I could use some help...

T.C.L. · 03-28-2008, 10:09 PM

Hello friends.

Last week, I installed an HID low beam, LED tail light, and the Ztechnik exhaust.

I love the light, viability, performance, and sound...

...but now my S is having a hard time starting...well, cold starts at least.

My assumption is that this is an ail/fuel issue, due to the exhaust.

How can I fix this?

wswartzwel · 03-29-2008, 06:01 AM

How old is the Battery?

T.C.L. · 03-29-2008, 08:02 AM

Ah...I didn't think of that...

I will have to check.

varmint · 03-29-2008, 08:14 AM

are the ABS lights acting weird?

ckcarr · ckcarr's Garage

Probably a 1999 with original battery..

T.C.L. · 03-29-2008, 09:07 AM

There have been a few times when the ABS lights flicker on back and forth...typically, I just turn the bike off (key), turn it back on and start it and the lights will act normally...

Would it really be the battery though...? I mean, when I go to start the bike, it will turn over, run for a few seconds, albeit very rough (low, low RPM...like it is starved for fuel) then it dies. This process repeats 2 or 3 times before it will run well.

When the bike has been sitting for a while, like say overnight or when I have been at work all day, I am starting it with the choke on, but not pulled all the way up...I am finding, however, that I actually have to stand there for 10secs or so with the choke ALL the way up in order for the bike to get to idle...

Flatbutt1 · 03-29-2008, 09:29 AM

hmmmm...vacuum leak?

T.C.L. · 03-29-2008, 09:38 AM

Crap...

wswartzwel · 03-29-2008, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.C.L.

Would it really be the battery though...? I mean, when I go to start the bike, it will turn over, run for a few seconds, albeit very rough (low, low RPM...like it is starved for fuel) then it dies. This process repeats 2 or 3 times before it will run well.

.

That is different from what I understood from your first post.... You said it was difficult to start cold... I thought you meant NOT starting... Starting then dying could be lean condition... a chip to match the pipes might help.. But at Idle the amount of air flowing through the mufflers should not be enough, that a free-er flowing pipe should have significant impact on air fuel ratios...

Pull the plugs and and lets look at them. Pictures.

RBMann · 03-29-2008, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.C.L.

When the bike has been sitting for a while, like say overnight or when I have been at work all day, I am starting it with the choke on, but not pulled all the way up...I am finding, however, that I actually have to stand there for 10secs or so with the choke ALL the way up in order for the bike to get to idle...

Remember, it is not a choke but just a fast idle speed lever. It does not affect mixture.

RB

R111S · R111S's Garage

Did you by chance damage (over twist) the wires going to the O2 Sensor during the Z-Technik install? I have the Z-T Pipe and no Chip and it runs well. I do have a K&N OEM Replacement Air Filter but I don't imagine it makes much difference.

ckcarr · ckcarr's Garage

I never needed a chip with my Ztechnik. i don't think it creates that lean of a condition. It's just something stupid...

T.C.L. · 03-30-2008, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

That is different from what I understood from your first post.... You said it was difficult to start cold... I thought you meant NOT starting... Starting then dying could be lean condition... a chip to match the pipes might help.. But at Idle the amount of air flowing through the mufflers should not be enough, that a free-er flowing pipe should have significant impact on air fuel ratios...

Pull the plugs and and lets look at them. Pictures.

Okay, I will. Pics too.

T.C.L. · 03-30-2008, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RBMann

Remember, it is not a choke but just a fast idle speed lever. It does not affect mixture.

RB

Gotcha. Thanks...

T.C.L. · 03-30-2008, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R111S

Did you by chance damage (over twist) the wires going to the O2 Sensor during the Z-Technik install? I have the Z-T Pipe and no Chip and it runs well. I do have a K&N OEM Replacement Air Filter but I don't imagine it makes much difference.

I thought about that. I did reverse twist the wires before I screwed it is though...guess I can undo it and try it again...

squall_line · 03-31-2008, 11:23 AM

If it's a '99, the fast idle cable could very well be stretched, too. I know that my fast idle lever doesn't change the idle speed until it's pulled past its first stop, so it takes a little coaxing to get my bike to stay running in the first 10-15 seconds when it's below 40* F. I can leave my fast idle lever on and not actually affect the idle. I should probably check it this spring when I pull the bike out of storage.

Next time you have your bike running for a while, pull the fast idle lever up to the first stop and see if the idle speed changes. If not, you should probably look at the cable. I don't know if it's servicable or just a replacement.

T.C.L. · 03-31-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squall_line

If it's a '99, the fast idle cable could very well be stretched, too. I know that my fast idle lever doesn't change the idle speed until it's pulled past its first stop, so it takes a little coaxing to get my bike to stay running in the first 10-15 seconds when it's below 40* F. I can leave my fast idle lever on and not actually affect the idle. I should probably check it this spring when I pull the bike out of storage.

Next time you have your bike running for a while, pull the fast idle lever up to the first stop and see if the idle speed changes. If not, you should probably look at the cable. I don't know if it's servicable or just a replacement.

This sounds very similar to my situation. It has been in the high 30s/low 40s the last few weeks here in the early AM (I usually mount up and head out at/around 0645/0700...

The only variance to your scenario, again, is that [often times] this will happen even at mid-day when the temp has come up a bit...(but the bike has been sitting for 4-6 hours since I rode to work....)

By accident, I rode home this evening with the FIL in the up/1st position...when I got off the freeway, I was idling at about 2000, maybe a bit higher!!!

Would an air leak in the exhaust be causing this by chance? I only ask because I am starting to get some "poping" when I roll off the throttle...not a loud back-fire, per say, but definitely something not normal...I am underthe impression that this is [most likely] caused by an air leak somewhere in the exhaust sys...

Sorry guys, I am still new to this (just over 3k mi put on the S since I have had it, total of 19k on the bike itself) and am trying to learn as fast as I can. I truly appreciate your feedback.

Guest24 · 03-31-2008, 07:35 PM

After the engine is warmed up, which it was, 2k on the revs with the FIL up 1 sounds about normal.

T.C.L. · 05-10-2008, 02:52 PM

Back to the HID...

I just noticed today that my HID (low beam) is not staying on...

When I click on the key, the bulb turns on...

Start the motor...bulb is still on...

but at some point while riding, the bulb shuts off...(no, I do not have a manual low-beam switch...)

This has happened at least twice today...

Any thoughts?

R111S · R111S's Garage

Intermittent electrical issues are tedious and time consuming to chase down...Get a VOM and start checking Continuity from beginning to end...hopefully something will turn up.