Why is Self-Start Not Working?

It’s not a hidden fact anymore that sometimes we all face problems related to self-start. But have you wondered why your motorcycle self-start is not working?

There could be many reasons why self-start is not working. And problems such as faulty ignition, dead battery, faulty alternator, and fuel clogged could be one of them. 

But how you’re going to solve the above problems and how you can ensure that your motorcycle won’t show the same problem again on the middle of the highway. 

Worry not! In this post, we’re going to share some problems along with their solution. 

Main Problem Why Self -Start Not Working: 

Here are some problems why self starts not working: 

Some Problems Why Your Motorcycle Self-start Not working:

A dead battery could be one of the reasons why your self starts not working.

Low fuel.

Ignition switch.

Lose plug.

Faulty alternator.

Faulty stator.

Blocked exhaust.

Check the gear properly.

Check the kill switch.

10. Past maintenance.

Dead Battery: 

A dead battery is one of the most common problems behind the failure of self-start. There could be many reasons behind your dead battery, and storing a motorbike for an extended period and installing extra equipment on a motorbike is the most common. 

We recommend not storing the motorbike for an extended period, or you can remove the battery before storing the motorbike for an extended period. And avoid installing extra equipment on your motorbike beyond your motorcycle battery capacity.

Low Fuel: 

It may be possible that there’s nothing wrong with any part of your motorcycle, and self-start isn’t working because of low fuel. 

We recommend checking fuel levels before catching any long highway journey and checking the digital dashboard. 

Ignition Switch: 

Although a faulty ignition switch is the rarest problem, still it’s worthwhile to discuss here. If you ever experience the dim light when kicking the ignition, then the faulty ignition could be the main reason why the self starts not working. 

Lose Plug: 

Losing a plug or ignition switch is not a big problem but can interface with starting your motorcycle. Generally, the loose plug can be caused because of the shock your motorcycle experiences when riding off-road. 

Worry not! Solving a loose plug problem does not require any technician, even you can do this yourself in a minute. 

Faulty Alternator: 

An alternator is a device that makes electrostatic energy when you ride your motorcycle. A faulty alternator can’t convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy, making the battery out of power. 

And slowly and steadily, your motorcycle battery won’t have enough power to ignite the engine. 

Faulty Stator: 

A stator is the replaceable part of a motorcycle alternator that consists of a magnet on it. The stator is the main component in the motorcycle alternator, and without it, your motorbike alternator wouldn’t create an electrical charge. 

The most significant indicator of a faulty stator is the sound of click-click produced when you start the motorcycle.

The faulty stator doesn’t make enough magnetic energy, and as a result, your motorcycle battery will drain in a few minutes, and you’ll experience self-start failure. 

Blocked Exhaust: 

Blocked exhaust is one of the most commonly found problems riders found in their motorcycle. The blocked exhaust doesn’t allow the gas to pass through the exhaust, resulting in your motorcycle engine seizing for some time. 

We recommend checking the exhaust and ensuring they are clean and don’t contain any mud or dust blocking the air pathway. 

Check Gear Properly: 

The biggest mistake which most people commit is that they don’t engage the gear properly. If you don’t engage the gear properly, your motorbike won’t start even though the kick. 

We recommend bringing your motorcycle on neutral and changing the gear afterwards.

Kill Switch: 

Kill switch can also prevent starting your motorcycle, and sometimes riders also experience the stuck button. Whatever the reason is, we always recommend ensuring that you disable the kill switch before ignition. 

Past Maintenance: 

If nothing works, then you should at least think about your motorbike’s past maintenance because it could be possible that water is there in an undesirable place.

Be it its electrical system, battery, alternator system, even the smallest drop of water could make your motorbike not start. 

You should open the bodywork and let the motorbike stand for some hours in the outer environment if there’s an even slighter possibility of water in the system. 

What You Shouldn’t Do If Self-Start Not Working: 

What You Shouldn’t Do If Self-Start Not Working:

Buying new replacement parts.

Destroying the warranty by doing all things by yourself.

Doing jumpstart with the help of a car.

In the above section, we’ve discussed some possible reasons due to your motorbike self-start not working. Here are some things that you shouldn’t do if you ever faced the above problems.  

Buying New Parts: 

Some people buy new parts without any expert recommendation. We never recommend buying new motorcycle parts if you ever faced a problem in starting your motorbike.

Because problems discussed in the above section are temporary that technicians could diagnose quickly; additionally, buying new parts for motorcycles would cost you more in the long run.

Don’t Destroy warranty: 

Whether it’s a manufacturer’s warranty or extended warranty, you should never destroy your motorbike warranty by DIYing. 

Although there are some parts which you could repair by yourself, still we recommend taking permission before doing any drastic change to your motorbike. 

Never Jumpstart With Car : 

We are well aware of how frustrating it is when your motorbike stops working, and in this situation, we all want to jumpstart with the help of a friend’s car. If you also think the same, then you’re mistaken.  

Jumpstarting a motorcycle with a car battery is like chopping onions with a sword. The car battery has much more voltage than motorbike voltage which could fry the motorcycle system permanently. 

So in easy words, it’s always better not to jumpstart a motorcycle battery with the car. 

What to Do if Your Motorcycle Self-Start Not Working: 

What to Do if Your Motorbike Self-Start Not Working?

Replace the faulty alternator if your technical recommend.

Clean the blocked exhaust carefully.

Revive your dead batteries.

No worries! There are some solutions which you can do with your motorbike to start your motorbike again. 

Faulty Alternator: 

Faulty alternators could be the main reason why your motorbike isn’t starting. We recommend a check by a well-skilled technician before making any major decision. 

You can buy a new alternator, or you can use your motorbike warranty to get a new alternator at a lower price. 

Blocked Exhaust: 

Cleaning blocked exhaust is the only solution to re-run your motorcycle. Warning: this work can be a little messy, and we recommend wearing a proper suit before doing such an activity. 

You can use a stiff bristle brush to clean the outer layer of exhaust, and after that, you can use a degreaser to get rid of dust and grease. After that, don’t forget to clean the exhaust with spray water, and after that, we recommend letting the exhaust dry under the sun. Make sure that no drop of water and degreaser is left in the exhaust. 

Dead Battery: 

As mentioned above, a dead battery could be the main reason why your motorbike self-starts are not working. You can revive your motorcycle battery by using Epsom salt. 

You’ve to make an Epsom solution in water. To make an Epsom solution, we recommend adding 0.5 pounds of Epsom salt to the water. You can fasten the mixing process by heating the solution to nearly 100 degrees Celsius (212 F) and adding them to the batteries once it’s cooled.

After adding an Epsom solution, don’t forget to give a little shake to your motorcycle battery. We recommend using a slow charger connected at the terminal of your battery. And let the batteries charge overnight and reinstall it once it’s fully charged. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Final Verdict: 

Why is your motorcycle self-start not working? There could be many reasons why self-start is not working. And problems such as faulty ignition, dead battery, faulty alternator, and fuel clogged could be one of them. 

We recommended checking the battery, alternator, and stator if your motorbike self-start is not working. Additionally, please never try to jumpstart your motorbike with the help of the car.