6th Gen starting electric issue need ideas. Loses electricity for a breif moment

2002 at random times - push the starter button and power to the instrument panel goes out, starter stops, keep button pushed in, starter fires again and starts. This takes place in a fraction of a second. The clock and tripmeter go to default as if the battery was disconnected. Occurs randomly whether it is hot or cold. Bike has been driven almost daily for a couple months. All connections appear to be snug and secure. Have spent the last couple days searching archives with no help. The factory wire harness recall has been completed. I guess it could be the battery but seems a little too odd to be just the battery. Battery voltage OK w/out load. Any help or starting points appreciated. Thanks

 

lol dont get me started on these fucking bikes electrical systems....

 

From what you describe I would definitely start by giving the starter switch contacts a very careful check/clean. Basically when operated the switch should kill off all extraneous power demands and devote all available juice to getting the bike started. As soon as it fires up, the switch should promptly reinstate power. Its sounds like the mechanism is occasionally sticking which is a common problem with older bikes of all makes basically because the switch handles a lot of current and over time any grease dries out and parts inevitably wear out. If a deep clean sorts the problem for a while but it then returns, then its time to replace the switch.

Hope that helps

skimad4x4 6th Gen Militia #218

 

I will try to give the switch a good cleaning next.
Thanks for the input.

 

mine did that from time to time ( an 02 w/ 25,000 miles and org batt ) three months later battey went for good, installed new one and no issues since.

also alot of short trips the battery will not charge fully, the electrical is the weekest pairt of the honda. :doh:

 

So what was the actual voltage reading? Anything less than 12.8 and it is not OK, and 12.8 is at the bottom of the "OK" region. Measure it under load to see if it has any guts or is falling over the edge...