'02 ST stalling

[Panthers_Den]

Alright, it would seem the past two days the ST would stall after riding it a mile or two. then after i start it back up it runs fine the rest of the day. both times it happened when i pressed in the clutch so i could slow down (almost as soon as i pressed in the clutch the engine just turned itself off and the oil light came on). i press the start button and it kicks back on and runs fine the rest of the way. Anyone have an issue like this or know what the problem might be? I'm still a noob with T/S'ing this bike so I'm not sure where to start. I had the oil checked just last month while i was at erico motorsports in denver and they said the oil is fine, or atleast was fine back then...

Any ideas are greatly appreciated!
Thx
Robert

[RSRAT]

I have my '02 RS in the dealer's shop as we speak, doing my 12K service, per Triumph's warranty requirement.

The only real problem I've asked them to troubleshoot and fix sounds like exactly the same one you are having. My bike has otherwise, been terrific, aside from a faulty speedo pickup around 8500 miles.

They called me a little over an hour ago to report to me that they "found the problem", which they've reported is a rubber air boot ( in this case directing air to the middle cylinder), saying that it appears to have "collapsed" somewhat at the intake end and seems to be restricting the flow ( this may be why when I'd reported this earlier, they made the supposition that the air cleaner might be dirty enough to be causing the problem-- so this sounds like it would have the same effect. however, they've noted to me that the boot has "taken a set" so to speak and now will have to be replaced with a new one. of course getting a part from Triumph is always problematic, so no telling when it will be now. They also claim that it costs only about $25. Of course I told them that I'd expect it to be covered under warranty, especially since I'd begun reporting the problem long ago. ) It started doing the same sort of stalling you describe, but began randomly and infrequently, becoming more frequent over time. I'd say it first showed up, as a repetitive problem, around 9000 miles. The bike is now at 12.5k miles.) So, if your bike is around the same mileage, more or less, you might add this to your list of discussion items for your dealer. Also, as usual, it sounds like they will try to resist covering this under warranty, as well as balking at getting the part shipped immediately, maintaining that it may cost more to UPS than the value of the part itself, and of course opting to leave me and my bike unrepaired until everyone just gets around to it, via slow shipping, ordering, etc. Shipping may cost $30 to $40, I suppose, and for that they'd let me sit without my bike, because they are apparently afraid to bill it back to Triumph, or hassle with the paperwork, perhaps.

I will be raising a fuss if they don't secure the part asap and get me back up and running right away. After all, this was finally discovered by them, after several previous reports of the problem, and now only caught and verified (if indeed they have found the real source of the problem now) while it was in their shop, not for any elective service, but for a mandatory Triumph warranty service at 12k. If a rubber boot that collapses by itself over time and then molds itself shut is not a legitimate warranty item then I don't know what is! And, in this case, simple customer satisfaction ought to be the rule of the day anyway, given the small cost, not to mention my diligence and my willingness to pay them the 7 or 800 dollars that the 12k service is going to cost anyway!!! The only servicing this bike has ever seen has been in Triumph's dealer shops, all religiously according to the warranty schedules, so it was certainly not anything that a rider could cause-- it's deep within the airbox, and the tank, among other things, has to be removed to access it.

good news is that you'll probably be able to keep riding until time for a scheduled service, just like me-- but you might be wise to get it done as soon as the mileage comes up, like I did. I didn't want this problem lingering and possibly getting worse.

I just returned from a 1200 mile trip through NMexico and experienced the stalling a number of times, often in some very remote places where it gave me some very tense moments waiting to see if I'd get a re-start or not! And, of course, extra starting just adds wear and tear to your starter and electrical system as well. So, I wouldn't recommend ignoring it long. I had even done an elective service appt. before the trip, just for some additional assurance I'd have no problems along the way, and this was the principle item I'd noted back then, along with having noted it even earlier in the summer when it first showed up as a repeating problem.

So, sorry to be overly verbose, but that's what this forum is supposed to be about-- I hope this will save you some difficulties when your turn comes. After that, pass it on!

And, please keep me posted if you would. If we find there is a pattern emerging on our bikes regarding this problem, we can use a little "collective influence" on Triumph to get them to respond by and through their dealers, rather than putting us, the customers, improperly on the hook, seemingly at the mercy of the dealerships. The '02 Sprints are tremendous bikes, especially when conscientiously maintained, so, in spite of the dealers' desire to get us all off our good 'ol steeds and onto the latest new bikes they are pushing through their showrooms each season, those of us who value keeping our proven, reliable bikes a little longer than most should certainly make our preferences for reliable service and warranty coverage well known !!! :hammer:

[Panthers_Den]

unfortunately my bike is already out of warranty and it currently only has a little more than 6k miles on it. I guess if it keeps it up I'll have to get that piece inspected and see what they turn up. hopefully that's not it as it sounds like a pain to get too. But atleast it's a starting point of possible problems.

