I stoped, turned it off, then went to start it again. When I turned it on the kick stand light went off right after turning it on. Will not crank. all the lights are off and the clock fades out when i turn on the key. when i jump it to another battery (bike battery is brand new btw) the lights turn on. At this point i have one of two problems. everything going dead, and a problem that has been ongoing... the neutral sensor or whatever senses it being in neutral is going out. the light comes on and off and thinks that it is in first gear, even if in neutral. so i can jump it and get the lights to come on, but the neutral light never comes on thus no crank. iv only had time to check the main 20 amp fuse. ???
95 750. gen4. it seems that its simply not pulling electricity from the battery, it doesent make sense as it seems to work if i jump it. a battery cannot go dead instantly.
A bad neutral switch doesn't account for the dimming lights and clock display. The bike runs ok after getting jumped? I'd say get the electrical system and battery tested. Right now, it looks like the battery's either not getting a good charge or not holding one...
Make sure all electrical connections are good and tight -- esp ground to the engine and frame. Battery connections clean and tight?
I believe you can bypass that switch by combining the two wires but I could be mistaken... Did you say you already looked at fuses?
Not to confuse things further but, my '01 will start in gear provided the clutch is in and the stand is up. If your clutch switch is bad, you'll need the N light to start it. Not sure if yours is the same or if mine is getting old?!? Sorry I don't have too many more ideas. Still, if your clock fades out, you got a power problem. Good luck
i looked at the main fuse. not the rest. seems weird tho that the lights are on when the battery is jumped, but go off if only on the battery. as if the battery was dead. it could be that the bike was running off of the charging system but stoped charging the battery.
Check connections to the battery. I've had this happen to me twice in the past, just not with the VFR. They look good but put a wrench to them and they are loose. Neutral switch can be bypassed. Disconnect the switch and take a small wire and short the two connections on the wiring harness that go to the neutral switch. This is NOT your main problem. It might be a problem... but not why your lights are going dim. I would say the light is going off/on because of the electrical problem you are experiencing. Use this bypass as a way to simplify troubleshooting till you can get a replacement switch. If you can't start it while it is being jumped off another battery, the battery itself probably is not your issue... You've more than likely got a faulty ground or short somewhere. Start checking primary connections. If they aren't loose on the battery, check the connection to the starter.
Not to mention, I had this problem on my bike and I SWORE the solenoid was out. Then moved the battery and noticed a slight spark where the ground cable bolts to the frame. pulled it off, cleaned it and scuffed the metal where it bolts, and have never had another problem since!
Just read that last message from you.... Sounds like the rest of the connections are fine. Can you start it when you've got the other battery hooked up? Simply sounds like a bad battery. Depending on age and what they have been through... sometimes they do just go like that.
very true nwa. a faulty ground will not expose itself if you are jumping to another battery that is connected to another bike or vehicle. it will use that other vehicle's ground and work fine. Jafar, its a bad battery or faulty ground. I'd lay $100 on it.
