Stalls at Idle - Pulsing lights at Idle

Hiya gang,

I got muchos problemos! Here's the gig: I have a 2000 Gen 5 and it wants to stall at idle, but not all the time. The headlights and the rest of the lighting pulsate in unison to the engine idle and when it wants to stall, it kinda hesitates and then konks out. If I snap the throttle it will liven back up.

I really have to be attentive at idle and higher temps >210 when the fan is running. And it only stalls at idle, and it will start up again.

I hooked a meter to it and it holds steady voltage around 12.7 to 13.2 volts at idle and at higher rpms, and at higher rpms the electrical pulsation goes away and all is steady and bright. Here are my thoughts:

1. It may be the voltage regulator, but I am skeptical to think this because of the "reasonably" steady voltage range (if it were bad the range would be great);

2. The alternator is on the fritz (my battery holds a charge and it fires up cold without problems);

3. Because it seems to stall in relation to the fan being on (and this is the most consistent scenario, the greater electrical draw causing the situation), I am thinking a bad fuel pump...

Hopefully I can resolve this thing on the cheap cheap, but who knows Any help is always appreciated.

DA

 

Have you physically checked the r/r? Check the wires around it for heat, damage, or wear. I believe you are on the right track with the electrical system.

 

Boost up the idle speed.

check charging voltage at 5000 rpm...should be at least 14 volts or suspect bad R/R

do the stator checks described in service manual

 

I will perform a visual inpection...

...and I was thinking that it could be the r/r as they are known to go bad (I have 33,000 miles on it). However, what was making me think it may not be the problem was that my voltage is in a good steady range at idle and at high rpms.

My only fear is that I replace the r/r and it not solve the problem...I do suppose, though, that it should get one anyhow! I think there is a refit/mod from a CBR1000RR that allows for its r/r to go on my VFR. Dunno...ideas?

Thanks for the guidance

 

Battery

Do as Squirrel described and fully charge the battery and load test. Could be as simple as battery coming up on the end of its service life.

 

Veltage Test

Hi guys,

Thanks so far for the help. I did a voltage test this morning and here are my results:

Idle RPM - 1100+/- = 13.14 v

5000 RPM = 14.2 +/-

8000 RPM = 14.4 or so

I performed the test when it warmed up to about 165 degrees.

Please advise and thanks in advance :wink:

 

Voltage is exemplary!! No R/R problems....................yet.

Set your idle speed to the max recommended by the owner's manual.

 

Battery

I would replace the battery. No point in going further until it is replaced.

 

Situation Resolved!

Hiya Guys,

Thank you for the assistance. I replaced the battery with a Bikemaster Platinum for 75 clams and the problem has been resolved. I took my bike out to test and to ensure that this was the fix, and so far this has corrected the problem.

I'm glad, too, as I was fearing something more expensive. BTW, as an aside, I was researching R/R's and Motorcycle Superstore is selling them for a cheap 107 and change:

>>>Ricks Motorsport Electrics Regulator - Rectifier - Street Bike Parts - Motorcycle Superstore<<<

This was going to be the next link in the chain of repair had the battery not been the solution. Now I can get some gas!!!

:tongue:

Thanks again!

DA