Fast clicking when starter pressed

Derek

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Sep 15, 2020
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Round Rock, TX
Background: I just went through a couple months of awfulness trying to diagnose and fix my ABS brake failure (see thread Rear brake pedal frozen). I think I've got the ABS bypassed and everything back together and when I go to start the bike up I hit the starter button and get a fast clicking (like the battery is low). So I put it on the charger and try it the next day. Same deal. Put a voltage tester on the battery and it's full. I pull the right panel and check all of the fuses/connections/etc. I see nothing wrong.

What the heck, people? I bought this bike because it was allegedly the most reliable brand. Irony of ironies is my 03 Harley is running and my 12 Yamaha is not. What to do?
 

RCinNC

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Aug 30, 2014
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North Carolina
I'd take the battery to someplace like O'Reilly Auto and have them check it under load. It could test normally sitting in the bike and still be a bad battery. A good battery should be able to maintain a range of 9.5 volts to 10.5 volts under load for about 30 seconds.
 

cyclemike4

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Sep 18, 2016
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ky
Be sure to also check the cable connections on the starter solinoid. That is where some have issues including me one time.
 

Kurgan

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Dec 11, 2015
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SE Michigan
Is that the original battery in the bike? If so, 8 years is well past it's prime. I replaced my battery at 5 years as it was starting to crank more slowly and hold a full charge less reliably.
 

Tenman

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Dec 7, 2013
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Natchez Ms USA
Mine did the same once a year ago. I checked the solenoid connections. They looked fine and were tight. Loosened them and retightened them. Been good ever since
 

Derek

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Sep 15, 2020
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Round Rock, TX
I don't know where the solenoid is on this bike. On my Harley the starter and solenoid are one unit. On this one I only see the starter motor on top of the engine. Where is the solenoid? I've scoured the service manual and not only don't I see a solenoid, I don't see one referenced anywhere. All I see is the starter and the starter relay.
 

Derek

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Sep 15, 2020
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But the point may be moot because I've pretty much determined that the battery won't hold a charge and I've ordered a new one.
 

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
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Jun 20, 2015
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Ventura, CA
I don't know where the solenoid is on this bike. On my Harley the starter and solenoid are one unit. On this one I only see the starter motor on top of the engine. Where is the solenoid? I've scoured the service manual and not only don't I see a solenoid, I don't see one referenced anywhere. All I see is the starter and the starter relay.
The words “relay” and “solenoid” are being used interchangeably here. The technically correct term should be relay. Just follow the positive battery cable which leads straight to the starter relay. Loosen and re-tighten the nuts there. Sounds like you’ve found the problem already though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

Sierra1

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Nov 7, 2016
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Joshua TX
Mine did the same once a year ago. I checked the solenoid connections. They looked fine and were tight. Loosened them and retightened them. Been good ever since
Super thin layer of oxidization? Pretty weird.
 

Boris

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Dec 21, 2013
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midlands. UK
I don't know where the solenoid is on this bike. On my Harley the starter and solenoid are one unit. On this one I only see the starter motor on top of the engine. Where is the solenoid? I've scoured the service manual and not only don't I see a solenoid, I don't see one referenced anywhere. All I see is the starter and the starter relay.
529929E5-C171-4F9B-9B35-742906EE2C7E.jpeg
 

bimota

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Dec 10, 2017
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bridgend, Wales, UK
also,
the picture above that boris has put on, where he circled in blue the 2 connections to check ALSO pull that white plug next to them off and clean it well, mine was spotless to look at but when i pulled that white plug off the starter relay inside it was full of corrosion, i was getting the fast click click with a good battery, that plug was stopping it starting, just check it

rob
 

Sierra1

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Nov 7, 2016
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14,815
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Joshua TX
Whenever I take any electrical connection apart. . . . car or bike. . . . I put dielectric grease back in it when I reconnect. It's worked so far. Even my light bulbs; my '92 Jeep came from the factory that way. I think that may be what got me started.
 

OldRider

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Jun 7, 2013
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Western Kentucky
There was a discussion on here back in 13 about some S10s having a loose cable on the starter relay. When I checked mine on my then new S10 it was loose.
 
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