Total electrics failure

[yokohama]

Pointy naked 2004.
I'd done about 80 miles this morning, pulled into a garage and filled up.
Turned the ignition back on again, everything as normal. Zeroed the trip counter, put the sidestand up and was about to press the ignition and then the display flickered and everything died and it wouldn't re-start. No fuel pump priming, no clocks, no lights, no hazards, no horn ... nothing.
Main fuses and all the other fuses are OK. Battery is charged and reading 13.5 and the terminals are good but that's about as far as I go.
My knowledge of electrics is veeeery limited. Where should I start? (a quick search suggested kill switch first?)

[Bibio]

that description sounds like the classic green connector burning out.

[yokohama]

Ah, the legendary green connector...
What's the best way to get to it?

[Bibio]

there is no easy way. two ways:
airbox out and cut hands time.
under headstock shield out and cut hands time.

personally i dont mess about when doing it and just strip airbox, throttle bodies out then undo the alan bolt holding the bar for the three connectors then unclip the connector. once you have access you then cut the orange wire (usually) either side, strip back to good copper then bridge with another piece of suitable wire and spades/bullets. dont be tempted to 'guddle' about thinking you dont need to take this and that off as it makes the job much much harder, just strip things out till you have enough working space. should take about 3hrs.

its a PITA job.

[yokohama]

Thanks Bibio. That's next weekend sorted then. It sounds like loads of fun.

[yokohama]

Investigated further this morning.
The bike is still completely dead but the green connector looks fine to me and the leads going into it are sound.


I haven't a clue where to go or what to check next. Anyone?
Going back, the only thing I've done with the electrics recently is fit a new rear indicator bulb but I wouldn't have thought that would cause any problems.

[Bibio]

yup that connector is perfect.

check/change the main fuse on the starter relay and the battery terminals are tight. other than that i'm at a loss as there is very little that will cut all the power to the bike. try wiggling the ignition key.

do you have an alarm fitted?

[yokohama]

Nope, no alarm fitted. I've already squirted contact cleaner down the ignition and wiggled the key but no joy.
Will re-check the battery and have a look at the starter relay fuse.

Could it be a problem with the ignition contacts?

Is it worth greasing up that connector before I put it back?

[Bibio]

depending on the grease.

i 'grease' every connector i take apart but i would guess if it looks that clean after 12 years then up to you.

also check the main 'earth' cable from the battery to the engine block.

if the kill switch failed you would still get power to the clocks and such.

its all pointing to the ignition. if everything else is fine then i could be new ignition time.

[johnnyrod]

Do these things have some sort of immobiliser? It's hard to know where to start diagnosing without being there in front of it. Any wires chafed through round the headstock etc.? Can you trace the +12V from the battery to the ignition switch and onwards?