The bike has stood a while so I went to start it up, ended up flattening the battery. I tried to charge it and it was showing 12.65 volts.
I just connected it all up, and it won't start.
The lights work fine, as does horn, indicators etc, but when I hit the starter button, there's only a click from the junction box on top of the battery. It has 4 fuses in it and the click sounds like a relay, one click when I push the starter, one when I release?
i have two theorys now
1 The battery shows 12.65 volts, has enough amps in it to power the other bits, but not enough in it to power the starter motor.
2 Something else is broken
Any ideas?
Battery/starting issue
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- Posts: 15
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- My Bike: ZXR 400 Ninja
- Location: Manchester, Newcastle and Scarborough
Battery/starting issue
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- zxr400 oc member
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Re: Battery/starting issue
How long was it standing ?
How did you charge the battery like what type of charger ?
Sounds like the battery is..............toast
How did you charge the battery like what type of charger ?
Sounds like the battery is..............toast
- extonyg
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Re: Battery/starting issue
possibly starter relay as well although i would think more likely the battery............maybe check voltages too and from starter relay
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Re: Battery/starting issue
It's stood since sept but been started weelky but not ridden, so the battery has slowly been discharged. I used a proper bike charger to charge it, but it's not worked.
The relay in the junction box, the one with the 4 fuses that lives on top of the battery, is clicking when I push and when I let go of the starter button. Is that the starter relay? Which wires do i check voltages on and where?
I'm going to get some jump leads tomorrow and see if it turns over. If it does, it's the battery. If not, I need to find a trailer to get it to a repair shop.
The relay in the junction box, the one with the 4 fuses that lives on top of the battery, is clicking when I push and when I let go of the starter button. Is that the starter relay? Which wires do i check voltages on and where?
I'm going to get some jump leads tomorrow and see if it turns over. If it does, it's the battery. If not, I need to find a trailer to get it to a repair shop.
My toys.....


- extonyg
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Re: Battery/starting issue
the relay should have 12v to it and 12v going out of it to the starter (or what every battery voltage is pretty much).......the starter relay is the one with the 30 amp fuse on it, if this is the one you are hearing clicking.there is a test in the manual for testing this relay section 15-23 in electrical.
not that i would recommend it but you can bridge the relay to make sure the starter turns and this would prove that the relay is faulty.
not that i would recommend it but you can bridge the relay to make sure the starter turns and this would prove that the relay is faulty.
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- Posts: 15
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- Location: Manchester, Newcastle and Scarborough
Re: Battery/starting issue
Ah the round one on the left of the battery, no that's not clicking. There is a junction box with 3 10 amp fuses and one 15 amp fuse that sits on top of the battery. It's that that's clicking, no noise from anywhere else.
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- extonyg
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Re: Battery/starting issue
ye so i would be checking voltage and earth point for that relay.do you have ignition lights?
i think the earth point is bolted to the frame so might be worth cleaning and checking that.
i think the earth point is bolted to the frame so might be worth cleaning and checking that.
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Re: Battery/starting issue
Well, I've been out side and had a play. Thanks to all for the suggestions, it turns out it's this

It's the starter relay or solenoid. One terminal goes to the battery, the other to the starter. I bypassed it and after a few sparks and a melted bit of wire I used, it started fine. So I'll go order one and fit it in time for my test next friday.
Gonna be putting a thread in the north west about a ride out soon, but I digress.
On a side note, when I put the battery back on the focus, I notices something odd with the dials. The first few times I turned the ignition on, this happened....

but then it stopped. I thought it was way cool!

It's the starter relay or solenoid. One terminal goes to the battery, the other to the starter. I bypassed it and after a few sparks and a melted bit of wire I used, it started fine. So I'll go order one and fit it in time for my test next friday.
Gonna be putting a thread in the north west about a ride out soon, but I digress.
On a side note, when I put the battery back on the focus, I notices something odd with the dials. The first few times I turned the ignition on, this happened....

but then it stopped. I thought it was way cool!
My toys.....


- CaNsA
- zxr400 oc member
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Re: Battery/starting issue
loox like its trunning through some sort of self diagnostic program.
but yeah, sorta cool lol
but yeah, sorta cool lol
- extonyg
- zxr400 oc member
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Re: Battery/starting issue
ye thats starter relay, hopefully that fixes it