Complete electrical failure. K3
 

My K3 has had a complete electrical failure which has worried me somewhat. I switched her on yesterday afternoon with the intention of moving her out of the garage for a while. I pushed the starter button and the engine started to fire, then everything just blipped off. No ignition lights, no power anywhere and the alarm seems to be running under it's own power.

My guess is the main fuse, I checked the fuse box and it is not there, so I have consulted the Haynes manual and it says it located on the starter relay with a picture, so today I intend to find and check this one too. [-o<

I have never had an electrical problem like this before so am a little concerned, any tips on what I should be looking for as to a cause?

If the main fuse is fine, what else should I be looking at? :smt115

Re: Electrical failure
 

Have you had the battery disconnected?

If so, check the terminal bolts are good and tight - I've been caught with the same problem before.

Its probably worth checking anyway even if its been a while since the disconnect incase its worked loose.

Re: Electrical failure
 

Check fuse first, then examine the ignition switch connector for the commonly found duff terminal.

Re: Complete electrical failure. K3
 

The main fuse is fine, off to check connectors now. The battery terminals are fine and clean too. I am going to put a test meter on the battery and see what it is kicking out too. Not a happy bunny today. :-(

Thank you for the suggestions chaps. Sending hugs your way.

Re: Complete electrical failure. K3
 

Hi Jayne. Your bike and my bike seem to have similar problems at similar times!

At the minute mine is out of action due to reg/rec, (sounds like yours shouldn't be that) but if you check the simple things and they're OK it could be the green connector which caused my breakdown a couple of months ago. I hope it's not but at least once it's fixed it's fixed!

Re: Complete electrical failure. K3
 

Bribe Carol to fix it and while shes busy and distracted pinch her bike ;)

Re: Complete electrical failure. K3
 

Sorry mate, but a :) isn't really going to do it with that post.

thats much more of a "Mwhahahaha" comment

Re: Complete electrical failure. K3
 

Better?

http://s3.hubimg.com/u/5750166_f260.jpg

Mwhahahaha ;)

Re: Complete electrical failure. K3
 

Done! :mrgreen:

Starter solenoid has failed. Carol is going to check it, but I am pretty certain this is the cause.

Now a little review of Carol's ZRX1100!

Last time I tried Carol's bike it was frankly too heavy and did not need the throttle to pull away from the curb. Today I discovered what it can do and all I can say is that it is true, power corrupts! 1100CC of thumping power means that pulling away from the lights has just become that little more frantic. Riding it the same way as the SV caused a slight shock in third gear. Luckily, the brakes could stop a battle ship, so slowing me down was no problem!

Time to start looking at the SV1000 I thinks... :smt040

Although I wonder if I could just plumb the thou lump into Sylvie! Hmm... *wanders off to plot naughty things!*:smt115

Re: Complete electrical failure. K3
 

By the way, thank you every one for your comments and yes it is true, I did do as Geo suggested and take Carol's bike for a ride!

I checked all connections and they seemed fine, in the end I spoke to Carol and my mates Dave next door and Steve at the garage, all suggested getting the test meter into the bits and this is how I found that the fused solenoid was not allowing any current to flow. I will get Carol to check this, just to confirm if I am wrong or right.