No/Hard start after rain

[wsteinborn]

I have a 2006 RT. No problems so far. 17+ thousand miles.

Yesterday while I was at work it rained a lot. Hight winds. Lots of lightning. It ended about 1 and I left work about 5. All was dry.

The bike would not start. It turned over. Seemed like it was catching and then died.

I turned off the key, and back on and tried again to to avail.

Put it on the center stand - same results. I found if I turned the throttle while starting I could get it to run but as soon as I returned the throttle to idle it died. I tried running it at 2K RPM and then idling it and it died.

I turned it all off and poked around.

Then I tried it again and it started. It was rough idling like it had fouled plugs or one cylinder wasn't firing.

I rode it home and after a few minutes it smoothed out.

Tried starting it a few times that evening and all was well.

I am starting a week long bike trip tomorrow morning and am concerned I'll be stranded.

Has anyone had this happen?

I don't know if it was the rain that soaked something ot the lightning spooked the ignition computer or what.

If I still had my Sportster I would be taking it on the trip instead of the RT until I figure this out.

[BuddingGeezer]

Wet plug wires will do that.

Ralph Sims

[Motorwerk]

Some of the early models had issues with what I remember are the connections to the fuel regulator corroding or possibly the regulator itself.

May want to get that checked out.

[wsteinborn]

Wet plug wires will do that.

Ralph Sims

I am betting that is it.

I have ridden the bike through worse deluge rain with no problems, but this is the first time it has sat through a heavy rain.

Probably while riding the heat kept the wires from being saturated.

When it did fire, I thought only 1 cylinder was firing...

[BuddingGeezer]

I guess I should have added, moisture in the ignition system. I have washed car motors at car washes and they would do the same thing. Hard start and hit like running on a couple of cylinders and then smooth out. Check your coils also.

Ralph Sims

[gulfcoastbeemer]

If I still had my Sportster I would be taking it on the trip instead of the RT until I figure this out.

This may be yet another case of a rider being rejected by their ride.

While unsubstantiated by scientific methods, there is a gathering body of empirical and anecdotal data that might suggest that problems, like the one you describe, are the product of a high-strung, sensitive machine, like your Beemer, buckling under the strain of perceived abuse.

Undeniably, the physical torment and sense of abandonment felt by a motorcycle left alone and unprotected in a rainstorm can be traumatic. But the ultimate coup de grâce to the relationship between rider and motorcycle can occur when the motorcycle is held up to both ridicule for its failure and comparison to a previous, joyous relationship.

May I suggest you and your Beemer seek professional counseling, and that while in the presence of your Beemer, you refrain from any references to your Sportster that might be misconstrued as disloyal.

[wsteinborn]

The dealership said it was OK - no fault codes.

Then on my trip it happened again.

At my next service I'll have them check for cracked spark plug wires or the coils or something....

[deilenberger]

Wet plug wires will do that.

Ralph SimsNo plug wires on hexheads.. direct coil ignition.

[deilenberger]

I am betting that is it.

I have ridden the bike through worse deluge rain with no problems, but this is the first time it has sat through a heavy rain.

Probably while riding the heat kept the wires from being saturated.

When it did fire, I thought only 1 cylinder was firing...There are no plug wires, so I'd bet it isn't it. There are 4 coils, 2 per cylinder, each coil connects directly to the spark plug they're associated with. It might be worth removing them and making sure no moisture is trapped in the rubber seal that seals the coils to the plugs, although it would have to almost flood the bike to get water by that seal IMHO.

[deilenberger]

The dealership said it was OK - no fault codes.

Then on my trip it happened again.
Under what conditions?

At my next service I'll have them check for cracked spark plug wires or the coils or something....Worth checking the coils are fully seated on the plugs.. easy to do - remove the cover over the upper coil and push it in. The bottom coil, find it and push it in (no cover over it..)

[wsteinborn]

Conditions: Light rain overnight while at a hotel.

No issues during all the rains earlier that day, but the bike was running and the engine hot.

I've ridden this bike in the rain a LOT with no issues.

It has even sat in the rain at work with no issues.

I'll try pushing in the coils. Could be they left somethign loose at the last service.

[deilenberger]

Bill,

That would be my first step - the next might be to approach the dealer about replacing the fuel-pump relay module. Apparently RT's have some problems with it corroding and becoming erratic... although the symptoms you describe are more of an ignition sort of symptom.

[wsteinborn]

Coils were fully seated......

[deilenberger]

Coils were fully seated......
Bummer I guess - it might not be the simple thing.

Since it likely is still under warranty, I'd take it to a dealer and have them scan it for stored fault codes. It's possible the computer stored what went wrong.

[wsteinborn]

After the first time I took it to the dealer.
They had no clue, and scanned twice - no fault codes.

[deilenberger]

After the first time I took it to the dealer.
They had no clue, and scanned twice - no fault codes.In that case - it might be informative to "read the plugs" when this happens..

Wet plugs = lack of spark and fuel OK
Dry plugs = lack of fuel and spark likely OK

That might give us someplace to start..

[Greenwald]

By no means a 'wrench' of any repute (have numerous scraped knuckles to prove that), but here's a thought.

Ever notice how, even after a significant rain, no water is pooling around the ignition where you insert your key?

Water weeps thru that opening like a sieve.

Whenever I am on the road touring, I 'cap' my ignition with a plastic coaster normally to be used under the leg of a kitchen chair. It's the 1 3/4" diameter on the inside that seals over this orifice quite nicely, and despite some unforeseen downpours, the R1200RT has always jumped to life.

I 'cap' the ignition whenever away from the bike for several hours, and even at night under my touring cover. A stick-on BMW logo even makes the coaster look like a genuine accessory costing big bucks.

Granted, your issue may be much more complex than this, but again....just a thought.

Good Luck!

[wsteinborn]

The Dealer has submitted the case to BMW NA. We hope for an answer tomorrow while the Dealer is doing the service, and adding engine guards and hyperlites.

[wsteinborn]

BMW NA never heard of such a thing. They told the dealer to coat all connectors in dielectric grease and see.

Since it throws no fault code, we'll have to wait until it breaks hard.

I think each rainstorm it has to sit in, I'll cover a different part of the bike and see.