Mandatory recall coming: Hard start

[patrickg450]

talked to my dealer today, no recall based off my VIN.

 

[2112]

Sort of like Yamaha using the name Impact Blue for the Blue Tenere..

Let's hope they don't bring out a 'highside burgundy' ::007::

 

[RIVA]

"SHOOT THE MESSENGER" springs to mind. ::010::

 

[EricV]

talked to my dealer today, no recall based off my VIN.

Umm, check back next week.

 

[TXTenere]

talked to my dealer today, no recall based off my VIN.

No surprise there, as the supposed recall doesn't even get published until Feb 1.

 

[Bryce]

No surprise there, as the supposed recall doesn't even get published until Feb 1.

or maybe February 5th, since that's when the alleged recall notice says in reply #8 says the recall will start.
http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=18427.msg272159#msg272159

let's just say I'm somewhere between skeptically optimistic and not falling for it.
I don't deny that some had hard starts and some more than others and some never.
Things just don't add up to me, so we'll see what shakes out in early February.

 

[gaps]

Of course, if you have the higher capacity battery and experience a hard start situation, a fire may come sooner!

Again, perhaps the wire gauge is a bit less than is should be in this critical path. Resistance is heat. Wish I had time to measure the voltage drop....I'll bet a beer more copper would help here.

 

[gaps]

bullsheet on the hard start fire scenerio.

Wire fires happen, certainly this could have been one. Without a proper means of analysis you suggest someone lit their bike on fire and lied about it.....not cool.

 

[WJBertrand]

Again, perhaps the wire gauge is a bit less than is should be in this critical path. Resistance is heat. Wish I had time to measure the voltage drop....I'll bet a beer more copper would help here.

That may be true, but I don't see how an ECU change can address that, if indeed that's going to be the fix. I guess Yamaha could incorporate some kind of timer software into the ECU that would limit cranking time with a forced "cool off" period between attempts.

 

[Bryce]

Wire fires happen, certainly this could have been one. Without a proper means of analysis you suggest someone lit their bike on fire and lied about it.....not cool.

Right now, who knows what happened... OK, Yamaha might know.
We have one person that's said their bike burned up after a hard start condition. There are no pictures, police reports, insurance write ups, nothing other than this individuals word that it happened.
This same person has said that they were given a replacement bike by Yamaha. Once again, no pictures of said bike, so we are once again going of the faith of this individuals word.
This same person claims to be given inside info from a Yamaha engineer that a recall is coming. We got a blurb of text that looks like every other recall from the nhtsa.gov website with no campaign number. Faith in this one persons word.

I'm not calling anyone a liar or whatever, but like I said earlier, I'm skeptically optimistic. There does seem to be a hard start issue for some super teneres. I hope they find these bikes and owners a resolution.

I know if I had my. Ike burn up, and I had a camera on me (my phone would do) that I'd be getting pictures of the action... What else could I do and I figure it would be good for insurance or lawyers.
If Yamaha was going above and beyond to replace my bike (I consider a vehicle fire an insurance issue and they can find out if it was a defect and deal with it) I would be singing there praises and showing off pictures of my new 2016 bike... That is unless I had to sign a NDA, and in that case, I'd shut up about the incident. Since the OP is talking about it, we can conclude there was no NDA.

IMHO, things just don't add up, but we'll see what shakes out in a few weeks.

 

[fredz43]

That may be true, but I don't see how an ECU change can address that, if indeed that's going to be the fix. I guess Yamaha could incorporate some kind of timer software into the ECU that would limit cranking time with a forced "cool off" period between attempts.

There is a known problem that can result in a flooded condition if you interrupt a cold start sequence. Going to WOT can usually get the bike started after such a flooded condition. Excessive cranking at WOT in an effort to start the bike with a flooded condition can lead to overloaded electrical components or wiring. Reprogram the ECU to eliminate the bug that causes this flooded condition so that you can interrupt a cold start and not have a flooded condition ( just as I have been able to do with every other fuel injected vehicle that I have owned thru the years) and you eliminate the root cause.

Standing by..................

 

[Juan]

Am I imagining things?

I had only one Hard Start in the past, and I admit it was my fault (explained in another thread). To avoid an accidental Hard Start I got into the habit of not releasing the starter switch before the engine has properly kicked into life. This has worked well.

When starting a cold engine it is important not to turn the throttle at all as this could induce flooding. Recently, as an added precaution to avoid a Hard Start I ensure that I do not have my hand on the throttle when pressing the starter switch. This procedure seems to have improved starting and the engine kicks to life easier - or am I imagining things? Perhaps when I used to push the starter switch with my hand on the throttle, the thumb push used to rotate my hand on the throttle ever so slightly?

 

[Goldwing]

I just don't ride when its cold!!!!

::015::

::021::

 

[WJBertrand]

Am I imagining things?

I had only one Hard Start in the past, and I admit it was my fault (explained in another thread). To avoid an accidental Hard Start I got into the habit of not releasing the starter switch before the engine has properly kicked into life. This has worked well.

