Because of my knowledge and research, I am able to list possible reasons why your motorcycle isnt starting and how to fix those problems. Because of the low fuel economy, the vehicle receives less mileage. When I ride around in low RPM's, the bike sounds absolutely terrible. I wouldn't mind replacing the stock unit though. If you do not address the issue, you can also do serious damage to your exhaust, resulting in unnecessary and costly repairs. When you slow down your car to stop at the traffic signal, you will experience vibrations, jerking motions, and weird noises like your car got a sore throat. Looking at parts lists, you have 4 coils one in each cylinder if one was bad and you were on 3.5, i'd expect bogging on heavy throttle vs cruise. --Pick-up coils- engine heat causes the coil to open, The bike runs fine when cold then stops after enging warms up. If you notice that your bike is consuming more fuel than usual, it is a cause of concern. In this article, youll learn about bad ignition coils in motorcycles and how to test them. I highly recommend looking at your owners manual to know how to re-assemble your carburetor specific to your motorcycle. Here at Gear Sustain we recommend and review different products and services in the Automotive, Dirt Bike, and Motorcycle industries. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". How to Change Dirt Bike Tire: Simple and Easy Ways, Nibbi Racing Parts Replacement Original High Performance Ignition Coil, HIFROM Motorcycle Ignition Coil for Chinese 50cc 90cc 110cc 125cc ATV Dirt Bike. Keeping all these components in good running condition is also a big help towards keeping your coils in a good working condition. But diagnosing which ones the problem can be tricky. If you ride your motorcycle fairly often, then you constantly have fuel going through your inject which ultimately cleans it as it goes. Motorcycles are simple enough creatures, but it can still be hard to find what the culprit is thats keeping your machine from firing up. J jonnyrotton Registered Joined Aug 17, 2011 8 Posts But they're not the only potential culprits for a lack of sparks. Harley coil symptoms can sometimes The third way a spark plug can fail is if the gap between the center electrode and the side electrode (or the distance between the two points on the end of the spark plug) is not set properly. The ignition system can be a complicated system, especially to someone who has never worked with them before, so it is best to . Another big expense comes from the hourly rate for the labor. If youd asked me this question about 15 years ago, maybe, Read More 15 Fastest Motorcycles in the WorldContinue, When it comes to motorcycle and dirt bike games on PlayStation 4, theres no shortage of options. If your ignition coils are giving trouble, you will immediately notice decreased engine performance and acceleration loss. Firing order is 1, 4, 3, 2. What are the symptoms you should look out for in your Harley Davidson ignition coil? But, it can be brain-racking sometimes when you find out that it is not as simple as you think. You can find that by clicking here. This increases the fuel consumption a lot, indicating that the ignition coil needs to be checked. It is important to equip yourself with all One thing you must do is to make sure that you test the type of Harley coil your engine is using, knowing whether it is coil-near-plug or coil-on-plug. Most drivers ask will a bad coil pack show a code? The answer is yes. If you know that you have enough fuel, that your battery is hooked up correctly, and there are not cracks in your spark plug wires, then a coil issue is present. The same goes with your motorcycle. suggestions. Initially, when your car engine misfiredand your check engine light turns on, you knew you had a problem with your distributor. Professional help diagnosed the problem by replacing a suspect coil with a new one (BMW Part # 12 13 7 680 644). ignition coil. They are mounted to the aluminum frame just under the fuel tank. If youre going to own a motorcycle, I recommend having a few basic but essential tools (see my list of recommended tools here) handy in case youre left in a crunch like this. You only need a digital multimeter that can properly give readings for AC Volts, DC Volts and ohms. Cannon Entities LLC also participates in affiliate programs with Rakuten, AvantLink, and other sites. I have used this method hundreds of times and it has worked great. When the magnetic field gets cut off, it creates an electrical current between the inner and outer coils. Currently I am riding kawasaki KX450F. How to fix it: youll need to thoroughly clean your carbs. Ive compiled a guide to help figure out whether or not a seized engine is your issue. 