If your motorcycles starter relay clicks but fails to pass the current to the starter motor: The cause of a clicking relay coil is corrosion on the relay itself, either from wear, harsh weather exposure, or old age. Motorcycles are relatively simple machines, compared to a car, for example. If you get the test light to light you . If you find this video useful let me know by. Was this article helpful? If youve eliminated the battery as a possible cause, the starter is the next most likely option. First, if your battery is low, check the charging instructions for. Attempt to start the engine and listen to the starter relay. Home. Its all about redundancy when it comes to motorcycles. You go out to your motorcycle, put in the key, and try to start it only to hear those annoying and dreaded clicking noises instead of the rumbling of the engine. Now, diagnosing a bad relay is pretty simple, but if the relay is not the problem, then the whole process will take you much more time. Some engines have a ground strap and some don't. Steps and advice for troubleshooting equipment. Different motorcycles are laid out in different ways based on the priorities of the design. Youll need at least 12.2 volts or a 50 percent charge to start the motorcycle. There are three main reasons why a motorcycle clicks when you try to start it. Relatd:What Does a Solenoid Do On A Motorcycle? 2001 GSXR 1000, 5 axis CNC ported Head, Web Cams, Yosh Full Exhaust, PCIII USB Power Commander, BST Carbon Fiber Wheels, Ceramic Bearings, 10" Extended Swingarm, Air Shifter, -1 Front +2 Rear Gearing, BMC Race Filter, Velocity Stacks, Iridium Plugs, secondaries removed, MR9 race fuel, BAD battery, volts show 12 volt charge but battery cant hold load so yeah bad battery stupid cycle gear cheap battery, if I was to bet money, #1= Battery bad, doesnt matter how long ago u bought it. M mav A possible seized engine is the third most common but far less likely than the previous two. If the motorcycle wont turn over no matter how many times you push the ignition switch, if you try multiple times and theres nothing, not even a click, it might mean youve got a blown relay fuse on your hands. Its an easy fix, but it takes time, and you may need to make other transportation arrangements. YES, you can start your car..it will actually charge the bike battery. Connect the red jumper cable from your car to the starter motor nut where the battery wire is, connect the black cable from your car to anything metal on the bike. If you know what youre doing, you can bypass the start button and jump the two wires together. did you try push-starting the bike?clean & dry the spark plugs with a propane torch. Not to mention, if you have an exposed wire generating the charge, thats hazardous all on its own. You can also test the kill switch by shorting the two pins together with a piece of wire or a test light. Learn how your comment data is processed. It's super frustrating! Now that weve covered the reasons a motorcycle clicks when you try to start it, lets discuss what causes these problems in the first place. (PS: We read ALL feedback). Also make sure you didn't accidentally push the kill switch. Having a motorcycle that wont even try to start is no fun, especially if youre in the middle of nowhere. A starter relay is an electrical switch that is used to control the starting process of a motorcycle. Locate the starter motor under the vehicle. You should hear a clicking sound; the clicking noise is the starter relays internal contact. become too hot and essentially weld together. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) If your gauges are lit up brightly, and your lights are ready for action, the relay could be the culprit. If it does you have a fuel delivery problem. Remember, if you dont have the tools or space needed to conduct the following procedures or if you cant find access to a service manual and youre unsure about your working knowledge, any decent bike tech can do this test on the fly for pretty cheap. Check the relay contacts for signs of burning or melting. Fixing a failing starter solenoid could be as simple as rejuvenating the connectors. If you have the time it wouldn't be a bad idea to undo all of your connectors in the wiring harness and clean them out. Webnews21 is all about lifestyle and entertainment. You can tell if your starter relay is bad if your motorcycle has problems starting, whether no crank at all, a clicking, or it starts, but the starter motor keeps running. Read the labels to tell which is which. I simply recommend you get a new starter and your issue should be solved. So it won't crank. If you hear your relay letting off a rapid-fire of clicks, but the bike never cranks over, chances are the starter motor isnt getting the juice it needs from the relay to start your bikes engine. The exposure to oxygen eventually changes the chemistry of gas which can lead to gum and varnish deposits. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The clicking noise happens from a seized engine because the fly wheel is unable to turn. If its not, or if it is and youve accepted the fact that you have to replace your engine, put your best foot forward. Hook the clamp end of your test light to an engine ground then touch the test light to the starter post with the switch in start position. I try to restart clicks come from the starter relay then the fuel pump relay clicks and the dash dims with no numbers or anything.. WTF I m going to try to run line directly to starter to seee if its not the starter will the fuel pump relay cause bike not to crank? If the wind is too low, you could need a new battery (which is convenient because youre already at a parts store). Testing a kill switch is very similar to testing the start button, and they most likely share the same connector. The solenoid clicked, which is something it does not do when I try to start the bike. If the multimeter is showing an open loop with the switch off, then your kill switch is faulty and needs to be replaced. Youre in the saddle of your prized streetfighter, geared up and ready to eat up some curves. 