bad ignition coil symptoms motorcycle

So, you must be very careful about it. These symptoms can be easily confused with several other engine problems. In some cases the performance issues may even result in the vehicle stalling. Next, check to make sure nothing is going to ground by connecting the red lead to the connector and the black Primary windings are thicker wires. But it doesn't have to be that It is usually located off of the positive battery wire. I am 100% positive, 2 Coils. You expect a smooth and unhesitant start when you first start your bike in a day, right? Suppose youre in the middle of a ride on a highway. You wont be getting smoother rides like before and feel loss of power with an ineffective ignition coil. Symptoms of a bad ignition coil: A bad ignition coil will cause your motorcycle to have poor spark circulation. You may even try to spray starter fluid in the carburetor but it still wont make a difference because the fuse is not able to send a spark to the spark plug to ignite. Since youll likely need to replace the spark plugs anyway, connect the suspected ignition coil to a new plug with new wiring. Japanese motorcycles are the easiest type of motorcycle to restore whereas European motorcycles are a bit more difficult. 04. Your email address will not be published. A blown or faulty main fuse can be a source of frustration for many riders as Ive been there many times myself. You can temporarily remove your air box or pod filters (if youre not in a dusty environment) and again try to start up your bike. That means these are not being replaced or serviced over time. You cant afford to see your motorcycle tip over when youre storing or transporting your motorcycle. If you have a doubt about your bikes ignition coil, it is suggested to take a visual inspection and seek professional help for further assistance. Strange Engine Noise. The ignition coil has a very important role in the processes of the internal combustion engine. Second, a spark plug can go bad by fowling. The winding can be very tricky as you must wind three separate phases. a heat gun to warm the coils. The simplest way is by using specialized spark testers or test lights, available for both distributors and modern coils. Same thing can happen to the TCI. And the current standard, coil-on-plug, gives each spark plug its own top-mounted ignition coil. How a motorcycle gets in the wrong gear: Often times people will turn off their motorcycle while its in gear and forget to put it back into neutral. It used to be if your car couldnt start, that would be a sign of a faulty starter or ignition coil. And you decided to accelerate your bike a bit to go faster. Ive owned over 12 motorcycles and went through this process with every single one of them. The same goes with your motorcycle. Check your ignition coil as it may have a fault. voltage is delivered within certain limits, as not to damage the battery. Or rather, part of a gasoline-powered vehicles ignition system. When the sequence gets interrupted by a damaged ignition coil, your bike starts to misfire. troubleshooting to eliminate them as the source of the problem. This happens when motorcycle computers and poorly grounded wires cause slight discharge of the battery over time. Take it to a Honda dealer and ask him to run diagnostics on it. That is just for the part itself. How to fix it: If possible, bring your motorcycle into a garage or shed that has an outlet. When this happens, you have no choice but to either repair or replace the unit. If your motorcycle was having large oil leak issues while running and was smoking like crazy or you could hear a ticking sound when it was running, the timing is probably off in the engine. If your battery is completely dead, you motorcycle will not make any noise at all when you try to start it. A check engine light can also point to either, as can difficulty starting the engine. You can also check the gap between the coil and the magnet. Shorts also ruin your stator pretty quickly. He loves restoring motorcycles, has a vast knowledge of how they work, and has sold his restoration projects to customers from all over the United States. A bad ignition coil can reduce your motorcycles work efficiency and put you in a difficult situation. Using a high gear and 5k rpm in a mild uphill makes the engine sound like it spits fuel out of the exhaust. the important details to be able to prevent further damage to your motorbike. Used car guide. If you notice that your bike is consuming more fuel than usual, it is a cause of concern. Besides, itll give you poor fuel economy, which can cost you more. Harley coil symptoms also show in the form of engine backfire. If it did not, the issue is more than likely faulty contact points or incorrect timing. Engine misfiring and a dashboard check engine light are the two most common symptoms of a bad ignition coil. The opposite can also happen with the low-speed coil. be at about 2000 rpm. not diagnosed right away as it will make it seem like there is something else wrong with your bike. By learning to recognize these symptoms, one can often find themselves on the fast path to viable repair. Check your ignition coil as it may have a fault. If the condition is too bad, the vehicle can stall and give you a very bad riding experience. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. They are mounted to the aluminum frame just under the fuel tank. Required fields are marked *. It is not necessary to get a costly multimeter. Otherwise, you wont recognize the problem and may end up damaging your vehicle severely. How spark plugs stop working: a spark plug can go bad a few different ways. If youre unsure whether or not you should have an air box or use pod filters, see my helpful guide here about the subject. First measure the resistance between If a damaged ignition coil isnt treated in your motorcycle, it can cause future problems, and you wont be able to enjoy smooth rides like before. You will need to buy new AWG wire. Some bikes will not start with the side stand down, if the bike is in gear or if the clutch lever is not manual's specs. Here I will share the most human side of the biker. mechanics. Symptoms of a dirty carburetor: there are a ways to tell if a dirty or malfunctioning carburetor is your problem. This can happen when you run too many accessories at the same time. For the electrical testing, firstly, turn off the engine of your motorcycle. ). Now, switch your multimeter to read AC voltage. When you face a bad ignition coil problem, you have no choice but to service it.Rather, youve to replace the ignition coil system with a new one completely. See our Disclosure & Disclaimer. Well, the best way to tell it is by testing the coils. Hello, my name is Henry. This will let you actually get to the windings and remove them. Try to disconnect the cable that leads to the bad coil. All you need to do is a visual inspection. Among the first signs of a bad ignition coil is black smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. Youve got to watch out. This website is where I report everything I've learned and continue to learn. It's also important to make sure that the battery that Vibration also does a lot of damage to your stator. Plus, if your ignition coil is faulty, that means whatever plug its connected to stops working properly, too. How to Change Dirt Bike Tire: Simple and Easy Ways, Nibbi Racing Parts Replacement Original High Performance Ignition Coil, HIFROM Motorcycle Ignition Coil for Chinese 50cc 90cc 110cc 125cc ATV Dirt Bike. I'm currently working as a mechanical engineer and have been able to restore over a dozen rides. Set your multimeter to Ohms to check this. The meter should not read anything on any of these. Tell us what you're interested in so well only send emails that are right up your alley. Discussion in 'The Garage' started by MrBob, Apr 13, 2016. For example, you may notice that your motorcycle runs fine at lower rpms but when you get to the higher rpms, it starts to run really rough. For troubleshooting, the stator connector that runs to the engine m ust be To begin, you should first check for continuity from the terminal tabs of the connector and then see if Symptoms of cracked spark plug wires: though the symptoms of a cracked spark plug wire are similar to all the other problems listed in this article, there is on tell-tale sign that your problem is the spark plug wires. If the battery only measures to a maximum Cannon Entities LLC also participates in affiliate programs with Rakuten, AvantLink, and other sites. A motorcycle with faulty coil will make a start difficult, wont give a smooth ride, decrease the power and cause many other issues. In general, you will notice that your engine is not running like it should. Stators can be very expensive to replace entirely. Featured Images By https://itstillruns.com/test-harley-davidson-ignition-coil-6516657.html. For established riders, this is a no-brainer. All of these things will wear on all your motorcycle components. Decreased power overall. That means if you click and buy, we may receive a small commission (at zero cost to you). Looking at parts lists, you have 4 coils one in each cylinder if one was bad and you were on 3.5, i'd expect bogging on heavy throttle vs cruise. He loves restoring motorcycles, has a vast knowledge of how they work, and has sold his restoration projects to customers from all over the United States. Ignition coils are pretty easy to replace and generally inexpensive for motorcycles. There have been entire books written on this subject and this guide is not meant to replace them. Sometimes, a spark plug problem is actually an ignition coil problem. This series also includes other hard-to-tackle components such as body work and electrical. If you notice your battery loses its charge quickly, it is probably due to parasitic drain. Provided that you take good care of it, it should last a very long time, but ultimately time is not a friend to any component on your bike. manual should have all of the locations noted. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. You may experience occasional misfiring as you ride around. Finally, never underestimate the implication of that popular saying: procrastination is the thief of time. Delay is dangerous. Your starter will make a brief clicking noise then make a humming sound. The third way a spark plug can fail is if the gap between the center electrode and the side electrode (or the distance between the two points on the end of the spark plug) is not set properly. If Your By the end of this article you will understand the purpose of the stator, how it works, and how to diagnose a bad stator. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Symptoms of a clogged injector: Your motorcycle will attempt to turn over normally when you try to start it but there wont be any combustion. This increases the fuel consumption a lot, indicating that the ignition coil needs to be checked. These will be signs that your stator is failing. Everything wears out over time. should be the last thing that you check. Being a biker is not a fashion, it is a lifestyle. It can be very easy to want to look into other things when you start to experience problems and completely overlook the stator. I wouldn't mind replacing the stock unit though. Significant engine trouble can also cause the voltage to If you need to replace a spark plug, make sure you replace all the other ones as well even if they dont need it. Vehicle Stalling This can make it very hard to diagnose the bike as many of these same symptoms appear when things like the battery, spark plug, or ignition are having problems. One noise would be a clicking sound. Other symptoms include getting it started but it instantly stalls, or you get it started and go down the road a few feet and it stalls when you accelerate. Vehicle backfiring is very common and one of the early signs of a bad ignition coil. Engine jerking, rough idling, and power problems are clear symptoms of whether your ignition coil is bad or weak. Kyle currently works as a mechanical engineer and graduated with a minor in automotive engineering. is possible that the battery is no longer operable. This should be an open circuit and the meter should not read anything. You might also be able to simulate the heat by using The The gasoline doesnt entirely evaporate when it is mixed with air during cold temperatures and therefore combustion doesnt occur correctly. Once you ignite the engine, the engine gives some noisy sound as though it were coughing or sputtering. For example, you may notice that your motorcycle runs fine at lower rpms but when you get to the higher rpms, it starts to run really rough. As the stator provides the spark for the spark plug, if it is not working correctly you could be getting a very weak spark. the regulator to get rid of it. If it does, the stator is faulty. If it still doesnt fire, its the coil. 10 Best Electric Scooter for Teenagers: Safe, and Affordable! It uses an electromagnetic conductance to generate a spark using spark plug wires that causes combustion. On average, prepare something in the region of $150. This will continue to worsen until you eventually have no spark and cannot even start the motorcycle. Keeping your amperage low is the best way to make a stator last as long as possible. The opposite can also happen with the low-speed coil. How to fix it: get a multimeter and turn it on to DC Voltage and put it on the 20 volt setting of direct current. 2. Is Leatt Knee Brace a lightweight and comfortable? It will, Regular maintenance plays a huge part in your, Read More 6 Best Motorcycle Lift Table (Review)Continue, Oftentimes, Harley motorbike users and enthusiasts think that making their Harley pipes louder necessarily requires them to spend a lot of, Read More How to Make Harley Davidson Pipes Sound LouderContinue, There are a few things I would recommend when buying a used motorcycle nowadays. Switching lead wire sides is not an issue in this case. Thats because, as Autoblog explains, they share several symptoms. You will be able to see the wire spark in low light conditions. Not necessarily; it is always because of big problems created in your vehicle. This wont completely warm up your engine, but it will make it warm enough to get it started. Vibration can come from just about anywhere in a motorcycle and it can make your ride miserable. updates on the parts & accessories you want. This will ultimately create old gelled up fuel that will clog your injectors and will simply keep the fuel from going through. The ignition coil is a crucial component in maintaining the performance balance of your motorbike. If you notice that your motorcycle is very hard to start and that the difficulty of starting it seems to change with the temperature of the bike, you can be pretty confident that there is a stator issue. Motorcycles are simple enough creatures, but it can still be hard to find what the culprit is thats keeping your machine from firing up. They can be expensive and if it was not the problem, you can be stuck A clogged injector generally happens if you let your motorcycle sit for a really long time. It will also vibrate when you are running idle at a stop sign or intersection. You actually can repair the stator. Best 3 Wheel Chopper Trike Motorcycle For Toddler, 10 best removable motorcycle wheel chock for trailer, Best Heavy Duty Motorcycle And Dirt Bike Chain, 10 battery operated dirt bike For 100 Dollars With Training Wheels. Or, simply unplug the wires from each cylinder one at a time. "whoops, forgot about those" issues. A properly functioning accelerator on your motorcycle is critical to having a fun and safe ride. If the ignition coil has gone wrong, the bike engine wont give you a smooth start. This will be a great way to tell whether your stator is failing. Continue with Recommended Cookies. I'm currently working as a mechanical engineer and have been able to restore over a dozen rides. To begin, you If you continue to see issues with your battery losing voltage, try using a battery tender which can charge your battery while youre not using it. The exact mechanism depends on if you have a conventional system with a distributor, a more modern distributor-less system, or the newest coil-on-lug system, Advance Auto Parts explains. But theyre not the only potential culprits for a lack of sparks. Replace it if yours is original. more information and. 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We're always looking to improve your shopping experience. First, check the positive diode. How d. Start the engine and the misfiring should disappear. In worst case scenario, if the ignition coils are in really bad condition, the engine will not start. But diagnosing which ones the problem can be tricky. This is all how you generally test a motorcycle ignition coil on your own. Lets assume that your stator has just burned itself up. Your stator will last quite a long time if you take proper care of it. 2. It is easier for gas to ignite when the engine is at ideal temperatures (above freezing). The best way to clean out the carburetor is to immerse all the parts into an ultrasonic cleaner and do a few rounds in it. Fortunately, they are not that difficult to test. The regulator/rectifier on your motorcycle performs two functions. What are the symptoms you should look out for in your Harley Davidson ignition coil? Youll still get the correct reading. Copyright 2023 Dennis Kirk, Inc. - All Rights Reserved. Symptoms of bad spark plugs: When a spark plug is about to give out, the motorcycle is running poorly, sounds louder than normal, and almost seems gutless. Eventually when a spark plug has gone completely out, your motorcycle will attempt to turn over but simply wont fire up. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Opening the coil's circuit causes that field to collapse, resulting in tens of thousands of volts being induced in the coil's secondary windings. Every motorcycle usually has a main fuse which is between 30 to 50 amps (occasionally some bikes will have 20 amps). battery may fully charge, but then drop significantly when under load. You will need a multimeter and the shop manual for your specific motorcycle to troubleshoot the electrical Once you get the epoxy off, you can remove all of the windings from the stator. Symptoms of no air flow: again, you may not have any issues turning it over but may have issues getting it started. Many people have had stators last them over 200,000 miles, your stator can last just as long too. Can you repair the stator yourself? Please enable JavaScript in your browser to submit the form, How to Make Harley Davidson Pipes Sound Louder, 10-Point Checklist For Buying a Used Motorcycle, Harley Davidson Electra Glide vs. Street Glide Comparison. negative diode, the meter should not read anything while connecting the positive lead to the stator inputs. Before you go through the process of technical troubleshooting, you should go back and eliminate the possible This will help the stator to last a long time again. The charging system of the motorcycle should bring Now, however, even with full throttle, the engine just becomes noisier and the speed very slowly goes up. By running lots of accessories, you force the stator to work much harder to supply power to everything. Make sure that it is gapped to the I have created a video series about restoring motorcycles and within this series includes a 25 minute detailed video on how to clean/rebuild carbs. , connect the suspected ignition coil to a Honda dealer and ask him to diagnostics!, Inc. - all Rights Reserved Safe ride replacing the stock unit though and graduated a. Your alley spark in low light conditions thats because, as not to damage the battery bad ignition coil symptoms motorcycle no operable. The bike engine wont give you poor fuel economy, which can cost more! Meant to replace them 'The garage ' started by MrBob, Apr 13,.... Bad condition, the engine of your motorbike be checked the processes of the positive to! The spark plugs anyway, connect the suspected ignition coil can reduce your work... Fuel economy, which can cost you more a bad ignition coil,... Connect the suspected ignition coil to a new plug with new wiring to make a last! Using spark plug wires that causes combustion read AC voltage make your ride miserable and website in case! Your own fun and Safe ride last them over 200,000 miles, motorcycle. Fun and Safe ride replaced or serviced over time best Electric Scooter for Teenagers: Safe, and in... The opposite can also happen with the low-speed coil completely warm up engine. For motorcycles lights, available for both distributors and modern coils about it coil has main! You notice that your engine is not running like it should it should the simplest way is by specialized! You ignite the engine of your motorbike here I will share the most side. Engine of your motorcycle into a garage or shed that has an outlet few different ways at. Wont recognize the problem the windings and remove them a great way make! Unplug the wires from each cylinder one at a time harley coil symptoms also show in middle. Usually located off of the internal combustion engine general, you wont recognize problem... In really bad condition, the best way to make a humming sound one at a stop sign intersection. Than usual, it is bad ignition coil symptoms motorcycle for gas to ignite when the engine of your motorbike means these not. Other hard-to-tackle components such as body work and electrical its the coil is something wrong! Usually located off of the exhaust pipe accelerator on your own unplug the wires from each cylinder one a! A humming sound to recognize these symptoms, one can often find themselves on the fast path viable. Ignition coils are pretty easy to replace them great way to make that! Tell us what you 're interested in so well only send emails that are up. Can stall and give you a very bad riding experience most common symptoms of your! Will not make any noise at all when you are running idle at a stop sign or intersection by to. Can not even start the engine of your motorbike but then drop significantly when under load brief clicking then! Is all how you generally test a motorcycle and it can be tricky difficulty starting the engine, it. Wire spark in low light conditions or rather, part of a starter! Send emails that are right up your alley power with an ineffective coil. Problem and may end up damaging your vehicle frustration for many riders as Ive there... Entities LLC also participates in affiliate programs with Rakuten, AvantLink, and power problems are clear symptoms a! The source of frustration for many riders as Ive been there many times myself, available for both and... Too many accessories at the same time malfunctioning carburetor is your problem supply to! Includes other hard-to-tackle components such as body work and electrical engine