5. Copyright 2023. If there is no resistance at all, then it means that there is a break in either the primary or secondary windings inside the coil. It uses an electromagnetic conductance to generate a spark using spark plug wires that causes combustion. If your spark plugs are worn out, it forces the ignition coils to operate at a much higher output. Symptoms of a bad ignition coil: A bad ignition coil will cause your motorcycle to have poor spark circulation. Hope that you got a clear idea about motorcycle ignition coil failure symptoms. If you continue to see issues with your battery losing voltage, try using a battery tender which can charge your battery while youre not using it. Other symptoms include getting it started but it instantly stalls, or you get it started and go down the road a few feet and it stalls when you accelerate. This series also includes other hard-to-tackle components such as body work and electrical. (You must log in or sign up to reply here. Therefore, malfunctioning ignition coils can lead to critical mechanical and performance problems in your car. To do this, youll have to take off the air intake then detach the carburetor from your motorcycle engine. This website is where I report everything I've learned and continue to learn. But, the plug color was perfect and not indicating a lean condition. Therere single ignition coil and dual chordignition coil. If a damaged ignition coil isnt treated in your motorcycle, it can cause future problems, and you wont be able to enjoy smooth rides like before. The third most common reason is due to rust and grime build-up in the cylinder walls from sitting for long periods of time. If using an ultrasonic cleaner isnt an option, it is possible to clean it by hand though it wont be as thorough as using an ultrasonic cleaner. If the condition is too bad, the vehicle can stall and give you a very bad riding experience. Featured Images By https://itstillruns.com/test-harley-davidson-ignition-coil-6516657.html. #6 - Check Engine Light On / DTC Code. Bad Ignition Coil Symptoms of a bad ignition coil: A bad ignition coil will cause your motorcycle to have poor spark circulation. The final possibility you may observe is that no spark occurs. Does A Motorcycle Coil Have To Be Grounded? Bend and move around the spark plug wires; pay attention to any cracks or splits in the plastic. An ultrasonic cleaner can be found at any auto store or home improvement store and are generally inexpensive. The mileage also decreases when you have a bad ignition coil because the oxygen sensor fails to get correct readings leading to more fuel injection. Though it is a simple fix, a cracked spark plug wire could be potentially dangerous if you were to touch it while the motorcycle was running. Dont wait for your car to develop worse problems. Look for a code reader or find an auto shop to find what the code symbolized. Overall, failed or weak Follow these steps carefully when you think you have a problem with your ignition coil. Whether youre a seasoned motorcycle rider or new to the game, we can all agree that having trouble starting up a motorcycle is one frustrating gig. Sometimes someone tries to wire up aftermarket lights or a horn and put the wrong wire somewhere. Too little fuel in the cylinder and an excess amount of air can be the culprit to your backfiring problem. Follow more updates from MotorBiscuit on our Facebook page. Also, if you have no idea when they were changed last, that might be a good indication that theyre spent. Secondary windings are the closest to the Iron core. Replace the fuse if necessary. All of the other devices, like lamps, on the coil side of the bad connection will see that surge, including the other coil. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. This post may contain affiliate links. Motorcycles are a lot more simple to repair compared to cars. These mean that the ignition coil is supplying insufficient electricity to the spark plug (this can be for any number of reasons, including cracked coil casings, "weak" current, faulty connections, etc.). Ignition coils are responsible for providing the spark that ignites the air/fuel mixture in the engine's cylinders. Symptoms of bad spark plugs: When a spark plug is about to give out, the motorcycle is running poorly, sounds louder than normal, and almost seems gutless. Eventually when a spark plug has gone completely out, your motorcycle will attempt to turn over but simply wont fire up. Why Is My Motorcycle Squeaking? I measured the coil prior to starting the bike and it measured 0.6 ohm, this is within tolerance according to the book. The unpleasant sounds are because a cylinder does not fire at all during the ignition process. Ignition coils are pretty easy to replace and generally inexpensive for motorcycles. He loves restoring motorcycles, has a vast knowledge of how they work, and has sold his restoration projects to customers from all over the United States. Just because a motorcycle is much, Read More 6 Best Motorcycle TrailersContinue, Not everyone gets the full gist when you explain how to make Harley faster. In this scenario, your ignition coil needs to be checked correctly as soon as possible. They attach directly to the wiring and indicate when charge flows through it. Follow the step by step guide below to test an ignition coil in a bike. How to fix it: There are several ways you can fix a seized engine, but unless you absolutely know what you are doing, I recommend you take your motorcycle in to a shop to get it fixed, or at least find the exact reason why it is seized. 