Just before Christmas (belated Merry Christmas to all), I had new front pads fitted on my 2017 blade at my local Honda dealer (21st Moto). Apparently 3 of the 4 pads had no friction material left on them, so I cut that a bit fine - a few more miles and they'd have wrecked the discs (which have only very slight lips on them). Anyway, I mentioned the hot start problem I'd been having for a few months now - basically, ride the bike (slow, medium or fast) for around 30 mins or more, stop at a petrol station for fuel, and then the thing is a nightmare to start. Turn the ignition on, all ok (temp reading might be 95 C or maybe 100 C) and as soon as I try and start it, the temp reading goes to 132 or 134C (not sure which) and the dash turns into a 90's disco with all manner of lights flashing away and the bike won't start. Sometimes turning the ignition off and then back on will work, other times I need to just keep cranking it over in 5s bursts with 10s gaps and eventually it'll start. Anyway, thankfully, the Honda technician also noticed this and they're now looking into it. They called Honda technical for advice and apparently Honda T don't know what the cause is - possibly a fault temp sensor, possibly an ECU fault. They are going to try and few things in a couple of weeks when I'll be out of the country for a few days so I can leave the bike with them. Battery is fine apparently, and the fan runs ok, kicking in at the correct temps. Anyone else had this problem? Oh and 12800 miles on a set of front pads - not bad right?
I can see a faulty temp sensor creating a hot start fault. Ie telling the ECU it's cold. But unless your battery is a little weak ot should effect the dash. Does it turn over ok when hot? Just wont fire up?
I haven't had any problems, but I guess I'm not the best source. 12,800 miles on a 2017? Good on ya, you're surely getting some use out of your bike! Makes me envious. Each time a digit flicks over on my odometer, I have another heart palpitation.
"Nothing wrong with the battery" (EDIT how wrong I was!) - starts fine on cold damp mornings and even after it’s been left for a week or more. Also Honda dealer tech guys tested it. As for hot start - engine cranks hard but just won’t fire. Whilst the starter motor is going the display goes crazy with all lights flashing. It tends to only happen when the bike has been switched off when the engine temp was up at 90C (i.e. after a bit of slow riding in traffic). If I’ve pulled into a garage after a wet ride, it doesn’t usually happen as the water evaporating off the radiator keeps the bike cooler. So to me it seems like the bike stands for a few mins whilst already hot and this causes a sensor to get hotter than the overall coolant temp is. Then I wonder if the bike’s ECU thinks it needs to do something to safeguard the engine by cutting it out. Bike never has issues when riding - even when crawling through London rush hour traffic at 15mph for 30 mins (fan kicks in and out fine).
Yeah it’s a 2017 model which I only got in March 2018.. Hence my insurance is high because of my annual mileage. 16k service booked for April (thankfully covered by my Honda Service Plan). Oh and Nigel - most of the miles are done in London traffic, so not fun miles..
Don't mean to distort your thread, but this is surely one of the downsides of the 'electronic era'. Back in the finned motor air cooled days one would rarely hear of such problems! Doesn't stop me loving electronics hikes though!!
The traction control has been very handy in the crazy wet weather - makes it easy to make good progress without the potential high side moments
Could be insulation breakdown on your stator or a reg/rec fault? Honda's are notorious for these faults and could very well cause the wacky dash symptom you've been having. Get the dealer to do a test on your stator for insulation breakdown with the bike hot and cold. Good luck!
Thanks for the tips. One of the tech guys did say it could be a grounding problem which could be a result of insulation breakdown. I’ll update this thread once I have news from Honda - probably in a few weeks.. Cheers.
Was going to mention "earthing" issue it looks like there is a blockage and the volts are returning though the display (hence the dicso lights!) would be interested to know of the outcome
Hi @bonjo - thanks, yes that seems to be the common thought so hopefully (if it is the cause) it will be fairly easy for the technicians at my local Honda dealer to locate. Starting to feel glad I've got the 4 year extended warranty given my blade will be 2 years old (well, 2 years since first registered as it's a 2017 model) in a few months. I will definitely update this thread once I know more - might not be until the end of January as it's not such a concern at the moment that it's stopping me from riding it. Just a bit embarrassing sometimes pushing my bike away from the petrol pumps to start it over in the corner away from queuing car drivers eager to get their fill..
Eh? Blockage in electrical? Shirley shum mishtake. If its a bad earth (most likely issue) volts don't return (to what) via the display, diodes are there to prevent that. As usual I stand to be corrected and I usually am
Was Just trying to use easy to understand analogy. No offence to electronic gurus! I haven't dweleved into the schematics of the display but had a simir experience on my display few years back (resolved glad to say)
Have you ever pulled up behind a car and seen all the lights flash with the indicators? That's a bad earth. Rather than watching through its original point of contact. Due to poor connection/high resistance.it earths through the easiest route.. ie the rest of the bulbs.. and down to an earth. That's why they all flash .
Just a quick update. Honda technical have advised my local dealer that they'd like the coolant temperature sensor to be changed and then have a full diagnostic done and sent to Honda. I'm hoping I can drop the bike off sometime next week to get this done as they're fully booked for the weekend.. "Apparently" this is the first Honda technical have heard about this on the RA-H...
So after a couple of weeks away on holiday, I'm back and the bike's going in to Honda tomorrow morning. In fact I'm pleased it is, as the problem appears to be getting worse. After about 45 mins riding last night, I managed to stall the bike pulling away at a roundabout (probably only the 2nd time I've stalled it in 14k miles) and the thing took about 2 mins to restart (seemed like an hour with cars, vans, trucks diving either side of me - in the dark with only my hazards flashing). In fact during one start attempt, the bike seemed to reset itself (with the Honda logo appearing) and all manner of light shows on the dash. This morning I wheeled the bike out to start it up, and the dash displayed an engine temp of 106C despite it being in the garage all night and the outside temp being around 2C (frosty) this morning. So I'm definitely thinking it's a faulty temp sensor or ECU issue. Will update tomorrow evening after hearing back from the Honda master tech that's going to look at it.
I've got/had the same problem with my 2018 blade... Started getting the odd starting issue after fill up about 10 months ago and it gradually became more frequent so put it in the dealers back end of last year, they said battery was goosed and was putting up various fault codes. They fitted a new battery and away I went, didn't use the bike after this. Dragged it out this morning to fire it up and it wouldn't start from cold this time (only ever did this when hot previously) screen blinks etc as if battery being pulled down. Fitted another battery good battery and was still the same. Went to work and came in tonight, tested battery voltage was down to 10v... Getting collected Friday afternoon by the dealer
As far as I know the battery in mine is fine. But let me know how you get on.. I’ll do the same. Good luck getting a quick resolution.
I had a similar issue, turned out to be the side stand sensor, which I had screwed up after a track day. I also had the dreaded engine cut off switch failure.
