Complete electrical failure.

Right,

So I had my 2004 SV going nice and smoothly and was actually looking forward to the MOT (already had new tyres, new battery, everything good) and wasn't expecting any upset. Then one day I stopped at side of road to say hey to a mate, engine off, 2mins later turned the key aaaaaand nothing. Not a glimmer on the display, no lights, no fuel pump, nada. Had to push her home, very embarrassing.

So problem was I then went away two weeks later for a few months and she's been sat alone in a garage doing nothing (work is a b*tch ey?) and now I've returned. Have removed fuel tank, seat, fairings, and front all to have a good look at her - I'm thinking electrics - defo not battery as have tested it and its fine.

Was having problems with ignition barrel (i.e. where key turns) and a little temperamental so might be the problem? Should i just run a volt-meter up and down until I find a fault - how do I do this? If not where do you think I should start looking?

As said, turning the key does nothing. Thanks in advance guys!

Did you have the battery checked BEFORE the failure or after ?

Sounds like something near to the battery for me - either connection to the terminals loose, bad earth from the battery, main fuse, or similar - just my opinion, but I'll be the first to say I know nowt about lectrics !

Oh, and also check the joint between CABLE and the terminal connector at the end of the cables ... had this on a Mini years ago !

[Sid Squid]

Seeing as you're getting no electrics at all, the problem is very likely confined to a small amount of circuitry and/or parts.

1. The battery and postive cable from it to the solenoid.
2. The main fuse and holder, (the starter solenoid contains both)
3. The wire and connectors from solenoid to ignition switch.
4. The wire and connectors from ignition switch back into the loom.

If you're certain of the battery and main fuse, then the first place I'd look is the multi connector that sits between the loom and ignition switch* - a number of these have proven to be a problem causing exactly the fault you're experiencing.

*On your bike this is, (from memory!), a green four pin connector found behind the headstock, just in front of the airbox.

Ok brill.. so I will get onto checking them in the morning.

Is this something I check with running a volt meter over it with the battery connected? Or is it going to be a case of taking things off, cleaning and checking and putting back together again?

Battery has been checked since the fault and is fine (plus its fairly new), and have checked all the main fuses under the seat. I will go and check the multi connector as soon as I can, failing that will check all cables through solenoid .. is there any way of checking if the ignition barrel is registering I've turned the key?

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by Tian

have checked all the main fuses under the seat.

Just to clarify: The main fuse is not in the fuse box under the seat, it's on the starter solenoid, behind the right hand panel.

Originally Posted by Tian

Is this something I check with running a volt meter over it with the battery connected? Or is it going to be a case of taking things off, cleaning and checking and putting back together again?

Best way is lift the tank, locate the relevant connector, unplug it and use the Mark-One-Eyeball-Method on both sides, if it looks clean and undamaged it probably is, while you're there you could check the ignition switch for continuity, and that the loom side of the plug is live, if it isn't then the fault is obviously further back - battery/connections/battery cable/main fuse/holder/four pin plug on solenoid/wire to ignition switch connector.

Yeah sorry, have indeed checked main fuse.

Ok will take a good look and check the solenoid too, if I can't find anything wrong I will take pictures and upload them on here tomorrow morning.

And thank you for the title change, little more specific.

[Shawthing]

As SidSquid says:
Likely to be this:-
http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=168184
Not infrequent fault.

I had exact same issue on my K3S after 25K miles - turn ignition and no electrics. It was a burned out connection in the green, multi-connector located behind the head stock (as suggested above). The damage was not visible until I pulled the connector apart. Inside a crsipy, black mess around one pin. Shawthing's link above explains how to fix this (by-pass the burned out connection).

When I did this it was a whole lot easier with access from above AND below. To do this on a K3S: (a) lift the fuel tank then displace the air box - no need to disconnect air box electrics - to gain access from the top. (b) disconnect the horn, radiator fixing bolts, move the radiator forward and remove plastic baffle on underside of head stock to gain access from the bottom. The green connector sits firmly on a lug and needs to be pushed up to free it.

I 'replaced' the connection with a bullet connector, soldered the others then shrink-wrapped all new connections to keep out water.

[Geodude]

Did you get this sorted Tian?

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

*On your bike this is, (from memory!), a green four pin connector found behind the headstock, just in front of the airbox.

Yup.

And obviously for something which has the combination of being vital and unreliable in equal measure, it's a right C**T to get at!