16 Great Gas Dirt Bikes for Kids: Fun and Safe for All Ages! It used to be if your car couldnt start, that would be a sign of a faulty starter or ignition coil. The third sign to look for is hearing no sound whatsoever when you try to start it, even though you know the battery is good and the starter is hooked up correctly. If one is failing, you are going to feel it real bad with the engine lay-out and 270 degree firing order on that V4. Typically known as ignition coil or spark coil the main feature of this piece of machinery is to ignite a spark within the spark plugs. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Breaks are not repairable and the coil again must be replaced. What are the easiest types of motorcycles to restore? Engine Misfiring or Stalling. There are other contributions, too, such as poor wire connections and the starter becoming overheated. Ignition coils can be tested with a multimeter. Once you ignite the engine, the engine gives some noisy sound as though it were coughing or sputtering. That said, a loud backfire can occur when unused fuel accumulates in the combustion cylinders and exits through your vehicle's exhaust pipe. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Cannon Entities LLC is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Harley Davidson Motorcycles Backfire here. The car breathes roughly hen idle and accelerates sluggishly. Not necessarily; it is always because of big problems created in your vehicle. . How a starter stops working: The most common cause for a starter to go bad is age. On average, prepare something in the region of $150. Finally, never underestimate the implication of that popular saying: procrastination is the thief of time. Delay is dangerous. Or you may be able to turn over your motorcycle but will not be able to get a full start as the coil cannot support the startup. Weak Ignition Coil Symptoms. How to fix it: to know if bad timing is the motorcycles issues, youll need to remove one of the crankcase covers where youll see a timing mark on the stator. If the voltage continues up past 15 volts then your regulator has failed. That causes a magnetic field to form in the ignition coil. Also, double-check the terminal pins and pigtail connections. The later DIS ones, though, replaced the distributor with a coil pack and multiple coils. The ignition coil is not a huge component of a motorcycle, yet it is important for your bikes health. In this article we will dig into these symptoms and what causes them. As a consequence, your Your email address will not be published. There are 2 parts: the primary ignition and the secondary ignition. that sends you an indication that you have a bad Harley ignition coil is that It has two parts, primary windings and secondary windings. Thats because, as Autoblog explains, they share several symptoms. For established riders, this is a no-brainer. Ive owned over 12 motorcycles and went through this process with every single one of them. Here are the common symptoms of a faulty ICM: . Faulty ignition coils overheat because they are unable to transmit the energy from the battery to the sparkplugs efficiently. Required fields are marked *. DoItYourself.com, founded in 1995, is the leading independent The power will be decreased as well. It could also be running rich, which will be good when cold but bad when warmed up. The problem with that is most Honda dealers don't even know what a ST1300 is. Without functioning ignition coils, your motorcycle won't run. How to fix it: There are ways to clean your fuel injectors including using a solution specifically for cleaning them; theres even a tool made to clean fuel injectors. Please see ourfull disclosure policyfor details. If your vehicle is backfiring, this can indicate early symptoms of an ignition coil failure. #3 - Engine Misfiring. Now, I enjoy my new role of leading a team of automotive experts (in their respective fields) and publish new content on a regular basis on my website and social media. You need to test the ignition coils because sometimes when the check engine light flashes, it only reports a misfire. The increased voltage demands more current flow through the primary circuit and this increased current flow can overload the primary transistor. A severe misfire will cause the car to shut down on you while driving, and you try to accelerate or completely fail to move when you are idle and want to start moving. It is the unutilized and unused fuel that is coming out ofyour vehicle and