No Power

[mrgeoff]

Hey, I'm a little confused what happened today...I started my 99CT and while it was warming up, I put on my jacket, helmet and gloves....Was idling just fine...I got on her and she was in Neutral, I put the kickstand up...and BAM...NO POWER...ALL went Dead...No Lights, horn, turn signals...Nothing...Checked battery volts and had 13.3v...no clicking when pushing the starter switch...Nothing...Wow, I was planning on riding it and she let me down...Three days ago I did a Desmog Mod and rebuilt my carbs...All went well...Been driving her and no problems...two tanks of gas and she was good...Now this happened...Makes you want to cry...Today I wanted to figure this out...Took seat and left and right rear panels off...Started with battery connections (good)...went to fuses (good)...went to starter relay 30a fuse (good)...the starter relay was next...found the wires fried...so I disconnected battery connections at battery...disconnected power connections at the relay...pried the small wire connections off the relay (destroyed the cover for those connections)...did a functional check with 12v to the relay...it was working...so I individually connected the wires to the relay and connected the battery...Now when I went to start the bike, I had lights and electrical power, but still won't start...starter switch seems to work, it cuts out the headlight and bright light indicator, but no start, no clicking relay, at least I have electrical power now...Need advise as to where to go from here...I plan on replacing starter relay ( I will have to figure out how to cover the wire connection since I have the cover burnt and broken)...What can I check now...??? And how do I check it...??? Thanks...Just sooo ticked right now...!!! Thanks...!!!

[Valker]

Hate to ask, but did you check the kill switch? DAMHIK

[The emperor has no clothes]

Did you check the dog bone fuse ? How about jumping across the relay contacts ?

[Leathel]

battery connections, earth connection, main fuse are the first things to check

[gordonv]

The circuited is;

ignition
kill switch
starter switch
kick stand
neutral switch
clutch lever

The bike started and ran. When did it die, what did you do? I take it the kick stand up, clutch lever in then into gear?

[mrgeoff]

I did check the kill switch...I also checked the Clutch sw. and the Main fuse 55a fuse...the kickstand I raised and lowered and the indicator light went off and on...still no starting, but still have power...the neutral indicator does go on and off when I put her into gear...so I'm figurin' they seem to work...I will take the start sw apart  tomorrow and see if that is ok...I think I can open up the headlight and check the start sw from there...!!! I hope it ain't the ICM module...can't seem to find many out there...But I am replacing the starter relay as soon as it gets here...!!!

[The emperor has no clothes]

I did check the kill switch...I also checked the Clutch sw. and the Main fuse 55a fuse...the kickstand I raised and lowered and the indicator light went off and on...still no starting, but still have power...the neutral indicator does go on and off when I put her into gear...so I'm figurin' they seem to work...I will take the start sw apart  tomorrow and see if that is ok...I think I can open up the headlight and check the start sw from there...!!! I hope it ain't the ICM module...can't seem to find many out there...But I am replacing the starter relay as soon as it gets here...!!!

Sounds like you've got things covered.  I'd put money on a dirty starter switch. There was a post a while back about bypassing it by jumping the terminals on the starter relay. Make sure you are in neutral though. 

[mrgeoff]

Thanks for all the suggestions...Makes me feel a little more confident...I'll check that starter sw. Meathead...!!!

[Hoodcounty]

Did you try cycling the ignition switch?
If your tip over switch got cranky, it will kill the bike.
Cycling the key resets it.
happened to me on my interstate once.

[mrgeoff]

Well, I checked the Ground from Battery to rear of engine...Good...Also checked Neutral Sw. ...there was continuity between the Gr/R wire and ground wire when in Neutral...and no continuity when in gear...I'm glad for that, didn't want to replace the sw.(seems a lot to do right now)...Tomorrow I will check the Starter Sw. and I want to check the Side Stand Sw....Any tricks on how to check the Side Stand Sw.??? That spring looks intimidating...Do I have to remove the Side Stand to get at the Sw.??? Is there a way to unplug the Sw. without removing the Sw.???
This is starting to drive me crazy(er)...!!!

