Won't start - what to look at first?

Crap - a Honda that won't start. 5th gen, daily rider 60,000mi: it coughed this morning like it wanted to start, then kind of quit. After that, whenever I thumbed the starter, it just spun over. I heard the fuel pump cycle when the key goes from off to on, the FI light goes on, then off.

It definitely sounds "different" turning over - almost like it's not sparking, or trying to get combustion (didn't have time to check - had to get in the truck to go to work), but the fuses were all ok.

I searched & saw a few others had the same symptoms and the plugs were fouled, so I'll start with them and check for spark also, but other than that, where would you start chasing this down? Thanks!!!

 

Been there done that, it's likely flooded. Hold the throttle wide open while cranking, this cuts off fuel flow. There's a section in the owners manual about it. I found it after much cussing and getting the bike running.

 

Y2K - thanks. That was it. Picked up new plugs just to be safe and swapped them in, and still wouldn't start. Cranked until the battery gave out, then had to jump it off the truck. Kept cranking on it for about a minute and then it finally fired up. The old plugs were wet (gas) but the ceramic was a nice brown. Did watch through the stacks (took the air cleaner off) how much fuel gets squirted in, but still surprised why it was flooded with plugs that looked so good? I'm used to 2-strokes and you could really tell when they'd get oil-fouled. Started good this morning though.

 

Yep, me too. I think mine was caused by old gas. I make sure to keep fresh gas in there now and haven't had another problem.

 

could be clogged or dirty fuel pump do you have a fuel filter check it..good luck