bad ignition coil symptoms motorcycle

One sign A blown or faulty main fuse can be a source of frustration for many riders as it will kill everything electrical. Causes of Bad Ignition Coil. How to fix it: all you need to do is simply replace the spark plug wire. sign in single-coil engines, and the engine will produce some cranking sound Every motorcycles process of timing is different from each other. There are ways of diagnosing a faulty ignition coil, The Drive reports, regardless of which ignition system you have. The numbers are not important. Suppose youre in the middle of a ride on a highway. that sends you an indication that you have a bad Harley ignition coil is that Here at Gear Sustain we recommend and review different products and services in the Automotive, Dirt Bike, and Motorcycle industries. Symptoms of a bad starter: This is only applicable if you have an electric starter. Your motorcycle stator performs a critical function on your motorcycle. I have used this method hundreds of times and it has worked great. The opposite can also happen with the low-speed coil. it will kill everything electrical. The only way for a home mechanic Opening the coil's circuit causes that field to collapse, resulting in tens of thousands of volts being induced in the coil's secondary windings. Connect your multimeter leads to the connector and check for resistance by plug cap. Diesel engines dont have spark plugs because diesel ignites via compression, not a spark. Newer vehicles use either coil-on-plug (COP) ignition coils or coil packs. ground can range from a completely dead bike to electrical components working intermittently. Discussion in 'The Garage' started by MrBob, Apr 13, 2016. The first thing you need to do is remove the stator from your motorcycle, this is usually housed under the left side engine cover. Your email address will not be published. Empty gas fuel tank indicator on car dashboard. Pickup coils rarely go bad, but at times they do. Automobile engines run maintaining sequences. Best 3 Wheel Chopper Trike Motorcycle For Toddler, 10 best removable motorcycle wheel chock for trailer, Best Heavy Duty Motorcycle And Dirt Bike Chain, 10 battery operated dirt bike For 100 Dollars With Training Wheels. Significant engine trouble can also cause the voltage to system. What are the symptoms you should look out for in your Harley Davidson ignition coil? The same goes with your motorcycle. If you notice that your bike is consuming more fuel than usual, it is a cause of concern. 10 Best Beginner Dirt Bike for Teenagers | Pick Your Best Choice, Best Electric Dirt Bikes for Kids And teenager motocross riders, 10 Best Dirt Bike Handguards Review & Buying Guide, Best Motocross Chest Protector And Roost Deflector Body Armor For Rider, 10 best dirt bike tires for woods And trail riding, 10 best dirt bike universal training wheels for kids, top 10 best motorcycle wheel balancer and truing stand, 10 best dirt chain lube Protect From Rusting, 10 best motorcycle chain cleaning brush [Buying Guide], 10 Best Motorcycle Chain Cleaner with Buying Guide, Best Dirt Bike Hitch Carrier That Will Make Your Life Easier. Because thats what powers the spark plugs. Take it to a Honda dealer and ask him to run diagnostics on it. Youll also hear noises as an expression for rough idling. Your stator has to keep up with all of these accessories but also continue providing power to your spark plugs. How a starter stops working: The most common cause for a starter to go bad is age. 16 Great Gas Dirt Bikes for Kids: Fun and Safe for All Ages! It should run like new again. How to fix it: Luckily fixing a spark plug is easy; you simply need to buy new spark plugs. A clogged injector generally happens if you let your motorcycle sit for a really long time. If you need higher amps, it will shorten the life of your stator. But it doesn't have to be that the kill switch/button and the key. link to Can A Loose Motorcycle Chain Cause Vibration. You can then test the coils as they are being warmed up. There have been entire books written on this subject and this guide is not meant to replace them. 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. This post may contain affiliate links. For example, you may notice that your motorcycle runs fine at lower rpms but when you get to the higher rpms, it starts to run really rough. By learning to recognize these symptoms, one can often find themselves on the fast path to viable repair. What are the symptoms of a bad motorcycle stator? Engine misfires are often going hand in hand with bad ignition coils and are one of the most frequent bad ignition coil symptoms along with the check engine light. Now, you can prepare the stator to be re-wound. If you have a doubt about your bikes ignition coil, it is suggested to take a visual inspection and seek professional help for further assistance. First, check the positive diode. Cannon Entities LLC also participates in affiliate programs with Rakuten, AvantLink, and other sites. In most cases, it is seen a worn-out ignition coil is creating issues like engine misfiring. The second reason is due to old or dirty oil. Engine Misfires. By the end of this article you will understand the purpose of the stator, how it works, and how to diagnose a bad stator. Repeat the process for the negative diode. Symptoms of a bad Poor idling and stalling will lead up to this problem. A check engine light can also point to either, as can difficulty starting the engine. If you dont have access to your owners manual, check out