Crazy speedo/electrics - jetwash?

[ryanh1418]

Gave the SV a quick rinse with the jetwash this morning as it still had a good bit of Spain attached from our euro trip a couple of weeks ago. Literally a quick spray but when I took her out 6 hours later after about 30miles my speedo started jumping all over the place, so did the rev counter (no increase in actual revs though). Kept it steady for a bit but it carried on then the rest of the electrics started going crazy, fuel light, main beam, neutral all blipping on and off. Next thing it starts spluttering as if it had run out of petrol. I found a safe place to pull over and after a few seconds she cut out.

Started again OK (second attempt anyway) and limped 3 miles home but still had the intermitent spluttering.

I'm attributing this to the jetwash obviously but where would you suggest I start looking for problems and what should I look for? Guessing fuses?? I have searched previous posts but none seem to give the answer/result, just suggestions.

2000 Curvy SV650S-Y by the way.

Cheers people.

[vardypeeps]

Stater Relay Fuse/Connection is the usual suspect.
It's behind the right infill panel.

I had the same problem and it was a dodgy connection going into where the 30amp fuse is.
I found the loose/corroded wire and taped it in such a way that it stayed connected and all was fine.

[yorkie_chris]

Don't jetwash bikes. It's a stupid idea, it washes grease out of bearings, fills electrics with water etc.

I'd go with vardypeeps suggestion first, then look closer into the loom.

[andreis]

You know, you should also check your battery. I had something similar too (although I would take vardypeeps's advice first). The problem was the charging relay which left my battery dead. Obviously, I could not start it easily. After I had managed to, a mile or so later, it started chocking (not enough current to fire the spark plugs) and soon after, it died for one last time. When I was trying to start it, all the electrics would go haywire.

When I checked it, the battery was completely dead and the charging relay was no good. A real simple way to check if the battery is completely dead is trying to honk. If there's little or no power, you'll know

Right now, I'm waiting for a new relay (got a second hand one off a gsxr 600 for about 60 euros).. The battery took a couple of charges before she came back to life, but without the relay it would be the same problem all over again.

Hope it helps and good luck with it

[andreis]

Btw, I heard somewhere that the reason for the charging relay burning up is that there is not enough cooling available. The components inside (it's made up of 6 diodes and 3 src's) don't handle the high temperature, and hence the problem.

I would say that, having been on a long trip recently, you might have done away with it if you caught any heat waves..

Ok, I'll let the more experienced mechanics have their say :)

[yorkie_chris]

It's just a rubbish unit really, the honda ones don't suffer the same as the SV ones.

[ryanh1418]

forgot about this thread. turns out this was nothing to do with the water at all. the battery terminal had come loose - simple as that.