My 2012 has 9,500 miles on it.

I got a check engine light a couple times recently but turn the key off then back on and the CEL is gone. But a couple times today the bike died at idle as if the key had been shut off and the dash went off then immediately come back on. The bike starts back up right away, but something is causing it.

Haven't yet changed the plugs or air filter yet, but just did an oil change. Sensor of some sort going? Battery may be on its way out? Volt reading on the dash reads 14 +. I kept a battery tender on it over the winter, a week on, week off.(had another bike sharing the battery tender)

Any advice is appreciated. I am leaning towards taking the battery out and having it tested.

I wouldn't think its yet necessary to replace the plugs at so few miles, (But I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea, nor would replacing the air filter)

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 4/24/2016 @ 2:54 PM *

Check the battery connection are tight. Other than that I can't see the battery causing it. Poor starting yes but not suddenly cutting out like that. Check for for a loose plug or connection anywhere on the control side of the loom, ECU, dashboard/clocks etc. The engine warning symbol denotes a problem with the DFI or ignition systems. Has it thrown up any error codes?

I changed my plugs at around 20k even though the bike was running fine and they looked like new.

* Last updated by: pegscraper on 4/24/2016 @ 3:10 PM *

Battery connections I just checked and they are tight

No codes that I can see

thanks for the input and suggestions, I'll keep looking into it and check further for a loose connection

I've read where the ground cable off the battery can need cleaning and/or tightening. I dunno where it's bolted on, frame or motor, but it's prob worth checking it.

Does your bike live inside or out in the elements?

Hopefully its just a battery, do a load test or take it and have one done just to rule it out.

I don't know about the battery if he can keep starting it back up. You have to describe who is flashing. Is it a water bar, gas bar, gear number, the lower skid detect on the dash? Which CEL?

Have you checked for error codes with the ECU in diagnostic mode?

Thanks for all the help

Bike is kept in the garage

I Checked the battery connections and they are tight and look to be very clean, but I tightened them a bit more
I guess I will take the battery back out and take it somewhere and have it load tested to be sure; I hope it's something that simple and easy to get to

and I'm not sure about an error code I don't guess I'm aware of how to access diagnostic mode to see

the cel was the little icon of an engine on the lower right side of the tach gauge

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 4/25/2016 @ 11:26 AM *

Turn the ignition on, then press and hold the SEL button for 2 seconds. The display will then show an error code, if there is one (or more).
Error codes consist of 2 digits. If there is more than one error then the codes will scroll in numerical order for 2 seconds each and repeat until the diagnostic mode is ended buy pressing the SEL key for 2 seconds or turning off the ignition.

The above procedure is in the FSM along with a list of codes and their meaning. It also states that the battery should be fully charged before entering diagnostic mode to avoid false readings.
Hope this helps.

I'll try that. Thanks so much

By "FSM" do you mean the big thick service manual ?

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 4/26/2016 @ 7:04 AM *

Field Service Manual

The yellow engine icon light is the one that came on. Lowest light on the right side of the tach
It came on twice but when you shut the key off and restart the bike, the light does not come back on

I've not gotten the light yet again, but as I said, the bike died twice at idle over the weekend

Attempting to access thr diadnostic mode; I turned the key on and hold the select button (for 2 seconds, more than 2 seconds, less, etc..... Nothing) and I can't get it to access the diagnostic mode

does that mean there is no error code, or I am just not getting it to display that mode ?

If there are no codes will it still display the "error screen" with no codes underneath ?

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 4/26/2016 @ 6:48 PM *

The FSM in available on line for free, look around for it..

Thanks. ^

I splurged and bought the service manual A couple years ago and I just read the section on self diagnostic

I still can't get the diagnostic mode to activate dispite my repeated attempts

Or maybe the diagnostic mode is not accessible unless you have an error code ? And maybe I don't have an error code?

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 4/26/2016 @ 9:04 PM *

Or maybe the diagnostic mode is not accessible unless you have an error code?

And maybe I don't have an error code?