When starting a cold engine it is important not to turn the throttle at all as this could induce flooding. Recently, as an added precaution to avoid a Hard Start I ensure that I do not have my hand on the throttle when pressing the starter switch. This procedure seems to have improved starting and the engine kicks to life easier - or am I imagining things? Perhaps when I used to push the starter switch with my hand on the throttle, the thumb push used to rotate my hand on the throttle ever so slightly?

This reminds me of my old Yamaha XS750 Triple. I learned to not so much as breathe on the throttle when cold starting. If I did the battery would run flat before I could get it started. That bike still had a kick starter though, so I think the electric starting systems were less robust in those days. To really avoid cold start problems, if it were the first start of the day or after a few days, I used the kick start only.

 

[evanqueen]

Guys does disconnecting the battery reset the ECU.?

I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF MY FIRST HARD START ISSUE. TRIED THE WOT BUT NO SUCCESS, GOING TO PULL #4 fuse replace plugs and with plugs out and fuse out turn it over enough to dry out cylinder. Shoot a drop of starter fluid in replace plugs and fusehook to car battery as an aid and see if this fixes it. Any advice is more than welcome. Thanks in advance. By the way I have new gas that's for sure good in tank

 

[Dogdaze]

I have read lots on posts on this site, I still find it perplexing to say the least, I am at odds at how a FI engine gets flooded in the first place (I know it does) and to be honest I also find it unacceptable that today these failures happen, what if, God forbid, this happens out in the middle of nowhere.......................

 

[offcamber]

I am adopting a wait and see policy...... ::017::

 

[EricV]

Guys does disconnecting the battery reset the ECU.?

I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF MY FIRST HARD START ISSUE. TRIED THE WOT BUT NO SUCCESS, GOING TO PULL #4 fuse replace plugs and with plugs out and fuse out turn it over enough to dry out cylinder. Shoot a drop of starter fluid in replace plugs and fusehook to car battery as an aid and see if this fixes it. Any advice is more than welcome. Thanks in advance. By the way I have new gas that's for sure good in tank

Once you've encountered the hard start, the ECU is no longer part of the problem. Fuel has wet down the cylinder walls, reducing compression, and the plugs are fouled with fuel. I'd hesitate to use the starter fluid in the manner you are suggesting. It is not intended to be sprayed directly into the combustion chamber thru spark plug holes. Combustion is about the correct air/fuel ratio. Spraying starting fluid directly into the combustion chamber runs several risks, including creating the flooded condition again and contaminating your oil even more.

Crank it with the Fuel injection fuse out util it starts to pop, (this means the air part of the air/fuel ratio is getting back to normal), then put the fuse back in and return to 3/4 throttle and cranking, AFTER trying a normal start process first. Don't forget to rest between attempts, cranking only 10-20 seconds at a time and cycle the key off when you stop to shut the headlights off again. Kill switch off, key off, wait 30 seconds or more, key on, kill switch to run, crank the starter. The car battery is a good idea as it will avoid running down the bike battery, just use normal caution when jumping the two batteries together and during the un-hook stage to not ground anything improperly.

 

[Shovelhead]

I have read lots on posts on this site, I still find it perplexing to say the least, I am at odds at how a FI engine gets flooded in the first place (I know it does) and to be honest I also find it unacceptable that today these failures happen, what if, God forbid, this happens out in the middle of nowhere.......................

I absolutely agree.

What bothers me more than the thing actually being hard to start or not starting is a couple of the reasons that claim to cause it.
1) Don't run the engine for a "short" time and then kill it.
2) Don't turn the ignition on/off without running the engine.
In todays times that is total bullshit.

I've always been pretty anal about letting any engine warm up, from bikes to vehicles to tractors, boats, garden tillers, whatever. But....on a 2015 motorcycle you should be able turn the key on/off, and/or run the engine for less than a minute til the cows come home, with no implications, short of low battery voltage as a no start cause.

carry on ::26::

 

[KCW]

Re: Mandatory recall coming: Hard start

I have found some of the messages posted here, and especially a few PM's that I received very disheartening. As it relates to the private messages, I will say to everyone -- there is no need to be rude, or demeaning, simply because you're anonymous behind your computer screen. I have posted information in this thread and others with the intent of being helpful towards other Super Tenere owners; it's as simple as that. I really do not care of you believe me or don't believe me about whether my bike caught on fire, whether a recall is coming, etc. Time will prove my credibility, as the recall is set to be announced within a week.

In so far as the details I have shared are concerned, many details about my 2013 Super Tenere are covered by an NDA. No details about my 2016 are covered by an NDA, and I am free to discuss it. That said, I would like to clarify (and this is OK to share, per my NDA) my bike was NOT flashed at the time of the incident. It was previously flashed, and was subsequently restored to factory settings. Therefore, at the time of the demise of the motorcycle, it was considered to be unflashed.

Best of luck to all in getting this hard start situation rectified via the recall. I hope it's the answer so many have been looking for.