Wierd problem with 5th gen VFR

[silverbullet132]

Rode fine for about 8km, got to a red light, died. Tried to start and only got a click from under the seat. Pushed it off the road onto the sidewalk, waited a few minutes, clicked the starter again and it started idled and revved fine. As soon as I moved it about 5 feet and got ready to get on the road it died again. MotoLimo towed it home for me, when I got home I hooked it up to a multimeter which read 17.5-18.3v with the bike turned off. While cranking the starter it would drop to 15 then go back up to 17.5-18.3v. Hoping that my multimeter is not broken, ideas?

[djltoronto]

Rode fine for about 8km, got to a red light, died. Tried to start and only got a click from under the seat. Pushed it off the road onto the sidewalk, waited a few minutes, clicked the starter again and it started idled and revved fine. As soon as I moved it about 5 feet and got ready to get on the road it died again. MotoLimo towed it home for me, when I got home I hooked it up to a multimeter which read 17.5-18.3v with the bike turned off. While cranking the starter it would drop to 15 then go back up to 17.5-18.3v. Hoping that my multimeter is not broken, ideas?

your multi-meter must be busted - cause 15 volts while cranking is not right (neither is 18 when bike is off).

[gamma1]

Common problem with all VFR's....Regulator/rectifier...

Read this thread. It will help you out.

http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforum...rical-Problems

[silverbullet132]

Common problem with all VFR's....Regulator/rectifier...

Read this thread. It will help you out.

http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforum...rical-Problems

Thanks, will check that out. Will also try multiple multi-meters. Any chance it is the tipover sensor? As it did start again after sitting for a few minutes. What about the dying after moving a few feet? Would that all be the rectifier?

[Rob MacLennan]

Replace the battery in your meter. Low battery could potentially give high readings.

IIRC the '99 VFR got a bigger heat sink, for the reg/rec.

[silverbullet132]

Replace the battery in your meter. Low battery could potentially give high readings.

IIRC the '99 VFR got a bigger heat sink, for the reg/rec.

Sounds like a good idea...tried another meter and it read 19.5-20.5v. How much does a R/R typically go for? $150?

[silverbullet132]

Pictures of some connectors mechanic found, also narrowed problem down to the running light circuit




*the cut small green wire was done by him, to ground that circuit elsewhere to see if that solved it*

[VFR.CBR]

I've had problems with those ground consolidation points (big orange connector) on other bikes, but yours doesn't look bad at all.
I don't "see" any problems in your pictures. Did the mechanic find (and solve) the problem?

[silverbullet132]

I've had problems with those ground consolidation points (big orange connector) on other bikes, but yours doesn't look bad at all.
I don't "see" any problems in your pictures. Did the mechanic find (and solve) the problem?

The problem is somewhere in the circuit for the running lights, because as soon as any light is plugged into those sockets and turns on (the running light) it goes from 14.6v charging to 15v.

[VFR.CBR]

The problem is somewhere in the circuit for the running lights, because as soon as any light is plugged into those sockets and turns on (the running light) it goes from 14.6v charging to 15v.

That is a significant clue.
The problem is not in the lighting circuit. The problem is in the common ground. My guess would be that the ground has failed in another circuit and is grounding through the lighting circuit and that ground is overloaded. That orange connector you have could be the problem; check the Voltage at each pin with power on (use mV range) should be less that 100 mV (to battery -ve). If the Voltages are unequal, there is a problem in the connector. If the Voltages are high, but equal took towards the frame ground.

[silverbullet132]

That is a significant clue.
The problem is not in the lighting circuit. The problem is in the common ground. My guess would be that the ground has failed in another circuit and is grounding through the lighting circuit and that ground is overloaded. That orange connector you have could be the problem; check the Voltage at each pin with power on (use mV range) should be less that 100 mV (to battery -ve). If the Voltages are unequal, there is a problem in the connector. If the Voltages are high, but equal took towards the frame ground.

Left him a message asking him to check that, thanks hopefully that fixes it, this bike has been out of commission WAY too long

[silverbullet132]

It has been to two shops, rossy toes told me they could not fix it. Brought it home tried a few things, then towed it to the current shop where it has been since October-Ish. The wire harness has also not been swapped yet.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

[DaFrEnCh-TiCkLeR]

God d*** man, It's amazing you still have hair on your head I would of lost it all by now lol

My guess is it's in the wiring harness. I mean you have way to many here and there problems. my guess is you cant notice it and it's shorting somewhere. like if it would only do one thing it would be simple but you have so many weird little issues that it's got to be in the harness somewhere.

make sure you stick a new set of plugs in when you try starting it after just in case it fouled them again. Running rich as it's dissadvantage lol

[silverbullet132]

God d*** man, It's amazing you still have hair on your head I would of lost it all by now lol

My guess is it's in the wiring harness. I mean you have way to many here and there problems. my guess is you cant notice it and it's shorting somewhere. like if it would only do one thing it would be simple but you have so many weird little issues that it's got to be in the harness somewhere.

make sure you stick a new set of plugs in when you try starting it after just in case it fouled them again. Running rich as it's dissadvantage lol

The plugs in it are pretty recent, so hopefully they did not get ruined again haha. Right now the issue is it overcharges when bulbs are plugged in to the running light circuit, will update if issue is still there once the stator is replaced.

[silverbullet132]

Stator replaced but he now discovered the cover had been well messed up by the last owner. Found weld fixup spots, and I think caulking too. Told me when he replaced the stator it was hitting off of the flywheel rotor? Ordering a new OEM cover/gasket tonight/tomorrow.

[silverbullet132]

Cover replaced, waiting for final word Hopefully this bike has been fixed...