My 2008 is starting to have a starting problem. 80% of the time it starts fine. Now every once in a while I push the start button and nothing. Sometimes I hear the click. Push it a few more time and works. How big of a issue is it to replace solenoid or starter? I can look at the switch really easy, but I dont think that is the problem.

Bruce

I kind of agree. I'd first look at the battery post conditions... especially the ground cable. Vinegar dip is your friend. Q-tip the lead posts if they are oxidized. Vinegar might go down between the post and case. Scrape new metal with a straight razor on the posts and cables. Vaseline or electrical grease. Check static voltage. Anything under 12.6v recharge the battery.

Thanks Hub. Got done with work and just went out and checked charging system. Battery terminals tight. Ground clean and tight. Just put in a new SHORAI LFX14A2-BS12 battery a couple years ago (battery stored indoors winter). Reading strong 13.4v switch on and while started.Used separate Battery tester and same readings. Still will start but clicking more and more. Relay?
Bruce

I'd try something like this to eliminate things:
1. With a test light or an ohm meter set to 20v, I'd go down to the relay (battery cage area), key on, ground the test light or meter, then probe the wire that when you hit the start switch button, you have power to the relay = Eliminates the starter switch.

2. With test light/meter at the other side of the relay, you want key on again, so really, you just do this quick test when you go back to the start button and test the other side of the relay. Where this is [touching] the starter motor cable to see if the relay's arm clicks inside the relay and hots the motor's cable.

3. So the arm in the relay is magnetically pulled to complete the cables being connected; is the bridge from hot cable from battery to relay, then relay out to starter motor cable. Kind of see what you're testing in the starter loop?

Without getting all scientific, the start relay is the most likely issue. They're cheap enough.
I'd change that.

Mad

Thanks Guys! Did the testing and pulled out relay. Local dealer wants $130 plus waiting a week to get. Dennis kirk has a universal that would work , but I want genuine for this. Ebay $12.95 and free shipping. Get in about 10 days. Unless my search tomorrow comes up with something else, I would be ordering that one. Anyone else have better luck someplace else?

Bruce

My 08 has always done this and it seems like it is getting worse over time. It seems to happen more often when the bike is hot.

* Last updated by: Rook on 8/27/2020 @ 8:43 PM *

Mine stone cold. It went from every once in awhile a couple weeks ago to almost every time on a restart after her ride. But it would also do it on startup for the day. When the part comes in and hopefully everything works out. I will post up where I got it from, price, shipping and the results.

had a similar issue with my Ninja 650 (ER-6F)... totally random and very frustrating
would start without problem for weeks in a row, and then suddenly the problem would show up for a while
cold start, warm engine, etc... could not work out a pattern... kill switch, kickstand switch, bike down switch, checked them all
after a while, noticed that the bike would start after waiting for 10-15 minutes, following a series of unsuccessful attempts
changing the starter motor relay solved the problem

I could swear there was a thread about this exact issue a week ago. I can't for the life of me find it now. It was a guy with a black 07.

Yeah, it was MrBrightside. Got links between these two threads for anyone who has this problem in the future.

http://zx14ninjaforum.com/messages.cfm?threadid=E1996357-A18D-FBDC-F95E38126126A367

When the part comes in and hopefully everything works out. I will post up where I got it from, price, shipping and the results.

Thanks Bopropucope. If it works for you, I'll go with the same plan if a little testing indicates we have the same problem.

* Last updated by: Rook on 8/28/2020 @ 10:15 AM *

Hello Bruce, Yes, I'm having the same issue with my '07, I replaced the battery with a new lithium one, also got a start relay off of ebay and replaced that, still having the exact same issue with pressing start button and nothing happens at first. My next plan is to check for voltage at the starter itself when pressing start button, just haven't had the time, and since it does always start, I guess I haven't had the motivation yet either :) If it has voltage at the starter but doesn't start, I plan on replacing the brushes in the starter motor, about $27 at Partzilla. Worn brushes and a dirty rotor could cause a problem like this for sure. Hate to just be a parts changer, but it is nice to have some new parts on an old bike. Keep us posted on any progress you make, cause this sounds like a common problem in the ZX-14 world!

One more detail to add, I've only had the bike about a month, so still getting acquainted, but today, I pushed the starter button, no result, but I held it in about 10 seconds to see if anything would happen, when it didn't, I started releasing the button and as it got to the end of it's travel the starter made a sound like it turned a little. As soon as I pushed the button again it fired right up. I'm thinking that's what it's been doing all along, starting on the second attempt. I have no clue why it would do that, but just wanted to throw that out there to see if anybody else experiences it the same way. Sure do love this bike though, such a pleasure to ride.

