Hard Starting?

Topics related to the ownership, maintenance, equipping, operation, and riding of the R1150R.

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
Rich Hamilton
Basic User
Posts: 33
Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:21 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: SW Florida

Hard Starting?

Post by Rich Hamilton »

Have any of you guys ever had a problem like this with your R1150R?

The bike turns over and starts but it won't stay running. This has happened to me twice. Also, the constant restarting caused a slight electrical burning smell (I'm guessing from overheating the starter). The only way to keep the bike running is to start it and keep it at moderate throttle (if I let the bike idle it would die again and again). After 10 minutes of running at normal speed, the bike runs fine.

What the heck? Is this a prelude to a problem? If I had to venture a wild guess I would say the fuel pump is giving out.

What do you guys think? If this is the case, what's the approximate replacement cost (out of warranty) to replace a fuel pump on a 2004 R1150R Series 80?
Last edited by Rich Hamilton on Fri Mar 30, 2007 11:39 am, edited 2 times in total.
2004 BMW R1150R Series 80-Alpine White (#131 of 200)
E=MC² (Enjoyment = Motorcycle X Clear skies²)
RrunsinOregon
Basic User
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 8:51 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Western Oregon

Post by RrunsinOregon »

Have the codes read before you do anything. The injection throttle bodies have Throttle Position Sensors (TPS) that sometimes fail if they have been pressure washed. The injection system also has a cold start sequence that relies on inputs from a temperature sensor, and that circuit sometimes gets dirty. Both fixes are relatively inexpensive, and certainly much less costly than a new pump.
User avatar
Sunbeemer
Basic User
Posts: 1491
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2005 8:48 pm
Donating Member #: 593

Post by Sunbeemer »

Rich, are you using the "choke" (aka "high idle") lever in front of the clutch lever when you start up cold? If it won't idle with that on in Florida, there is a problem...
Rich
ADIOS!
Rich Hamilton
Basic User
Posts: 33
Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:21 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: SW Florida

Post by Rich Hamilton »

Thanks for the input. Funny, I never use the high-idle level since it doesn't really work on my bike (it won't stay in the "pulled-forward" position, it just falls back to a midpoint position which doesn't affect the idle at all). I simply give the throttle a little twist when I start the bike, then just put it in gear and drive away (I don't like to just let the bike idle anyway, to me it wastes gas; I just get going right away and drive slowly for the first few blocks until the bike warms up).

But in these instances it's different. I have to keep the RPM's over 2000 or, if I release the throttle a little, the bike will just die. Once the bike warms up (about a minute or so of driving), then it'll idle just fine. Maybe it is a Temp Sensor or a Throttle Position Sensor or whatever sensor - who knows?

*Sigh* I'm starting to miss the fully-mechanical aspects of my old Honda now (no sensors, computers or other electronic wizardry, save for the electronic ignition for the spark plugs). Yes it all adds up to a more "civilized" ride I suppose; but at the same time it's just more things that can go wrong.

If you need a sensor to tell a computer there's something wrong with the bike, what happens when the sensor itself goes bad? It's so ironic: Something is wrong with the sensor that tells the bike that something is wrong with the bike. :lol:

Go figure. Sounds like the sensor needs a sensor.... :roll:
2004 BMW R1150R Series 80-Alpine White (#131 of 200)
E=MC² (Enjoyment = Motorcycle X Clear skies²)
User avatar
TicTac50
Lifer
Posts: 437
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2005 8:19 pm
Donating Member #: 586
Location: USA
Contact:

Post by TicTac50 »

My bike is in Florida and it never starts from the first time with the "choke" all the way up, unless the bike is hot, of course. I always need to add it a little throttle too at the cold start. I think it is a Throttle Position Sensors. I looked at the TPS on the left side of the bike, and it has paint/mark only on one screw instead of both. I wish one day someone will come to one of the Rallies and offer a service like; TPS adjustments, body and cables synchronizations and codes reading.
User avatar
dcameron
Lifer
Posts: 123
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2005 2:09 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Sonoma County

