Yup, bad gas does nothing good. Water in fuel, ethanol bullshit, or just plain old shitty gas means no run condition. Maybe a spritz of Starting Fluid at the air cleaner to see if it will at least fire. If so, drain tank, add fresh gas, crack throttle a tiny bit and crank. If not, check coils, fuel pump test (search here for more) to verify adequate fuel delivery. Start there, post more info for more advice from those who have been there.
V-Strom DL650 (2004) cranks, but won't start
A year and a half ago I bought a V-Strom to make some kilometers with as main transportation. It's just that around that time I got a new job with a very nice company car with unlimited free gas, and I started riding less.
Anyways fast forward past a summer of barely touching the bike, I move to a neighbourhood with no parking permit so I move my bike there.
It was riding just fine, no hickups at all. Then a week later I move back to my old house, for convenience I leave the bike there. Two months later I pick the bike up, assuming a dead battery I bring a battery CPR pack but it started just fine.
However, at the end of the street it kept stalling and eventually didn't want to start anymore.
I put it in a van and brought it back home. I tried some of the easier things (recharge the battery, swap ECUs) but that ofcourse made no difference.
The bike cranks healthily, but it does not catch on at all. The engine will not make any rpms, so it's literally just starting engine.
I was wondering if you folks could help me hypothesise the likeliest cause, as I do not have a comfortable place to wrench and don't want to spend hours outside in the rain at 0°C diagnosing.
Likeliest bet is old gasoline clogging up the injection, since I rode this bike so little that my last top up was 11 months ago, or dead spark plugs, but this is a 4cyl engine and for all four of them to die like that would be weird.
Anyways fast forward past a summer of barely touching the bike, I move to a neighbourhood with no parking permit so I move my bike there.
It was riding just fine, no hickups at all. Then a week later I move back to my old house, for convenience I leave the bike there. Two months later I pick the bike up, assuming a dead battery I bring a battery CPR pack but it started just fine.
However, at the end of the street it kept stalling and eventually didn't want to start anymore.
I put it in a van and brought it back home. I tried some of the easier things (recharge the battery, swap ECUs) but that ofcourse made no difference.
The bike cranks healthily, but it does not catch on at all. The engine will not make any rpms, so it's literally just starting engine.
I was wondering if you folks could help me hypothesise the likeliest cause, as I do not have a comfortable place to wrench and don't want to spend hours outside in the rain at 0°C diagnosing.
Likeliest bet is old gasoline clogging up the injection, since I rode this bike so little that my last top up was 11 months ago, or dead spark plugs, but this is a 4cyl engine and for all four of them to die like that would be weird.
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
Outside in the rain sounds ominous.
Water in the gas or blocked fuel filter.
The easiest cure is to empty the tank, inspect for crud, and if OK put a gallon or two of fresh fuel in there.
Still no go?
Do the quick fuel flow test. Quick fuel pump flow test.
Battery. No battery likes to be left to discharge. These bikes need a strong battery to turn the bike over fast enough to start. At rest a meter should show 12.7 volts, and not drop dramatically when you engage the starter.
I would not expect the spark plugs to be at all relevant but if stored outside it is possible to have corrosion in any one of many wiring connectors. The most infamous for corrosion is the large connector left side of the headstock.
Trying Starting Fluid as suggested by K9 Wee above will indicate fuel or electrical - so long as the battery is up to spec.
BTW the V-Strom has a 2 cylinder motor.
Water in the gas or blocked fuel filter.
The easiest cure is to empty the tank, inspect for crud, and if OK put a gallon or two of fresh fuel in there.
Still no go?
Do the quick fuel flow test. Quick fuel pump flow test.
Battery. No battery likes to be left to discharge. These bikes need a strong battery to turn the bike over fast enough to start. At rest a meter should show 12.7 volts, and not drop dramatically when you engage the starter.
I would not expect the spark plugs to be at all relevant but if stored outside it is possible to have corrosion in any one of many wiring connectors. The most infamous for corrosion is the large connector left side of the headstock.