4. I replaced with a new drag specialties solenoid and I still only get a click. If your battery read at 12.6 percent and your bike still only clicks when you try to start it, take your battery to a car parts store to be tested. Secrets and tips to get the most from your electric vehicle, We would love to hear your thoughts! The solenoid in the starter has power and ground but it sticks. Pull twist and generally make sure the ends are not corroded or loose. An issue like this isnt on anyones to-do list, and it typically appears at the most inconvenient moments. you mean the 30 fuse on the relay? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Yes, that means disconnecting the wires from one end and the other, then measuring the resistance of each one. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Your standard car parts store can run a more thorough test of the batterys ability to hold current. Drove it all day long started right up every time. I have ran into this problem many times myself through the motorcycles Ive owned these past few years. Each motorcycle will likely need a new starter sometime in its lifetime. This website is where I report everything I've learned and continue to learn. The clicking youre hearing is the flywheel failing to rotate. Also check ground strap from engine to frame. Engine seizure is significantly less common than a failing starter or a bad battery. Start with the most accessible or most likely factors to eliminate. Fortunately, two of the three most common causes of a clicking motorcycle are simple to repair in the comfort of your garage. A lousy starting could be the second explanation. . , and there is no continuity when the battery is connected, the starter relay in your motorcycle is busted. If youve charged your battery and your motorcycle is still making that clicking sound when you go to charge it, I would suggest you take your battery in to an automotive parts store and have them test it. Ive encountered this issue numerous times through the motorcycles Ive owned over the last few years. Lets move on to some other tests to confirm the problem is indeed your relay. (Explained), How To Tell If A Motorcycle Fuse Is Blown (Explained), Motorcycle Clicks Instead Of Starting: 3 Reasons (Solved). Sep 1, 2010. For the rest of us, the first step to diagnosing a seized engine is to roll the bike up and down the block. When the starter solenoid is energized and works correctly, the solenoid will connect the two terminals together and allow electrical current to pass through them into the starter. So I figured . Essentially, this gear starts turning which in turn starts rotating the flywheel in the engine. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. exact same thing happened to me about 3 weeks ago Click to expand. Batteries are an essential component of a motorcycles operation; without them, you wont be able to start them if you cant begin with your bike. If a relay is corroded past a certain point, or if its merely old enough, itll start disintegrating, meaning scraping it up wont solve the problem. Put your motorcycle battery back on. power from the battery to the starter motor. Messages. Taking it to an auto parts store will enable you to see the current the battery holds. Attach the black jumper wire from the negative battery terminal to the green or red wire of the starter relay. Within this video series includes tackling electrical issues you may run into as well as other hard-to-tackle components such as body work and carb rebuilds. They both tested good. The third most common but less likely reason the motorcycle is clicking could be due to a seized engine. What I would do is disconnect the battery ground from the battery, and then go to the bottom of the igniter and pull all three electrical connectors and make sure there is no corrosion on either side of the contact blocks, then use dielectric grease and reconnect them. If it helped you sol. Stay on top of your oil changes and make sure to use the right kind of oil specific to your motorcycle. 5. I then removed the starter solenoid and put 12v through the spade connectors on top of it. If your battery is low, the generator gives it enough power to keep it running. If it comes from the starter, your problem is in the solenoid. So in review, your bike was making a clicking sound while you were trying to start it. The three main reasons a motorcycle will click instead of start is because your battery is dead, your starter is failing, or, in severe cases on older or hard-used bikes, it might be clicking because of a seized engine. . When you turn the key and the battery is dead, you hear the magnet trying to magnetize the gear which is what makes the clicking sound. It seems like extra work, replacing your solenoid, reinstalling the old starter only to tear it all back apart when the rest wears out soon after. Very often on BCF people write that their bike won't start but makes a fast clicking noise. battery connections are good & tight, properly lubricated, no corrosion. coming from. You can tell if your starter relay is bad if your motorcycle has problems starting, whether no crank at all, a clicking, or it starts, but the starter motor keeps running. So, in review, why is your motorcycle clicking instead of starting? If the solenoids pulse isnt strong enough to activate the starter motor and crank the flywheel, your bike wont start. We will go through all of them just in case, but Im 90% sure that you will find the problem before youll reach the 4th step, as we will be testing the most likely components first. A vibrating motorcycle is not only uncomfortable, but its also scary and would make any rider My name is Kyle Cannon and I love everything about motorcycles. Motorcycle Starter Relay Clicks But No Crank There's nothing quite like anticipating taking your motorcycle out for a night ride. Yes, you can start your car.. it will actually charge the bike? clean amp! First step to diagnosing a motorcycle starter relay clicks but no crank engine is to roll the bike battery user... Dry the spark plugs with a piece of wire or a test light to light you the solenoid the... 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