88 Intruder VS 1400 Electrical/Starting Problem?

Question

I have a 1988 Intruder VS 1400. I've had a lot of electrical gremlins and I'm still working them out. Right now the bike won't start or even try to start. I have bypassed the clutch switch. The "kill" switch is working. I had the battery load tested and everything is said to be okay. And I just put a new starter relay on. When I try to start the bike, I just here a click from the relays under the seat. There is no cranking of the engine. I assumed it was the starter relay, but after installing the new one the problem persists. If i "jump" the starter relay the bike will turn and fire and run, but I just can't get it to start on it's own. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks

thanks guys. i have a question about your troubleshooting. what i've been doing is using the open end of a 3/4" wrench to touch the two contacts on the starter relay. can you be more specific about the ground/hot wire trouble shoot.

thanks, dave

Answer 1

When you say "jump the starter relay", did you jump it with another battery, or use the battery in the bike and bi-pass the relay?
First make sure the battery is strong enough to start the bike and it's making good connections.
Key on - kill switch on run - trani in neutral (in other words, you're going to start the bike LOL)
--The battery positive cable goes to the starter solenoid (relay).
The other large terminal on the solenoid goes to the starter motor.
With a large screw driver, touch both large terminals on the solenoid at the same time (careful of sparks).
--If the engine won't crank, check all battery cable connections - battery (+), engine/frame ground, solenoid terminal, battery (-)
Possibly a bad battery. Put the jumper cables from a good battery to the one in the bike and try to start.
--If the engine cranks doing the screw driver test, then the problem is the starter button, the wiring to, or the solenoid.
--If there are 2 wires of the solenoid that plug into the wire harness, then the starter button is probably a grounding switch.
Test for battery voltage at the solenoid connector.
If one has power, while the connector is plugged in, run a jumper wire from the other wire to ground. The solenoid should activate and turn the starter motor.
--Maybe the starter button isn't making a good connection.
Without seeing the bike, there's not much else I can offer.
Purchase a shop manual
http://www.motocom.com/motorcycles/

Answer 2

The click of the relay shows you have power going to it..so what we have here is a contact problem. when you say jump the relay if you are using a positive and negative source (like jumper cables) try it without the negative, then try it without without the positive, this will isolate if you have a ground problem or a power problem. I would go with a ground problem.

Answer 3

1988 Suzuki Intruder