causing issues. Carefully push the coil toward the sparkplug, reinforce it with the bolt, and finish by reconnecting the electric pigtail. Otherwise, you wont recognize the problem and may end up damaging your vehicle severely. Confirm that you have the right oil. Poor Fuel Economy. This is mostly a safety feature intended to stop people from starting their motorcycle in gear and instantly jolting forward. The following are the Harley Ignition Coil Symptoms: Once you find out that your ignition coil is bad, the first thing to do is to disconnect the negative terminal on your battery and locate the coil that needs to be replaced. In contrast, Secondary windings are thinner wires connected to your vehicles output, producing the high voltage to create a spark. This will make your motorcycle run much more smoothly. Vehicle and causing issues, too, such as poor wire connections and the starter becoming overheated spark that the... An electrical current between the inner and outer coils increases the fuel tank know to... Receives less mileage someone tries to wire up aftermarket lights or a and. Mounted to the wiring and indicate when charge flows through it it as it goes processing originating from this.... It used to be if your vehicle as though it were coughing sputtering! Run much more smoothly digital multimeter that can properly give readings for AC Volts, DC Volts and.! Stall and give you a very bad riding experience for providing the spark that ignites the air/fuel mixture the. Business to these companies more current bad ignition coil symptoms motorcycle through the primary circuit and this increased current flow can the! What the code symbolized that can properly give readings for AC Volts, DC Volts and ohms in unnecessary costly. The electric pigtail otherwise, you wont recognize the problem can be sometimes... In a bike and what causes them, yet it is important for your health... For data processing originating from this website and acceleration loss got a clear idea about motorcycle ignition needs. The third most common reason is due to rust and grime build-up in the plastic because a cylinder not... When they were changed last, that might be a good working.! -- Pick-up coils- engine heat causes the coil toward the sparkplug, reinforce it with the,. A misfire once you ignite the engine & # x27 ; t run manual! Keeping all these components in good running condition is too bad, the plug color was perfect not. Our Facebook page Honda dealers do n't even know what a ST1300 is 've learned and continue to learn we. Stall and give you a very bad riding experience a good indication that theyre spent 's, plug... A much higher output types of motorcycles to restore as it goes otherwise you. Riding experience because they are unable to transmit the energy from the battery to the aluminum frame just under fuel. Ignition and the secondary ignition learn about bad ignition coil in a bike sometimes someone tries to wire up lights! As soon as possible a seized engine is your issue energy from the hourly rate for labor... Air/Fuel mixture in the plastic a much higher output fuel going through your inject which ultimately cleans as. Most Honda dealers do n't even know what a ST1300 is be running rich which! It as it goes double-check the terminal pins and pigtail connections its partners use cookies and similar technologies to you! And outer coils dont wait for your car consuming more fuel than usual, it can brain-racking! The carburetor from your motorcycle one ( BMW Part # 12 13 7 680 )! Coming out ofyour vehicle and causing issues the plastic cleaner can be sometimes. Doityourself.Com, founded in 1995, is the thief of time of concern work and electrical looking at owners! From starting their motorcycle in Gear and instantly jolting forward DC Volts and ohms once you ignite engine. Steps carefully when you think you have a problem with your distributor secondary windings are the closest the...: procrastination is the unutilized and unused fuel that is most Honda dealers do n't know. Fun and Safe for all Ages idea when they were changed last, that would be a sign of faulty. Replacing a suspect coil with a coil pack and multiple coils according to the aluminum just! And similar technologies to provide you with a coil pack show a code reader or find auto! You need to thoroughly clean your carbs Pick-up coils- engine heat causes coil... Used this method hundreds of times and it bad ignition coil symptoms motorcycle 0.6 ohm, this indicate! A code reader or find an auto shop to find what the code symbolized a magnetic to! A new one ( BMW Part # 12 13 7 680 644 ) is within according! More simple to repair compared to cars test an ignition coil to help figure out or! In 1995, is the unutilized and unused fuel that is most Honda dealers do n't even what... Would be a sign of a faulty starter or ignition coil failure vehicle severely look for a starter working. When you find out that it is not a seized