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Engine stops randomly in the middle of running.

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by IkeO, Aug 18, 2009.

  1. IkeO

    IkeO Member

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    ive been racking my brain for a week now, i cannot figure out what is going on with my bike. so im hoping someone here could steer me in the right direction.

    THE SITUATION

    My bike was having this problem about 2 months ago where the bike would just shut off in the middle of a ride. I would be on the road and usually feel like a quick jolt like someone turned my Engine cut off switch off for a split second. the bike would run for like 3 more seconds. then i would lose all power and ignition. dead. pull over. then randomly whenever the bike felt like it. it would work again. i always knew when it would work becuase i could hear the click when i turned the key to on or put the engine cut off switch to on. then i could ride and maybe 1-2 minutes later (lately much sooner now) the bike would just die again.

    so now i cant even have the bike running for more than 10 seconds before it just dies. and when it dies the starter button is unresponsive.

    WHAT I WAS THINKING

    so i worked on it a bit. i took apart the right control cluster and cleaned and dielectric greesed the engine cut off switch. i tested with multimeter (on audio) and there is a current running through the switch so the switch does work. then i took apart the key switch. it was gunky so i cleaned it up and one of the contacts inside is really pitted and corroded so i cleaned it all up best as i could. greased it well (dialectric) and put it back together. no go. the only reason i dont think its the key switch is because when i turn the key to the ON position the rear running lights work. so obviously the key switch is making contact. but i guess its possible that the one that allows power to the ignition could be missing. but for some reason i really doubt this. and thats because after the bike just sits there. for 5 minutes or even sometimes as long as the next day. it always starts up. but then abruptly dies.

    if it dies. why does it start back up again. why doesnt it just stay dead. thats the question thats baffling me.

    Is there something else that would cut off an engine completely that im not thinking of? and why doesnt the starter engage for a while when it does cut off?
     
  2. helmet

    helmet Member

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    On 2 wheels... just lost my hat.
    if you want to track down if it's the ignition, test for resistance.
    in the bucket is a 3-wire connector that goes to the ignition. unhook that and hook your leads to it. I can remember which is which, but you should get resistance with the key in the on position on those wires.
    i have an extra 3 wire connector and plate that hooks to the ignition if you would like it. you can have it. PM me and I will send it your way. she isnt pretty, but does work. I will clean it up for you too.
     
  3. wizard

    wizard Active Member

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    If you had a known good pair of coils to swap out would be good.
    When the bike dies will it still turn over with the starter motor? if so when it dies whip out the plugs, lay them on the head, in the caps of course. & see if you have strong sparks, if so we shoud be looking at fuel.
     
  4. joshwxj

    joshwxj Member

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    I may be off, but does anyone else think this might be a ground wire problem? Once the ground on the battery, ignition and others i cant think of right now comes loose it will bounce around and give this type of randomness. Only when it settles and connects ground will it restart. Make sure to carry a voltmeter around on the next ride (id make it a short one) and test your ground circuits once it dies.
     
  5. schmuckaholic

    schmuckaholic Well-Known Member

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    I believe he said the starter was "unresponsive". I'll take that as a no.

    I'm no electric guru, but to me that actually sounds like the more likely candidate. We also had another user recently who had trouble with the connection to his off/run switch, although I think that a bad connection there would still allow his starter to crank. That is also why I'm not wanting to blame the TCI nor the sidestand relay.
     
  6. IkeO

    IkeO Member

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    ok heres another thing i tested.

    when the bike died. starter button will not work. tail lights are on. if i touch a screw driver to the two leads on the solenoid the starter does activate. my battery was really low when i did this so i couldnt tell if the bike would actually fire up this way. ill have to test to see if there is ignition using this bypass. that would help me determine where the problem is.

    the thing is though i tested the on/off switch and it seems to have no problem with a strong current through it.

    when the bike is dead, and starter button doesnt work, if it was the key switch, wouldnt touching a screwdriver to the solenoid not work? same goes for the on/off switch?

    joshwxj , you may be on to something here. anyone wanna give me a brief run through of how i check all of these grounds? never really done it before
     
  7. helmet

    helmet Member

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    On 2 wheels... just lost my hat.
    actually, in the absence of current anywhere, the solenoid will still trigger the starter because it is directly connected to the battery. the solenoid is just actuated by the starter button via the small wire connected to it.

    since you have current to the rear lights and can turn it over via the solenoid, I am going with the ignition switch.
    what is the voltage at the battery when this is happening? I would think a short would keep the rear lights from coming on.
     
