Dead 01 S4

[scooby]

Electrical problem; grrr... Did the prerequisite search, thoroughly, to no avail.

Bike is an 01 S4, 2k miles on the clock (bought it last fall with 1100 miles for a song, but obviously bike sat for an extended period, but has been running like a champ).

First symptom of problem was the tach doing funky shite when starting; would sweep initially, then kind of went haywire upon starting only, worked fine while riding. Stopped to fill up with gas, went to re start and it turned over maybe twice, then was totally dead. The lights, blinkers, dash lights all work fine. Turn key, zero gauge sweep and clicking sound but no start what so ever. Fuel pump is whirring. Checked all fuses. Battery has plenty of juice. I switched out voltage regulator for a spare I have; was my first thought of what was wrong as it happened before on another S4. No go with the other regulator. Checked all wiring for the most part and stuff... I did replace the rear tail light with an LED one from monster parts last week - that is the only electrical change made by me (bike was stock upon purchase).

Grrr. Thoughts?

TIA

[Ddan]

How do you know the battery is good?  I'd get it load tested

[scooby]

How do you know the battery is good?  I'd get it load tested

Roger, will do... Thx

Update: put in a relatively brand new (last year) battery I had on hand. Same issue, no start.

[jerryz]

S4 is very battery critical the battery must be A1  get the best you can and remeber it must be a Gel battery

[Howie]

If your 1 year old battery was not on in a bike in use or charged periodically it is dead too.  Charge both batteries and get them load tested.  Then, if it starts with a good battery check charging system voltage.  You want to see 123.5 to 14.5 across the battery at 3K RPM.

[scooby]

Up date- Load tested battery (both of them) good to go. Tested all additional electrical systems; solenoid and starter all were charged and in working order. Even changed out the solenoid to a spare.;. Jumped bike from car, too. No start. No gauge sweep at all, but seems all else is fine. Suppose it's time to give in and take it to a mechanic... Any ideas before I give up??

[Speeddog]

Is the immobilizer light on?

[Düb Lüv]

please tell us the car wasn't running when you jumped the bike.

[scooby]

Quote
Is the immobilizer light on?

yup...

Quote
please tell us the car wasn't running when you jumped the bike.

Nope...

[Speeddog]

Check to make sure the antenna under the keyswitch surround is plugged in.

Check also to make sure that the antenna hasn't fallen down, it's range is pathetic.

[EEL]

Loose ground on the ecu? Loose ground on the motor? Did you check your fuse box? Do you have a spare key? Place the original in the keyslot hold the spare under your ignition

[scooby]

Well, it turned out to be a dead starter motor. Not very common, but I suppose on a 10 year old bike that sat... Ended up taking it in to the independent Duc mechanic here in PDX and in the long run, glad I did. He took care of a few other items (put my CaCycle timing belts in) while he was at it.

Thanks for all the suggestions...