I'd be surprised if that would cause the engine temperature display to read 135C but who knows how all the sensors talk to the ECU. The dealer thinks it's most likely a faulty coolant temperature sensor but time will tell (hopefully not too much time!).
Fortunately I have a 2 yr extended warranty, but I think that a fault that is noted within the warranty period usually means it should be resolved even if the warranty has then expired (within reason of course, so a few months or so after it expiring). Eagerly awaiting news from the tech guys - they said they'd update me asap.
Quick update - bike still with the dealer. After some initial issues with them duplicating the problem they have now confirmed that the problem is either ECU, a sensor or a breakdown in the wiring. Battery is fine, charging is fine. Apparently Honda have never seen this problem before on the RA-H model.. let me know if you know differently! Will update again once I hear back on Tuesday. Hope everyone (in the UK) is being sensible and staying in well out of Ciara’s reach today (gusty here in northwest Kent).
So in an odd turn around of events and diagnosis, here's the latest from my local Honda tech team. The focus has returned to the battery. Despite them checking the battery at the very start, the focus has returned to it. Apparently, after the bike was left running (idling I presume) for 45 mins, they have discovered that the battery output voltage dropped to around (**EDIT - previously said 10 V, but this wasn't true, apparently it was around 12 V still) 12 V which is what might be causing the problem when then trying to restart. This seems remarkably similar to your journey, but I'm at the beginning @stelwalker - can you let me know which dealer you are working with please so maybe Honda Tech can combine efforts to resolve this? So, they are going to replace, under warranty, the battery and have asked me to see how I get on. I do find this all rather perplexing though since my bike has always started fine from cold, even after having left it in the garage for more than 2 weeks in the winter with no trickle charge or anything attached. I'm not sure this is going to be the end of this story sadly - unless there are a bad batch of batteries out there..
Mines in with Newcastle Motorcycles Tyne and Wear. They think likely the battery as well but difficult to say as the new battery they fitted in October for me was a duffer. As mentioned I tried another good battery after this and it still wouldn't start from cold, this is the one I measured the 10v on??? They said would need to get it out on the road to try fault it...
Thanks for the quick reply. I've spoken with my dealer and it looks as though I'll be road testing it to see how I get on.. I'll keep you posted - but feel free to let them know that 21st Moto in Swanley have reported the issue to Honda UK.
Cheers - although they did say they tested the original battery and it passed, so they are a bit confused and not convinced it's resolved either. I'm happy to "road test" it though, especially as I've been commuting on a courtesy CB500F which is economical, but that's about all I can say. No idea how people commute on bikes that have wing mirrors that high up - they seem to be the same height as van mirrors, so filtering through London traffic has been a nightmare!
Thanks for the reminder.. So far signs are that the new battery seems to have resolved the problem, but I've not been to a petrol station on my way home yet - will do tomorrow evening. Normally after an hour on the bike, pulling up at a petrol station to re-fuel and then try and restart causes the problem.. Watch this space.. @stelwalker - have you got yours back yet - if so, did they give you yet another new battery?
Hello mate, new battery fitted... they are just waiting for the weather to improve to road test it. Will let you know when I have more info
Once they put the new battery on did they check the R/R and Stator again , (just incase there was any damage done by the bad battery, overworking them)
Nope, don't think so. The Honda tech guy at my local garage wasn't convinced it was the battery, as it was odd how it would cold-crank fine after a few days (and they tested the battery using their battery checker which reported the battery was fine). I think I'm being asked to follow Honda UK's preferred diagnosis pathway - so I suspect (although I hope it's not the case) that the problem will reappear before too long.
Yeh , the Disco lights on the Cluster always seems to point to a bad battery, take it that's gone now
Well that's the problem - it only ever did that after a reasonably long journey - which is my daily commute of around an hour. So it never did the "disco" effect in the morning starting from cold (or starting from cold after 2 weeks away on holiday - with no battery maintenance charger), or in the evening on the ride home. Only ever happened after trying to restart the bike when the engine was hot (around 90C or higher). For now, no disco lights but the test will be when I stop for fuel on my way home. This is usually after about an hour on the bike.. (So, leave work, ride for an hour, stop for fuel and then all hell breaks loose when I try and restart). I'd have thought it would be a pain to start from cold, but it never is/was.
So, so far so good. Stopped for fuel after an hour filtering through heavy London traffic and the bike started without any problems. Hopefully that’s the end of the problem, and I’ll just be prepared to buy a new battery every couple of years.
I've had similar with cars. Cold start no issues.but after a run and warm battery it failed to crank.. jump started to get it home and it's fine the next day. Like it has a high resistance when warm.
