Hi all.

I am new to this forum and have been having troubles with my starter motor on my 2005 Suzuki SJ50QT scooter.

I have found that sometimes when i try and start the scooter, it will just make one click sound, then nothing. It usually fires up the second time though. However, there is another, more serious issue i have had with it a couple of times.

Just recently, i was at the gas station and went to start the scooter up after getting gas, and the starter motor just jammed on and wouldnt stop spinning the motor. Even when i turned the key off, the starter kept on spinning. Eventually though, it stopped. This has happened twice now. Sometimes it just starts up perfectly fine. Other times i get those issues. I took the scooter in for a service about 2 weeks ago and it had a new battery put in it, so thats not the problem. I was having issues before i took it for a service also. Oh, i have also had, on the odd occasion, the starter motor just dis-engage from the motor as it was spinning aswell. But it hasnt done this since the battery was replaced.

So what could be the problem here? A guy i talked to thinks it might be a sticking solenoid. Could that be the issue? Anyone else with a Suzuki SJ50 had issues like this? I do know how to get to both the starter motor and starter relay. The relay is housed behind the battery.

Thanks in advance.

Nathan.

Edit: Forgot to mention, the scooter has done about 8000km.

[MA573R0FWAR]

Can anyone help me out here? I thinking it might be the starter relay jamming but i dont want to buy a new one without a second opinion. If the relay is the problem, where would i be able to find a new one?

[hayd3n]

Can anyone help me out here? I thinking it might be the starter relay jamming but i dont want to buy a new one without a second opinion. If the relay is the problem, where would i be able to find a new one?

try a 2nd hand one :P

[FJRider]

try a 2nd hand one :P

More likely the starter itself is the issue ... Take it (the starter) to an auto sparky to test. Shouldn't cost much (if anything) to get that done.

Has it NOT got a kick start ... ???

[MA573R0FWAR]

Hi, Thanks for your replies.

It does have a kickstart, but i prefer using the electric. Sometimes it can be a pain to get going with the kick.

Are you sure the starter motor itself is more likely the issue? Because it turns the motor over fine, just doesnt stop most of the time when i let go of the starter. Which seems to me like something is jamming on, supplying a constant flow of electricity to the starter. I found a second hand relay for it for 35 dollars. Worth buying?

Edit: On Saturday, i went for a ride down to the shop, started it on the electric start from here. Worked perfectly fine. But when i started it coming back from the shop, it jammed on again. I kicked the battery cover (where the relay is housed) and it stopped, but only after the second kick.

[Slavvy]

Hi, Thanks for your replies.

It does have a kickstart, but i prefer using the electric. Sometimes it can be a pain to get going with the kick.

Are you sure the starter motor itself is more likely the issue? Because it turns the motor over fine, just doesnt stop most of the time when i let go of the starter. Which seems to me like something is jamming on, supplying a constant flow of electricity to the starter. I found a second hand relay for it for 35 dollars. Worth buying?

Edit: On Saturday, i went for a ride down to the shop, started it on the electric start from here. Worked perfectly fine. But when i started it coming back from the shop, it jammed on again. I kicked the battery cover (where the relay is housed) and it stopped, but only after the second kick.

A 2nd hand relay for $35?? Surely it's a fairly ordinary relay and you could find a replacement at an automotive store.

It could be the starter solenoid sticking, when that happens the relay isnt relevant as the starter supplies itself with current until the solenoid unsticks. Try a replacement relay first I'd say.

[FJRider]

Have you checked the starter button ... ??? return spring gone/sticking ... ???

[MA573R0FWAR]

Yeah, the starter button seems fine. It isnt sticking.

Where abouts is the solenoid located on the SJ50? My manuals electrical diagram doesnt show anything about it and the starter motor only appears to be connected to the relay.

[Slavvy]

The solenoid is part of the starter, the starter will be shaped like a cylinder, and the solenoid will be a smaller cylinder stuck to the side of it. I assume this on the basis that it has a solenoid and isn't some kind of permanently-meshed starter or something.

How is the starter represented on the wiring diagram? Does it have it's own internal circuit?

[MA573R0FWAR]

The solenoid is part of the starter, the starter will be shaped like a cylinder, and the solenoid will be a smaller cylinder stuck to the side of it. I assume this on the basis that it has a solenoid and isn't some kind of permanently-meshed starter or something.

How is the starter represented on the wiring diagram? Does it have it's own internal circuit?

The starter motor doesnt have the solenoid attached to the side of it. Ive attached a picture of a starter motor that looks almost identical to mine. Ive also attached the wiring diagram.

That starter isnt from an SJ50, but it should give you an idea.

[Slavvy]

The starter motor doesnt have the solenoid attached to the side of it. Ive attached a picture of a starter motor that looks almost identical to mine. Ive also attached the wiring diagram.

That starter isnt from an SJ50, but it should give you an idea.

Understood, pretty certain it must be the relay now. If there isnt a solenoid, the starter can't really get stuck on electrically, as soon as the current from the relay cuts out it'd stop spinning. Have you got a multimeter or test light or something? That plus a couple of wires and the battery is all you would need to test the relay.

The terminals which connect to the wires marked Y/G and W/B should have continuity all the time. After determining that, get some junk wires and connect those two terminals to the negative and positive poles of the battery. It should click over, and then you should have continuity between R and R/W.

But seeing as the relay is such a simple 4 terminal jobbie, it would be very easy to just buy a generic one from the store and wire it up to work perfectly.

[MA573R0FWAR]

I havnt got a multimeter, but my tutor at my automotive course does. Ill test the relay while im there at some point.

Ill report back here after ive tested the relay out.

[Slavvy]

I havnt got a multimeter, but my tutor at my automotive course does. Ill test the relay while im there at some point.

Ill report back here after ive tested the relay out.

Good stuff. I'd also check the actual starter switch, as people have mentioned earlier, as it might be as simple as the switch sticking shut or something.