Startus problems

Running fine. Stopped to fuel up. No start. Dash fine but spanner symbol flashing intermittently. Wheeled off to dark corner. All fuses pulled. Fiddled switches to see if anything else dead. Only thing was horn - bzzz but no honk. Wiring diagram consulted ( ibook is a wondrous thing) but still not clear why start and horn and nothing else failing. Walked around for a bit. Tried again. Started. Off home. Phew - no trailers involved. Guzzidiag this morning, no faults current or preserved. Blowed if I know. Maybe just water in switch block. Sound familiar to anyone ?

was it raining ? wet roads

Clean your battery terminals thoroughly and apply some Vaseline or terminal protectant to them.

The spanner icon flashes on start up 200km before a service interval. Once you're past the interval it will remain illuminated. If you know you're up to date and n servicing just clear it and it won't appear again for another 10,000 Km.

I believe I have the "Startus" problem and my horn still works. I tried to start my 2014 GRiSO and got the "click from under the seat" and its been dead every time I try it. I disconnected the new battery and reconnected it but it's still dead on every try. No click or anything.

Hello

Do you check the fuses ?.

The starter relay problem can be intermittent but wasn't for me. Just glad the bike was in my garage at the time of failure. I picked up the wiring kit fix from MPH Cycles- Houston and plugged it in and connected to battery and all is good again. They tell me they ship several a week all over the world.

Ok

JohnA wrote:

The starter relay problem can be intermittent but wasn't for me. Just glad the bike was in my garage at the time of failure. I picked up the wiring kit fix from MPH Cycles- Houston and plugged it in and connected to battery and all is good again. They tell me they ship several a week all over the world.

This is their eBay product : [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Startus Interruptus Kit, to eliminate starting problems with later Moto Guzzis See original listing

This  kit applies full battery voltage to the starter circuit helping to eliminate the system sensing lower voltage and giving you the "click" or Startus Interuptus as it is known.  Kit will fit late model Moto Guzzis, Breva 1100, 1200 Sport etc.  There is also a kit that will fit Grisos and Stelvios, the difference is the length of the battery connection so please specify if you need one for these models.

Price: US $35.00
Shipping: $18.46 International Priority Shipping to Australia  via the Global Shipping Program
Item location: Houston, Texas, United States
Seller: mphguzzitx (158 )

Could you post a picture of this installed on the bike or at least where the plug goes.

The plugs will go between the  starter relay and the wiring loom, i.e. disconnect the starter relay and  insert this kit between what's now disconnected.

The single wire goes to the battery positive.

If you're not shy with electrickery, just cut the yellow wire on the starter relay, and feed the relay with 12v direct from the positive of the battery via an in line fuse.  Insulate the other cut end of the yellow wire, or use it for low demand (ignition) switched purposes.  No need for an expensive kit.

I do have the MPH kit. The picture that comes with it is in black and white, a close up and I can't tell whether its on the right side or left side. It's obviously a simple plug in but I don't see the plug. So a picture of the kit on a GRiSO would be helpful. If I have to remove a side panel what's the best way.
Thanks
John

Look for a relay with a yellow wire, there's only one. This is the starter relay, plug the kit into this.

If you remove the right rear fairing (you can get away by only taking out 3 or 4 of the screws then flex the fairing a little to get to the the relays, which is what I did as I didn't want to disassemble the luggage rack) you can reach the relays which are supported by a rubber mounting. If you are unsure which relay is the starter relay (usually it's the one closest to the front of the bike) remove one and try to start the bike. If it doesn't start you found the starter relay. Then you simply connect the bypass kit between the disconnected relay and the connector it was connected to. Then you attach the red fused wire from the bypass kit directly to the battery positive and you are done. Shouldn't take more than 5 minutes!

What size fuse ?

Nobleswood wrote:

What size fuse ?

At least 15A, the size that was protecting it originally. I've sneaked up to 20A on a couple of occasions.

The original post was back in October, I hope it's fixed by now LOL
But I will comment anyway since it's going to be relevant as soon as it warms up, I predict there will be lots of bikes not starting and lots of good batteries replaced needlessly.

