I have a 1997 Cali 1100i which I’ve owned for 21 years. Over the last few years it has been an intermittent poor starter which I put down to a failing battery - it improved on each occasion that I put in a new battery.
This week when I switch on the ignition there isn’t the usual whirring noise which I take to be the fuel pump starting - it usually lasts a few seconds. On the starter the engine turns over as usual but does not fire.
Oddly if I take the plastic cover off the front black relay (under seat right side) and press the metal part of the relay the whirring noise happens whilst I’m pressing it but the engine still doesn’t fire.
I’ve tried two new relays (the front two) and cleaned the contacts on the others (and the plugs) but I can’t understand why the fuel pump doesn’t appear to be operating as normal when it clearly is capable of operating.
Thanks Andrew - I don’t think the kill switch can be involved as the engine turns over normally. I’m puzzled that the fuel pump works when the metal side of the relay is pressed but not when the ignition is first switched on. I take this to mean the pump isn’t the problem so it may be the wiring/electrics in some other way. Very confusing.
What you have to remember is that the ECU uses ghat relay to control the pump. It will only trigger it when happy. So initial checks you should make will be the ignition switch circuit so the ECU knows it should start. After this one needs to look at what conditions could stop the ECU from starting. The early 1100i have a light on the dash which can give a morse code type read out of the fault. For example I had a similar problem but the cause was dirt on the sensor and magnet in the bell housing, the read out said the gap was too small. What the manual doesn’t tell you is that you need to plug a jumper into the diagnostic socket to enable the lamp on the dash to work. My jumper was cable tied to socket.
I have recentlly posted pictures of the bell housing and flywheel if you want to check. I can post again if needs be.
I assume you mean the switch on the right handlebar - off/run
On my bike if it’s off nothing works - if it’s on I can force the fuel pump to run by pressing the side of the front relay which is why I don’t think the issue is with the pump itself.
However I can’t see a spark so clearly an electrical problem.
Thanks again - I have found the plug and where to plug it into (see attached pic) but I don’t get anything on the dashboard red light with or without the ignition on. Is there any other procedure I should be doing?
