Warning! The Troubleshooting section of this manual is a guide to diagnose problems. Read the appropriate sections of this manual before performing any work. Improper repair and/or maintenance could result in death or serious injury.
Use the symptoms listed for general troubleshooting. More than one condition may be present at a time. Check all possible items to keep motorcycle in good operating condition.
Note. See the electrical diagnostic manual for additional information.
Starter motor does not operate or does not turn engine over
1. Engine run switch in OFF position.
2. Ignition switch not in IGNITION position.
3. Discharged battery, loose or corroded connections (solenoid chatters).
4. Starter control circuit, relay, or solenoid faulty.
5. Electric starter shaft pinion gear not engaging or overrunning clutch slipping.
6. TSM/TSSM/HFSM Bank Angle Sensor tripped and ignition switch not cycled OFF then back to IGNITION position.
7. Security system activated.
8. Motorcycle in gear and clutch not pulled in.
9. Main fuse not in place.
10. Jiffy stand down and transmission in gear (HDI models).
Engine turns over but does not start
1. Fuel tank empty.
2. Fuel filter clogged.
3. Plugged fuel injectors.
4. Discharged battery, loose or damaged battery terminal connections.
5. Fouled spark plugs.
6. Spark plug cables in bad condition and shorting, cable connections loose or cables connected to incorrect cylinders.
7. Ignition timing incorrect due to faulty coil, ECM or sensors (TMAP, CKP) and/or TSM/TSSM/HFSM.
8. Bank Angle Sensor tripped and ignition/light key switch not cycled OFF then back to IGNITION.
9. Damaged wire or loose wire connection at ignition coil, battery or ECM connector.
10. Sticking or damaged valve(s) or wrong length pushrod(s).
11. Engine lubricant too heavy (winter operation).
Note. For cold weather starts, always disengage clutch.
Starts hard
1. Spark plugs in bad condition, have improper gap or are partially fouled.
2. Spark plug cables in bad condition.
3. Battery nearly discharged.
4. Damaged wire or loose wire connection at battery terminal, ignition coil or ECM connector.
5. Ignition not functioning properly (possible sensor failure).
6. Faulty ignition coil.
7. Fuel tank filler cap vent plugged or fuel line closed off restricting fuel flow.
8. Water or dirt in fuel system.
9. Intake air leak.
10. Partially plugged fuel injectors.
11. Valves sticking.
12. Engine lubricant too heavy (winter operation).
Note. For cold weather starts, always disengage clutch.
Starts but runs irregularly or misses
1. Spark plugs in bad condition or partially fouled.
2. Spark plug cables in bad condition and shorting or leaking.
3. Spark plug gap too close or too wide.
4. Faulty ignition coil, ECM, or sensor (TMAP, CKP, ET or O2).
5. Battery nearly discharged.
6. Damaged wire or loose connection at battery terminals, ignition coil or ECM connector.
7. Intermittent short circuit due to damaged wire insulation.
8. Water or dirt in fuel system.
9. Fuel tank vent system plugged.
10. Air leak at intake manifold or air cleaner.
11. Partially plugged fuel injectors.
12. Damaged intake or exhaust valve(s).
13. Weak or damaged valve springs.
14. Incorrect valve timing.
Spark plug fouls repeatedly
1. Incorrect spark plug.
2. Piston rings badly worn or damaged.
3. Fuel mixture too rich.
4. Valve guides or seals badly worn or damaged.
Pre-ignition or detonation (knocks or pings)
1. Excessive carbon deposit on piston head orin combustion chamber.
2. Incorrect heat range spark plug.
3. Faulty spark plug(s).
4. Ignition timing advanced. ECM or sensors (CKP, ET or TMAP) defective.
5. Fuel octane rating too low.
6. Intake manifold vacuum leak.
Check engine light illuminates during operation
Fault detected. See the electrical diagnostic manual for this motorcycle.
Overheating
1. Insufficient oil supply or oil not circulating.
2. Insufficient air flow over engine.
3. Leaking valve(s).
4. Heavy carbon deposits.
5. Ignition timing retarded. ECM or sensor (CKP, TMAP) defective.
Valve train noise
1. Low oil pressure caused by oil feed pump not functioning properly or oil passages obstructed.
2. Faulty hydraulic lifter(s).
3. Bent pushrod(s).
4. Incorrect pushrod length.
5. Cam(s), cam gear(s), or cam bushing(s) worn.
6. Rocker arm binding on shaft.
7. Valve sticking in guide.
Excessive vibration
1. Stabilizer links worn or loose, or stabilizer link brackets loose or damaged.
2. Isolators worn or isolator bolts loose or damaged.
3. Isolator mounting brackets (left side of vehicle) loose or damaged.
4. Rubber mounts loose or worn.
5. Rear fork pivot shaft fasteners loose.
6. Front engine mounting bolts loose.
7. Exhaust system binding or hitting frame.
8. Engine/transmission and rear wheel not aligned properly.
9. Damaged frame.
10. Ignition timing advanced due to faulty sensor inputs (CKP, TMAP)/poorly tuned engine.
11. Primary chain badly worn or links tight as a result of insufficient lubrication or misalignment.
12. Wheels not aligned, rims bent, or tires worn or damaged.
13. Internal engine problem.