Should have noted in the title - it's a 2009 K1300GT
Ignoring the can-bus error for a minute, the most obvious candidate is the kill switch - there's a known problem with these early K1300s of the kill switch getting hot in direct sunlight so the contacts expand and cut the ignition even in the on position. Coll the switch down and it's fine. Happened to my GT and the RH switchgear was replaced under the insured warranty I got with the bike.Hi
Be grateful for any thoughts.
3 separate occasions in the last 12 months (once in the garage and twice whilst out) I have ridden the bike, turned the ignition off and then the bike won't start. Switch the ignition on and the data on the screen comes on, but there is no sound from fuel pump and the 'CHECK' doesn't appear on the dash. It won't then start. After some time, the fault resolves and it goes though the complete check sequence and starts. The first time it happened (May 2020) it was at home - was considering what to do and a few days later tried it again and it started. The second time (Sept 2020), I phone recovery service - we disconnected battery, cleared ECU and muttered about modern electronics - still the same. I was in process of being recovered home when the breakdown truck broke down! I got on the back and tried the bike again - and it worked - I rode home, leaving the breakdown truck to be recovered! May 2021 (this week) - same again - same process - just before loading the bike onto the breakdown truck - tried ignition again (I'd already tried it numerous times whilst waiting) - it worked - and I rode home.
So, really intermittent fault - but very disruptive and obviously can't have any confidence in the bike getting me where I'm headed
Have just used a Motoscan and the only 2 trouble codes (which haven't shown before) are in the Instrument Cluster - they are:
CAN bus out of order
930F
No CAN message (from DME)
931F
Any ideas what the fault codes mean / what the solution might be?
Thanks - and apologies for the rambling question!
View attachment 28708
Hi DuncanIgnoring the can-bus error for a minute, the most obvious candidate is the kill switch - there's a known problem with these early K1300s of the kill switch getting hot in direct sunlight so the contacts expand and cut the ignition even in the on position. Coll the switch down and it's fine. Happened to my GT and the RH switchgear was replaced under the insured warranty I got with the bike.
I wonder if the can-bus problem is due to dodgy connections somewhere. Its basically a local area network (with 1970's RS232 technology underneath) so I assume connections oxidising could cause it. I don't know physically where the main module is that generates the carrier for it (presume its the ZFE or whatever they call it). I've got the proper BMW manual so can look it up (specifically for you bike) if you haven't got it. Can also share the manual with you (its only a tenner as a CD on eBay too - and huge value as it covers ALL BMW bikes).
Have a GS911. Not sure if any advantage over the motoscan. Happy to share, depending where you are? Also happy to scratch heads together on the phone.
If the switch has been done already then I assume they used one of the later ones which fixed the design problem in it. Also, I meant to say we haven't exactly had the hot weather that normally causes it.Hi Duncan
I'm near Bridgwater.
Thanks for the offer - also thanks botus for the reply - so potentially - the RHS handlebar switch needs replacing - looking back at service records it has been done once before when under warrantee. Wondered about the ring antennae - but usually get an EWS message on the dash (happened on a GS I had a few years ago) - so had discounted that - also does the ring antennae have this intermittent fault rather than just failing completely?.
Wondering whether you would consider the switch most likely and replace that or do further investigation / take to BMW specialist. Apart from fault codes - given that it is such an intermittent issue at the moment, it may be hard to work out. When it happened last week - it wasn't particularly warm (about 12 degrees) - left it whilst having lunch when the sun was out and that's when it wouldn't start.
I've got a manual on CD - agree - it's really helpful - though my mechanical skills are adequate - not brilliant! Do you know if it's straight forward to replace switch?
Thanks
I'm not expert on ring antennae (Botus has clearly come across this fault, I haven't) but with an RFID chip and couple of connections to go wrong I can't see why it wouldn't give rise to intermittent faults.So - the EWS / ring antenna can be an intermittent fault?
Hi Mart, I have a 2006 K1200gt that is doing the same thing. It started fine last week then wouldn't fire up on Wednesday when it was due to go to MoT! Turns over lovely but wont fire up. I figured it must be fuel or spark and I fitted new coil packs last year so I opted for fuel.Well - it's been a while - just waiting to take the bike to BMW specialist next week - there was a long wait - the intermittent fault now seems to be permanent ie now just won't work at all. Have tried different EWS to no effect - have checked plugs / wires to the ignition. There are no fault codes coming up at all. So - turn ignition on - mileage and trip info come up and neutral light comes on - but the 'check' doesn't appear and the ABS light doesn't come on. Tail light comes on but not front side lights. Have checked side stand switch - though like the kill switch these would usually be a problem after the ignition check sequence.
Anyway - unless any other thoughts - will update after getting it to the garage
Mine's working again. The strange thing is that when I replaced the ring antenna, the first time it fired up as it should. But the second time... EWS again! I drove off and it stammered and killed the engine... As I was on my way to an appointment I drove there anyway. When I fired it up again after that... No EWS and hasn't failed since 🤞Elwin - be interested to know if you come up with anything - was due to take it to a BMW specialist last week - but ended up isolating - so couldn't go. Now planned for a couple of weeks. Weirdly - just sitting in the garage - at times it will start and at times it won't - bike just sitting there with nothing happening - but just keeps changing - really odd.
Hi FazHi Mart, I have a 2006 K1200gt that is doing the same thing. It started fine last week then wouldn't fire up on Wednesday when it was due to go to MoT! Turns over lovely but wont fire up. I figured it must be fuel or spark and I fitted new coil packs last year so I opted for fuel.
With all the other start up/check noises, I wasn't sure if i could hear fuel pump so I decided to investigate and pulled fuel tank out. Fuel pump wasn't running. I "hot wired" pump and it ran fine, I even managed to start the bike like this, so i figured it was the fuel pump controller. If only it was that simple!
I fitted a replacement fuel pump controller and all was fine for the first two turns of the ignition key, the fuel pump primed and all seemed well, on the third attempt, nothing, back to square one.
Then I noticed that if I leave it, and tried again it would work, then not work, fiddle with things or not fiddle with things seemed to make no difference.
It was suggested that it could be engine cut switch, so I have looked at that and it appears to be ok, but I have ordered a replacement just to rule it out totally. I did notice though that with the kill switch in the off position, the "Check" doesn't appear. With the kill switch on, "Check" does appear, I don't know if that would help your diagnosis? If I disconnect the ring antenna, I get "EWS" on the display, so I don't think that's my problem, but I have also ordered one of those to try it. This is starting to get expensive!! I'm not sure what else cuts power to the fuel pump so if anyone else has any info, please post.
Please let us know how you get on with yours Mart when you finally get it to your specialist.
Well - sounds promising - fingers crossed!Mine's working again. The strange thing is that when I replaced the ring antenna, the first time it fired up as it should. But the second time... EWS again! I drove off and it stammered and killed the engine... As I was on my way to an appointment I drove there anyway. When I fired it up again after that... No EWS and hasn't failed since 🤞
Please find below the fault codes.
Really hoping it won't start failing again with my new ring antenna... That would mean something's wrong with the BMS-KP, and I'd have to start replacing more electronics.
Mine has 152k KMs on the clock, and counting.
View attachment 29140
Thanks. Well... it started telling me EWS againWell - sounds promising - fingers crossed!