Triumphrat

superdave1018 · 08-12-2005

After a flawless 45 mile journey from home towards work, I was sitting in an intersection (notorious for taking at least 5 minutes to get through, and downhill) I decided to kill the engine. I probably messed up by using the kill switch. When I tried to restart the engine, it sputtered, coughed but never fired. I tried numerous time to restart, and finally it kicked off (started) like nothing was wrong. Didnt miss a beat the rest of the way to work! It sounded like it was real weak when trying to start...but the time it actually started, it sounded normal. When I got into my parking garage (about 2 miles past the intersection) I killed it again (using the key). Tried a restart, and the same thing happened! CAN ANYONE HELP ME!!??

JohnRimmer · 08-12-2005

when you turn on the ignition are you waiting a few seconds for the engine management to sort itself out,and keep your hand off the throttle and clutch in ?

MonkeyHanger · 08-12-2005

Quote:

Tried a restart, and the same thing happened! CAN ANYONE HELP ME!!??

I've done 4000 miles without any trouble; but yesterday mine did this too after using the kill switch. I never use the kill but was parked on the footpath (sorry sidewalk) so thought it best to be quiet asap. I was there for what seemed like an eternity 30+ stabbs at the button. She's been fine since after lots of restarts... I put it down to some ***** in the fuel.

MH

PS
It has happened to me before on other Japanese bikes so I'm not worried.

cshell · 08-12-2005

I experienced the same problem. I also chalked it up to bad gas (I knew I shouldn't have bought from that shady station!). I hadn't encountered the problem before that fill-up and I haven't experienced it since. However, with several reports showing up, you have to wonder.

Pig9r · 08-12-2005

I have heard people make mention of not using the kill switch to turn it off unless it is an emergency type of situation, which is what the manual states. I think it has to do with how it shuts the ECU down it takes it a bit to sort everything out once it is started.

superdave1018 · 08-12-2005

Quote:

On 2005-08-12 11:31, JohnRimmer wrote:
when you turn on the ignition are you waiting a few seconds for the engine management to sort itself out,and keep your hand off the throttle and clutch in ?

no hand on throttle, and clutch all the way in...

when i left work today, it started up fine, like nothing was wrong. i rode about 40 miles, and stopped at a local moto shop (japanese bike place) to get a bracket to put my inspection sticker on...same deal, sluggish in starting, but not as many tries. Then I rode for 10 miles and stopped for gas. Worse than all of them. It almost sounded like the battery was getting weak...will that make the ECU hiccup? again, once it starts...its beeeeyooooteeeeful!

thanks for all your posts so far...keep the suggestions coming!

Agkistrodon · 08-12-2005

my bro had this problem on his old zx9 and if i remember corectly he just gave it a good blip as he shut her down and she kicked up fine next time

MonkeyHanger · 08-12-2005

I again Superdave,

If I were you i'd speak to the dealer anyway. Then if it fails on you again you can have him look at it in the knowledge that you've already logged an issue with him.

Good luck.

Hope its just some dodgy fuel working its way through the system. Try filling her up again from a trusted station; that should dilute any impurities.

From time to time I use super-unleaded to give the bike a treat. I'm not sure why really but a fellow S3 owner suggested it.

MH

Pig9r · 08-12-2005

You might check out this thread click here Keep in mind most of the posters have bonnevilles which are not fuel injected and don't have the same type of ECU but I thought this post might give some insight:

Quote:

Having owned a 955 Daytona the kill switch was only to be used in an emergency as it could confuse the engine management system program. Apparently if the engine was killed hot it would still think it was hot next time it was started even if it was 40 below.

Perhaps Triumph have simply kept their advise standard in order to avoid confusing the bloke who writes the handbook instructions !

I think a flash of the ECU by the dealer might cure your problem. If it was bad gas why would it be all of a sudden and after using the kill switch?

Diego · 08-12-2005

Dave, if the kill switch was the source of the original trouble, a few startups should allow the ECM to re-learn the correct startup conditions. However, you are right in thinking that the ECM can be confused by inadequate voltage if the battery is also getting weak. If your starting doesn't return to normal soon, you might want to check that possibility.