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Key Turns, Nothing Happens

36 posts Started 29 Mar 2014 Last recovered post 7 Apr 2014 Wayback Machine snapshot 30 Apr 2014

#1
Forgive the brevity, posting this from the phone in the garage..

Turn the key, nothing happens. Clock works, but no headlights, instruments, fuel pump, etc. Battery is good.

Pulled and reinstalled ignition module over the winter; bad connection. Getting no resistance on key ON. The female end of plug shows no circuit.

Moved to the red/green plug near the battery. Green male side shows no resistance. Red female side shows no circuit.

Ideas?
Sorry, all fuses are good too.
#2

main fuse?


#3

Real knee jerk reaction to this but I am sure you checked the fuses, battery connections and checked that your grounds are fresh. The main ground to the frame on the right can oxidize. "Battery is good"? when was it good?


#4
Yeah, fuses are all good. Battery was last used before winter, but was indoors on the trickle charger. Multimeter reads 12.7. Ground looks fine, but will continue to investigate there.
#5
Battery was last used before winter, but was indoors on the trickle charger.

I hear you guys had a harsh winter. Indoors house, or garage?  Load test it? :unsure:


#6

another thing. CLEAN your fuses. .. dirty blades can and will impede current :beer:


#7

One  of  the  interlocks  switches  side stand   or  run\stop  switch .


#8

Unfortunately I can't perform a load test on the battery, as I can't get a load to it, and the local AutoZones don't perform such a test on motorcycle batteries.  It was kept in the apartment.

I don't believe the side stand or kill switches are an issue, as the dashboard would still light up in that case.

The fuse connections looked good, but I'll pull them and clean anything that might need it.

The fact that I get a no-resistance circuit at the ignition module, but nothing after, has me most concerned.  Looks like the red/green plug connects to the starter, so I don't think that's an issue here.


#9
Can't stop thinking you missed a fuse that is out
#10

Cat-O'-Straphic battery failure.  I had it happen to me once. There is enough punch to work the clock but nothing else.  It happens.  In my case it happened in front of a Harley friend after just telling him I ride Asian because I don't trust Hogs.

Needless to say, the embarrassment factor was through the roof but he helped me get a new battery so I could get home.  I was 750 miles away at the time.


#11

I  thinkin  the  key  switch  now,  clean  it  with  WD40   ..


#12
Thanks guys. I'll check the fuses again, then off for a new battery.
Ah, missed page 2. Key switch looks good, getting a circuit when ON.
#13

Take a car  battery  and  jump  it,  just  dont  start  the  car  .....  It  will tell you if   its  the battery  .. 


#14
Key switch is showing a complete circuit.
Just checked fuses. All look good. Are there fuses not near the battery?
Tried jumping from car (off), no change.
#15

Not   the battery ..  The  plot  thickens   ...


Time  to  download  the  manual  and  start  checking  the  relays  ..  


#16

You said you 'don't believe' the sidestand will make a difference - have you tried sitting on the bike with it up?


#17
I'm on tapatalk so can't see what model your VFR is in your profile.

If it's a 6th gen there are fuses up the front rhs of the bike. To the right of the instrument panel. Have to remove small fairing panel to access.
#18
Sorry, 5th gen.
The side stand switch was removed by previous owner. I'll take a look at the circuit.
#19

the side stand would NOT stop the dash from lighting up. .


#20
So I'm seeing that all three of these circuits should complete with the key ON. How do I accurately test this?

Attached Images

  • [image: Screenshot_2014-03-30-14-18-28.png]

#21

do you have a test light/ probe ?

  clamp the neg post on the battery and start probing ! 1st the at the fuses.. as in getting power to the fuse.. have you check your GROUND wires yet?? i mean broken ground means no juice flowing..  

 pull your connections again.. are all the tangs straight? all the receivers in the right spot? nothing slipped or pushed out of the block? :comp13:


#22

Luckily for you, I have a very disassembled 5th gen in my garage atm.  If you want to check the ignition switch, you will have to move the front upper fairing away from the dash board and surround.  I have my dash and surround completely removed, but you do not need to go this far to access the connector.  Look for a whitish natural nylon plug with 3 wires coming in as shown below:

