I need help! I have 359 miles on my '03 and it runs bad!

I need help! I have 359 miles on my '03 and it runs bad! And not in a Michael Jackson kinda way either. 1st of all, I just bought it with 175 miles on it and right at 350 it almost left me stranded b/c the plugs were fowled so bad. I just had all of the spark plugs replaced and now I am getting a shuddering feeling in every gear between 4 and 5 thousand RPM. IS THIS NORMAL??? I feel like on a long trip I could get sea sick from it rocking back and forth! AND it has stalled in normal traffic driving (light highway and road use, under 65 mph driving, and then dead at the traffic light) Help me out please, this is my first v4 and I'm am concerned that it A. Could Be Normal, B. Could have some strange undiagnosable problem, C. Could have problems due to the low mileage and possible clogs or what not (I ran it to empty and the plugs fowled the day I filled it up) so probably not old gas, but what could it be? I have been told to "go get some fuel injection cleaner and just run it" but I am concerned that with my low mileage I could hurt the bike during its break in period (which I'm not sure how long it lasts) Please advise, any advice is good. Thanx

 

2phast- It sure sounds like a fuel problem to me, I would have suggested that you drain that old fuel and refill with fresh petrol in a bike that has been sitting how long? You probably have partially clogged injectors from the bad gas, but looking at those fouled plugs might tell you. This link will tell you how to read your plugs to tell you what's going on inside your powerplant: http://www.nightrider.com/biketech/spkplghnbook.htm#Chalky
I would also be curious to see if your gaps were set correctly on your new plugs. Also check your idle RPM and adjust to within specs. I really can't say for sure but some fuel system cleaner as long as it is not an octane booster should not damage anything as far as I know. You may have to change the plugs again once you burn all the crud out of your injectors and fuel lines though. Oh- and please don't get your VFR anywhere close to the service department of Motions in Marietta, my personal opinion.

Let me know if any of this was helpful, I'll try to brainstorm some more, like taking the bike apart and finding a bird's nest inside the air filter or something, LOL.

 

Well I couldn't afford Motions even if they did know how to take care of our bikes, but thats a different problem.

The previous owner (my bike was bought at auction, it was a bank repo, so I am now owner number 3) said he cleaned the front two plugs and drained the gas. He warned me the plugs might be fowled as the bikes are started over and over again at auction but I doubled the mileage before in less than 5 miles it went from great to barely running. I was told I had to take the radiator off as well as several other complicated instructions which cause me to take the Bike to Cycle Dynamics in Conyers (they had just re-jetted my Motard and I was happy with their service and knowledge). I requested it be test driven and didn't notice the problem until after I had it home a put a few more miles on it (all of this happened today) I'll have to see if my old plugs made it back (my retired father picked it up for me b/c I was a work and he was dropping one of his bikes off).

I'm not sure what the proper RPM idle should be (it is a little over 1k) per the specs as I have no owners manual. Also I don't know how to check the Gaps on the new plugs...

I will call Cycle Dynamics in the morning, but my experience is that I generally don't trust mechanics. And it is soo hard to find a good one that is honest as well as reasonable (Id even pay too much if I just knew it would always be done right) I'm happy so far, but I will report on that as well. any more input would be greatly appreciated, especially from others with VFR's

 

2phast- I've been crossing my fingers for you since our PM's, how's your bike doin?

 

I think you should be looking at 2500rpm.
Have you changed/renewed air fillter?K&N are very good try one,
also, have you had the S/V's balanced????.
and as for remaping a new exzorst,there is no need,
good luck,and I hope you get the bike running better.

 

I dunno but that seems high Idle should be 1100-1200.

 

yes,you are correct,I did a miss hit on the keys:wink: deffo, 1100 to 1200.
I was thinking maybe 1500????

 

At four years old regardless of the low mileage this bike needs a full fluid flush (brake fluid, coolant and oil change) as it will have picked up water in the brake/clutch fluid (you don't want corrosion in these systems) and both the oil and coolant will have lost their acidity buffering abilities. If it's been run that little, you will likely also need to remove the fuel injectors and get them cleaned. Most cities have several places that do injector cleaning and blueprinting, and the bike will probably run better than stock with them flow matched and patterned.