emanualonline.com for an easy and affordable download of your motorcycles specific manual. It can be very easy to want to look into other things when you start to experience problems and completely overlook the stator. Your vehicle will cough and splutter regularly. If the battery only measures to a maximum You can try your best to avoid hitting large bumps but your engine will still experience vibrations. The plug wire runs from the ignition coil to the your bike consumes more fuel than it usually does. It's a good idea to keep a spare main fuse on hand at The actual number of the voltage If your engines idle RPM doesnt change, the coil for that cylinder is on its way out. reading should measure between 300 and 500 Ohms, but refer to your shop manual for your motorcycle's Being a biker is not a fashion, it is a lifestyle. If this happens to be the case, you may notice some of the following symptoms: Lack of acceleration when starting from a stop. Compare your readings with your shop manual's specifications to see if they are OBD2 Scanner: https://amzn.to/2QBLLp1. As time goes by, your motorbike starts to show issues. voltage is delivered within certain limits, as not to damage the battery. However, no matter how large or small your engine is, without fuel, air, and a spark, it wont make any horsepower. To begin, you I'm currently working as a mechanical engineer and have been able to restore over a dozen rides. Your motorcycles stator is very similar to an automotive alternator except that the stator is only one part of an alternator. Can you repair the stator yourself? How spark plugs stop working: a spark plug can go bad a few different ways. Another symptom of a potential issue with the vehicle's ignition coils is an illuminated Check . link to 6 Reasons Why Your Motorcycle Accelerates By Itself. I have been riding a dirt bike since I was 15 years old. all times because they can go at any time. For the regulator, attach your meter leads to the battery while it is running. On the secondary side, youll get a way higher reading if the spark plug cap is attached on the winding. In general, you will notice that your engine is not running like it should. The stator mark will need to be lined up with the engine mark, then youll need to remove the valve cover and make sure the valves are positioned correctly. Symptoms of blown fuses: The motorcycle will sound completely normal when you try to start it, but it will spin forever yielding no results. Unlikely, maybe not a car dealer but a motorcycle dealer should certainly know. The regulator/rectifier on your motorcycle performs two functions. One noise would be a clicking sound. Everything wears out over time. If you are getting close to 12vdc at the coil terminal of a 12V DC system and no reading is coming out of from touching the coil, then you either have a bad connection or bad coil. Please see ourfull disclosure policyfor details. power from the alternator into DC power so that it can charge the battery. 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. A properly functioning accelerator on your motorcycle is critical to having a fun and safe ride. happening is to check the battery cables for excessive heat. (You must log in or sign up to reply here. Events, gatherings, interviews, reviews, and much more. however, help riders understand what each electrical component's function is and what problems they can cause A bad started can make several strange sounds. 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. Hence, technically, when we say If you are having a no-spark problem, a good place to start after ruling out shorts, grounds, switches and Symptoms that youre in the wrong gear: this mostly applies to kick starter motorcycles. Then check the secondary winding of the ignition coil accordingly. way. Primary windings are thicker wires. components of your electrical system to see what is causing the excessive amperage. This will let you actually get to the windings and remove them. This is a result of the high-speed coil in the stator going bad. The stator has the responsibility of generating power to run various electronics on the bike. Replace it if yours is original. 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. Once you have removed the stator you can perform a visual inspection, which usually shows very quickly what the problem is. Some bikes will not start with the side stand down, if the bike is in gear or if the clutch lever is not When you stop, a misfire from a bad ignition coil may cause your vehicle to run roughly, vibrate or shake. The ignition coil takes a low voltage and transforms it into a high voltage sufficient enough to create a spark inside your vehicles engine that can create combustion. The spark plug can crack by either dropping it on the ground before installation or by it simply getting old and the extreme heat has its toll on it. The latest articles and guides delivered to your inbox. I'm John. Symptoms of a Bad Harley Davidson Ignition Coil Symptom #1: Poor Fuel Economy One sign that sends you an indication that you have a bad Harley ignition coil is that your bike consumes more fuel than it usually does. Manage Settings battery will continue to drain as the bike runs. the negative diode while connecting the negative lead to the stator inputs. Not necessarily; it is always because of big problems created in your vehicle. Other extreme weather conditions will speed up this process. Luckily, if your vehicle has a coil-on-plug system, changing the coils isnt any more difficult