1. Wire out of connector = Show me the code.
2. Connector not connected = Show me the code.
3. Short to ground, signal out of range = Nada!

Phantom code ~ (I can only guess at):
Pulse train error.
Can Com error (same as above).
Spike in the ping.

No code is half or partial pregnant.
Codes are full on pregnant!
You are or you are not.
You are on or you are off at that dash.

No steady light, no code present.

Make sense?

I cant remember, but can you check them with the engine running? If so, the next time it does it STOP and try to check it then WITHOUT shutting the bike off.

Ive had (cars) that wouldn't store the code and I had to take it direct to the dealer to have it pulled while the car was still running. Took several attempts to do it.

So, if you get a code AND its still under warranty take a picture or video of the bike running with the code set. That way you'll have more for a dealer to go on when they go to service it.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll just have to see if it happens again. But it runs fine aside from dieing at idle twice. No acceleration problems or sputtering at any rpm

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 4/27/2016 @ 11:14 AM *

I just remembered. Mine did that once or twice and I found the battery cable from the battery ground to the frame was loose. I know you said you check the connections, but did you make sure the other end of those cables were tight?

* Last updated by: rod442 on 4/27/2016 @ 1:42 PM *

rod442 - That's what I said back at post #4! ZX14MAN64 better have checked it!

Right, I knew you said that. Good idea, for sure. And know he mentioned that the battery connections were good; but it could be a simple thing to overlook the chassis grounds. That's why I mentioned it specifically.

I had to take off the bolt out that is the the ground to the chassis to get the battery out

and I retightened it when I put it back in, yes. As I recall it didn't seem to be loose, but I was in a hurry to get the battery out to check the terminal connections....it may been a bit loose

Given it's "sporadic occurrence", I did get the impression that it was a loose connection somewhere that was vibrating loose here and there and causing this; hopefully the ground not being tight enough was it ( but I'm not sure if it was loose before lol) If not I will keep looking

thanks for the info

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 4/27/2016 @ 5:52 PM *

Rod, when yours did this did it only die during idle or did you also get a check engine light, or both?

With a loose electrical connection, anything can happen at any time ... unpredictable.

yes, it died a time or two coming to a stop. I had also had problems with the bike intermittently priming the fuel pump when sitting in the garage. I heard that several times walking by the bike when I went out to get something from my car. After it did that a couple of times, one morning it wouldn't start. I then found the loose connection at the frame.

This part is unrelated, but when I pulled the battery to charge it I noticed a small hole in the top of the battery case where its covered by plastic; sort of on the guard for the post. After a talk with my dealer, It appears that the dealer who had the bike before MY selling dealer put the battery in it to transfer it to my dealer (was a trade to get the color I wanted) - and they must have had the charger clamps clipped onto the case by the terminal and I bet it made connection and shorted through the case.

Honestly I don't remember if the light came on. If it did, I probably chalked it up to a normal "key on" start up test. Just like a car does when you first turn the ignition to on/run but don't crank the engine to start.

I did have to check for codes recently due to another issue (bike's air solenoid was left unplugged after a recent dyno tune session. the only code that showed was for that, which went away after I hooked it back up. (what a pita that is). I'm glad I have somewhat thin wrists.

* Last updated by: rod442 on 4/27/2016 @ 11:41 PM *

I found time to ride the bike a few times since I tightened the battery and ground wire.... The wife and I took the bike down through the back roads to eat with a group of friends ....trouble-free ride .... Took it all the way to St. Louis and back yesterday.... no problems whatsoever

The problem had to be those connections that needed tightening ( let's hope it does not return -fingers crossed )

On another note, 2012 bike bought new in the fall of 2012-almost 4 years old .....I just rolled over 10,000 miles on the way home St. Louis Yesterday.....finally got it broken in!!!!

( but to be honest I had a second bike, the BMW, there for quite a while and that kept some of the miles off of this 14 )

Thanks again for all the suggestions

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 6/20/2016 @ 8:11 AM *