Engine won't start. Clicking sound

zzrguy · May 30th, 2011, 07:25 AM

I have a 2002 zzr 250 and the engine only has 10k on it. It was running perfectly fine and then i stopped in a store for an hour came back out and tried to start it but all it would do is make clicking sounds. There is power because all the lights come on but as soon as i press the starter button it clicks and then the power goes away for a minute or two. anyone got an idea? please help!

money · May 30th, 2011, 07:49 AM

My completely unprofessional opinion is that it could be a battery issue. Have you tested it?

Alex · May 30th, 2011, 07:49 AM

Dead battery, perhaps faulty charging system.

zzrguy · May 30th, 2011, 08:12 AM

not a dead battery, the lights power up fully many times and the indicators work

Cuongism · May 30th, 2011, 08:20 AM

Most likely weak battery; enough to power bulbs, but not enough power to start the bike.

Tony B · May 30th, 2011, 08:32 AM

Try tightening the battery connections first, and make sure they are clean, no verdigris or corrosion. Bike I just bought the PO said he thought the solenoid was dodgy, sometimes it just clicked, turned out to be the battery leads weren't tight.

kkim · May 30th, 2011, 10:23 AM

how old is the battery?

TXJ · May 30th, 2011, 10:36 AM

Since no one has mentioned it yet, have you checked the battery? J/K

zzrguy · May 31st, 2011, 05:15 AM

I tested the battery and its fine, i took the bike apart and when i click the ignition i feel and hear a click coming from the 30a fuse, any ideas?

DaBlue1 · May 31st, 2011, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zzrguy

I tested the battery and its fine, i took the bike apart and when i click the ignition i feel and hear a click coming from the 30a fuse, any ideas?

How did you check the battery? Sometimes a battery will indicated that it is putting out enough volts but the amperage to turn the starter may be low.

Also check your charging system to make sure it is charging your battery. In most cases if the battery is old and has not been regularly maintained it may just be weak. Replace with a new one and see if you have the same problem.

road_rascal · May 31st, 2011, 07:43 AM

I would load test the battery. Like DaBlue1 said, it may be putting out voltage but the amps will sag when trying to start. If you can afford it get an AGM battery. If you get a wet cell (lead acid) at least put it on a trickle charger for 24 hours before you put it in a bike. The battery will last longer.

zzrguy · June 1st, 2011, 07:27 AM

delete thread!
Bike was fixed and it was just a bad battery! phew! thanks guys

Alex · June 1st, 2011, 09:59 AM

Glad it's up and running! Definitely don't want to delete the thread though, as it might come in handy in the future when people encounter similar symptoms.

cri22le · April 27th, 2012, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Glad it's up and running! Definitely don't want to delete the thread though, as it might come in handy in the future when people encounter similar symptoms.

helped me just right now
thanks!!!

n4mwd · April 27th, 2012, 01:20 PM

Motorcycle batteries are funny that way. They can go bad and run low amperage loads at full voltage, but then die when you try to crank with them. I had a nearly identical problem with a LiFe battery a while back.

But it happens a lot. A friend went to lunch with me one time and when it was time to go, he tried to start his Ninja and it died. The oil light came on and then the whole system died as soon as he hit the starter. I used a volt meter on it and it read zero volts. We spent a good bit of time looking for blown fuses and broken wires, but it turned out that it was just the battery. The same battery started the bike to get him to the restaurant an hour before with no signs of trouble.

Note that with zero volts, you can't even push start the bike.

Meanwhile, I live close to the restaurant and went back home and got my 6 year old Kawasaki OEM battery that I had swapped because it was getting weak. Put it in his bike and it started just fine.

To PROPERLY test your battery. Put a voltmeter on the battery terminals. A fully charged battery will read 12.7 volts (sometimes there is a surface charge right after charging that will make it read higher). If the battery reads less than 12.5 volts immediately after a ride, then you are in serious danger of getting stranded. The voltage should not drop below 9-10 volts when you crank it. If it does, its not a good battery.

Ninja Rob · October 26th, 2014, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Glad it's up and running! Definitely don't want to delete the thread though, as it might come in handy in the future when people encounter similar symptoms.

Thank You for not deleting it!
I am having the same problems. My bike turned off at an intersection at a red light and luckily I was on the farthest right lane so I just pulled up into an empty parking lot nearby. I tried charging it with a car for about an hour and tried push starting it and nothing. It would just click. After about an hour, I tried another push start, it worked, and I went straight home. I know the battery is faulty because a while back I took it to Auto zone and they told me one of the cells was dead. Knowing this, I decided to squeeze every drop of juice out of that battery before buying a new one. I think now is the time to buy another one. Any suggestions as to which one? And how do I know which part number? I called wal-mart and nothing, other car part shops sell them for about $134. Amazon has them at about $30 so now I just need to know which one. If no one replies in this old thread I will just post a new one.

zhuuka · October 27th, 2014, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninja Rob

Thank You for not deleting it!
I am having the same problems. My bike turned off at an intersection at a red light and luckily I was on the farthest right lane so I just pulled up into an empty parking lot nearby. I tried charging it with a car for about an hour and tried push starting it and nothing. It would just click. After about an hour, I tried another push start, it worked, and I went straight home. I know the battery is faulty because a while back I took it to Auto zone and they told me one of the cells was dead. Knowing this, I decided to squeeze every drop of juice out of that battery before buying a new one. I think now is the time to buy another one. Any suggestions as to which one? And how do I know which part number? I called wal-mart and nothing, other car part shops sell them for about $134. Amazon has them at about $30 so now I just need to know which one. If no one replies in this old thread I will just post a new one.

