Damn bike is already givin me grief already

Dr Nick · Post by **Dr Nick** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:32 am

Went for a scoot today on the new steed, had it for a grand total of like 3 days. Brilliant run up mac pass, started heading down kangaroo valley. Coming into a right 25ker the bike just stopped. No noises or anything, just stopped. Now i 'might' have accidently flicked the kill switch when blipping the throttle on the downshift, but i dont think so. Anyway rolled down the hill a bit, pulled over to the side and tried to hit the starter. Nothing. Hoped off and the worst thing happened, it fell over. Bloody stand sunk into the dirt/gravel. Lucky i got oggys so only a few scratches on the LHS engine cover. Still pissed though. Anyway turned the key off, then back on and she fired up again no probs. Any ideas?

I-K · Post by **I-K** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:49 am

When it cut out, was it just the engine, or did the instruments go blank, too?

Check the clutch and sidestand cutout switches and the wires from them to the main loom, looking for exposed copper, missing mounting screws etc. If the bike was older, the killswitch would also be a likely suspect; check yours anyway. Open up the right-hand switchblock and make sure there are no loose wires or broken contacts in there. On a 3-year-old bike, though, having that happen is Pretty Bloody Unlikely(TM).

As an outside chance, if your bike has been worked on by a dropkick (also known as a "dealership mechanic"), it's possible that the wiring from the ignition barrel has been messed with and left resting on the engine, where the heat transferred through direct contact could've melted the insulation and shorted the ignition.

If the bike's fitted with a bodgy alarm, those are also a favourite for fuX0Ring up the electrics.

Dr Nick · Post by **Dr Nick** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:52 am

Oh i should mention its got a power commander, just in case that might effect it.

I-K · Post by **I-K** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 12:00 pm

The Power Commander uses the same connectors as the stock ECU, so it's unlikely those could've worked loose.

All the same, check over that portion of the wiring.

If your bike was '05 ZX6, there'd be the possibility of the exhaust having cooked the Power Commander, but since it's not...

Dr Nick · Post by **Dr Nick** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 12:00 pm

No the instruments didnt go blank as the tacho was still working. As i was going down hill when it cut out i left in gear for a few seconds and was still showing revs even though it wasnt firing.

Dr Nick · Post by **Dr Nick** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 8:23 pm

Ok i forgot to mention also that when i pulled up this little red light with 'FI' was on. I later realised that this means something wrong with the fuel injection(duuuuh).

Anyway i pulled all the fairings and tank off, checked all the wires and couldnt see any that appeared to be broked/stripped/melted. The cable coming from the ignition barrel went across the top of the radiator mount thing, but i couldnt see if it was melted through anywhere.

I've been reading over the service manual and it seem that the only thing that will cause the engine to cut out is either the crank shaft sensor, or the tip over sensor.

I should also point out that i did wash the bike the night before, and did get the dash and switches wet, but its not like i was blasting water into them or anything.

Also seems to be running a little rough, like a bit hesitant sometimes, usually around 7.5k, but not always. And just now took a couple of goes to start and didnt want to idle until i mucked around with the idle knob.

Please help me out if you can fellas, i really want to love this thing, but after only the thrid day and all this crap its getting a bit hard! Any other suggestions would be really appreciated.

FrogZ · Post by **FrogZ** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:41 am

AHA Power Commanderand FI light combo !!!
Does it have some sort of clean air mod as well?
I am sure that the PowerCommander info had what causes that.
Go to the PCIII site and have a look.
My 12 did the same (the FI light, not the cutout) and I cant remember what I did but it doesnt do it now so I must have found it somewhere....

Dr Nick · Post by **Dr Nick** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 11:16 am

Yeah its got a PCIII USB and a K & N filter. Thanks for the tip will check it out.

Dr Nick · Post by **Dr Nick** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 6:05 pm

Well bike was running good for a couple of days, but did the same thing twice today. Have a feeling its a short somewhere as im pretty sure i went over bumps when it happened, but cant be sure. Going to pull off the power commander tonight and see if that helps. Pretty concerning when the engine just cuts out. Pretty lucky it wasnt at full lean mid corner or it could have been real bad.

mfzx6r · Post by **mfzx6r** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:31 pm

Dr Nick wrote:Well bike was running good for a couple of days, but did the same thing twice today. Have a feeling its a short somewhere as im pretty sure i went over bumps when it happened, but cant be sure. Going to pull off the power commander tonight and see if that helps. Pretty concerning when the engine just cuts out. Pretty lucky it wasnt at full lean mid corner or it could have been real bad.

check the side stand switch

stand comes down while in gear and motor cuts out

Dr Nick · Post by **Dr Nick** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 2:49 am

Hey mfzx6r how can i check if it is the sidestand switch. Do i need a multimeter or something?

I actually think that it must be a short in the harness for the PC, as i looked on the site and it said that such a short can cause the problems i have had. See it starts back up if you click the key off then on again, but you can tell that its running rough. The PC site said that rough running, engine cutting out etc are symptoms of a short. Anyway i pulled the PC off, will give it a run for a few days and see what happens.

FrogZ · Post by **FrogZ** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 4:23 am

Have a look for the two wires going to your sidestand, if you have gone over a gutter or something (not hard just bumped it) you may have exposed the wires and water can cause a intermittent short.

BUT it wont make the FI light go on

As you know already know the PCIII us just a piggyback so it is easy to "cut out" of the sytem.

mitch179 · Post by **mitch179** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 1:29 pm

check the earth for your PC .. when its not earthed good it can fook up

Neka79 · Post by **Neka79** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 2:33 pm

umm is it super hot over there ATM??
my old zx6r use to run like a pig and cut out a lot in hot weather, and bloody fuel/vapour lock...grrrr

Stereo · Post by **Stereo** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 3:22 pm

Dr Nick wrote:No the instruments didnt go blank as the tacho was still working. As i was going down hill when it cut out i left in gear for a few seconds and was still showing revs even though it wasnt firing.

sidestand switch? Killswitch? Key?