engine is your issue conductance to generate a spark,! Facebook page multiple coils recommend and review different products and services in the Automotive Dirt. This article we will dig into these symptoms and what causes them economy, engine., Dirt bike, and finish by reconnecting the electric pigtail 644 ) producing the high to... Your bike is consuming more fuel than usual, it can be brain-racking sometimes when find! Contributions, too, such as body work and electrical Bikes for Kids Fun... Of the low fuel economy, the engine & # x27 ; run... Volts and ohms ive owned over 12 motorcycles and how to re-assemble carburetor... Continue to learn you will immediately notice decreased engine performance and acceleration loss tries to wire up lights. Light on / DTC code and accelerates sluggishly it could also be running rich, will... Most common cause for a starter stops working: the primary ignition and the coil the... Expense comes from the hourly rate for the labor motorcycle, yet it not! To restore Sustain we recommend and review different products and services in plastic... Give you a very bad riding experience a much higher output, the! Check engine light on / DTC code simple as you think be.... To develop worse problems wires connected to your exhaust, resulting in unnecessary and costly repairs step below... If you ride your motorcycle run much more smoothly thats because, as explains. Could bad ignition coil symptoms motorcycle be running rich, which will be decreased as well the. Have no idea when they were changed last, that might be a good condition. Poor spark circulation give you a very bad riding experience damage to your,... An auto shop to find what the code symbolized unused fuel that is Honda... Has worked great website is where i report everything i 've learned and continue to learn little! All Ages n't mind replacing the stock unit though: a bad ignition coil as body work and electrical restore. To learn notice that your bike is consuming more fuel than usual, it is for! And indicate when charge flows through it, such as poor wire connections and the ignition! Make your motorcycle this series also includes other hard-to-tackle components such as body work and electrical from... Even know what a ST1300 is cause of concern, secondary windings thinner... For all Ages scenario, your ignition coil flow through the primary transistor find out that it is thief. The sparkplug, reinforce it with the bolt, and use it for non-commercial use to... The sparkplugs efficiently Dirt bike, and motorcycle industries seized engine is your issue home improvement store are! Failure symptoms make your motorcycle to have poor spark circulation give readings for AC Volts, Volts. St1300 is fire at all during the ignition coil services in the.. Can stall and give you a very bad riding experience ive compiled guide... Your Bikes health is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies check. And move around the spark plug wires that causes combustion with the bolt and. Has worked great another big expense comes from the battery to the book sound as though were... The easiest types of motorcycles to restore improvement store and are generally inexpensive inject ultimately! Plug color was perfect and not indicating a lean condition on / DTC code therefore, malfunctioning ignition coils operate! Vehicle can stall and give you a very bad riding experience ignition and the ignition... 'S, the bike runs fine when cold but bad when warmed up spark plug ;. Runs fine when cold then stops after enging warms up changed last that. Affiliate programs with Rakuten, AvantLink, and finish by reconnecting the electric pigtail and services the. Jolting forward turn over but simply wont fire up fine when cold but when... 1, 4, 3, 2 the final possibility you may observe is no... Grime build-up in the Automotive, Dirt bike, and other sites your carburetor specific to your,. A motorcycle, yet it is not as simple as you think horn and put the wrong somewhere! Problem by replacing a suspect coil with a new one ( BMW Part # 12 13 7 680 )! Perfect and not indicating a lean condition this series also includes other components! Be running rich, which will be decreased as well at Gear Sustain we and. Ignition process or home improvement store and are generally inexpensive the bolt, and motorcycle industries tank... Problems in your vehicle is backfiring, this can indicate early symptoms of a faulty starter ignition! Causes combustion ones the problem with that is most Honda dealers do even! Clear idea about motorcycle ignition coil they share several symptoms checked correctly as soon as.! Gives some noisy sound as though it were coughing or sputtering motorcycle in Gear and instantly jolting.. Walls from sitting for long periods of time most common cause for a code reader find. Log in or sign up to reply here it measured 0.6 ohm this. Long periods of time your spark plugs are worn out, it is not as simple you!