It was a few years ago but I believe I did the same hold the button test you did. I can't remember what happened but I am very sure it didn't start or I would have kept doing that. It probably started making a weird noise and I re;eased the button.

It took two presses to start mine today and the bike was cold.

Has anyone tried cleaning the contacts on the start button? Just spray a little contact cleaner in there while working the button. Two screws on the back of the bar switch to remove it, just be sire you know how to reassemble with the throttle cables.

Has anyone tried cleaning the contacts on the start button? Just spray a little contact cleaner in there while working the button. Two screws on the back of the bar switch to remove it, just be sire you know how to reassemble with the throttle cables.

contact corrosion in the start button was my first suspicion, as i live in a hot & humid environment, by the sea... but cleaning with fine grain sandpaper and moisture repellent spray made no difference... getting a new relay did the trick

* Last updated by: islandninja on 8/30/2020 @ 5:31 PM *

I haven't touched mine yet. I'll keep all this in mind though. Thanks.

Yes, I did spray some contact cleaner in the switch housing, but my multmeter was showing the switch making and breaking correctly every time I pressed the button, so I'm thinking the issue must be somewhere else. Also, I did replace the start relay and it still does the exact same thing. Weird, but it seems like it starts on the second press every time, but haven't tried enough yet to verify this for sure.

I can't remember ever having to press more that twice. I know I never had to press repeatedly or I would have remembered that.

Started yesterday but there was a super brief delay between pressing and the motor turning.

Okay, something like that says to me:
Can't be; switch/relay/motor/crank sensor/battery. Why? It eventually starts so no jobber is in need of a change. I question the ECU vs. tone wheel vs. count. In other words, the processing sequence is what I question is why it starts the second time. I'd say it's almost normal, and bad boys already cleaned up that update, if it is a common problem with said sub-gen, i.e., '06-07 being a sub 1352cc, then '08-09 being that next-sub and so on.

Would an '09 ECU clean up the second start? Only that black box knows for sure.

Well...perhaps the switch contacts are a bit worn or a little crushed or something.IDK.Just throwin that out there.Maybe you're pressing it a tiny bit different each time you do it.You looked at the contacts,yes?The wiring in there?Nothing pinched or anything?(damaged slightly)?How about that kill switch.Everything look okay inside?What's the service manual say about 'starting problems' in the appendix?
You say the needles sweep and the fuel pump engages when you turn on the ignition,right?Seems you can rule out anything wrong there.And it does it consistently every key turn?
Dumb question here..but did this happen with the factory battery?Before you replaced with the shorai.When you say
stored',do you mean 'on store mode' with the battery tender on it?Or just sitting.If it's been 'just sitting' you may have a dead cell in there.They can be finicky.What's your bike's volts showing while riding.It should show 14.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 8/31/2020 @ 10:53 AM *

Dumb question here..but did this happen with the factory battery?Before you replaced with the shorai.When you say
stored',do you mean 'on store mode' with the battery tender on it?Or just sitting.If it's been 'just sitting' you may have a dead cell in there.They can be finicky.What's your bike's volts showing while riding.It should show 14.

I'm quite sure my 08 did it from the day I bought it new. Not every time. By the time I really noticed it was happening on occasion, I had owned the bike a year. Did it with the Shorai and the stock battery from my memory.

Yes, I have always kept all my batteries on a maintainer over storage. The Shorai is 10 years old now. I don't think it holds a charge significant to start the bike more than a week anymore. It used to hold a charge forever. It shows about 13 volts after it sits a day or two. It goes up to 14~14.1v when I ride. It's an old battery but I don't think that is it.

The needles sweep and fuel pump primes every time I turn on the key. Always normal speed.

Between the start switch and the starter there is a "starter circuit relay" in the relay box and the starter relay. The symptoms sound like an intermittent failure of a relay. Automotive relays are low tech low cost parts. If the battery is tested and good seems like throwing a pair of new relays at it (hopefully that is simple to do) would be my first choice followed by a starter and then a start switch.

What else is there?

What else is there?

Starter ground wire according to Hub.

Okay, after finally looking at the service manual, there's a few items that will prevent the starter from working. I'm attaching a page with the schematic, could be the kickstand switch, the gear position sensor, the starter lockout switch, (clutch switch),start relay, regular relay, ECU (hope not), in addition to the start button and kill switch

At least in my case, if it were the ECU, it would not get worse over time as I think mine has. Mine still isn't terrible. I'd say maybe every 7 starts or so it will do it. More so when the motor's hot which leads me to believe it is something expanding from heat. Maybe a gap in contact gets wider...or something is too tight to let the motor turn.