Trying Starting Fluid as suggested by K9 Wee above will indicate fuel or electrical - so long as the battery is up to spec.
BTW the V-Strom has a 2 cylinder motor.
As with any engine there are three requirements for it to run: Proper spark, correct fuel/air mix and sufficient compression.
Simple checks will answer some basic questions:
Test #1: Disconnect a spark plug wire, plug in a spare spark plug (or a spark tester is you have one), crank it over and verify if it sparks. If it does move on to test #2. If it does not isolate the lack of spark issue.
Test #2: Remove a spark plug and verify if it is wet or dry, clean or dirty. If it is clean and dry likely fuel is an issue, pursue that problem. (Fuel pump failure, injectors, etc. If it is wet and dirty or fouled either replace it or clean it. If you don't have a spare plug you can often clean the plug using a propane torch. Put the plug in a vise and use the torch to heat up the internal insulator for the center electrode. You need to get it HOT to burn off carbon.
Note: If you have bad gasoline you can have a wet plug but since the gasoline doesn't want to burn the engine doesn't run. Often you can tell by the smell or even the feel of the gasoline that the fuel has "timed out".
Test #3 Would be to check compression. This will likely be the least likely problem in this case but just in case, check it if everything above seems OK. If you don't have a compression tester you can put your finger tightly against the spark plug hole and when cranked the engine would "pop" your finger off the hole due to compression pressure.
Good luck with this!
Simple checks will answer some basic questions:
Test #1: Disconnect a spark plug wire, plug in a spare spark plug (or a spark tester is you have one), crank it over and verify if it sparks. If it does move on to test #2. If it does not isolate the lack of spark issue.
Test #2: Remove a spark plug and verify if it is wet or dry, clean or dirty. If it is clean and dry likely fuel is an issue, pursue that problem. (Fuel pump failure, injectors, etc. If it is wet and dirty or fouled either replace it or clean it. If you don't have a spare plug you can often clean the plug using a propane torch. Put the plug in a vise and use the torch to heat up the internal insulator for the center electrode. You need to get it HOT to burn off carbon.
Note: If you have bad gasoline you can have a wet plug but since the gasoline doesn't want to burn the engine doesn't run. Often you can tell by the smell or even the feel of the gasoline that the fuel has "timed out".
Test #3 Would be to check compression. This will likely be the least likely problem in this case but just in case, check it if everything above seems OK. If you don't have a compression tester you can put your finger tightly against the spark plug hole and when cranked the engine would "pop" your finger off the hole due to compression pressure.
Good luck with this!
That's not an issue with lithiums ...they can sit for months without discharging.No battery likes to be left to discharge
•••••
OP - likely fuel, apply KISS. If it is trying to start then WOT with a fresh battery charge and treated fuel and see if it catches at all.
Can be annoying ....even my 2015 CB300 needs it after a 2 week rain sit out ( not in the rain ...just very humid ).
Since it started and went some distance before stopping, that points to a gas issue most likely. I think you are already on the right track yourself. Quickest test with everything sitting as is, spray some starting fluid into the air intake and hit the start button. It may take a couple of squirts of the starting fluid, but if it fires up and runs if you keep squirting shots of starting fluid into the intake just as the engine is beginning to die out, then just drain the water/gas/varnish mixture that is currently in your tank, add fresh fuel, and go ride. If it does not start with liberal application of starting fluid, spark would be in doubt and the next thing to check. But I think you are on the right track figuring it is old gas.It was riding just fine, no hickups at all. Then a week later I move back to my old house, for convenience I leave the bike there. Two months later I pick the bike up, assuming a dead battery I bring a battery CPR pack but it started just fine.
However, at the end of the street it kept stalling and eventually didn't want to start anymore.
Likeliest bet is old gasoline
Starting to think bike gas tanks should have sump drains like aircraft do.
I would start with a methanol water absorber, make sure the tank ring drain is clear, and see if it'll run after. Starting fluid is a pretty good idea to get it running, you may need to stay active on the throttle to make sure it doesn't cut out once the methanol/water mixture gets in.
