Engine died after about 5 minutes into a ride

[blueten]

I headed out for a ride today and the bike started as usual, about 2 minutes after started as I was waiting for a red light I noticed that the idle speed would drop for maybe three or four seconds to about 900 to 1000 rpm and then will come back to usual 1200-1300 rpm for three or four seconds, then back down for a few seconds and then back up for a few seconds. Also once I started after the light I revved the rpm to 4k-5k range and again I noticed a strange hesitation in the engine due to which the rpm wouldn't climb at a steady rate but will slow down for half a second and then will start to climb again. However the bike ran for about 4 to 5 miles and then as I was slowing down for a stop sign the engine shut off completely.

Now when I try to turn it on it comes on for a second and then shuts down immediately. About 2 or 3 times it even came on for maybe 3 or 4 seconds and rached about 3k to 4k rpm and then died off.

Has anyone experienced this before? Is there any chance to troubleshoot this myself or do I have to tow it to the dealer?

The only thing different about today is that there was a heavy thunder storm here yesterday while the bike was outside but I checked under the right panel and there doesn't seem to be any water in the wires, although I haven't checked all the fuses individually. But if it is coming on for a second before dying then I'm guessing it cannot be the fuses.

 

[Jlq1969]

Maybe, water got into the cavities of the left coils

 

[scott123007]

Is there any possibility you could have gotten water in your fuel?

 

[blueten]

In fuel it is very unlikely, in coils...can't say, I can check.

 

[HeliMark]

Is your bike a gen 1, and if so, have you had the last recall done.

 

[blueten]

It is a 2014 gen 2, non-ES, about 22k miles.

 

[HeliMark]

Just wanted to make sure. Like what was said, check the coils, water in the plug wells.

 

[Cycledude]

Just sitting out in the rain shouldn’t get the coils wet but I suppose anything is possible.

 

[Tenman]

Seems like It should still run with 1 or 2 bad coils. I left a plug wire off once and mine still ran.

 

[StefanOnHisS10]

“Waiting for @~TABASCO~ ”

He is our go to mechanic, you two will figure it out.

 

[Squibb]

Sounds more like fuel starvation to me. You need to check for codes; available through the dash on a 2014.

 

[patrickg450]

Sounds more like fuel starvation to me. You need to check for codes; available through the dash on a 2014.

yep fuel issue, you can tell by running the bike of starting fluid for 20 to 30 seconds. If it runs, you have it down to fuel, now that can be a few things but you will be on the right tack of t-shooting.

 

[OldRider]

Unhook the battery and give it a good charge. Hook it back up and see what happens.

 

[blueten]

@scott123007 you might be right, when I opened the fuel cap for a closer look there appears to be multiple droplets of water around the side of the gas cap so it does feel like water seeped into the tank.

@OldRider Charged the battery fully overnight and it is still doing the same thing.

Patrick and Squibb it felt like fuel issue to me as well but I was hearing the fuel pump working and wasn't sure why it would be having fuel issue. Now it makes sense.

My guess currently is that a little bit of water that got into the tank displaced the gas and sat at the bottom which got pumped by the fuel pump. So the bike ran for 4-5 minutes with the fuel that was already in the line but once water made its way it started to hesitate and then shut down.

So my question now is - since I have been trying to cycle the engine and I must have done it about 10 to 12 time yesterday cranking for about 3 to 5 seconds each and twice this morning, what and how much damage I could have caused. And also how could I get the water out of my fuel lines and cylinder if water in tank is indeed the culprit.

 

[blueten]

@patrickg450 I like that idea, I'm gonna try and search for how to use starter fluid but if you have any instructions or links please let me know, I've never done this before.

 

[Don in Lodi]

The multiple key cycles have been shown to be a direct precursor to the dreaded hard start. You may have multiple problems now.

 

[~TABASCO~]

I might add some sea-foam to the fuel tank and try and help chemically dry some of that water up and also good for the valves, Etc.... If you are currently having issues starting proceed with the 'hard start' technique.... Hold the throttle wide open and hit the start button for 10-15 seconds at a time until it starts. BE READY when it fires up because you have the throttle wide open and it will rev to the moon.... Let it idle in your drive way a bit and let the sea-foam work a little bit.. Let it run and rev it occasionally... If it dies, just re start it.

Probably unlikely, If you keep having issues with it, I might suggest just syphoning out the fuel and dumping in fresh fuel, you can have it fixed in about 10 minutes.

Recently I had a Tenere guy fill up at a station, he got only to the edge of the parking lot and it died. He tried and tried to re start it- no luck. He called me and I suggested we start with fuel, I syphoned it out and added fresh gas and it was up and running in no time. The amount of water in this guys tank was probably 60/40 mix.... Absolutely ridiculous... (this is an extreme case but same principle)

 

[patrickg450]

@patrickg450 I like that idea, I'm gonna try and search for how to use starter fluid but if you have any instructions or links please let me know, I've never done this before.

it will be hard with the tank where it is on the Tenere, you need to spray the starter fluid into the airbox (remove the filter) don't use a lot. a few quick sprays, then try to start. Go easy with the spray at first, add a bit more until she fires.....when it is running you have to add a spray to keep her running......2 or 3 small one should get you going for 10 seconds or so.....do it for 30 seconds (running) and yo have just eliminated everything but fuel to the identification process.......


good luck man, bet there are youtube vidz to show you on other cycles.

 

[blueten]

Turns out it indeed was water in the tank, I added a hose to the base of the fuel pump nozzle and turned on the fuel pump by putting the ignition in ON and what came out was a clear mixture of fuel and NOT fuel. So I emptied all the contents of the tank as Tabasco suggested, filled it with fresh fuel and some seafoam. And after craning the ignition for 8 to 10 seconds the bike came on at the second attempt.
Engine is coming on without any issue now. Hooray for that.

I can't tell if it is my paranoia or not but I am hearing some sort of noise which seems to be coming from near the cylinder, also, I never paid close attention so can't tell if it is something that was already there and I am just now paying more attention to it.
@~TABASCO~ Any potential long term effects of having watery fuel in my engine overnight? Initially the water was in the tank only for a day which only reached the engine when I took it out for ride yesterday but since yesterday it was in the cylinder as well.

**fingers crossed that the answer is no**

 

[blueten]

@patrickg450 thanks for that info, I'm sure I'll have to do that at some point to some bike.