Bad Starter Relay...now what?

[AR5ENAL]

Hey, for those of you following my other thread, I have isolated my problems down to a bad starter relay.

-My battery has charge, but the start switch is still dead.
-I disconnected the starter relay from the starter motor, but thumbing the switch won't cause the relay to click

I'm assuming the relay is toast, so I need to know if this is my only problem.  Should I invest in a new relay, or do I need the entire starter motor as well?  I'd really appreciate all your advice on this, because I'd rather not bump-start my GS every time I wanted to ride it.

[AR5ENAL]

Anyone?

[Pam G]

I think Greg haad this problem a few months ago.  He used a screwdriver to do something like jump the terminals in the relay to get the bike to start.  If he sees his thread,, maybe he can explain how to do it.  But you will probably need a new starter relay eventually when you get tired of "jumping" it.

[asifnyc]

are you sure it's the starter relay?  take a screw driver and short the big posts.  That should engage the starter and at least tell you if the starter motor is functioning.  I thought my relay was gone last month but I wasn't sure and didn't want to plunk down $60!? and find out it wasn't the relay after all.  I kept poking around and in my case it turned out to be a problem with the clutch lever cutoff switch.

[fuzzymemory]

are you sure it's the starter relay?  take a screw driver and short the big posts.  That should engage the starter and at least tell you if the starter motor is functioning.

I have a similar problem on my bike - How do you "short" the relay with a screw driver?  Does the ignition have to be set to be on?  What exactly do I do with the screwdriver here?

[Greg Gabis]

Looking down on the relay from the top, you will see the 2 posts on the back of the relay. One post has the red wire coming from the battery and the other post has a black wire going to the starter motor. These posts have vinyl boots on them. Move the vinyl boots back and use your screwdriver as a conductor to bridge the gap between the two posts. This will bypass the relay and act has a wire between the two posts. The ignition need not be on for the starter to turn over but the ignition must be on if you want the bike to start.

If the starter motor turns, you know it's not a battery issue.

I had a similar problem, but it was intermittent and I finally realized it only happened when hot so I replaced the starter motor. Haven't ridden the bike in a while to see if my fix worked.

If you need a starter relay, I believe I have a spare that should work that I can sell you.

Greg

[AR5ENAL]

Great.  I'll try the screwdriver thing tonight.  Let me get this straight though:

If the starter motor turns, then I know it's something to do with the relay.

If the starter motor does not turn, then the problem is likely elsewhere.

Do I have the idea?

[Greg Gabis]

If the starter motor turns you know it is not the battery. If it doesn't turn, replace the battery and try again.

If it does turn, the likely culprits are the starter button, clutch switch, or starter relay. You can defeat the clutch switch by cutting and splicing the yellow with green wires at the switch itself, or you can defeat the clutch switch inside the headlight bucket by unplugging the two yellow with green wires that run to the switch and plugging your now available male and female connectors together. Do that and you've eliminated the clutch switch.

If you know how, you can ohm out the starter button (I believe that's what it is called) to test for continuity. If that passes, it leaves the starter relay as the likely culprit.

[Rashad]

i have a starter for sale on ebay if thats the problem. Im also very flexible with the price.. as i just threw it up on a guess.

[AR5ENAL]

I'd definitely be interested if it turns out that the starter is the problem.  I can't find your auction though, could you send me a link?

[powrful1]

park on a hill???

[Rashad]

I'd definitely be interested if it turns out that the starter is the problem.  I can't find your auction though, could you send me a link?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=35595&item=2430692214

[AR5ENAL]

Update:  Okay, I bypassed the relay, and the bike started right up (after a small fireworks display)...so I know the problem isn't with the battery.

I'm going to bypass the clutch switch this weekend, but I really don't think that's the issue.  I think it's either the starter switch or the relay itself.  Isn't there a way to use a multimeter to test for continuity on the relay itself?  If power from the battery closes the circuit, then there should be continuity across the relay.  Does anyone know how to do this?

The Haynes manual says to use a multimeter to test continuity across the terminals of the relay, and then to run + from the battery to the green/yellow wire and - to the black/white wire, where the fuse is, but that's a pretty small space, and I don't think I can get in there with simple cables.

[fuzzymemory]

If it does turn, the likely culprits are the starter button, clutch switch, or starter relay.

I was able to start the bike using a screwdriver across the posts of the starter relay (neutral, clutch held in, ignition on, kill-run).

How do I ohm out the starter button?

[AR5ENAL]

I was able to start the bike using a screwdriver across the posts of the starter relay (neutral, clutch held in, ignition on, kill-run).

How do I ohm out the starter button?

Mine started with the clutch out...I wonder if that means anything.  I was in neutral, clutch out, ignition on, kill-run.  

I dunno how to ohm out the starter button, but you should be able to isolate the starter relay by testing for continuity across the relay itself.  You'll need a battery, your relay, a multimeter, and some way of running power from the battery to the relay plug (where the fuse is).  I have the procedure in my Haynes, so I can send it to you if you need.  This might be easier than ohm-ing out the starter button...

[fuzzymemory]

Thanks for your help!  My bike is back running, I OHMed out the clutch-safety switch and figured out that was the problem.  I fixed this by "shorting" the relay w/ a paperclip.  I wrapped the sucker up in electrical tape and taped it to the side of the bike - all good