HARD START

[fredz43]

Re: Very hard starting today

I will email Yamaha and see what they have to say.

They will say that they have never heard of this issue.

 

[EricV]

Re: Very hard starting today

I washed the bike yesterday before seeing this thread. After wash, I rode her around the block. This morning, she refused to start. I cranked her over 3 or 4 times and then let her be and went about my business. Came back after lunch, tried again without any luck. I posted on several forums. Someone showed me this thread so I went out and ran the battery down cranking on her till she finally started. Man, that was some foul smelling stuff out the tail pipe. I had a multi meter on the battery while cranking. Went down to 9.6 volts. I stopped. Waited 10 seconds and then she started. Not sure what caused this issue. I will email Yamaha and see what they have to say.

Sorry you had the issue. What caused it was you not fully warming up the bike in the quick ride around the block, then shutting it down and leaving it sit for a day. Don't do that. Warm the bike up to at least 160F coolant temp before shutting down. Most likely the 9.6 v reading was while the headlights were still on. When you crank, then stop, but have the key switch still on, the headlights are on. Key off, back on, no headlights and a higher battery voltage, which was thankfully high enough to allow the bike to start.

If you have this happen again, immediately go to WOT or nearly so and keep cranking. It is more likely to start than after you have flooded it with repeated attempts.

 

[Oliv]

Re: Very hard starting today

I'm sorry to ask but as a non native english guy I have no idea what WOT does mean...

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Re: Very hard starting today

I'm sorry to ask but as a non native english guy I have no idea what WOT does mean...

Wide
Open
Throttle

 

[Oliv]

Re: Very hard starting today

Thanks!

 

[Bappo]

Re: Very hard starting today

Well the WOT procedure was needed today on my 2012 with 40k miles. Second time ever for me. I couldn't remember the process when it happened and then I DID remember this forum. Yea forum ::012:: I used the kill switch off, turn key on, kill switch on and start with WOT. Started up in about 4 seconds.

I hadn't started the bike for a few weeks and it was feeling lonely so went for a ride. After the fail to start of course.

 

[CW-Wilf]

Re: Very hard starting today

Having same problem for first time. 2012 with 40000km. Has run like a top until I arrived home from a weekend ride two weeks ago. Parked it and then a week later it wouldn't start. I didn't do any of the previous mentioned procedures like turning it on and shutting it off quickly and not letting it warm up. I always turn kill switch off when working on accessories. Thought it might be plugs and/or filter as both were ready to be changed. Trying the method where kill switch is off until bike is on and starting WOT. No luck so far but promising. I'm on second battery charge. Noticed that while cranking with that method the dash is flickering on and off, dash lights are flashing on and off also at random and the speedo is jumping up and down, also at random.
I'll try and solve it once. The second time it happens will be the day it goes for sale.

EDIT: 3 hours later. Charged battery again (3rd time) followed same procedure as above paragraph and got it started. Ran it to "fan on" temperature 105 deg C. Turned it off via kill switch and started it again no problem. I didn't allow fuel pump to come on either when starting again. I am going to always turn off by kill switch and only allow fuel pump when starting cold. Unfortunately cold weather on the way where I am so I may not get a pattern until spring.

 

[markjenn]

Re: Very hard starting today

Noticed that while cranking with that method the dash is flickering on and off, dash lights are flashing on and off also at random and the speedo is jumping up and down, also at random.

This sounds like battery going bad or loose battery connections. If you have the original battery in this bike, I'd replace it. Batteries are consumables.

- Mark

 

[CW-Wilf]

Re: Very hard starting today

Yes MarkJenn original battery. I wondered about that but it seems to charge OK within limits and holds the charge but I haven't gone further and tested under load. It's on the list.

 

[markjenn]

Re: Very hard starting today

Yes MarkJenn original battery. I wondered about that but it seems to charge OK within limits and holds the charge but I haven't gone further and tested under load. It's on the list.

Never found battery testers very reliable. (Example: Car is losing charge so go into shop and they load-test battery, pronounce it Okay, and recommend alternator replacement. I replace battery anyway. Problem immediately solved and fine for 60K+ more miles.) For a 4+ yo battery, I would just replace it; they're relatively cheap and easy to replace. Many owners replace them every few years regardless of whether the battery seems to be doing Okay. And with the S10's hard-start issue (which is aggravated by anything less than a fresh battery) it is a no-brainer to replace it now.

Tangentially, I'm not a believer that you get a significantly better battery by going name-brand (e.g., Yuasa) or boutique brand (e.g., Odyssey). I buy car batteries at Costco and motorcycle batteries online. Last time I replaced S10 battery for something like $45 to my door and battery worked fine for a couple years before I sold the bike. Dealers want something like $130. You do need to be sure you get an AGM due to battery's horizontal mounting.

Or you could go all high-tech and get one of the new lithium batteries and save some weight. But there are mixed reviews on long-term use, particularly in cold weather. Given the S10's starting issue, I'd stick to tried/true AGM as the bike originally shipped with.

- Mark

 

[AVGeek]

Re: Very hard starting today

To add on to what Mark said, here in the desert, we're lucky to get 2-3 years out of a battery. I had ridden up to Las Vegas, when mine finally gave up, and push starting it got old! I popped into the local Batteries Plus, and bought whatever they had as a factory replacement (although the first size they gave me was wrong, but since I was changing it right there in the parking lot, I simply walked in with the old battery, and got the correct one).

 

[EricV]

Re: Very hard starting today

If you decide to replace the battery, there is a heavier duty version with the same dimensions. When I replaced my battery I chose that option and it's noticeably better cranking. YTZ14s instead of YTZ12S. A bit more expensive, but worth it imho. Get a Yuasa or other high quality battery and you won't regret it.

 

[switchback]

Re: Very hard starting today

Well it finally happened to me. Battery went bad and tried to start a few times after charging. Have a brand new battery and won't start. Letting it sit for a day or two and will try again. Cold and snowy right now. Tried the kill switch and WOT to no avail. May need the fuse trick.

 

[Juan]

Re: Very hard starting today

I'm sure it will eventually start if you go through the procedures - which you seem to be doing. But only if there's gas in the tank

 

[whisperquiet]

Re: Very hard starting today

If you decide to replace the battery, there is a heavier duty version with the same dimensions. When I replaced my battery I chose that option and it's noticeably better cranking. YTZ14s instead of YTZ12S. A bit more expensive, but worth it imho. Get a Yuasa or other high quality battery and you won't regret it.

I did this also.....the YTZ14S is the exact same size as the OEM YTZ12S, but weighs about 8 oz more. The bike seems to start a little quicker.

 

[switchback]

Re: Very hard starting today

I replaced mine with the stronger version as well.

 

[spam16v]

Re: Very hard starting today

Anyone ever have a stall after long steady drive and then hard start? Pulled up to a red light, stalled, turned green, had to WOT restart and pulled over immediately as I needed water anyway and regroup. '14 base, 10k miles on day 4 of a 1600 mile trip almost home. Never an issue otherwise.

 

[RhodeTrip]

Re: Very hard starting today

So far I haven't had this happen but one thought I have is how many shut the bike off with the key and how many with the kill switch? I always have used the key; just wondering if that could be making a difference. Just a thought.
Jim

 

[switchback]

Re: Very hard starting today

This is beginning to piss me off. WOT, nothing, 3/4 nothing, ........... Third day of trying, about ready to drag it around with the ATV. Not happy. 20k miles and first problem I had, caused by a worn out battery. Pulled fuse resulting in a couple of burbles, try again, nothing.... Don't want to burn up the starter.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Re: Very hard starting today

Any warranty left?