08 GS won't start

[Rnlisa]

Spyder has had intermittent starting issues that were thought to be from bad battery. Replaced battery and problems continued. Hit start button and one click from solenoid and reset of display screen. Replaced solenoid switch. Bike started twice then back to same issue. Replaced starter motor. Will not turn motor over. Removed spark plugs to check for vapor lock and make sure motor was not locked up. Jumped out solenoid and motor turned freely. Replaced spark plugs and jumped solenoid motor barely turned over. Anyone had this kind of problem before? Local dealer is no help.

[AMTJIM]

Looks like the ground that is visible when you lift the seat may be loose or croroded...fairly common problem but much earlier on. The relays for the trike are under that painted beauty cover just above the trunk lid, may not hurt to check those and reseat them for fresh contact.

[spyderCodes]

Check the cable and connector running from the battery to the solenoid,

[Rnlisa]

All connections have been checked.

[AMTJIM]

That ground under the seat is a little tricky to clean and tighten, the instrument screen going blank and reseting kinda points at a bad ground, the relay is willing but the connection is to weak to handle starter power demand.

[Rnlisa]

Husband is an electrician and has checked all connections.

[AMTJIM]

Did the new battery get propper charge time, the type battery they use in Spyders are a little touchy, semi wet glass matt/ gell cell. Does the electric steering assist feel like its working? Should be difficult to steer with key off and easy with key switched on.

Maybe run an alligator clip from the underseat ground to fresh metal elsewhere on the Spyder to verify that ground.

[Snowbelt Spyder]

Husband is an electrician and has checked all connections.

In that case, he must have a multimeter around the house, right? Have him watch battery voltage while you hit the start button.

[Rnlisa]

While watching meter, when you hit the start button it is so quick that you do not see the change in voltage. That is what ked us to replacing the starter.

[Snowbelt Spyder]

While watching meter, when you hit the start button it is so quick that you do not see the change in voltage. That is what ked us to replacing the starter.

Well, when the display resets as soon as you hit the button like you said, that's a low voltage issue. Perhaps you'll want to completely rule out a battery charge problem by putting it on a charger for a few hours. If / When you have confidence in the state of charge of the battery, the connections, and fuses and relays, and still have the problem, then it's above my pay grade.

[Rnlisa]

All the grounds have been checked.
Not the motor, solenoid, or starter.
Battery is good.
Going to check ecm and fuses tomorrow.
Any input would be nice and appreciated.

[SPYDERGUY1]

Did you change the battery out ? If so you more than likely missed the ground behind it. I DID AND LEARNED THE HARD WAY. Triple check all the connections and MAKE sure the battery is fully charged. Let it Hibernate for the night and try it tomorrow. Other that that try re-setting the relays in the panel. Good luck and hope you are mobile soon. All kinds of little quirks, SOME BIGGER QUIRKS, with time ya get too know.

[SPYDERGUY1]

Sorry, guess I did not read far enough. Battery needs a charge and double check and clean the ground behind it ???????????? It should work.

[garb55]

My 2008 GS did the same thing even when I jumped it with a car battery it still just clicked and rebooted the cumputer
I ended up checking all the connections 3 times before it was fixed
Don't know which connection was the bad one but after re-doing all the connections it was fixed
Connections may look good but a little corosion can cause this so clean all connections

[Bob Denman]

All the grounds have been checked.
Not the motor, solenoid, or starter.
Battery is good.
Going to check ecm and fuses tomorrow.
Any input would be nice and appreciated.

Are things working more reliably yet?
I still have a nagging suspicion, that a wire was missed somewhere.
Your Husband being an electrician is good; he knows what to look for...


...As long as he knows all of the places to look.
Do you have a hop manual for your bike?

[Rnlisa]

No hop manual. Downloaded service manual off Internet.

A list of connections to check would be great so I can double check.

[Chupaca]

I have found that many that say they have checked the ground connections have only looked at them and maybe wiggleled them to see if they are loose. The best way is to loosen them clean if needed and reconnect them ( all but the one under the seat cause it is a nightmare to re tighten) tap around that one to get a better seating.

[Rnlisa]

We have loosened the one under the seat and cleaned. The one by the steering column made sure it was tight.

[SPYDERGUY1]

QUADRUPLE ALL CONNECTIONS and make sure the battery is fully charged, the spyder electrical is like nothing most people have seen before VERY FINICKY. after all that checking and checking and rechecking again, , your next best thing is haul it into a dealer. GOOD LUCK, and let us know what happens.

[Bulldogger]

Remove and bench test the starter. Went through this with an Indian motorcycle I own. Turned out to be a bad armature in the starter causing an internal short. Bike would start to crank for a second then sound like it was overloading the starter and shut off electronics, also would give a clicking noise like a weak battery.