Need Help Pressing the starter button cuts all electricity. Won’t start.

[Sheriffrocco]

Hi everyone, I need some help diagnosing the issue I’m having with my bike.

It is an 2008 fz6n s2, that I’m using for my daily commute. The bike has a brand new battery that has been placed in the spring of 2025.

Yesterday I was riding home from work with no issues and then stopped for some groceries just around the corner of my house. Parked the bike for around 10 minutes and when I came back I switched the key in the ignition, the dash came on and I could hear the pump prime. But when I pressed the starter button all power to the bike cut out turning the dash off. I was able to reswitch the ignition a few times with the dash and pump powering on again but as soon as I hit the starter button it would al die again. After this the ignition also would not turn on the dash anymore. Walked the bike home and tried again this afternoon and there was power to the dash again and could hear the pump priming, but same issue when pressing the starter button, everything dead. I shot a video of it this time.

Does anyone have an idea what this could be? I tried using the search function but could not find anything specific to this situation. My apologies if it is something that has come along a million times already but I just couldn’t find it.

I have added a video of my last attempt.

I’d greatly appreciate any thoughts on what the issue could be.

Thanks in advance,

Ross

 

[Gary in NJ]

Either your new battery has died an early death, or the charging system isn’t doing its job. Charge the battery up, get the bike started and check the voltage at the battery terminals at idle and 3,000 rpm to see if your charging system isn’t working properly.

 

[grahammarsden]

Get a Drop Tester and check the Cold Cranking Amps. A battery can show good volts whilst not having enough amps to fire the engine.

If you can push start it (it may take a few tries), get a multimeter and check the output from the alternator (stator) and regulator/ rectifier.

If those are out of specification, that can kill a battery

You can find the correct values in the Hayes Manual or Yamaha Service Manuals, but I don't know if the files are available from these forums (if anyone knows where they are, please say so...)

 

[Gary in NJ]

Push starting a fuel injected bike is difficult…and impossible if the stator has failed. If the battery won’t hold a charge for starting…then you’ve found the problem.

At idle you should see around 13.8VDC and above 3,000 rpm somewhere around 14.5VDC.

If you find that the voltage is low, we can walk you through trouble shooting the stator and the regulator/rectifier to isolate which component needs to be replaced. The FZ6 has a fairly stout stator and failures are not common.

 

[Sheriffrocco]

Thank you for the responses. Much appreciated! I ordered a multimeter and wil be checking the voltages as soon as it comes in this week. Will be updating my findings here then.

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

Re-check / clean the battery cables to the battery.

Sounds like a bad / loose connection at the battery.

.

 

[dmerc]

I had an 06 FZ6, that did the same thing! The battery checked 12.6 volts, but starter wouldn't even click. Turned out to be the battery. Very strange, never had one do that. I had no way of jumping it, or would've been obvious. Voltage dropped VERY low when I'd hit the starter button, then would climb back up to 12.6. I was amazed!!! My dashlights were all normal, until I'd try to start it.

 

[grcamna7]

I had an 06 FZ6, that did the same thing! The battery checked 12.6 volts, but starter wouldn't even click. Turned out to be the battery. Very strange, never had one do that. I had no way of jumping it, or would've been obvious. Voltage dropped VERY low when I'd hit the starter button, then would climb back up to 12.6. I was amazed!!! My dashlights were all normal, until I'd try to start it.

The battery may have sulfated,which keeps it from receiving & giving a charge;12.6vts is discharged and too low.

 

[dmerc]

The battery may have sulfated,which keeps it from receiving & giving a charge;12.6vts is discharged and too low.

I prefer to think it had a shorted cell. 12.6 will start a bike, and the problem started very suddenly. I kept it on a trickle charger, and it always showed 12.6 +/- .1 BTW, I'm 70 have had 46 bikes, and have always done ALL my own wrenching. 12.6 is fine unless it's actually running.

 

[trepetti]

I have shared 2 of my favorite spreadsheets for maintenance. Take a look at the 'RR and Stator Test'. Follow the instructions to test both the RR and the stator and quickly determine if and where the problem lies....
My favorite maintenance guides

 

[Gary in NJ]

Welcome back trepetti.

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

I have shared 2 of my favorite spreadsheets for maintenance. Take a look at the 'RR and Stator Test'. Follow the instructions to test both the RR and the stator and quickly determine if and where the problem lies....
My favorite maintenance guides

Marco!!!!!

 

[trepetti]

Polo!

 

[trepetti]

Welcome back trepetti.

Thanks Gary. Good to be back

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

We missed you TOM!!!!

Where'd ya end up "settling" at?
(We didn't have any hurricanes down here this season!)

.

 

[Motogiro]

TOM!

 

[trepetti]

We missed you TOM!!!!

Where'd ya end up "settling" at?
(We didn't have any hurricanes down here this season!)

.

Thanks Scott. I missed being here. I'm still in Northern NJ, putting my retirement plan together. Lots of places on the relocation list..... Florida included.

 

[trepetti]

TOM!

Cliff Happy to be back.

 

[agf]

Its good to see some of the old names still come up, I've been a bit slack on the log in lately, home front stuff with elderly parents and building a new house.

A question on the original issue: If it were a charging system failure, would an error message show? I remember when my TPS died I got an error 12. which was great to know exactly where the issue was although the dent in the wallet for fixing that little issue was a bugger. I had to get one in from Japan.

 

[Motogiro]

Yes with low voltage the ECU can throw all kinds of flags on the field and they can be totally off.
On his readout it looks like as soon as the starter relay is keyed everything drops completely out. When the key is turned on the fuel pump primes and the ECU is active as if normal. It almost looks like there is a thermal open. As soon as high current is drawn there is an open circuit. Could actually be an open cell or connection within the battery.
I would imagine if this were the result of a dead short at the starter, the voltage would pop back up when the starter button is released. If it were a shorted cell we would see a 10 volt battery. an open cell could show zero volts.

I think a bad main 30 amp fuse or the fuse holder may be bad.
Maybe @Sheriffrocco has solved this?

Good to hear from you Adrian!