Only starts sometimes

[Roidz]

Hi guys, long time lurker, but just signed up.

I own a 2007 K9 and it's been great, but I had it at a bike shop over the winter and I don't think they had a battery tender on it (which they told me they would). Anyway, when I went to pick it up they told me the alarm had been activated and they haven't been able to get it to start.

When I tried to start it the horn would beep and it wouldn't start either. I eventually got it to start by pushing the turn signals and I guess it deactivated the alarm (I didn't know it had an alarm to be honest, still don't know if it's an alarm really, but that's what they told me). Well I got the bike home and have had it on a battery tender in the garage since and it only starts once in a while. Most of the time it won't start.

It either:
a) horn honks as soon as I try to start it and won't even turn over.
b) turns over but won't start
c) or once every few days starts, but won't start again so I'm afraid to take it anyway in fear of getting stranded.

Could it just need a new battery? I'm hoping so. I haven't replaced the battery in the 5 years I've owned it. For the most part it's always been on a battery tender (except for this winter while it was at the shop).

Could it be the starter?

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[Mickeetwo]

Welcome aboard and I would start with a new battery. 5 years....its time for a new one

 

[Mickeetwo]

Also when the battery is weak and you try to start....it will make the horn beep and the lights flash.

 

[Roidz]

Thanks Alan. Also forgot to mention that the lights all work except for when I turn the 'brights' on the headlight just cuts off.

I'm assuming it's the battery, just confused because the battery tender shows it's at a full charge.

But if it's a bad battery a full charge might not be that great anyway.

 

[Mickeetwo]

Check the volts on the battery. Should be a least 12.8 and check the volts while trying to start it. They shouldn't drop below 12.5v. or 12.4v also you said when you hit the high bean the light goes out. Does the low beam come on or does the light shut off?

 

[Roidz]

The low beam comes on. It just cuts out when I switch it to the high beam.

 

[Th3InfamousI]

Hi guys, long time lurker, but just signed up.

I own a 2007 K9 and it's been great, but I had it at a bike shop over the winter and I don't think they had a battery tender on it (which they told me they would). Anyway, when I went to pick it up they told me the alarm had been activated and they haven't been able to get it to start.

Seriously, you came to pick it up after the winter and they couldn't get it to start? I've never stored a bike at a shop but I would assume its not that cheap and if I dropped it off running I would damn expect it to be running the day I come to pick it up. Sounds like you might need to find a new place to store it.

Mickeetwo has got everything - Start with a new battery and go from there sounds like your due anyways. Just make sure you get one big enough to turn over that big 117

 

[Roidz]

^^ I was thinking about selling it so I took it to St. George for the winter and it was sitting at a motorcycle shop. They said it wouldn't start because of the alarm??!! I dunno?

Thanks for the input guys. I'll start with a new battery and hopefully that fixes things.

 

[Roidz]

Is there an alarm on a 2007 K9? Or something to prevent the bike from starting? I guess I can search and not act like a newb :lol:

 

[Sven]

The low beam comes on. It just cuts out when I switch it to the high beam.

Sounds like a battery. It may say 12v for a few minutes, but to load test it is another story you be looking for amp hours. I think the hi beam was the load test? 'It cuts out when I switch to hi beam?' I think we have a winner. After 5 years? Not bad.

 

[Sven]

Yes, to turn off the alarm, tell the guys at that shop... To press the winker switch in> to deactivate the alarm. Then load test the battery. No wait, I got it. Tell them; 'To deactivate the alarm, install the tender like you said you would.' I think they owe you a battery... Pro rated.

 

[Roidz]

What's the winker switch?

I think they owe you a battery... Pro rated.

I agree

 

[Sven]

What's the winker switch?

Turn signal switch. We don't want the world to know how to deactivate an alarm so the bike fires back up... I'm naive of the bike's in's and out's, but if pressing a turn signal starts the bike... I wonder how much time they take to diagnose something else? Then, give you the explanation to it like the 'alarm winker.'

No, let me send alarm off to :loony: Land. Make sense? Nope, not to me! :roll:

 

[Roidz]

Turn signal switch. We don't want the world to know how to deactivate an alarm so the bike fires back up... I'm naive of the bike's in's and out's, but if pressing a turn signal starts the bike... I wonder how much time they take to diagnose something else? Then, give you the explanation to it like the 'alarm winker.'

No, let me send alarm off to :loony: Land. Make sense? Nope, not to me! :roll:

Clear as mud :lol:

The alarm must get activated each time I try to start it because I hit the turn signal and it deactivates it but then I try to start it again.....and horn honks again. :bang:

New battery it is, hopefully this weekend. :up:

 

[BigDogBro1]

These guys are yankin your chain my friend.........

The 2007 K9 did not come with any factory alarm system that I'm aware of.

You need to find out if your bike has an alarm installed or not to start with before you ask any more questions.

If it has an alarm installed it could be located between the battery box covers under the seat/battery box area. My brother has a Scorpion alarm installed and once in awhile the ALARM horn will beep when he starts the bike...it happens because the starter draws an extreme amount of battery current and causes the alarm to go into a wierd power-up reset. Some alarms will cut power but YOU need to know what your setup is or take it to a GOOD shop and pay to get it figured out.

Your headlight issue may be this....
The EHC monitors the headlight bulb high & low beam circuits for current draw. If the EHC sees no current flowing (burn't out filiment) in any of the bulb filiments when switched ON then the EHC will switch automatically to the OTHER filiment. If both are bad the High beam indicator flashes...I think. In SOME cases it's not a bad bulb but instead a bad bulb connection in the headlight bucket or harness. The bulb socket can get very HOT and melt causing an open circuit condition that looks like a burn't out bulb. If this happens, replace the socket with a HIGH HEAT CERAMIC socket ordered from the internet.

You need to search this forum to find answers to these common problems... use the search function. All the answers are out there already.

 

[WRabbit]

The alarm must get activated each time I try to start it because I hit the turn signal and it deactivates it but then I try to start it again.....and horn honks again.

Sven has a great sense of humor and is pulling your leg. Your bike probably doesn't have an alarm, definitely not one from the factory. The problems you list above are most likely caused a bad battery. A battery shop should be able to test it under load. I suggest replacing it and finding another shop to do business with.

 

[Roidz]

Thanks guys for your help. It definitely doesn't have an alarm then cause I bought it brand new and didn't have an alarm put on it.

 

[Brew]

I'm in agreement with the others, no factory alarms installed on our scoots! Sounds like a rouge battery to me...

 

[Roidz]

Just an update: I installed a new battery over the weekend and it starts just fine. I was relieved to find out it was just the battery causing the problems.

I also cleaned the air filter (just need to get a k&n one now to replace it with). Also, need to change the oil and then it's 'ride time'

 

[Roidz]

I thought I had this shit all figured out. So today I go to take my bike to work and it won't start, doesn't even try kicking over. Makes a weird honk. After a couple more tries it starts. I get half way to work and all lights shut off going 70 so I carefully pull over as the bike is shut off and the horn is blaring. I turn the key off and back on and it starts right up.

WTF?