ZX12 starting problem

[Christo]

I've had my '00 ZX12 for about a year and are having a hot starting problem.
When commuting from home to work (35min) it starts just fine.
Its only on short runs that it sounds like it has a flat battery, that is
will crank for a second and then die. I notice that the clock needles reset
and the fuel guage goes out. A few days back I went for a quick trip to
the shops and same problem occurred trying to start it for the return journey.
Let it sit for around fiftenn minutes and it cranked sufficiently to restart.
Yet I get it home and it starts fine about six times in a row.
I have let it sit for weeks and starts fine.
Reckon it may just a battery? Any thoughts....

[robracer]

Sounds like your battery is stuffed, could be a cell or 2 have gone & there is no bringing them back

[Smitty]

as rob sez...battery or maybe a bad or suspect earth/starting circuit

out with the meter I reckon

[Gosling1]

Have you removed the battery to see if its the OEM one ? It probably is, and if thats the case - bin it before it leaves you stranded in Upper West Bumfuck Idaho......its had a good life and now needs to go to battery heaven.

[Christo]

I have a receipt attached to the owners manual dated March 2007, so its not the original battery.

[Christo]

Replaced the battery last night, and now turn the key, fuel pump primes all lights OK, hit the starter button, something goes clunk (solenoid?) and everything just goes dead.
Release the starter button and guages reset and power comes back on. Any ideas on where I should start with my fault finding?
Certainly sounds like a starter problem, but where? Cheers.

[smithy5]

I would be taking it to an auto electrician, could be the starter switch or in the wiring somewhere, with everything going dead as you say........

[Smitty]

Replaced the battery last night, and now turn the key, fuel pump primes all lights OK, hit the starter button, something goes clunk (solenoid?) and everything just goes dead.
Release the starter button and guages reset and power comes back on. Any ideas on where I should start with my fault finding?
Certainly sounds like a starter problem, but where? Cheers.

starter problem or starter solenoid I reckon
(or maybe starter gear pawl)...one for a auto sparkie or bike shop unfortunately

[Gosling1]

Replaced the battery last night, and now turn the key, fuel pump primes all lights OK, hit the starter button, something goes clunk (solenoid?) and everything just goes dead.
Release the starter button and guages reset and power comes back on. Any ideas on where I should start with my fault finding?
Certainly sounds like a starter problem, but where? Cheers.

thats almost the symptoms of a bad connection on the battery ?? either +ve or -ve - could be either.....check both. If they are both tight.....then you are up for a trip to a bike shop - auto sparkies who have bike experience may be OK, if it was me I would be taking it to a good kwakka dealer in your area first....

and a battery thats only a couple of years old......it *really* should be OK. The battery in the MFP12 is OEM, and its over 4 years old now and still going strong.....

Good luck with finding the problem - keep up updated on progress eh ?

[Supafrog]

Did this ever get resolved?

[seiko1]

Did this ever get resolved?

Yep he sold it.....two yr's ago

[Supafrog]

damnit!

That's takin' the easy way out! lol

[mick_dundee]

But has resolved the problem regardless..

[Christo]

Yes I did eventually resolve the problem, turns out it was a bad connection. Since then I have had no start problems.
And no I didn't sell it, I still have it. The only problem is I don't get to ride it as often as i would like.

[Supafrog]

Where in Perth are you? I am hillarys way... Let's take the 12's out for a run