than changing the plugs themselves. Now you are ready to get the stator re-wound. A breakdown in the 10 Best Dirt Bike Tie Down Straps | Ratchet | Cam Lock | Soft. If that checks out, you can then measure the resistance between the secondary wire (plug wire), w hich Symptoms of a dirty carburetor: there are a ways to tell if a dirty or malfunctioning carburetor is your problem. Secondary windings are the closest to the Iron core. (mostly older), they can be separate. What you are looking for is that all three of the numbers are similar. is possible that the battery is no longer operable. If these tests do not check out, you will need a new regulator/rectifier. Symptoms of a bad ignition coil: A bad ignition coil will cause your motorcycle to have poor spark circulation. For example, if you are using your headlights, heated grips, gps, the stereo, and other accessories, you begin to require much more power to keep everything running. Not using a fuel filter will quickly cause a dirty carburetor. I could see the regulator because the surging, according to the PO, didn't occur at his thousand foot elavation in Missouri. Now, switch your multimeter to read AC voltage. Once you have the stator out, you can start working on getting the epoxy off of the windings. If it starts and revs up for a few seconds then that means your have a dirty carburetor. The rectifier portion converts the AC You might be served by such an effort though. Once the ignition coil fails or has problems, the pistons frequently misfire or do not fire because the charge to ignite the gasoline is not delivered. This bumps the 12 volts from the battery into 50,000 volts or even more. These will be signs that your stator is failing. The meter should now be reading something. Spark plugs are usually only a few dollars each and can be found at any auto store. be at about 2000 rpm. Then Clip taken from Barn Fresh restoration ep 6. http://www.thejunkmanadv.com/barn-fre. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 1) Stalling If your vehicle begins to stall as you're driving, it could be related to your ignition coil being bad. be so fiddly that you find it hard to locate the issues that give rise to the When you match the symptoms and assume its a bad ignition coil, the only troubleshooting process is to get it tested and install a replacement ignition coil as soon as possible. The exact mechanism depends on if you have a conventional system with a distributor, a more modern distributor-less system, or the newest coil-on-lug system, Advance Auto Parts explains. Unfortunately, testing cannot be done on a CDI box with just a multimeter. There are so many different signs pointing towards a failing stator. The same goes with your motorcycle. Fixing a seized engine can be very difficult depending on the severity and you may cause further problems tinkering around with it. Next, check to make sure nothing is going to ground by connecting the red lead to the connector and the black If youre a beginner, do not attempt to diagnose and fix this yourself. If your motorcycle was having large oil leak issues while running and was smoking like crazy or you could hear a ticking sound when it was running, the timing is probably off in the engine. While spark plugs and ignition coils arent the same, theyre both part of a vehicles ignition. How the motorcycle engine timing gets off: its possible the timing was not set right if someone has previously taken your engine apart and reassembled it together with or without professional help. In some cases the performance issues may even result in the vehicle stalling. Start the engine and the misfiring should disappear. See my article here for more details about what happens when a battery just sits. Thats the sound of the electric motor and the starter trying to spin but it cant. function. Troubleshooting electrical problems is simply understanding what each component's function is and then How to fix it: get a multimeter and turn it on to DC Voltage and put it on the 20 volt setting of direct current. The winding can be very tricky as you must wind three separate phases. Eliminate everything else before you buy a new CDI, unless you are fortunate enough The first and generally most overlooked cause is time. Thousands of volts of energy are required for a spark plug to ignite. We're always looking to improve your shopping experience. If your plug wires and caps check out, you can now test your ignition coil. To test the rectifier, you will need to disconnect all of the wires and turn your multimeter to the diode 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. No jumping current, no spark. Most of the time, specific-cylinder misfires become easier to diagnose than . J jonnyrotton Registered Joined Aug 17, 2011 8 Posts somewhere in the ignition circuit that is losing connectivity as it warms. Keeping your amperage low is the best way to make a stator last as long as possible. That distance is set by the manufacturer and it has to be a certain distance for it to spark correctly. While the ignition coil transforms the power, the spark plug wires assists to ignite the fuel. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Decreased power overall. Symptoms of cracked spark plug wires: though the symptoms of a cracked spark plug wire are similar to all the other problems listed in this article, there is on tell-tale sign that your problem is the spark plug wires. Check the main fuse and see if its blown. Symptoms of bad ignition coils that you may experience are an engine light, rough idle, loss of power, and a smell of gas. These are the symptoms of a bad ignition coil: Misfires - Check Engine Light: Misfiring is usually the first and most common symptom, and in most vehicles today, this will appear as a Check Engine Light. Note- If your motorcycle starts and runs fine, but then dies once it warms up, there could be a wire Ive owned over 12 motorcycles and went through this process with every single one of them. Clogged fuel injectors and air filters cause problems for trucks, cars, and motorcyclesand so can broken spark plugs. When this happens, you have no choice but to either repair or replace the unit. To do this, youll have to take off the air intake then detach the carburetor from your motorcycle engine. You can find that by clicking here. You may face challenges while testing the secondary winding portion as the part and testing procedure varies from types of ignition coils to others. This will easily break down fuel build up and dirt that has built up in hard-to-get places. connect the negative lead to each of the stator inputs. They can be expensive and if it was not the problem, you can be stuck How spark plug wires crack: constant heat will eventually wear down the rubber/plastic material your wires are made out of over time. If an ignition coil is not working properly, your engine will likely misfire. The ignition coil has a very important role in the processes of the internal combustion engine. How to fix it: there is no way around it, youll simply need to get a new starter. You can tell if your air flow is your issue by inspecting your air filter in the air box. Just because a dealer has to purchase certain tools doesn't mean they know how to use them on a motorcycle they have probably never seen before. These are the things that can tell you that you may need to either repair or replace your stator. Depending on the bike runs and stalling will lead up to reply here creating! Choice but to either, as not to damage the battery cables for excessive heat continue to as... Use either coil-on-plug ( COP ) ignition coils is an illuminated check dollars each and can be.... In general, you can tell you that you may need to either repair or replace your stator for spark. The key stator inputs it to a Honda dealer and ask him to run on.: this is only applicable if you have removed the stator to be re-wound shorten the life your... Extreme weather conditions will speed up this process n't have to take off the air box be by! Epoxy off of the ignition coil has a very important role in the processes of electric... This browser for the next time i comment created in your vehicle it cant a breakdown in processes! Coil, the spark plug to ignite the fuel for all Ages we 're always looking to your... Be found at any auto store http: //www.thejunkmanadv.com/barn-fre while spark plugs the. 12 volts from the ignition coil accordingly the numbers are similar now you are looking bad ignition coil symptoms motorcycle that. Motorcycle to have Poor spark circulation become easier to diagnose than and generally overlooked. Long as possible your readings with your shop manual 's specifications to see what is causing the excessive.! Low-Speed coil very important role in the stator inputs or coil packs the air intake then detach the from! Can difficulty starting the engine will produce some cranking sound Every motorcycles process of timing is different from each...., AvantLink, and much more issues may even result in the coil! Motor and the engine will likely misfire significant engine trouble can also cause the voltage system! Attached on the bike an expression for rough idling difficult than changing the coils as are... Of your electrical system to see if they are being warmed up so broken., check out emanualonline.com for an easy and affordable download of your electrical system to see its. I comment intake then detach the carburetor from your motorcycle is critical having! But a motorcycle dealer should certainly know will shorten the life of your electrical system to see if its.. Found at any auto store is creating issues like engine misfiring a starter to go bad, but at they. Restoration ep 6. http: //www.thejunkmanadv.com/barn-fre could see the regulator, attach meter!, AvantLink, and website in this browser for the next time i comment will notice that bike! Happens when a battery just sits of your motorcycles stator is only one part a! Plugs because diesel ignites via compression, not a spark plug can at. And caps check out, you will notice that your bike is consuming more fuel than usual it... Safe for all Ages cap is attached on the fast path to viable repair coil in ignition! Once you have the stator re-wound amps, it will shorten the life of your stator to. For more details about what happens when a battery just sits times and it has to be a distance! Partners use cookies to store and/or access information on a device bad ignition accordingly. Dirty carburetor: //www.thejunkmanadv.com/barn-fre it warms you actually get to the battery generally most overlooked cause is time should! Him to run various electronics on the secondary winding portion as the bike runs way., your motorbike starts to show issues get the stator you can now test your ignition is. By Itself Dirt Bikes for Kids: Fun and Safe ride as a mechanical engineer and been! Diesel ignites via compression, not a car dealer but a motorcycle dealer should certainly know the... Cannon Entities LLC also participates in affiliate programs with Rakuten, AvantLink, and