Intermittent starting problems on pointy

Hi there,

I've had a look through past threads regarding the problem and the descriptions aren't quite same as the problem I have been having so I've created a new thread.

I've had the SV650 a few weeks now and I have noticed, on two occasions I have tried to start the bike in the morning, that although the starter seems to work, the engine doesn't seem to want to start. When I release the starter button, the FI light and the oil light in the LED display come on. Thinking it was the battery, I tried to rev the engine a little to jump it into life whilst pressing the starter button. It starts, the revs climb as I blipped the throttle and then it dies. Then the same lights come on.

The only thing that seems to make it start after this is to turn the ignition off, wait a while and then turn it back on.

Would anyone have an idea of what this might be? I have noticed that the gear changes, especially getting into neutral are quite sticky and the oil was changed 8 months ago by the last owner. The oil level is bang in the middle of the two indicators on the oil window so I don't think it's low on oil. Could it be that the oil is just old and not warm enough on cold starts? It rides fine after it gets started. Will try to change the oil this weekend to see if it helps but I want to check I am not damaging the bike in the meanwhile or that it is a problem with electronics etc....

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance...

[ophic]

does flicking the kill switch off then on again cure the problem?

Been out in the rain recently? Sounds a bit like it is only running on one...

@ophic : I haven't tried doing this. Are you suggesting I flick it on/off when I have the problem again, with the key still in the ignition ON position?

@simesb : I haven't ridden it in particularly wet weather. Are you suggesting it's only running on one cylinder? ouch! how come?

[ophic]

Originally Posted by Maverick9999

@ophic : I haven't tried doing this. Are you suggesting I flick it on/off when I have the problem again, with the key still in the ignition ON position?

@simesb : I haven't ridden it in particularly wet weather. Are you suggesting it's only running on one cylinder? ouch! how come?

Yeah that's what I mean.

I'd expect it to sound significantly different when it fires, if it was running on one cylinder.

I'll have a go next time the problem occurs. What's the theory behind this? That the cutoff switch resets the electronics?

Originally Posted by ophic

I'd expect it to sound significantly different when it fires, if it was running on one cylinder.

I missed the bit about it being fine once started When one one, you do hear the difference, but it also won't rev.

Strange .... ever had that ....

Urm ... is the starter motor spinning, and the engine not firing ?? or does it sound like the starter motor isn't giving it enough of a kick ??

I'd consider sticking the battery on to charge, just to check its giving it all the beans !!!

Other possibility is a little bit of dirt occasionally gets stuck somewhere .... possibly pulled through when it was run dry ??

The lights are natural ignition lights .... nothing to worry about there ....

From what I can tell, the starter sounds like it is working O.K. but I won't be able to tell if the battery is in a good state til I put a multimeter across it this weekend.

I presume I am starting it correctly? I turn the ignition on and wait for all the test lights to turn off and even wait for the low-volume whine, from what I presume is the fuel pump, to stop. Then pull in the clutch and press the ignition....

I hope it's not the start of a bigger problem developing

[ophic]

Originally Posted by Maverick9999

I'll have a go next time the problem occurs. What's the theory behind this? That the cutoff switch resets the electronics?

It has the same effect as turning off the ignition and turning it on again, in some cases. The switch can sometimes get dirty contacts, causing some odd starting problems.

Next stage would be to find out the fault code. Do you know how to rig up the dealer mode switch?