difficulty starting engine

[zmann]

I saw a few discussions on this but found nothing conclusive before I got lazy with searching threads. Is there a decisive fix?

Details- 06 S3 with 3k miles on it. After riding a bit, it will sometimes crank and crank but will not start. Generally after trying to crank it sporadically over 5-10 minutes it eventually catches. As I said, it doesn't do this every time- mostly when there are many other bikers and people with cameras watching.
I tried messing with the clutch sensor, the kill switch, the octane (this seemed to help but might be coincidental), the kick stand sensor, opening the gas tank, the throttle, and a few attempted jump starts rolling down the mountain.
Ideas welcome!
Zohar

[johnnycactus]

battery terminals bolted down nice and tight?

[Martin_R]

The good old gas tank vacuum again?

That made for some hard starts as the engine was starving for fuel, but definitely not minutes.

[rudebwoy85]

It happens to mine quite frequenly, and you're right-it esspecially happens when you are at an occasion to show the bike off a bit and show the guys with the farings that they dont know what they are missing..every time. For me it seems to take 3-5 good cranks sometimes to get things started, after than no probs 'til the next posing event.

For me it's not the vaccum thing, I had that looked at and you can tell if there is a 'suction' when you open the gas tank, my valve has been replaced recently (I did have that problem late last year) and I've kept an eye on that ever since.

Aint found no fix though, perhaps a more robust starter??

My daytona 'jumps' to life every time on the first press of the starter button.

[Legman]

This also has happened to me a few times, and I have worked out what caused it. Each time it has happened I have inadvertantly given it a tiny bit of throttle as I have tried to start it. The bike hates this. If i don't touch the throttle it always starts instantly when hot or after 6 or 7 revolutions when stone cold.

[Speedquest]

Mine takes at least 9-10 cranks before starting. People also look at me funny. Any other bike I had in the Past was 1-3 tops.

[13]

With such a new machine, I'd suspect faulty battery. Have your battery tested with known good tester.

Go easy winding starter too long at once. Gets pretty hot and needs time to cool, especially between hard-starts.

If vacuum at fuel tank's an issue (i.e. when gas cap keyed in open position, suction on cap prevents opening, and in extreme cases, fuel tank warpage observed at tank exterior), I've seen what's recalled to be the vacuum control valve disconnected (it's a disk looking valve with two or three hose connections on left side frame rail behind tank, accessible when body panel under seat removed). Disconnecting this valve should have no adverse effect on performance and'll eliminate vacuum lock preventing fuel cap release/ tank warpage.

On the throttle front, if you give gas whilst starting (tempting but not necessary on most new vehicles), the ECM logs that extra throttle input as an "idle" condition. While I have not seen this cause a vehicle not to start (I don't know it all), what I have seen is, when stopped, vehicle could stutter because it is looking for that extra fuel blast logged into ECM memory as "idle". Dang puter's. For this reason (if you are), it won't hurt to not give gas when starting (any false "idles" will clear after a few times starting without throttle input). On topic, use key (not red emergency kill switch, unless emergency) to shut engine off.

Don't know how much rubber burned, but if not so new I'd look at some other conditions, namely: coil resistance (0.7 -0.9 ohms); spark plugs; ignition wires; electrical corrosion; loose connections; dirty air filter (stocks better); injectors....

It's just power, fuel, air & spark over and over.

This is a nicely built machine with few issues. Again, I'd suspect a defective battery (from initial mishandling, being dropped, charged with a faulty charger...). Please keep us posted with your findings so we can understand this problem better during future travel.

Oh yea, water in fuel (indicators being terrible running and mileage)? Used to have good results with Shell, 76 and now swear by Chevron in these parts (they change formula from time to time, for better or worse). Avoid cheap, low octane gas, but don't run out!

Hope this helps!

[kdriven]

I was having the same issue and once called roadside to come and give me a jump which started the bike instantly - if was my positive terminal screw under the red cap, it was vibrating loose, not super loose....just enough to be able to turn it with my hand. When the next cranks without starting happen I took off the seat, tightened the screw and boom, right to life.

Lock washer fixed for good for me.

[HarriS]

The bike is not the fastest starter. When cold I have to crank it for couple of seconds before it starts. The key is to keep it crankin until it fires. Short bursts won´t start it. When warm it fires instantly. Last summer somebody gave a tip that open the threttle a bit, push the starter and shut the throttle. It fires as soon as you shut the throttle. I tried it couple of times. It worked but sometimes it ***** up the idle. Maybe it needs the throttle postion sensor reading closed throttle when starting.

[Lom]

I had the exact same problem very often when the bike was newer. I tried EVERYTHING to isolate the issue. To this day, I haven't been able to figure out when and why it does that, other than what you observed: seems to exhibit a lack of self confidence in public!
Mine is over a year old but has less milage than yours (I know, I know). The symptoms gradually decreased, almost disappeared. But still, I know it'll do it again if I go to Rock Store.