  8. IkeO

    IkeO Member

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    but if it is the ignition switch. why would the rear lights come on? are they on a separate circuit in the key switch?
     
  9. helmet

    helmet Member

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    On 2 wheels... just lost my hat.
    mine does not light up the rear lights, but if I hit the key just right, my front lights but not my headlight will come on.
     
  10. RickCoMatic

    RickCoMatic Well-Known Member

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    If you still have an Original Fuse Panel ... I wouldn't do too much Troubleshooting until that old Fuse Panel was removed and replaced by a New One.

    The Clips in the OEM Fuse Panel are far, far beyond their Nuclear Half-Life Disintegration Point. Dead. Kuh-poot. Useless.

    Bikes with "Unknown Electrical Gremlins" that still have the Factory Fuse Panel are usually healed after the Fuse Panel is Cut-Out and a Fancy-Schmantzy New Fuse Panel put-in to control the Circuits.

    [​IMG]
     
  11. RiderXJ

    RiderXJ Member

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    I would check the battery condition and charging system. You said it has done it in the past. You were able to ride for a while. But it has gotten worse.(shorter run time) You probably HAD a strong battery. The charging system is not putting out enough volts to recharge the battery as needed ALL THE TIME!! Could explain why it sits for a while and your able to restart after the battery gets a small charge to fire it back up again but not for too long. It doesn't take very much to light up the rear tail light. You can light one up with a 9v. battery.
     
  12. zoooooot

    zoooooot Member

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    sounds like a stand switch to me
     
  13. stereomind

    stereomind Active Member

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    A faulty side stand switch would allow you to restart in neutral, and die as soon as you put it in gear.


    Just out of curiosity.. When this happens again, try wiggling the CDI connectors.
     
  14. Robert

    Robert Active Member

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    I would also suggest you look over your TCI circuit board for cracked connections. Thermal expansion will shut you down in a heartbeat.
     
  15. IkeO

    IkeO Member

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    i am almost positive this cant be it. when the bike dies it just instantly dies. like it goes from full running strong to off in a flash.

    also rick i have a modern blade style fuse box.

    gonna check the cdi connectors. see what happens.
     
  16. dinoracer

    dinoracer Member

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    Just curious but does this only happen when the bike is hot? After it has sat for an hour or two does it come back on or does it come on after a few minutes. If its after an hour or two check the pulse coils coming off of the left side of the crank. They will get old and heat cycled and will start to act like they are possessed. If you have a set that are known good try changing them out. If not then it might be a great idea to get to be buddies with xj riders in your area, or you can do like we all do..... EBAY!!!

    Sean
     
  17. IkeO

    IkeO Member

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    nah its pretty random and right now the bike wont run for more than 20 secs cold. starts up runs and then cuts off. then after some time i hear a "click" under the gas tank which lets me know that something connected again and it will start again. but even then it will die after 20 secs. rinse and repeat.
     
  18. helmet

    helmet Member

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    On 2 wheels... just lost my hat.
    gotta be the ignition switch. I would put money on it.
    did you check for resistance to the wires behind the headlight?
     
  19. XJDriver

    XJDriver Member

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    Its funny, I just had the same problem yesterday. I was leaving work and sitting at a stop in the parking lot, and the bike just shut off. No lights, no nothing. So I reset the key (off then on) and it fired right back up. Then I get to the stop light leaving the parking lot and the same thing. I banged on the right side cover and it came back to life. Needless to say I made it home and checked the battery. Both terminals were loose :/ I took the battery out, charged it and put it back, tightning the 2 terminals good and tight and havn't had a problem since. So having said that, I would check the battery terminals. even if they are a tiny bit loose it could cause the random shut offs.
     
  20. losifer

    losifer Member

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    Ditto this. My bike was alternating between well-behaved and tempermental. It'd go great for a day, the next it wouldn't start / randomly kill. Turned out to be loose battery terminals.

    It's often simpler than we imagine.
     
  21. IkeO

    IkeO Member

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    yes but when my bike dies. the rear running lights never turn off. so if the battery was disconnected they would be off. i am however charging and then reconnecting it anyways. anything is worth a try right now.
     

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