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My new BMW still won't start.
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 11:40 pm
by ColumbiaBMW
Hey everyone it's me again, I bought a 2003 R1150R with 16,000 miles on it, ran great for less than 500 and then quit running. I thought it was bad gas and tried some HEET, that didn't work, drained the gas tank, filled up with new gas (different station) and that didn't work. Any other suggestions? The problem started on a long ride, it just started sputtering out until it died, then wouldn't start. Now it will sometimes, almost randomly start, but idles EXTREMELY rough, and as soon as I twist the throttle it dies. If you put the "choke" on it will rev up a little, but then die when you let off of it. I can hear a belt squeaking somewhere also which I could never hear before. I have no idea, any suggestions would be great. Thanks everyone!
Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 1:35 am
by CycleRob
You need a capable mechanic who has an afternoon off, a box of tools and some test equipment.
Working backwards, the belt squeal is a loose belt on an alternator trying to charge a battery drained by too many starts in a short time period - - just like you were doing. Tighten the belt before it gets burned and damaged.
When you drained the fuel was there any water in it? Water in the fuel, when there's enough to cause a running problem, will fill up the fuel filter just over half full. There can be lots water more in the tank, possibly over 2 qts total. Even after you changed the fuel, it's still there in the filter, in the lines and within the fuel injector passageways. A bottle of dry gas may not be able to dissolve all of the possible 2 qts of water into the gas within the tank. Try another bottle of dry gas in the new fuel batch. Then crank the engine with at least 1/2 throttle.
Once the engine is running on the fast idle, use an inductive pickup timing lite to check each plugwire for spark energy while you roll on some throttle. Confirm that the strobe lite continues to flash without interruption. If the spark goes out when it stalls, you could have a relay, sidestand switch, hall sensor, fuse connection, battery terminal or fuel pump problem. Circuit and component tests after that will isolate the problem.
It sure sounds like lots of water in the fuel.
Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 5:42 am
by cutting
Sounds like eletrical issues to me.. but being this far away...**** knows, if you have little mechanical knowlege.. then take it to a bike doctor.
Ray
Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 5:44 am
by boxermania
I agree with CycleRob
If the tank is not full, I would lean the bike as much as possible to the left, you might consider some help with this maneuver, and then return to the upright position.
In the upright position start the bike with some throttle applied and once it catches hold it at 2000 rpm or so, but don't allow it to return to idle or it will kill. If the funky smell persists you very definitely have water in the fuel.
If the bike semi-runs, just take it out around your neighnorhood until it clears up. Adding some more dry gas might accelerate the process.
Persevere and you shall conquer......
