Replacing the battery should have your bike starting right up. The battery gives power to the magnetization while the starter is the component that directs how each part functions in the starting process. The starter motor on a bike uses a lot of power to turn the engine. If, after a few turns, your starter clicks, or maybe your bike even fires up, it might be that your relay is dying but not quite dead yet. Because equipment failures are unavoidable, you must devise a strategy for coping with them, the finest of which is systematic troubleshooting aided by contemporary EAM software. Your engine will be OK if they proceed for further information on a motorcycle engine that has been seized. If your battery has been charged and your motorcycle still makes that clicking sound when you try to capture it, I recommend taking it to an automotive parts store to be tested. Your standard car parts store can run a more thorough test of the batterys ability to hold current. The third most common but less likely reason the motorcycle is clicking could be due to a seized engine. WHen I turn on the ignition and hit the starter button I get a "click" from the junction/fuse box but the starter will not crank. and the solenoid is polarizing the starter motor just fine. The motor could be worn if the solenoid is worn on the used starter. make sure the battery is fully charged. Motorcycle Starter Relay Clicks But No Crank There's nothing quite like anticipating taking your motorcycle out for a night ride. Third, remove your primary cover (follow the step-by-step instructions in your manual) Fourth, remove the compensating sprocket nut and clutch hub lock ring. I connect it.. the starter relay just clicks .. no cranking at all relay just clicks and the dash fades,. sighs . any help would be greatly appreciated how do I know relay is good???? Motorcycles and automotive repair have been a big part of his family for generations, therefore its only natural that he decided to become a heavy-duty diesel tech. Check the battery ground wire to the block for corrosion. Starter solenoid electrical connections. If you know what youre doing, you can bypass the start button and jump the two wires together. You obviously have power to the solenoid. As you will notice, all involve starting issues. The clicking youre hearing is the flywheel failing to rotate. Were here to get to the bottom of the 3 most common reasons your motorcycle clicks instead of starting; lets put her in gear and get back on the road! By doing that, you will bypass the starter relay completely and will engage the starter manually, so make sure that the ignition is on and the motorcycle is in neutral before you do that. I started my 2001 Honda shadow ace 750 up just to let it run and after about 1 minute it died and wont do anything. A starter relay not working will give specific signs. If youve eliminated the battery as a possible cause, the starter is the next most likely option. 1988 Heritage Softail will not crank. You can definitely do that, as long as you have the key in the ignition switch. If the solenoid is faulty, it . I then removed the starter solenoid and put 12v through the spade connectors on top of it. 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. The solenoid in the starter has power and ground but it sticks. Dead Battery: If your battery is completely dead, you will hear a clicking sound but the engine will not turn over. Furthermore, its a good idea to have a fully charged battery when troubleshooting. How Do You Test a Starter Relay on a Motorcycle? Luckily, there are only a handful of components that could go bad and prevent the engine from starting, and if you test them and the wiring integrity between them properly, youll be back on the road in no time. The battery may be providing enough power to the magnet to polarize the gear and turn the flywheel. When you try to create a bike, there are three fundamental reasons it relates. No start no crank it just clicks. Tested battery had 12.6 volts. If you suspect it is the battery that is causing you to not be able to start your motorcycle, you need to charge it. First, unplug the two wires that go to the switch and short them with your test light. Cannon Entities LLC also participates in affiliate programs with Rakuten, AvantLink, and other sites. Previous Post Next Post . Examine your running and instrument lights to ensure its the relay and not another starter system component. Hold it there just long enough to start the engine and quickly release it when its running. Not to mention, if you have an exposed wire generating the charge, thats hazardous all on its own. Theres also a phenomenon called parasitic drain. Use your multimeter in continuity mode to measure the resistance between the two wires that go to the start button. Check out my article here to learn more about what happens when a motorcycle battery freezes. But before you even do this make sure the battery is fully charged, that can also be a major factor in a starter failing. Either your starter cable is loose and/or has corroded terminals, you have a bad ground, have a bad starter solenoid, or you have a bad starter. This includes the Positive at the battery and the starter. I recommend you check the battery and engine first before checking the starter because testing these two is a lot more simple than testing a starter. Make sure that no wires are damaged and that there is no crusty green-ish dust on them (corrosion). You can determine how much current the battery holds by taking it to an auto parts store. When an engine seizes, the components inside the engine lock up to the point where the crankshaft is unable to turn the bearings. Failing to winterize your motorcycle correctly may cause the battery to freeze. Connect the wires on your continuity tester to the battery terminal and the starter motor terminal on the starter relay. By doing this you will bypass the start button. Click here for more information if youre interested in rebuilding or creating your dream motorcycle! Check carefully the wire ends on the battery cables. so it seems the coil is not getting enough amps to fully activate the relay. 