Depressed
 

Here I sit broken hearted, had a 749 1 year and 51 weeks and now can't get it started! How's that for poetry?
2 days before Xmas, my car failed it's MOT and I got rusty bits in my eyes trying to fix it. 1 day before Xmas, I caught flu symptons.
Xmas eve, whilst still feeling rubbish I decided to give the bike a bit of a wash. That's the last time the engine would start.
The fuel pump made a half hearted attempt when the ignition was switched on, and the starter would turn the engine over, but the engine management light came on. I would assume it's been caused by the wash but over the next few days I took all the block connectors apart and cleaned them, even including the ecu connectors and the small relay behind the battery, all to no avail. At least it has it's final week of warranty and yesterday had a nice ride on the back of an AA truck to Ducati Leeds. I love the bike and didn't plan on selling in the near future but this does worry me as regards future reliablilty. Anyone else had much grief with washing these things?
Chris

Hmmmmm I dont know about anyone else but im bloody thirsty :D

Go on then it can only cheer me up if I get a round in, as long as I have a nice pint of Stella myself; I can then think back to the good old days when my bike would start!

Dont jet wash them, and you should be OK...Thanks for the Bud

Theyll be water in a connection, The boys in Leeds will have there silicone guns out as we speak...should cure it ;)

What on earth are you doing "washing" a Ducati with water?

If its salty What on earth are you doing riding a ducati at this time of year?:o

They need caressing!

This is a bit like Weeksy's 748 wont start thread.

Ducatis do have pp3 size betteries. Any v twin is a lot of engine to turn over let alone when its this cold, both on the engine side and the effect of cold on the battery.

For the sake of the engine, bore washing with fuel, and also working with no load, its just not worth running a duke unless its going to get a good run out, this would also recharge the battery, as the amount of charging needed to replace the amount of power used to turn over is several miles worth.......

andys wright,leave the bike alone,jump on a flight to dublin,get twisted,then come home:P worked for me:bouncy:

I know, I know, it's just that it's all been so trouble free so far. My plain sailing Ducati ownership seems to have led me into a false sense of security. I only got it out just to wash it, wish I hadn't bothered. Anyway I'm going to have my second Stella now. Have one yourself.
Chris

Andy cleans his bike with these , i **** you not :D

i am thanks,:cool: think i shall have another, ssssshhhhh,i start the gym monday

i was told by my fellow ducati owners to keep my cherished 999 pluged upto a optimate when the weathers this cold:bouncy:

can be your personal trainer pedro lol

and your point.......:D

They are brill for getting the initial bit of grime off, with a bit of wd40......then polish son, like youve never polished before.........

4th Stella now, sod the damn bike, who cares? Bikes are dangerous anyway. Well that's what my mum said!

Always wash my bikes with water and have never had any problems.

sorry andy I don't see how you can clean road grime off with wet wipes,
what about the grit you must have hundreds of scratches:puzzled:

Yeh but he wipes his ar$e with a Karcher :lol::P

always use water then a nice shampoo , then a good shamie , ;) same on bike as well , the only way to clean a bike :cool:

Road grime? dont go on the road with it now mate........far too dirty and dangerous.... 1/2 hr riding, 2hrs cleaning! thats Ducatis............:P:lol:

Happy new year - I'll raise a glass to you!:smug: (types Nick with a fully running bike in the hall!) :o

:D

Wash down with COLD water only, then use AutoGlym bike shampoo; it is the felines nightwear. BTW you think Dukes attract crud? Nothing but NOTHING gets as filthy as a VFR!! :D

Are you talking,(Typing!?) about the orange EOBD light?
If the bike is turning over then there is life in the battery.Its still a good idea to keep it topped up with an Optimate tho.
It could be summat dumb like the bike is in gear,or that silly little switch on the clutch lever playing up.Ive heard that they can also play up if the bolts that trigger the rear wheel sensor are dirty/wet/corroded/etc.
It could be that while you were in your washing frenzy,water may have crept into one or both of the coils.(They are built into the spark plug caps).

Yeah, it was that orrible EOBD light. The engine turned over as quick as ever, just wouldn't start. Anyway I hear BMW's are nice and reliable!!!!!!!!!!!:D

Bet ya its the fuel pump relay....the water congregates around there and corrodes the little thing. Ive been through 2 this year already. Ask the guys at Ducati Leeds if they can put a blob of silicone over it to ptotect it.

Does that happen to be the one hiding behind the battery, near the ecu?

I thinks so. Is it all furry and green????

Ahem...

When one has carefully washed ones machine, one can dry her with a garden vacuum set on blow. This will reach the parts that a chamois will not reach and dry her off a treat.

When ones wife asks one what one has been up to outside with ones beautiful machine ,one can inform her that one has been performing a bl...

No it's no good I can't say it:lol:

[Edited on 31-12-2005 by philthy]

Still cant comprehend use of water.............still you reap what you sow!:D

Well , it's all sorted and I'm happy again. Davieravie wins the prize, it was the fuel pump relay that had gone duff. Just replaced under the last 4 days of warranty. I'm now gonna try and wrap it up in a plastic bag or similar cos next time it will be at my expense.
Incidentally I decided to have the 2 year service done while it was there. £603 if any one can lend me any money to feed the wife and screaming brats now!!!!

Us ex aircraft techies electricians know a thing or 2 about wiggly amps. Glad you got it sorted. Not long till the spring.....have faith in the beast!

Prize in the post? :D

Yeah, I'll sort of have to save up first though!!
Cheers
Chris