Trouble starting- electrical problem

My 1986 Maxim XJ700 sometimes won't try to start when I push the starting button.

Engine on/off switch is on.

As you push the starting button the low fuel light glows like whenever you try to start it, but nothing else happens.

No starter crank noise, no relay noise, no noise at all.

If you continue holding the switch or press and release the switch (anywhere between 5 secs and a few minuets), the bike eventually just starts up great.

When it does start, its not a slow, difficult start but rather a quick normal sounding start that just all of the sudden happens after holding/tapping the switch. Its like you weren't even holding the switch before- it just cranks and starts great randomly when it wants to while you are pressing the switch.

Has anyone had this problem before? I'm assuming it's the starting relay, but I'm not sure. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Do you mean oil light?

Is the neutral light illuminated when it won't crank?

Have you tried starting it in this failed condition with the clutch pulled in and the side stand up?

Dirty, corroded contacts in any of the circuit paths are possibilities as well as defective components. If you listen carefully, you should hear the starter relay click when the key is turned on and the kill switch is set to run while the bike is in neutral. Or, put the side stand up with the key on and the kill switch set to run and pull the clutch in you should also hear the side stand relay click.

 

I think its both the oil light and the low fuel light, but I'll check.

Yes, the neutral light stays on and always works like it should.

I haven't tried starting in gear with the clutch pulled in yet, I'll do that next.

 

great... im going to stay on with this thread.. also having similiar issue with my 550. oil level light (red) turns on but nothing else happens. ... same scenario as what OP is describing.

 

I am also having this issue with 1985 xj700. Been left out in rain by previous owner so I assume it is corrosion issue. I can jump the starter and start the bike right up. The kill switch was corroded which is why there was no spark. (this is why I also bought the bike so cheap) I assume if the kill switch was bad then the rest of controls was also. Any hints would help me a lot as well.

 

Just tooting my own horn here but I fixed my issue because the little blue white wire needed to be connected to the pole that corresponds with the starter wire never backwards.

 

1. Never assume.
2. Start your own thread. Having the same symptoms does not mean that you have the same problem.

 

Sounds very much like the problem I've recently encountered : http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threa...-input-which-where-are-the-connections.71186/