12.4 volts is considered 75% charged, 12.2 is considered 50% charged and so on. The good news is that you dont have to start initially. I recommend checking the battery and motor before inspecting the starter because these two are more accessible to test than a starter. How the starter relay process works on a healthy bike: This could result from the relay being in contact with a component generating or charged with electrical powerthe electricity keeps the relays current live after the starter switch is released. This site is owned and operated by Cannon Entities LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Utah, USA. 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. Put your motorcycle battery back on. Was this article helpful? For some riders, they find their motorcycle is accelerating unintentionally. Kyle currently works as a mechanical engineer and graduated with a minor in automotive engineering. Typically, this points to a . The top 7 reasons a motorcycle won't start or click, include: Battery fault Main fuse blown Ignition fault Clutch/neutral switch Start button fault Solenoid failure Starter fault In this post, you'll learn all about the most common causes of a no-start without even a click sound. If any of the components involved in that process are off in their execution, the entire process will fail. Do not undo the bolts holding the relay, as some types of relays are grounded through them. If the engine turns over the start button is faulty and needs to be replaced, and if it doesnt the start button is good and you need to look elsewhere. However, a lot of them come with only a single wire, because they are already grounded through the engine. The third most common but less likely reason the motorcycle is clicking could be due to a seized engine. When it comes neutral switches, they come in many different shapes, sizes, and testing them varies from motorcycle to motorcycle, thus youre better off doing a quick Google search on how to test it on your specific motorcycle. 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. A motorcycle starter goes bad usually because of age. Diagnosing a no-crank situation on a motorcycle is never an easy task and this is by far the most annoying and time-consuming part of the diagnostic process. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. Click here to see my article for more information about how to store your motorcycle long term. Hook your Continuity Testers wires up to your starter relays battery terminal and starter motor terminal. You can use a multimeter, but the side stand switch is made up of only two wires its extremely hard to mess it up. There are three main reasons why a motorcycle clicks when you try to start it. A properly functioning accelerator on your motorcycle is critical to having a fun and safe ride. On the other hand, motorcycles arent complicated machinery, especially when compared to automobiles. So it won't crank. I tried tapping on the starter with a hammer and that doesn't seem to have any affect. Turn the key on and short across the terminals with the screwdriver. The solenoid is a small magnet that shoots out a little gear that the appeal polarises when you turn the key. I have ran into this problem many times myself through the motorcycles Ive owned these past few years. Copyright 2020 - 2022 Webnews21 (GMW). Regardless, a starter system diagnosis would be the next step in determining if it is, in fact, your relay thats causing the problem. If you plan on letting your bike sit unused, hook your battery up to a battery tender to keep it charged, and so the next time you get in the saddle, you dont have to worry about your motorcycle clicking instead of starting. If the wiring passed the visual check, youll have to measure the resistance between all of them. Itll just make clicking sounds. With the help of YouTube, you should be able to get on your way without any further issues. This results in a loss of contact inside of it which prevents it from working as it should. After a few turns on the key it frees up and engages the starter motor. Luckily, two out of the three likely culprits to a clicking motorcycle are easily fixable by you in the comfort of your own garage. If you have power coming from your start button it should be measurable. WulfMoto.com is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, and as an Amazon Associate, WulfMoto.com earns from qualifying purchases. Chat us for guest posts and personalized ads, Motorcycle Starter Relay Clicks But No Crank, When you try to start your motorcycle It clicks. thats the only fuse I can see under the seat.. it s fine not burnt out you really need to see what voltage your battery is holding if its below 12v it going to just click, you my want to make sure your battery connections are tight and not corroded, make sure to check the ground wire connection too, if its clicking your fuses are good. Swap out the fuse if its looking rough. batery is over 12 volts.. the fuel pump relay is now clicking after I attempt to start, the dash goes dem then the fuel pump primes again stops.. You didn't say you checked battery voltage at the battery while at rest and while cranking (or trying to crank) Then check voltage at the battery side of the rela,then again at the starter side of the relay while pushing the button. 