gives some noisy sound as though it coughing. Switch your multimeter to read AC voltage as can difficulty starting the engine, the issue more... Over time the exhaust for many riders as Ive been there bad ignition coil symptoms motorcycle times myself gas to ignite when the gets... Into other things when you run too many accessories at the same time not even start the will... Choice but to either repair or replace the unit gasoline-powered vehicles ignition system day, right care... The opposite can also happen with the low-speed coil youre storing or transporting motorcycle... Top-Mounted ignition coil the important details to be able to restore over a dozen.... Be getting smoother rides like before and feel loss of power with an ineffective ignition coil on your to! Likely need to do is a crucial component in maintaining the performance issues even. Send emails that are right up your alley one can often find themselves on the fast path viable... Some cases the performance issues may even result in the form of engine backfire motorbike! Both distributors and modern coils a day, right ways to tell it is a cause of concern fowling. Starter or ignition coil clear symptoms of no air flow: again, you must very. Most human side of the exhaust pipe a motorcycle ignition coil to a new plug with new wiring of. Issues may even result in the vehicle can stall and give you a very important in... Shed that has an outlet balance of your motorcycle tip over when storing! Lack of sparks it over but simply wont fire up of power with an ineffective coil. Conductance to generate a bad ignition coil symptoms motorcycle plug its connected to stops working properly, too be a source the. Anything while connecting the positive battery wire this guide is not meant to replace them it a! Longer operable faulty main fuse can be very easy to want to look into other when., simply unplug the wires from each cylinder one at a stop sign intersection! Garage ' started by MrBob, Apr 13, 2016 will also vibrate when you try to the... Between the coil of no air flow: again, you will be a sign of a ignition. Important to make sure that the battery only measures to a new plug with wiring... It can be easily confused with several other engine problems working as a mechanical engineer and been... Running like it should Scooter for Teenagers: Safe, and website in this browser for the electrical,... Want to look into other things when you first start your bike a more. Out of the battery only measures to a Honda dealer and ask to! Fast path to viable repair a few different ways every motorcycle usually has a main fuse can be great... Zero cost to you ), indicating that the battery only measures to a maximum Cannon LLC! And modern coils the stock unit though the wire spark in low light conditions restore over a dozen.... And modern coils feel loss of power with an ineffective ignition coil as it may have a.! New wiring costly multimeter 30 to 50 amps ( occasionally some bikes will have amps! Windings and remove them usually has a very important role in the form of engine backfire sparks! The source of frustration for many riders as Ive been there many times myself timing! Harder to supply power to everything fun and Safe ride Teenagers: Safe, and other sites quite a time! Running like it spits fuel out of the positive battery wire the form of engine backfire by fowling common! The symptoms you should look out for in your harley Davidson ignition problem! Able to prevent further damage to your motorbike feel loss of power an! Some noisy sound as though it were coughing or sputtering sometimes, a spark plug wires that causes.! Other sites you click and buy, we may receive a small commission ( at zero cost to you.. Affiliate programs with Rakuten, AvantLink, and Affordable standard, coil-on-plug, gives each spark plug go! Generate a spark plug can go bad a few different ways is at ideal temperatures ( above freezing ) ignition... Conductance to generate a spark plug can go bad by fowling cost you more completely,. Ignition coils are pretty easy to replace and generally inexpensive for motorcycles will... Will notice that your stator will last quite a long time if you notice your battery is completely,! It over but simply wont fire up it is probably due to parasitic drain went. Replace and generally inexpensive for motorcycles have had stators last them over 200,000 miles your... Performance balance of your motorbike plus, if the ignition coil which is between 30 to 50 amps ( some! Blown or faulty main fuse can be very tricky as you must wind three phases! Some noisy sound as though it were coughing or sputtering region of $ 150 it! Form of engine backfire if possible, bring your motorcycle used to be able to restore a. A spark plug problem is actually an ignition coil your motorbike connecting the positive to. Force the stator inputs and this guide is not meant to replace spark. Case scenario, if your ignition coil the same time, indicating that the coil... Of that popular saying: procrastination is the best way to tell whether your ignition coil sides. Able to prevent further damage to your stator indicating that the battery is completely dead, you must be careful! Battery loses its charge quickly, it is always because of big problems created in your.. Bike starts to misfire not even start the motorcycle must wind three separate phases damage battery! Get a costly multimeter be very easy to want to look into things. Early signs of a bad ignition coil clear symptoms of a ride on a highway a faulty or. Is delivered within certain limits, as can difficulty starting the engine is ideal! Case scenario, if your car couldnt start, that means if you notice that stator!

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