Starter Issues : Suzuki GSX-R Motorcycle Forums: Gixxer.com

**MidnightRunner** · 12-10-2012, 11:59 AM

Hey Folks...

Not sure where to put this, so I'll just put it here until a mod can move it.

I have a 01' GSX R600. Great bike... only has 41k on it and I ended up buying it for $500 from a friend who had laid it down 2 years ago. The only issues it had was a dead battery and paint.

Now i have a strange issue with starting the bike.... it seems the switch has gone bad but I'm not sure. It's in N and you can hear the fuel pump click on, but when you push the button nothing happens. The headlight does not dim, nor anything else happen when you hit the switch. I'm assuming its the switch, but what else could it be? Every once in awhile it will actually engage the starter and start the bike.

Also, the second issue I'm having is with the Tach. It does not register any RPM's... could the cluster have gone bad? Everything else seems to work fine but I have no way of reading RPM's as it's stuck at 4k.

Any input would be great. Thanks!

**jonchadwick** · 12-10-2012, 02:02 PM

you checked fuses or looked for loose connection?

**Chugs** · 12-10-2012, 03:05 PM

faulty starter solenoid relay?

**jonchadwick** · 12-10-2012, 04:14 PM

Or your starter motor could be burning out possibly..

**MidnightRunner** · 12-11-2012, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonchadwick

you checked fuses or looked for loose connection?

I have looked at almost all the connections I can find. They all seem to be in tact. I didn't even think about fuses... I'll check that today.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chugs

faulty starter solenoid relay?

Possibly. I will have to look at getting another one and try switching it out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonchadwick

Or your starter motor could be burning out possibly..

Is there a way to test this? I know with car starters autozone can test them. I'm kinda new to the bike world.

**TeflonTrout** · 12-11-2012, 10:04 AM

Hmmm... A dying motor still draws current when activated, I think. The headlight should still dim, and there would usually be an audible click.

A button is normally pretty bulletproof, so I doubt that went out.

If it isn't the starter solenoid, I'd guess a relay is to blame; Basically, the starter button is little a switch that flips a bigger switch (a relay) that activates the starter. A dead relay would explain a complete lack of reaction to the starter button being pressed.

Wait...bike electrical systems DO use relays, right? Or are they light enough duty to be activated by the starter button directly?