2006 S2R 800 (6000 miles) trouble starting...

[bmonty72]

Got on the bike this morning to go to work and it cranked over, but did not fire up.  It usually fires right to life on the second turn or so of the starter.  This morning, it cranked over and over with nothing.  It did not act like the battery was low.  I filled it with fuel the last time I rode it, about 6 days ago.  I had to get to work, so I put the bike away and jumped into the cage....So, here is my question

What do I check first?

I'm pretty sure I was getting fuel, I smelled fuel after the third or fourth try at starting.
I had battery power...
My first guess would be to check the plugs and make sure they are getting spark, I'll do that first thing in the morning.  But What are the chances that both plugs are bad?  Wouldn't one cylinder firing at least start the bike up?

What should I check next???  Thanks in advance for any help??

[woppini]

Well, check the basics... spark, etc. Are the plugs wet with fuel? Check the main ground from the battery where it contacts the engine. Make sure its clean and tight (put a wrench on it to be totally sure).

[GAAN]

First thing, try starting it again.

There is a 15 second window from key to starter button before the computer disables ignition.

Then check plugs and also make sure your plugwires didn't get pulled off the coils.

From there it gets more involved.

[bmonty72]

Here is what I have found so far.  The plugs were wet with fuel.  I did not see any spark from the either plug.  I did plug in my battery tender and the light turned red (charging), which is odd considering it only sat for 6 days since my last ride.  (key was removed, lights were off).  I'll check the battery to engine ground.  And I'll check where the plug wire connect to the coil.  Thanks again for your time and responses!!

Edit...
Battery Ground is good and tight.
I checked both coils, plugs in good and solid.
Battery is still charging...hmmm?
Thanks again!!

[woppini]

The battery tender light will change even if you just blip the starter. It senses the battery voltage has fallen. Battery tenders maintain battery voltage, but wont charge a dead battery. When you checked for spark, did you ground the spark plug? The threads or any part of the metal portion of the plug has to be touched to the engine block while cranking. It wont spark if you hold the plug in mid air with just the plug wire connected.

[bmonty72]

Grounded each plug to the engine block (or a bolt going into it), still no spark.  I doubt both coils went at once...ECU maybe???  Immobilizer is still flashing, not solid on, so probably not that? 

[cdv478]

I have an '07 S2R 800 that did something similar to yours. At about 11,710 miles, the gauges started flickering and the engine would die. It would restart initially, but as soon as the engine frequency changed from revving it, it would die. It could be the slightest variation in rpm that would make it stall. Eventually, the engine would spin over quickly, but the engine wouldn't fire. Then, the gauges stopped illuminating, although the engine spun very quickly. Finally, only the immobilizer LED would blink; whatever went bad completely burned out and would not pass current to the starter. The terminals were tight.

I took the bike to a Ducati dealer as it is still under warranty. They said the battery was fine, but the immobilizer had shorted out, and it took 3 weeks for another to arrive. Once the new part was on, the bike would still stall after about 5 minutes. Although I haven't heard it since the immobilizer was replaced, it sounds as though the bike has trouble as something heats up electrically. This is how it failed before also. It's been over 2 months since I dropped my bike off, and I don't know what is wrong, and neither does the dealer. The Ducati NA rep hasn't been talking with them supposedly; whatever the case, the end result is I have a bike I haven't been able to ride for over 2 months.

There is a part with a heat sink under the seat that gets warm on my bike; I'm going to check out the Ducati service CD and see what it does. I wouldn't be surprised if that was the culprit, but I am purely speculating. As soon as I figure something out or the Ducati dealer tells me something, I'll share it with you.

[cdv478]

I just checked the Ducati CD, and it is the regulator that gets hot. Again, I'm just speculating, but I'm going to call the dealer tomorrow and see if they can test it somehow. That thing gets hot on my bike. I's expect it to get warm, but if it overheats, I can see it causing syptoms like what you and I have. I hope that's what is wrong. It'd be an easy fix.

[Scoby2duc]

check your lemon laws in most cases if your bike has been in the shop for a warranty issue more than 30 they have to offer to buy it back
but like I said check your local laws I think its Lemonlaws.com there are a few. I hope you get taken care of I know the feeling I had a timing belt snap at 15oo miles bike was down for a month and a half

[CairnsDuc]

I just checked the Ducati CD, and it is the regulator that gets hot. Again, I'm just speculating, but I'm going to call the dealer tomorrow and see if they can test it somehow. That thing gets hot on my bike. I's expect it to get warm, but if it overheats, I can see it causing syptoms like what you and I have. I hope that's what is wrong. It'd be an easy fix.

The Regulators do get hot when they are running, that's why you will notice some members move them to new locations because of the heat they can generate, I bought a TPO plate to flip mine over and face it down and away from the seat to give it some airflow to keep it cooler.

Back to the original problem,
* check your fuses, pull them out and check them, make sure the terminals are not corroded or damaged,
* check the relays, check there terminals and wiring, make sure they are not buzzing or getting hot.
* Check you Air filter, make sure a mouse or rat has not set up a nest in there (it has happened to people on the forum before)

[bmonty72]

Fuses were good, air cleaner was fine.  I decided to go ahead and take it into the dealer.  He checked the relays.  I waited while he gave it a once over...His last question to me was "are you out of warranty?"...eeek!  Now, I don't know what concerns me more, the amount of money it's gonna take to fix the bike, or the amount of time the bike will be down!!!  I see why a lot of people have more than 1 bike now.  Is there a Betty Ford Clinic for motorcyclists...

[GAAN]

Is there a Betty Ford Clinic for motorcyclists...

Yep

They call it the track

One hittie off the trackpipe and you are good for a month so they say

but I wouldn't know, I never hit the hard stuff

Street drugs are workin fine so far

[bmonty72]

My dealer called me today...He said there was a something-or-other-coil under the engine cover on the left side that was dead.  That sounds a lot better than a $1600 ECU...I should have my bike back by next weekend!!!!!

[DuciD03]

Intresting problem ...

Congrats!

Cheers

But; we need details man; the dealer cost of finding the problem; how they found it and exactally what the part & location was .... would maybe help others in the future.

[bmonty72]

I'll hopefully pick my bike up by Saturday...I'll give all the details then, when I have it in writing...