wont start with rear tire on the ground

[naillz]

My RT with 32k on the clock wont start with the rear tire completely on the ground. The dash flickers and it won't start. The peculiar thing is when I jack up the rear tire and it is completely off the ground, the bike starts up as normal. Also when the rear tire is on the ground and I try to put it in gear whether its reverse or 1st gear after it has been started in neutral, the engine shutsdown. But with the bike jacked up everything is normal. Im taking the damn thing to the dealer friday, but has anyone experienced something like this before.

[NZSpyderRyder]

I've not experienced that problem, but I'm guessing it has to be some sort of clutch/gearbox problem.

[Chupaca]

Possible battery connections. Not much to go on though. Does it crank but won't fire up or does it not crank at all.? When running and you set her down does she keep running..? When you put her in gear running and dies is it on the ground or in the air..? Still seem to be electrical. What were you working on when this all started happening. Too many questions tell me to hush up and run it by the dealer...

[Jeriatric]

Have you checked for fault codes?

[Bob Denman]

Your bike doesn't like the cold garage floor anymore?
Seriously; it sounds much more like a loose electrical connection...
Jacking the bike up is somehow tightening up things; I'm just not sure how...
Try to check for codes, and let us know what you find!
Good Luck!

[naillz]

This started happening after my oil n filters being changed. Before that though the gear box was acting up. Flashing R & N on the dash, it wouldn't shift to first coming to a stop, it will stay in 2nd.

Only codes that's came up were if I remember correctly was u1201 pointing to the GPS but no other codes.

Battery connections were also checked and they r as tight as they can be although the battery voltage was below 12 but was still able to start n neutral n shift through gears while the rear tire was off the ground. Very very strange

[Bob Denman]

The low voltage on that battery makes me ask...
How old is the battery? It might just be time to get a new one.
Low voltage, can make all sorts of codes pop up...

[vrodrjs]

Put a charger on the battery, it should be at 13 +. Mine was at 11.7 an doing all sorts of weird things. Charge the battery and all is good.

[MRH]

I assume your getting codes? (Check by depressing the mode, set, and turn signal buttons at the same time.) I'm not the expert here, but it sounds throttle/gear related. It might be a throttle body, which I only say because that happened to my previous Spyder with similar miles (2010 RT SE5).

[Bob Denman]

It is strange and all things point to electrical.
If you have a continuity meter lower the Spyder on the ground and check for a connection between the frame and the ground terminal of the battery.
My bet is you are losing ground for some reason when the Spyder is on the ground.

That sond odd; but
The contact from your lift to the bike's frame, is filling in the gaps!

Roger... GREAT CATCH!!

[naillz]

I thought about the battery but then that doesn't explain why it starts when is off the ground. The continuity issue maybe something to exlore. Besides the negative terminal under the seat are there any ground locations in the rear?

When the spyder shutdown there is no codes. The only code that came up was related to the GPS.

The battery is OEM.

thx everyone for the responses

[Chupaca]

you don't have enough tread left on your rear tire..... Do let us know what it ends up being. Can't see an oil change doing this...

[MRH]

When I was getting throttle related errors my tech, Lou, suggested I park with the brake off in neutral and start the bike after the system had reset. It worked. Not the same as lifted off the ground, but similar in some ways. That's what makes me think gearbox/throttlebody.

[ARtraveler]

That's a new one on me. Not a mechanic so will have to see what the experts say.

[revjvegas]

[Bob Denman]

only I'm breaking out the grille!

[cptjam]

Concur with Bob. Charge battery, check connections, switches. Joe

[vrodrjs]

Go with easy first, charge the battery then start figuring out what else might be wrong if that doesn't take care of it.

[edmarino]

12 Volts on the battery is way to low it should be 13 volts minimum. Charge or replace battery.

[revjvegas]

Sorry, but charging up the battery still doesn't explain why it works jacked up, but not on the ground ... unless the battery gains voltage when at a higher elevation.

I'm in the camp that it must be a loose connection somewhere.

[vrodrjs]

Agreed. But I also know that a battery at less than 12 bolts will cause other things to happen, codes, etc. I can tell you that with 11.7 volts mine acted like pushing the starter button was causing a dead short and the whole ECM would reboot. Getting the battery to the proper level eliminates one thing.

[naillz]

Well guys, I jacked it up again and it would barely start and the low battery indicator on the dash was illuminated. First time i saw that on the spyder. I also had my wife rev it up to 4k (rpms) and had my voltmeter terminals attached to the battery and the volts stayed at 10. The voltage did not budge. So needless to say the battery is on my garage floor and will be load tested tomorrow.

To do list: pick up a new battery

Will post update tomorrow

[Big Arm]

Check the electrical connector on the GPS, Gear Position Sensor, located right below the oil filter

[cptjam]

You thinking neutral safety switch

[revjvegas]

Only 10 while the bike was running and rev'd up?

Sure hope its not the alternator/stater that's gone out. I guess it could also be the regulator-rectifier.

But yeah, simple thing first; I would agree lets get that battery charged up and see what happens next.

Weird. Keep us posted.