Coolant Change ... now she won't start

[nomadbehappy]

After reading a number of the threads about how to change the coolant and getting over the thought of pulling the tank I decided to quit stalling and do it. Removing the tank was way easier than I anticipated and the coolant change went without a hitch. Before putting it all back together I figured while the tank was off I should rerun all the wires I added for the driving lights, fairing and trunk and make them nice and neat and run properly.

Then it was time to put it all back together. Putting it all back together seemed to go well until I went to turn the key on and got sprayed in gas, duh forgot to reconnect the fuel line Unbolted the nacelle and tank and pulled the tank and reconnected the fuel line. Figured this time I would be smart and not rebolt everything until I knew all was well. Went to start the bike and everything seemed normal but she wouldn't start Everything sounds fine, when I turn the key to the on position the FI lights up and I can hear the fuel pump cycle. The bike sounds like it wants to start, but doesn't quite turn over that last bit to start. I disconnected and reconnected the fuel line a couple of times, disconnected and reconnected all of the connections (fuel level sensor etc), and reran the air lines in case I had kinked them and caused an air lock, all to no avail. I am stumped and decided it was time to quit, have a shower and go to bed for the night, women don't seem to enjoy the smell of gasoline quite as much as we do Any thoughts on where I screwed up and what I need to do to get my baby running again?

Thanks

Brian

[ringadingh]

Are you sure the battery has a good charge? they will crank but not fire if they are a little weak. Check the kill switch also.

[NobleRider]

Like ring said, make sure the battery has a FULL charge. My bike cranked and cranked but wouldn't start until the battery was fully charged.

[nomadbehappy]

Thanks I am going to hook the charger up today before I go to work and keep my fingers crossed

[nomadbehappy]

Just got home and battery is fully charged, but still won't start. I will pull the tank again and start over, must be missing something

[coacha]

Check all of your electrical connections, even the ones to the battery. We had that issue with a member's bike at the SE rally, would crank but no start. Turned out to be the terminal connections weren't tight. Tightened 'em up and vroom, vroom. Ended up changing out the battery as a precaution later. JMHO

[BudMan]

Make sure both the connections under the nacelle are tight.

[Yellow Jacket]

It could still be the battery. If you have a voltmeter, check the battery voltage while trying to start the engine. If the voltage drops below 10 volts while the starter is running the battery is probably shot. With no load, a battery with a cell going bad can read fully charged but under load it goes away.

If you don't have a voltmeter, get one from Wally World. They are pretty cheap.

[macmac]

Or you pulled off a connector and missed putting it back, and Or you pulled a connector and didn't know you did....

This engine turns the crank shaft, but does not start right?

The coils are closer to the tank, and maybe one of the coils was unplugged by mistake????

Check for any spark.

[nomadbehappy]

Ok just tested the battery with a volt meter and 12.4 without a load and drops to 11.6 to 11.2 when I test while trying to start it.

Mac - you are correct the engines turns but just won't start. Sounds like my best bet is to pull the tank and recheck everything. I double checked all the connections I had previously disconnected but maybe something came loose while getting everything off or more likely while I was fishing all my wires to the fuseblock under the tank.

Thanks I will try the above. This is royally pissing me off now as we are having beautiful weather and I am stuck using the car

[nomadbehappy]

YEAH

Thank you everyone who chimed in to help me with this. After following everyones suggestions I thought I had it resolved after I checked all the connections when I noticed one of the ignition coil connection was not tight. Put it back together and still no go so decided then to use my head and try and think it through from start to finish. After enjoying a cold beverage to help me think better I came to the conclusion that maybe the power commander was shot. Figured I would disconnect it and as I went to disconnect it from the battery realized I never reconnected the negative from the PCIII to the battery. I knew I had 2 neg wires originally connected to it, but forgot that when I decided to hook the battery up to the charger in case the battery wasnt fully charged I figured I would add the pigtail connector and leave it there for easy access so when I checked the connections (several times) I knew I had two neg connected to the battery so that was correct or so I thought. I now have the beautiful sound of my nomad in the background

Thank you everyone, you have helped to make my day

The positives of this situation
1. I know my battery is still in great shape
2. I now am not hesitant to remove the fuel tank, it is quick and easy after removing it as many times as I did. and
3. You guys came through again as usual, although that is never a surprise.

Thanks

Brian

[macmac]

1 I would check for spark!

2 I would check ALL fuses

3 I would check behind the coolant bottle IF you had it OFF for some reason, and maybe not if you didn't as there is a mess of start related wiring behind it.

4 then go over everything under the tank you did.

5 check the coil wires under the tank, and note the left sides of the coils are (-) , while the right sides are (+) but no markings are THERE GRRRRRRR!

6 I would check the harness at the bend as it turns down behind Cly 2, and on the frame side, which means there is a zip tie and that zip tie has a release tab, so don't cut it like I did!

After I cut that zip tie I saw the tab..... Oh well.. The point being vibs chaff thru the harness and can dead short to the frame IF the insulation has also been worn thru.

It is likely somewhere the error is one you made. It happens.

[macmac]

Well you got it nailed while I was wasting words..... Good for you..

There is one part I am un-happy about!

That is you have a cold beverage and us Yanks only have well water!

[crazygene49]

Congrats on finding the problem.

[scion0]

Good deal!!