[image: 20140330 150002]
20140330 150002
Ignition switch connection

You will need to disconnect this connector and use a multimeter to probe the "blade" side of the connection.  With the key in the off or locked position, there should be no continuity between any of the wires.  I will PM you the information for the resistance between each of the pins as labelled below as this information can be very easily used to hotwire a vfr (not that it is difficult in any way, just don't want to publish where anyone can see it)

[image: 20140330 150145]
20140330 150145
Ignition switch pins

#23

Ah. Thanks, Mad Scientist!  I've removed and reinstalled the ignition module, so I'm intimately familiar with this connector.  When the key is in the ON position, I'm getting low ohm continuity between two of the plugs.  Perhaps one of the wires/connectors is in bad condition.  I'll investigate.  Considering this is the only change made since it last ran, I'm guessing this is the problem.  I'll post my findings.  Thanks!


#24

Ok, wasn't sure where you were in the circuit.  The important wire is the red/black wire (IGN) from the switch.  With a battery hooked up and the switch on, if you probe the hot side of the fuse box at the G, D, or C fuses, you should see batt voltage.  There are no relays between the ignition switch and the fuse box.

Edit - if you need me to measure continuity on anything to compare, let me know, I have access to nearly the whole harness right now.


#25

Noted.  I'll check this next.  Thanks.


#26

So after some help from the Mad Scientist, and some fiddling of my own, it turns out the ignition module cables cracked at a bend.

Cut the wires, soldered in replacements, heat shrink tubing, electrical tape, and some hot glue to cover the base.

It's a temporary solution (considering my soldering skills), but I'm getting steady readings.

I'll be installing the module this weekend, and will post back up after a few spirited rides this coming week.

Thanks for the help, all.

[image: 2014 04 04 20.16.40]
2014 04 04 20.16.40
Ignition module wiring refresh.

(The Eugene porter is stage right, off screen..)


#28

Wow  that's a first   !!!!

Agreed!! ..and here I was going to offer to ride over with my electrical tape and soldering gun tomorrow!


#29

Sorry, 5th gen.
The side stand switch was removed by previous owner. I'll take a look at the circuit.

I'm curious to know why someone would remove such a great safety device?
#30

Sidestand switch probably went bad.  Cheaper to remove it than fix it.


#31

Maybe his previous bikes were all Harleys.


#32

Sorry, 5th gen.
The side stand switch was removed by previous owner. I'll take a look at the circuit.

I'm curious to know why someone would remove such a great safety device?

It seems like a stupid added devise until you crash a bike because of the kickstand. BTW, I only came very close to doing just that.


#33

Sorry, 5th gen.
The side stand switch was removed by previous owner. I'll take a look at the circuit.

I'm curious to know why someone would remove such a great safety device?

It seems like a stupid added devise until you crash a bike because of the kickstand. BTW, I only came very close to doing just that.

I  have  seen  it  in  person,  at  a  bank  parking  lot  no  less.


#34

Sidestand switch probably went bad.  Cheaper to remove it than fix it.

Sometimes I don't even realized I've put the side stand up but it's very nice to have a device that will keep me from throwing myself into a ditch, a guardrail, rock wall, off a cliff. Surely salvage yard pars are plentiful. Dude has a motorcycle but he can't afford to maintain it? "As long as I've got enough money to put gas in it, I'll just keep riding it until the tires fall off. What's the worse that can happen?"
#35

I'm not saying it is a good excuse, but just the most likely one.  Can't think of anything else remotely likely, it doesn't really weigh much and it isn't in the way while performing usual maintenance.


#36

I don't know why people remove the side stand sensor, unless it is indeed broken.  But I've bought two bikes, and both have had the sensor removed.  I've had a couple butt-clenching moments because of that, but not recently.

At any rate, took the bike out to do some chores, and the little guy performed like a champ.  Onto the next problem area: mirrors..


End of thread · 36 posts recovered Wayback Machine snapshot 30 Apr 2014