Engine missing - check list?
 

OK, sent my steed off to the local bike shop for a quick fix as I was frustrated and had checked on J.W.'s suggestions.
Shop took a week to get new fuel filter as he thought i had an internal fuel leak in tank not giving fuel to engine. Bike was then ridden and still had rough idle and total cut outs at high rev's. Called yesterday to find out the main guy is out of town till Tuesday. not happy

History On return ride from Templeton with Central Coast triple Crown bike cut out once on freeway, (thought i was mistaken). Next ride, it cut out twice in 12 miles, ( odd), on return 12 miles cut out 10 times ( i got a problem).
No work had been done on bike for at least 500 miles prior. Checked plugs, snow white, ran a injector cleaner ( too much of) now missed at top end badly.
Ran fresh fuel no change. Checked sync with Brian (Exarkunone's ) tool not good
Once warmed up, idles rough and rev's move up and down centering at aprox. 1200. Misses on cruise and badly cut out's at high rev's.

What to check for as i don't have patience when i'm paying money for fix and will bring it home and taken it to the dealer hour and half away if i have to.

thanks Ingmar

So if I read this right, the engine will missfire and/or die when at high (4k+) rpms ?

I had a bad spark plug wire but it would only die at idle. Then again, it was only the insulator that was broken thus causing the occasional misfire. How old are the plug wires?

Hall effect sensor? Not sure the symptoms match up, but it's a very common failure item.

Plugs are dirt cheap and trivial to change, so if you haven't done it already, certainly pop new plugs into it.

- Mark

If your plugs are white you can almost guarantee that its a lack of fuel/too much air issue. Have you done anything that required disconnecting the battery lately? First thing I'd try would be to reset the computer. Switch on the bike and turn the throttle fully open twice then start it.

Try while its idling, spraying brake cleaner around your intake boots to check for leaks. If the idle zooms up then you've got yourself a leak. Its also possible that the O2 sensor has gone bad or that a wire to the fuel injector has been rubbed or cut. You can check to see if its sparking but considering the color of the plugs I'd say thats not your major problem right now.

Bad Coil.

Flash

I missed the part about the plugs being 'snow white'. They should have some coloration to them. It also sounds as if the problem is getting worse so that's indicative of a failure in a part or system that will eventually cause a no run sceario. I suppose that's better than tracing down a random occurance failure.

easy cheap things to check are unplug the O2 sensor and see what happens. Unplug one coil at a time and see if the problem becomes worse or no change after unplugging a coil. Next is I would replace all four spark plugs. If the problem still persists, the only money you have spent is on preventative maintenance and you have a good baseline to diagnose other issues such as bad wiring, potentially bad Hall/crank sensor, fuel pressure regulator/pump/injectors. You may be so far out of TB sync that its bucking too if you say carb sticks were way off the charts balance wise.

This isn't another case of badly seated throttle cables on the TBs is it? Have you checked them?

ingmar,
it does seem that you have had a layering of problems.
IMO do the visual check on the cables to make sure they are seating and then do as bobby says Disconnectiong plug wires caps or each coil one at a time could tell you a potiental wire cap or coil problem. I've had spark plug caps and a coil go out on me on the airhead.
Remember the bike got shaken when it got scratched, they don't like that.
jeff

put old plugs back in, no change, these have less than 2k on themhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1188012365.jpg

sync was good, nice tool Exarkunone
voltage was good
talked to Laser on chip, very helpful again, put stock in no good
reset computer, no change
did try running the bike in dark to look for sparking, and inspected closely boots and such, this does seen likely though

will unplug 02 sensor
will try unplug coil as suggested
plug leads and caps, interesting
fuel pump and regulator, how much for a K regulator?

thanks everyone - if my wayward mechanic doesn't solve Tuesday i'll bring home.

Ingmar,
I've an extra R regulator and an extra plug wire cap if you need them.
jeff

And I've got an Ohms meter although I seriously doubt this is an ignition problem.