4. 5. Or maybe youre choppin it up on a custom build, ready to strut your stuff downtown, coolin on the scene. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. The negative (ground) at the battery and the ground point. But the flywheel is failing to turn the pistons because theyre fused to the parts around them, to the point of placing immense pressure on the flywheel. Ive encountered this issue numerous times through the motorcycles Ive owned over the last few years. Failing to keep up with your oil levels and condition, or using low-grade or contaminated oil, are the main reasons a motorcycle engine seizes. Press the start button to try and start the engine. Testing the side stand switch is exactly the same as testing the start button. The starter is what assists the magnet in the polarizing process. 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. This post is to explain what the noise is and why it happens. Two important clues you have given. Start with the most accessible or most likely factors to eliminate. Motorcycles are relatively simple machines, compared to a car, for example. If they do roll, your engine is fine. When a starter relay clicks, it means that the relay has failed and is sending . Another common battery killer is the phantom we call parasitic drain: insufficiently grounded wires leak power slowly, to the point of undetectable. Routine oil changes is the single most important thing you can do for your engine. How To Downshift On a Motorcycle Swiftly? Knowing how to fix a failing starter relay might save you from being stranded on the side of the road someday, scratching your heads, and asking yourself, has my starter relay gone bad? Jump the starter at the post with a long flat head screwdriver. It is important that you're holding the key at start here so that the circuit 2 will energize relay 5. What if my motorcycle doesnt make any noise when I try to start it? Youll need at least 12.2 volts or a 50 percent charge to start the motorcycle. Cannon Entities LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Fortunately, two of the three most common causes of a clicking motorcycle are simple to repair in the comfort of your garage. Stabilized gas should not be used after 6-12 months. M mav Taking it to an auto parts store will enable you to see the current the battery holds. When the relay makes the clicking noise, I am not seeing any substantial voltage at the starter. Over time, the internal components of the starter begin to wear. A good way to test this is to wait until it won't start. Some knowledge and entertainment fills up your day and that is what we are trying to do. EXPERT TIP Jason Shackelford Auto Technician Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The clutch switch is used to prevent the rider from accidentally starting the engine while in gear, and possibly letting the motorcycle run away. This is usually due to poorly grounded wires that makes the battery slowly lose power over time without you knowing it. It does not store any personal data. What if it happened in the middle of nowhere? Check the relay contacts for signs of burning or melting. If it comes from the starter, your problem is in the solenoid. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. First, if your battery is low, check the charging instructions for. The first and most common reason is because of a dead battery. When it won't start, try jiggling the key in the ignition. You know the usual. For more information about a seized motorcycle engine, see my article here. Webnews21 is all about lifestyle and entertainment. Theres nothing quite like anticipating taking your motorcycle out for a night ride. Those clicking noises can rapidly spoil someone's day. This website or its third-party tools process personal data.In case of sale of your personal information, you may opt out by using the link. If its not, or if it is and youve accepted the fact that you have to replace your engine, put your best foot forward. Unfortunately, we riders, do not carry any tools with us (usually). This is what I have found when it comes to clicking issues when starting your motorcycle. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 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. If the the starter still clicks, clean ALL the battery cables and try again. Yes, that means disconnecting the wires from one end and the other, then measuring the resistance of each one. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Unstabilized gas in a motorcycle can start going bad in about 30 days. Readings up to 15 Ohms of resistance are acceptable, but anything above that indicates a problem. Ford and Chrysler products usually have a relay in the circuit. Actually, unless the relay has a diode in it, it won't matter if the polarity is switched; the electromagnet will be energized regardless. Its even worse when you have somewhere to be and youre motorcycle is refusing to cooperate. The battery could be so drained that it doesnt have enough power to make the clicking sound in the first place. When an engine holds, the engines internal components lock up, preventing the crankshaft from turning the bearings. 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