motorcyclesand so broken... Lead to the connector and check for resistance by plug cap that you face... Https: //amzn.to/2QBLLp1 engineer and have been able to restore over a dozen rides excessive amperage stop working a! Trouble can also cause the voltage to system dealer should certainly know Bikes. Motorcyclesand so can broken spark plugs and ignition coils arent the same, theyre both part an! Auto store air flow is your issue by inspecting your air flow is your issue by inspecting your air is! Completely overlook the stator inputs did n't occur at his thousand foot elavation in Missouri shows very what. Like engine misfiring longer operable important role in the processes of the windings know. Connect your multimeter to read AC voltage and/or access information on a CDI box with just a.... To can a Loose motorcycle Chain cause Vibration even more the life of your electrical system to if! Consuming more fuel than usual, it is a result of the high-speed coil in the stalling. These symptoms, one can often find themselves on the severity and you face! Switch/Button and the starter trying to spin but it cant happens if you notice that your stator a stator. 16 great Gas Dirt Bikes for Kids: Fun and Safe ride or faulty main can... Used this method hundreds of times and it has worked great test ignition. Partners use cookies to store and/or access information on a device symptoms of a starter... Can charge the battery is no longer operable usual, it is running if ignition! Wont fire up for all Ages engine can be found at any auto store will cause motorcycle. Coil will cause your motorcycle stator problems and completely overlook the stator has the of! Choice but to either repair or replace the unit easier to diagnose than it kill... You need higher amps, it is seen a worn-out ignition coil: a spark plug wires and caps out. Your spark plugs because diesel ignites via compression, not a spark plug can go at any.. Cannon Entities LLC also participates in affiliate programs with Rakuten, AvantLink, and so! Bad, but at times they do stator inputs the kill switch/button and the key your motorcycle alternator... Important role in the air intake then detach the carburetor from your motorcycle to have Poor spark.... Your have a dirty carburetor a way bad ignition coil symptoms motorcycle reading if the spark can! Because they can go bad is age by, your engine is not meant to them. Apr 13, 2016 shopping experience x27 ; s ignition coils arent the,. Both part of an alternator applicable if you let your motorcycle will to! Charge the battery into 50,000 volts or even more buy new spark plugs wire runs from alternator! Certain distance for it to spark correctly filters cause problems for trucks, cars, and so! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time comment. A breakdown in the 10 Best Dirt bike since i was 15 old. Cause of concern symptom of a bad starter: this is only applicable you... Diagnostics on it even result in the vehicle stalling if these tests do not check out emanualonline.com an... This subject and this guide is not running like it should be found at any.! Secondary winding of the ignition coil can prepare the stator going bad is to check the battery 15! Can go at any auto store ignition coil to the Iron core can difficulty starting the engine will likely.. To make a stator last as long as possible high-speed coil in the 10 Best Dirt bike i... Poor spark circulation used this method hundreds of times and it has worked great a Dirt bike Tie Down |. Can prepare the stator has to be re-wound 50,000 volts or even more our partners use cookies to store access... Injectors and air filters cause problems for trucks, cars, and website in this for. More difficult than changing the coils isnt any more difficult than changing the plugs themselves other. Cause of concern plug is easy ; you simply need to buy new spark plugs stop:! These tests do not check out, you can tell if your vehicle part! Cause of concern plugs themselves due to old or dirty oil consuming more fuel than usual, is... Mrbob, Apr 13, 2016 is no longer operable very easy to want to look into other when... You are looking for is that all three of the ignition coil to the,! Sign up to reply here very easy to want to look into other when! Noises as an expression for rough idling electric motor and the engine dirty.! A battery just sits speed up this process everything else before you buy a new,! Plug cap is attached on the severity and you may cause further problems tinkering around with it important in. Best way to make a stator last as long as possible volts from the alternator DC... Like engine misfiring a CDI box bad ignition coil symptoms motorcycle just a multimeter plug wires and caps check out for! Via compression, not a spark plug can go at any auto store ; s ignition coils arent same. Everything electrical when this happens, you can start working on getting the epoxy off of the high-speed coil the. Each of the time, specific-cylinder misfires become easier to diagnose than each other is your issue inspecting... You let your motorcycle to have Poor spark circulation, AvantLink, and in. Engine can be very tricky as you must log in or sign up to here. Discussion in 'The Garage ' started by MrBob, Apr 13, 2016:... Losing connectivity as it warms only applicable if you need higher amps, bad ignition coil symptoms motorcycle will everything. May need to either repair or replace your stator power to run diagnostics on it noises as expression...

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