Lose electrical when engaging starter

[CBGW02]

I went to start my Goldwing with no problem. As I began to head down the road I lost all power. Pulled over shut the bike off with the key. Then went to restart and no problem. Later that night I went over some ruff road and when I went to park the bike headlight was flickering. Went to start it an hour later with no problem. Rode for about five miles and lost all power. Noticed as I depressed the hand brake lights were flickering prior to power loss. Bike sat on center stand for three days and when I checked it there was power again. As I proceeded to engage the starter all power was lost. Noticed as I turned the key from off to start the neutral light flickered momentarily. Still have no power. Anyone have an answer to this?

[MikeB]

Have you done anything besides turn the key and press the starter button?

Have you checked the voltage of the battery?

Have you checked the battery cables to insure they are securely fastened and making good contact?

[GoldWingrGreg]

Year of Wing is always helpful !!!

Do this ... get the Wing against a wall so that you can tell what the headlamps are doing. With the key on, pull in and out on the "start" button without turning the engine over. The head lamps should only quit if the start button is pushed far enough in to crank the starter ... if anything different. The start button needs replaced. Some DIYr's will clean the switch. However, a better repair is to replace the entire switch assembly.

If nothing shows up with the start button, center stand the Wing in "N" and then start the engine. Then grab the kill switch with your fingers and rock the kill button from front to rear and from side to side. Under only 1 condition should the kill switch kill the engine ... when it is rotated to its kill position. Again, some of the DIYr's will clean the kill switch. A better repair is to replace the entire switch assembly.

[Asphaltmaniac]

Kill switch maybe acting up? Mine got so sensitive that just brushing it would kill the bike.

[MikeB]

He said:

... As I began to head down the road I lost all power. Pulled over shut the bike off with the key. Then went to restart and no problem. Later that night I went over some ruff road and when I went to park the bike headlight was flickering. Went to start it an hour later with no problem. Rode for about five miles and lost all power. Noticed as I depressed the hand brake lights were flickering prior to power loss. Bike sat on center stand for three days and when I checked it there was power again. As I proceeded to engage the starter all power was lost. Noticed as I turned the key from off to start the neutral light flickered momentarily. Still have no power. Anyone have an answer to this?

It does not sound like a starter switch or a kill switch to me. Maybe a starter switch when it comes to headlight flicker but not for a loss of all power.

If the situation is that the engine dies, then yes, the kill switch can be a good place to start.

He does start with 'Lose electrical when engaging starter' so without more input from the original poster, we are pretty much tilting at windmills.

[Techdude2000]

I think this is battery or main fuse related since the kill switch and starter switch won’t kill all the lights and power.

[CBGW02]

I appreciate all your responses. My Goldwing is a 2002. I will look into these responses and hopefully one will get my Goldwing running again. I did read somewhere where a suggestion was a harness could come loose. I would think that these lock in place and would not be able to shake loose. I remember getting into my trunk a couple times for items and constantly found my trunk locked. I finally observed it lock as I was leaning over. I believe the remote in my pocket caused that but it had to have power to lock the trunk. Also, my 02' Goldwing would not turn over, as I engaged the starter it immediately went dead. I will post the outcome later this week.

[Techdude2000]

I appreciate all your responses. My Goldwing is a 2002. I will look into these responses and hopefully one will get my Goldwing running again. I did read somewhere where a suggestion was a harness could come loose. I would think that these lock in place and would not be able to shake loose. I remember getting into my trunk a couple times for items and constantly found my trunk locked. I finally observed it lock as I was leaning over. I believe the remote in my pocket caused that but it had to have power to lock the trunk. Also, my 02' Goldwing would not turn over, as I engaged the starter it immediately went dead. I will post the outcome later this week.

If you lock the trunk with the remote, it will relock automatically after you close it. To make it stop this, you have to unlock it with the remote then manually open it with the lever within 30 seconds. It should not auto relock after you close it again. If you use the “pop” it open button on the remote, it will auto relock as well.

[CBGW02]

That is interesting. This is my first Goldwing. Had it for three years now and never realized the trunk worked this way until recently. Appreciate all the comments.

[DaveO430]

Have you checked the battery cables to insure they are securely fastened and making good contact?

Well, have you checked the most obvious yet?