Post by dcameron »

Try this. Pull the idle swithch up and start. Let it settle to the mid position for a couple of blocks and then push all the way down. Works all the time for me. That mid position does set the idle a little higher while engine warms up.
Evil beware, we have waffles.
'03 r1150 - the beast
'11 r1200 - Hooligan
#564
Rich Hamilton
Basic User
Posts: 33
Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:21 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: SW Florida

Post by Rich Hamilton »

dcameron wrote:Try this. Pull the idle swithch up and start. Let it settle to the mid position for a couple of blocks and then push all the way down. Works all the time for me. That mid position does set the idle a little higher while engine warms up.
The problem with mine is I have to physically pull the lever all the way back and hold it there with my fingers for it to make any difference (that would make for some difficult driving :shock:). If I let it go, it falls back to the mid-point and at mid-point there is no change in the RPM's at all (it's not even slightly higher - the bike is at idle with the lever at mid-point).

Sounds like my "choke" cable needs adjusting too....
2004 BMW R1150R Series 80-Alpine White (#131 of 200)
E=MC² (Enjoyment = Motorcycle X Clear skies²)
OU812
Lifer
Posts: 2788
Joined: Sat Aug 12, 2006 7:15 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Buffalo Grove IL Chi Town Sub.

Cold weather bikes?

Post by OU812 »

All I can say is, my R1150R works as the man. says it is supposed to. :? Maybe it is the warmer climate? (For you that is :D )
RIDE TOO PRETEND, PRETEND TOO RIDE. :)
89 Oldwing, 07 WR250R, 14 KX250F
User avatar
Sunbeemer
Basic User
Posts: 1491
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2005 8:48 pm
Donating Member #: 593

Post by Sunbeemer »

Rich, when was the last time your throttle bodies were synched? I wonder if your air bleed screws are out of adjustment or there is dirt in the orifices, since these control your idle speed. What is your hot idle rpm?
Rich
ADIOS!
Rich Hamilton
Basic User
Posts: 33
Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:21 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: SW Florida

Post by Rich Hamilton »

According to the previous owner and the maintenance logbook, the 30,000 mile and annual service were both done at last August at 29,500. I bought the bike with 29,750 miles. It now has 31,250.

It's right on the money when warmed up - 1100RPM.
2004 BMW R1150R Series 80-Alpine White (#131 of 200)
E=MC² (Enjoyment = Motorcycle X Clear skies²)
NoRRmad
Double Lifer
Posts: 3687
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2005 4:47 am
Donating Member #: 388
Location: NYC

Post by NoRRmad »

It does sound like your "fast idle" cable is loose. My R idles at about 1500RPM with the idle adjust lever all the way up, 'bout 1300 with it in the mid-position, 1100 with it off. As you describe it, it s not even engaging at all until it's all the way up. I think the adjusting ferule is at the throttle cable 'junction box' down under the tank.
#388 '02 R1150R Black: The darkest color.
User avatar
Boxer
Lifer
Posts: 3402
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2005 9:16 am
Donating Member #: 2
Location: Atmore, Alabama

Post by Boxer »

Its supposed to fall back to the mid point position!
The top position is for you to hold it there while you press the starter, then let it go back to the mid point position until it warms a few blocks then manually push it all the way down.

For some reason the right hand throttle cable does not affect the high idle starting procedure the same as the high idle position switch. Mine would do the same thing when my high idle cable was too loose and I would just try to manually give it a high idle setting with the right throttle grip.

It could be your high idle cable is just a little too loose or too tight. Check the most obvious items first before fooling around with the TPS.

Try this. When your bike is good and warm and the idle is sitting at 1100 RPMs, pull your high idle switch up to the middle position. Then start adjusting the play in the cable until you have about 1500RPMs. It won't take long for the bike to overheat while running so you have to be kind of qucik with the adjusting procedure.
Post Reply