Conor W wrote:

Running fine. Stopped to fuel up. No start.  

Sound familiar to anyone ?

Sounds like every other Guzzi for the last 30 years
The starter solenoid would like to pull over 40 Amps but Luigi strangles it with a bunch of spaghetti wiring or running through the ignition switch.
The horn is also fussy about having a really good supply, there again direct from the battery to a relay to the horns, not through the ignition switch or a wimpy switch on the bars.
The relay coil only draws about 0.1 of an Amp, a few Ohms of resistance has little effect on that.

When asking questions about the electrics please state the model and year, there are significant differences between the 2V & 4v engines.

I'm guessing this is an 8Valve because on this model the Horn and Start relay have the ignition switch in common, a known cause of SI in the earlier California models
Cleaning the ignition switch and re-grease with Vaseline will probably cure it until next time.

The earlier Grisos had a direct feed to the Start relay bypassing the switch but a switched feed to the horn relay.

I believe Kiwi Dave is referring to the later model 8Valve they have the yellow wire in common with Breva an Norge

I started a thread on what I found with my 2007
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Thanks Roy. Initial thread was indeed October, but 2016 ! Should gave posted closure - can confirm SI kit from MPH was duly fitted shortly after and all has been right with the world since. (Only thing I got wrong as I recall was not reading fine print of description when ordering & assumed it was a one size fits all - incorrect - battery wire was short for the GRiSO and had to splice in extension. )

JohnA wrote:

The starter relay problem can be intermittent but wasn't for me. Just glad the bike was in my garage at the time of failure. I picked up the wiring kit fix from MPH Cycles- Houston and plugged it in and connected to battery and all is good again. They tell me they ship several a week all over the world.

John A, your bike is the same as mine, it has direct wiring (not through the ignition switch) but like mine the wire from the relay to the starter solenoid will be undersized, the kit boosts the Voltage up enough so it's not so important but I suggest you replace that wire with a #16 or larger from the solenoid to the kit.
You never had a problem with the Horn because it's on a different fuse on this model.
(the horns on later bikes (not yours) are also on a different fuse but both the horn and Start relay are fed from the ignition switch another known cause of Startus Interrupts)

I cannot stress enough the benefit of smearing a little Vaseline on the electrical connections especially in a wet location like the solenoid, it stops corrosion by excluding moisture and air.
The battery terminals MUST be smeared with Vaseline, I know guys get away with it for years but I have also seen a battery completely isolated in just a few weeks, why run the risk?

Conor W wrote:

Thanks Roy. Initial thread was indeed October, but 2016 ! Should gave posted closure - can confirm SI kit from MPH was duly fitted shortly after and all has been right with the world since. (Only thing I got wrong as I recall was not reading fine print of description when ordering & assumed it was a one size fits all - incorrect - battery wire was short for the GRiSO and had to splice in extension. )

Conor W,
             Thanks for the feedback, the Status Interrupts kit is indeed a good solution for the weak Guzzi wiring, I'm glad it worked out for you.
I think in your case the ignition switch is causing the problem. The kit fixed your starting but I doubt it improved the horn, the horns and the Start Solenoid pull a very high current, 40 Amps for the solenoid or at least it would if wired right, I think with the kit it would be up there.

kiwi dave wrote:

.
.......................
If you're not shy with electrickery, just cut the yellow wire on the starter relay, and feed the relay with 12v direct from the positive of the battery via an in line fuse.  Insulate the other cut end of the yellow wire, or use it for low demand (ignition) switched purposes.  No need for an expensive kit.

Dave I'm not shy with electrickery but I was hesitant to recommend that, its certainly been the solution for earlier models.
I would have done that if it were mine.


Rant
All Start Solenoids and Horns should be supplied through a relay direct from the battery, not through the ignition switch use just one common fuse by all means but a separate relay.
The relay coils should be fed through the ignition switch you don't want your Grand Children launching the bike because its been left in gear.
All battery terminals should be smeared with Vaseline to prevent the build-up of Lead Oxide between the terminal and lug.
Rant Over