Will you be around earily tomorrow morning, if so I'll stop by.
If your up for it I'll call first
jeff

when was the fuel filter last changed? Was it dieing on decel, i.e. letting the engine return to idle and it just died?

Those plugs look like a serious lean fuel problem. Just an idea -- maybe someone could loan Doubltailexit a Techlusion for a few days. It's a 10-minute, non-permanent hook-up, and it would tell him right a lot right away. Just have the unit set on the clock numbers recommended for his bike, and unscrew the O2 sensor. Is the bike running overly hot, i.e., do the valve covers get scalding hot? How do the exhaust pulses feel? They should be thumping your palms from a foot or so away.

Jeff, i'm home most of Saturday, (Ford, master cylinder, ant problem) bike is in SLO though. I do need to drive to SLO after 9am to pick up some stuff at Subaru dealer ( bought son a 08 WRX), could I pu regulator then?

Bigred mechanic changed fuel filter, engine at high rev's is like it's being turned off and on, at warm idle it can't find a happy place and also the idle is high, cold is normal.

Exarkunone, ohms was perfect, followed some information from Jeff. thank you

While the intentions are good, this is not a good course of action. There is a problem and a Techlusion will not fix this, but at best could only mask part of the issue yet resolve nothing. A bad O2 sensor is worse then no O2 sensor at all, so by unplugging it while not getting optimal mapping will richen it up a bit. If that doesn't cure it, at least you're in a limp/safe map for further testing with one variable out of the picture.

My honest opinion on the techlusion is I haven't been on a single boxer where the techlusion impressed me one little bit. If we get a bike in on trade with a techlusion, it comes off and gets filed in the junk bin. But that's just our experience with it. Too often self wrenchers resort to the techlusion to mask other issues such as improper or lack of maintenance.

Oh, didn't someone have an issue with a frayed wire on the ignition switch? Check up there too... one never knows.

Once all of the hard parts are diagnosed, that's the next step. Wiggle every connector and section of the wire harness you can find. Also a spray bottle of water can help work wonders as a last resort.

Im telling ya, from personal experience, a coil going bad will cause your symptoms. I'd check that first.

Flash

Ahh, i completely missed the fuel filter in the first post. Is it still the same fuel pump? Has the fuel pressure been checked at the injector(s)?

Wouldn't an ignition problem cause the plugs to be much more sooty? Although they could be like this due to the injector cleaner?

Problem Found - err solved

Got bike back from shop and also another chat with Jeff W. with his loaning some parts to switch out with. Scheduled a service with 2 hr away BMW shop for thursday.

This is a dual plug bike with no abs, so after looking over Jeff's single plug bike was ready to disable coil and run the list. First i had to get there so pull tank again and re examine the situation. With a fresh view decided to go back to basic's and removed my extra wiring for Stebel horn and also my HID unit I had installed between control box and coils. I had suspended it in the air in the space normally taken up by the ABS system, and while doing this had bunched up and zip tied all the wires also in this area. Checked all the wires for wear and connections finding no apparant problems.

Got done with getting back to all BMW basic's i decided to start it up, and

the odd problem is now gone. Runs to redline and idle's like a bike with a hot cam should. Most likely cause, my work in zip tieing in a tight bundle the stock BMW wiring and pulling a wiring from it's proper connection. Or HID unit was interfering because of it's close proximity to coil or Motronic Control Box, but good for first 500 miles? Now ready for track day on the 24th.

Thanks everyone for your imput, hard to save someone from their own work thou.

Look for postings for sale of HID low beam, accessories, and 04 Boxer Cup.

Glad to hear you were able to get it sorted out!

We must have a winner: I vote Sergio's guess was the closest.

When I first saw this thread titled "Engine Missing," I really wanted to reply back: "Did you check under the fuel tank. That's where I usually leave mine." But I decided to wait until you got it sorted out.

--Jim

It is so nice back running good.

With the Winner Sergio, we need a prize, i'll have to come up with something for the track day on the 24th. Are you signed up yet?