[The emperor has no clothes]

Well, I checked the Ground from Battery to rear of engine...Good...Also checked Neutral Sw. ...there was continuity between the Gr/R wire and ground wire when in Neutral...and no continuity when in gear...I'm glad for that, didn't want to replace the sw.(seems a lot to do right now)...Tomorrow I will check the Starter Sw. and I want to check the Side Stand Sw....Any tricks on how to check the Side Stand Sw.??? That spring looks intimidating...Do I have to remove the Side Stand to get at the Sw.??? Is there a way to unplug the Sw. without removing the Sw.???
This is starting to drive me crazy(er)...!!!

Starter switch is the most common problem. I would start there first. Be careful not to lose the little spring.
http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/VSGPages/starterbutton.htm

[The emperor has no clothes]

As far as the side stand spring. You can put nickels or washers in between the layers of the spring to relieve the tension for removing it and installing it.

[mrgeoff]

Wow, thanks for the hint on the Side Stand spring...Makes a lot of sense...and I plan on cleaning the start sw. tomorrow...Just waiting on a new Starter Relay to get here...!!!

[..]

Be vewy vewy careful of the spring in the starter switch. It WILL boing into another dimension. Never to be seen again. Take the housing apart vewy vewy slowly.

[mrgeoff]

How would I go about jumping out the starter relay???...should I disconnect the 4 pin connector and place 12v on the two pins...???...I know to have the bike in Neutral...I will have her up on the jack too...!!!...???

[The emperor has no clothes]

How would I go about jumping out the starter relay???...should I disconnect the 4 pin connector and place 12v on the two pins...???...I know to have the bike in Neutral...I will have her up on the jack too...!!!...???

No, basically with your key on, bike in neutral, you are going to jump the contacts on the relay with a wrench or pliers. Preferably rubber handled. It`s a stopgap measure guys have used when they were stranded with a bad starter switch.

[mrgeoff]

Thanks...Yes, Rubber handles are highly recommended...!!!

[ArkyBubba]

I had my standard do this once. When I pulled the starter switch to check it, it was fried, plastic melted. So I would definitely check that. Also, I don't know if this is what you destroyed, but here is a link for it:

http://www.cycleterminal.com/solenoid-connectors.html

[mrgeoff]

Ok...Today I have checked the following...Ground (good)...Starter Sw. (good)(took apart and cleaned, wasn't fried)...Checked Neutral Sw.(good)...Checked Side Stand Sw.(good)...Checked Ignition Sw.(good)...Checked Kill Sw.(good)...Clutch Sw.(good)...Starter Relay (have to jump it to start the bike)(have one on order)...Hope that the Starter Relay fixes my problem...Don't know where to go from here...Stay tuned for the further adventures of "What Now"...!!!

[Valkrocket]

Side stand switch is loose or not closing the circuit when you raise it up.

[mrgeoff]

Side Stand Sw. makes and breaks when activated...Not the problem...Already checked...Thanks...!!!

[gordonv]

Hey, I'm a little confused what happened today...I started my 99CT and while it was warming up, I put on my jacket, helmet and gloves....Was idling just fine...I got on her and she was in Neutral, I put the kickstand up...and BAM...NO POWER...ALL went Dead...No Lights, horn, turn signals...

Sorry, but I'm still lost here.

The bike was running, put stand up, and bike stops. No amount of anything with get the bike to try to turn over?

Bike in neutral, stand down, clutch in, ignition on, kill switch off (running), press starter button, and? (nothing?).

[The emperor has no clothes]

I think with all you've done and checked, a new starter relay will cure your problems. 

[mrgeoff]

Gordon, When this first happened it was running...when I got on her and put the Side Stand up, ALL power was lost (no lights, no indicating lights, nothing)...then when I started to trouble shoot, I had Lights  and all but no starter relay clicking in...Really think getting that starter relay replaced will solve ,if not isolate the problem...Going to retrace all my steps again today...you know how that is...we just kind of overlook some things out of pure frustration. The Starter Relay had pretty well burnt connections too...!!! Thanks for the input...I will double check that Stand Sw...!!!

[Skinhead]

Take your battery to a parts store and have it load tested.