You could fully drain and refill, but it doesn't take much water to cause this and it's not easy to completely drain a tank.
I would start with a methanol water absorber, make sure the tank ring drain is clear, and see if it'll run after. Starting fluid is a pretty good idea to get it running, you may need to stay active on the throttle to make sure it doesn't cut out once the methanol/water mixture gets in.
You could fully drain and refill, but it doesn't take much water to cause this and it's not easy to completely drain a tank.
The above answers are spot on. My vote is gas... I'll just add...
Mice can chew wires and build nests. They like to move into garages when it gets cold out. Pop the seat and have a look at wires. Doubt they'd get in the muffler or air box but you could look.
Mice can chew wires and build nests. They like to move into garages when it gets cold out. Pop the seat and have a look at wires. Doubt they'd get in the muffler or air box but you could look.
Assuming the battery is good or that there is a donor battery to provide additional battery power to power the necessary electrical circuitry.
My 1st step if the engine is cranking but not starting, would be to do a fuel flow test (Fuel flow check). This test will prove that the fuel pump is pumping the correct volume of fuel and on the plus side, if you leave the pumped fuel for a while, any contamination should show up. Sometimes on the 1st start / cold start could be wonky, so you have to open the throttle slightly to allow for more fuel. The same applies if too much fuel (floaded) when struggling to start.
If nothing shows up after the other steps in getting the bike to start, the next would be to check for spark. If there is spark, then do an air intake inspection. A blocked air fiter or exhaust pipe will allow the engine to crank, but prevent the engine from starting.
My 1st step if the engine is cranking but not starting, would be to do a fuel flow test (Fuel flow check). This test will prove that the fuel pump is pumping the correct volume of fuel and on the plus side, if you leave the pumped fuel for a while, any contamination should show up. Sometimes on the 1st start / cold start could be wonky, so you have to open the throttle slightly to allow for more fuel. The same applies if too much fuel (floaded) when struggling to start.
If nothing shows up after the other steps in getting the bike to start, the next would be to check for spark. If there is spark, then do an air intake inspection. A blocked air fiter or exhaust pipe will allow the engine to crank, but prevent the engine from starting.
Siphon old gas out of tank, replace with new, Give battery a fresh charge, Quick spray of starting fluid open throttle a little bit, hit starter button and be on your way….
G'day from the land down under. As a v strom owner for 15 years, plus a "new to me" upgrade recently, I didn't realise that Suzuki made a four cylinder version. At least, not in this country that I know of anyhow. Both of mine have four spark plugs, but only two cylinders. Never had any problems with "old gasoline" (petrol) coz I like to ride mine every chance I can get. Petrol can get a bit "stale" in a year, but shouldn't clog anything up. Put in fresh juice anyhow and give it another go.A year and a half ago I bought a V-Strom to make some kilometers with as main transportation. It's just that around that time I got a new job with a very nice company car with unlimited free gas, and I started riding less.
Anyways fast forward past a summer of barely touching the bike, I move to a neighbourhood with no parking permit so I move my bike there.
It was riding just fine, no hickups at all. Then a week later I move back to my old house, for convenience I leave the bike there. Two months later I pick the bike up, assuming a dead battery I bring a battery CPR pack but it started just fine.
However, at the end of the street it kept stalling and eventually didn't want to start anymore.
I put it in a van and brought it back home. I tried some of the easier things (recharge the battery, swap ECUs) but that ofcourse made no difference.
The bike cranks healthily, but it does not catch on at all. The engine will not make any rpms, so it's literally just starting engine.
I was wondering if you folks could help me hypothesise the likeliest cause, as I do not have a comfortable place to wrench and don't want to spend hours outside in the rain at 0°C diagnosing.
Likeliest bet is old gasoline clogging up the injection, since I rode this bike so little that my last top up was 11 months ago, or dead spark plugs, but this is a 4cyl engine and for all four of them to die like that would be weird.
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
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