Thanks for the info.

Also, when you're dealer finally get's the parts in and fixes your bike, if this does/does not fix the issue, can you let us know?

[RSRAT]

Will do.

Also, be advised that if a prior owner had reported this problem to a dealer and/or Triumph via a work order or other record in the system under your VIN number, while the warranty was officially in force, which is quite possible, then there should be a record in the system and you'll still have a basis to insist that your dealer request that Triumph still cover it as a warranty item. Remember, that a 12k service is part of the warranty schedule and if you and any prior owners have been adhering to the scheduled maintainence, and you spend your money on the 12k or the 6k service, that is an additional basis to insist that if the problem is "discovered" at that point in time, that it should still be a warranty item because it "relates back." Finally, Triumph should appreciate our finding and reporting these things as timely as possible so they can correlate them with other owners and identify them for possible recall or bulletins to dealer/owners.

I did not include in my earlier send that I'd also noticed a subtle but fairly distinct loss of power and lack of crispness in throttle response as well, which I had reported on several occasions to my dealer in work orders. And, we had had a verbal understanding that if it appeared to be a dirty air cleaner or similar problem, they'd just get to it at the next scheduled service, which this is for me. Otherwise, all they do is visually inspect and check the tune on the computer and, if they don't see something obvious they just give it back to you, saying they couldn't find anything else to explain the problem reported. So, with that kind of history, conscientious dealer/manufacturer's should try to take care of the customer as best they can. There's not much cost in it for them to boot.

[RSRAT]

Just to let you know, my dealer spoke with Triumph and did get them to agree to cover this item under the warranty.

The key in my case apparently was that I'd previously reported several times that I was having issues that clearly seemed consistent with an intake manifold leak. One of the symptoms from early in the bike's life was a popping sound when the throttle was closed from fairly wide open. Later, the stalling issue developed. And finally, just before hitting 12k miles and getting that service performed, I began to notice an unstable idle fluctuation especially right after cold starts.

Even though the bike still seemed to run strong and has gotten at or above 50mpg all along, this problem had been there apparently from the time it left the factory. Triumph told my dealer they hadn't previously known of this problem on any other bikes until my report.

I had the dealer save my old parts so I could see them before they are shipped off to Triumph for analysis- so, e.g. I saw that the plug from the no.1 cylinder( same as the cyl that had the faulty intake boot) had some strange looking corrosion around the outer silver base area and otherwise appeared to be darker, indicative of that cylinder running rich, which would also be consistent with an intake leak.

I also saw that the air cleaner was showing about the normal amount of dirt for that mileage, so it had not been playing any part in the problem apparently.

I'll pick the bike up this week and ride it, to see if there is any noticeable difference or improvement in things like throttle response and on/off idle smoothness. I had also reported earlier that these things too seemed out of spec. from pretty early in the life of the bike.

[RSRAT]

Just to let you know, my dealer spoke with Triumph and did get them to agree to cover this item under the warranty.

The key in my case apparently was that I'd previously reported several times that I was having issues that clearly seemed consistent with an intake manifold leak. One of the symptoms from early in the bike's life was a popping sound when the throttle was closed from fairly wide open. Later, the stalling issue developed. And finally, just before hitting 12k miles and getting that service performed, I began to notice an unstable idle fluctuation especially right after cold starts.

Even though the bike still seemed to run strong and has gotten at or above 50mpg all along, this problem had been there apparently from the time it left the factory. Triumph told my dealer they hadn't previously known of this problem on any other bikes until my report.

I had the dealer save my old parts so I could see them before they are shipped off to Triumph for analysis- so, e.g. I saw that the plug from the no.1 cylinder( same as the cyl that had the faulty intake boot) had some strange looking corrosion around the outer silver base area and otherwise appeared to be darker, indicative of that cylinder running rich, which would also be consistent with an intake leak.

I also saw that the air cleaner was showing about the normal amount of dirt for that mileage, so it had not been playing any part in the problem apparently.

I'll pick the bike up this week and ride it, to see if there is any noticeable difference or improvement in things like throttle response and on/off idle smoothness. I had also reported earlier that these things too seemed out of spec. from pretty early in the life of the bike.

[Panthers_Den]

On 2005-10-04 22:37, RSRAT wrote:
One of the symptoms from early in the bike's life was a popping sound when the throttle was closed from fairly wide open.

Yea, mine does that now, but I figured it was the triumph cf can and how crappy i hear they are. figured it was just leaking or something.

[RSRAT]

I have a CF can also. Once I ride the bike, I'll let you know if the popping has stopped. If so, then it would seem to have also been related to the intake leak. If not, then perhaps the popping is coming from a faulty can and will still need to be investigated. I've heard others saying they've had such problems with the can. Mine doesn't appear to have an leaks though.

[Panthers_Den]

yea, i'm seriously considering the SS can instead, but i like the looks of the CF Can