And then, ride it!! Bikes aren't meant to sit unused, they get sad.... '

 

BTW, for injector cleaning and patterning, look up diesel fuel injection places. They may not have the seals in stock (they can get them) but they know what they are doing.

 

So many things could be wrong. I would fyrst check the electrical system, wiring, fuses and so on.

 

I definitely have to second the notion of changing ALL FLUIDS!!!

I bought a '93 3rd gen. 750 this past year.
only had 13k on it. It sat for some time on multiple occasions.

I had multiple problems ( overheating/electrical/ clutch...etc...etc.)
UNTIL i changed every fluid in the bike.

old fluids can cause soooooooo many problems all across the board on your bike. Hard to diagnose until you change them.

 

Update

So its been two months, the dealer had is for exactly 1 month, and all they did was change the spark plugs (again!!), and the oil and then told me they were done. I paid for it and immediately took it to my Cycle shop (Cycle Dynamic) where we have diagnosed a bad sensor that controls the idle upon cold start; the bike thinks it is cold all the time and runs rich etc, etc. So after waiting on the parts I am on schedule for them to be installed in the morning and cant wait.

FYI if your in GA stay away from Mountain Adventures ( http://www.mountainadventuresga.com/ ) They have horrible customer service and bullied me into changing the oil, as if the 400 miles it had on it and problem had anything to do with oil /9they refused to work on it until I changed it, so I said ok) Since I had just swapped the plugs I paid for it with my credit card and promptly refuted the charge. F-em and there bad attitudes.

Big Props and Thanx To Cycle Dynamics for being affordable, timely and the only good mechanic in town!

Ill let you all know when I can ride (I am sadly up to 502 miles and can't wait to ride!)

 

The fast idle wax unit, or the intake air temperature sensor?

 

After 2 months and $997.72 I now have a running bike with 502 miles!

So the HONDA DEALER can go to the fiery depths of Haties for all I care and never come back! And while he is headed south he can take the worthless %#%@! dealer that sold me the bike! After I came and took the bike from the dealer that was suppose to be diagnosing the problem (they had it a month and all the managed to do was change the oil, and plugs (which I had already done) I took it to the shop that works on my Motard within 1 week we had the diagnosis: I had to replace the Pressure regulator, ECT sensor, and Airbox Temp Sensor; And now the bike runs fine. But the money I had for a new windshield, and exhaust is gone. I am still waiting on Discover to let me know about refuting the charge to the dealer (they charge me twice for plugs, $139 USD [My VFR is probably the only one in the world that has been through 14 spark plugs before it rolled over its 500th mile]) Im now a bit bitter and somewhat dumbfounded but ready to ride, I got 60 miles in before I ran out of time today. I just hope it is truly fixed.

 

Did the FI light turn on or flash during your rides before the problem was diagnosed? The pressure regulator I can understand, as it may have been partially clogged/seized with fuel deposits, but the failed sensors are a bit of a surprise.

 

Nope all electrical functions acted normal, but it routinely fowled the plugs and had trouble starting after even a short ride, it also ran very rich (which was also attributed to the fuel injector cleaner that I was told to put in with the gas and "run it")

 

Holy Moly Wow go get em, hate dealers like that. good to hear she's on the road.

 

I also recently bought a 2002 with 500 miles. I thought I made a great deal, I'm not so sure now. It runs fine cold, but poor after warm up. Have your problems been solved? Did they say the fuel injector cleaner caused permanant problems? or just rich while it was in the tank? I used FI cleaner also, it didnt seem to help. I would be very interested in all the info that you have. My problems are probably the same cause, & effect. Thanks for any help. Thanks.

 

Does any body know a good Honda mechanic in Orange County, Ca? Thanks

 

Good mechanics are SO hard to find! I continue to do my own wrenching on everything I own, because every time I pay a "professional" to do something that I am capable of doing, they foul up the job and manage to break a few other things along the way (broken/missing brackets, tie downs, stripped bolts, etc.).

Oh, before I forget; '07 manual calls out an idle speed of 1200, plus or minus 100.