Re: Rode Easy, put up slightly wet

[Patrick Coleman <pdcolema@xxxxxxxxx>]

Here's a follow up on my friend's non-starting GS. As I originally posted, it wouldn't start after a light washing, then would start after it dried out. The next day, still dry, it again wouldn't start. He couldn't find anything wrong with the kickstand switch, the battery connections were tight, and when he connected his battery tender, it quickly indicated the battery was charged. He looked at the fuel pump recall notice on line, and decided to take it to his dealer, Blue Moon. Their diagnosis: defective battery, replaced under warranty. Apparently it was just a coincidence that it failed right after he washed it. 

Luckily, it failed in his driveway, and not on the 4500 mile trip he just returned from, or in rush hour traffic. 

Thanks for the help on this. This is a great list.

Patrick

- ----- Original Message ----
From: Mick <bmwmick@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: oilheads@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, August 11, 2006 1:33:20 PM
Subject: Re: Rode Easy, put up slightly wet

At 04:37 PM 8/11/2006 +0000, you wrote:
>My friend Greg just called with a problem with his '05 1200GS, non-ABS. He 
>took a short ride, came home, let it cool down, and then gave it a light 
>bath. No pressure washer, just a garden hose and rags. Not a deep 
>cleaning, just a get the bugs off type of cleaning.
>
>Afterwards, the bike wouldn't start. Key on, things lit up more or less 
>normally, but when he hit the starter, there was one click, and then 
>nothing. The battery tested good, horn works, he didn't really check 
>anything else like brake lights, turn signals, etc. Sometimes, when he 
>turned on the key, there wouldn't even be the one click when he hit the 
>starter.
>
>After letting the bike dry out for about an hour, it started and ran fine.
>
>Any ideas? Without other guidance, he's going to wet down the starter 
>button area and see if it happens again. If not, then he'll wet down the 
>ignition switch area, and so on until it happens again, then troubleshoot 
>that area.
>
>Greg is a way more than adequate bike mechanic, but this is his first BMW, 
>and he's only had it about 3 months.
>
>
>Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.


Look at the fuel pump module area.  There was a recall on the early
models for water collecting there and killing the bike.

Mick
Tucson

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