Could always check Revzilla for your battery. The YUSA one that fits Ninja 250r's is $64.00 and they pay your tax and have free shipping!

Klondike1020 · October 27th, 2014, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zzrguy

Bike was fixed and it was just a bad battery! phew! thanks guys

haha who woulda thunk!

BAtteries can just go bad at anytime. Always load test them if ya have too.

Push start it next time :P Never miss a ride... I mean NEVER!

May 30th, 2011, 07:25 AM	#1
zzrguy ninjette.org member Name: Lostboy Location: Guelph Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2002 ZZR 250 Posts: 127	Engine won't start. Clicking sound I have a 2002 zzr 250 and the engine only has 10k on it. It was running perfectly fine and then i stopped in a store for an hour came back out and tried to start it but all it would do is make clicking sounds. There is power because all the lights come on but as soon as i press the starter button it clicks and then the power goes away for a minute or two. anyone got an idea? please help!

May 30th, 2011, 07:49 AM	#2
money ninjette.org member Name: Jason Location: Alabama Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250r Posts: 91	My completely unprofessional opinion is that it could be a battery issue. Have you tested it? __________________________________________________ MTGATT
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

May 30th, 2011, 07:49 AM	#3
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Dead battery, perhaps faulty charging system. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

May 30th, 2011, 08:32 AM	#6
Tony B ninjette.org member Name: Tony Location: Surrey UK Join Date: Aug 2010 Motorcycle(s): GPX250 + many others! Posts: 184	Try tightening the battery connections first, and make sure they are clean, no verdigris or corrosion. Bike I just bought the PO said he thought the solenoid was dodgy, sometimes it just clicked, turned out to be the battery leads weren't tight.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

May 31st, 2011, 07:43 AM	#11
road_rascal ninjette.org member Name: ___ Location: ___ Join Date: Jul 2010 Motorcycle(s): ___ Posts: 160	I would load test the battery. Like DaBlue1 said, it may be putting out voltage but the amps will sag when trying to start. If you can afford it get an AGM battery. If you get a wet cell (lead acid) at least put it on a trickle charger for 24 hours before you put it in a bike. The battery will last longer.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

May 30th, 2011, 08:12 AM	#4
zzrguy ninjette.org member Name: Lostboy Location: Guelph Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2002 ZZR 250 Posts: 127	not a dead battery, the lights power up fully many times and the indicators work

May 30th, 2011, 08:20 AM	#5
Cuongism ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Cuong Location: San Diego Join Date: Jul 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250r, 2007 Daytona 675 Posts: A lot.	Most likely weak battery; enough to power bulbs, but not enough power to start the bike.

May 30th, 2011, 10:23 AM	#7
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	how old is the battery?

May 30th, 2011, 10:36 AM	#8
TXJ Cranky Old Fart Name: TXJ Location: TX Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): 08 DRZ400SM Posts: 189	Since no one has mentioned it yet, have you checked the battery? J/K

May 31st, 2011, 05:15 AM	#9
zzrguy ninjette.org member Name: Lostboy Location: Guelph Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2002 ZZR 250 Posts: 127	I tested the battery and its fine, i took the bike apart and when i click the ignition i feel and hear a click coming from the 30a fuse, any ideas?

June 1st, 2011, 07:27 AM	#12
zzrguy ninjette.org member Name: Lostboy Location: Guelph Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2002 ZZR 250 Posts: 127	delete thread! Bike was fixed and it was just a bad battery! phew! thanks guys
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

June 1st, 2011, 09:59 AM	#13
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Glad it's up and running! Definitely don't want to delete the thread though, as it might come in handy in the future when people encounter similar symptoms. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

April 27th, 2012, 01:20 PM	#15
n4mwd ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: D Location: Palm Beach, FL Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2006 Ninja 250R, 2007 EFI Ninja 250R Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1	Motorcycle batteries are funny that way. They can go bad and run low amperage loads at full voltage, but then die when you try to crank with them. I had a nearly identical problem with a LiFe battery a while back. But it happens a lot. A friend went to lunch with me one time and when it was time to go, he tried to start his Ninja and it died. The oil light came on and then the whole system died as soon as he hit the starter. I used a volt meter on it and it read zero volts. We spent a good bit of time looking for blown fuses and broken wires, but it turned out that it was just the battery. The same battery started the bike to get him to the restaurant an hour before with no signs of trouble. Note that with zero volts, you can't even push start the bike. Meanwhile, I live close to the restaurant and went back home and got my 6 year old Kawasaki OEM battery that I had swapped because it was getting weak. Put it in his bike and it started just fine. To PROPERLY test your battery. Put a voltmeter on the battery terminals. A fully charged battery will read 12.7 volts (sometimes there is a surface charge right after charging that will make it read higher). If the battery reads less than 12.5 volts immediately after a ride, then you are in serious danger of getting stranded. The voltage should not drop below 9-10 volts when you crank it. If it does, its not a good battery. __________________________________________________ My Ninja Blog Proud member of ABATE.My NYC Road Rage documentary - CENSORED!
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

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