Engine management light HP4 2013

[Kingsman84]

My bike was running fine untill last week. I went out on a 10 min ride and parked up switching the engine off. After 5 mins went back out to start it and upon starting, the engine management came on and the the bike idle wasnt normal bouncing really low on the verge of cutting out. The bike also did not respond to any throttle at all. I switched the engine off immedietly and tried again only to get the same issue. This happens every now and again. And upto now has always rectified itself and after a few engine on off attempts. After maybe the 3rd attempt it will start as normal with no light and not idle/throttle issues. I noticed another member has had the exact same issue and have messaged him and am waiting on his reply. If any one has any ideas let me know. Cheers lads.

 

[GixxerChuck]

Check battery charge level

 

[Kingsman84]

Hey, now that you mention it the battery was completely flat and wouldnt start due to the bike being sat for a while. All I did was jump start it and ride it for a hour or 2. So perhaps the battery isnt at full charge. Could it be really that simple!! I hope so.

 

[Mick753]

Hey, now that you mention it the battery was completely flat and wouldnt start due to the bike being sat for a while. All I did was jump start it and ride it for a hour or 2. So perhaps the battery isnt at full charge. Could it be really that simple!! I hope so.

There would be something wrong with the battery or the charging system if after an hour or two of riding it wasn't charged to be honest, generally most batteries from flat need at least half an hour of normal uninterupted riding to put enough charge in them that they will recover.

When you say you jump started it, what from? from a car?

 

[Kingsman84]

Yes from a car... could that cause problems?

 

[Mick753]

THe rule of thumb is that you shouldn't have the engine on when you try to start the bike, but jumping from a car is normally ok it's just that the cars battery and charging system is far more powerful than that of the car and the battery can get a right kick up the arse from the car if the car is running. Sometimes that can cause all sorts of problems with the electronics on bikes.

I am only just about to get my S1000RR tomorrow so am not familiar with the ECU/Electronics or even the quirks on these bikes yet but on other bikes I have had that have had spurious engine management problems the first thing I do if i am unable to read any codes thrown up by onboard diagnostics is to disconnect the battery for half an hour to see if it will reset itself

But again until I get my bike tomorrow that is most definitely a case of the blind leading the blind

 

[Kingsman84]

It was my wifes fiat punto I used to start it. And the engine was running ��.... maybe I have blown a fuse somewhere or damaged some of the electrics!! Another bloke on here has had the exact same issue Im still waiting on him getting back to me for his verdict. (Im assuming that he sorted it as it was over a year ago now) hopefully he has the answer..thanks for the reply pal. Its definatley a starting point anyway. ��

 

[fast_ryan]

Battery

Jump-starting from a battery with a voltage higher than 12V can sometimes cause damage to the electronics. Have a look in your Owner's Manual as there is a section which specifically covers jump-starting the bike which will likely be of help.

 

[Kingsman84]

Thanks, will look it up tomorrow and have a read
Hopefully BMW can shed some light on it. Im sure its nothing major but will have to see. My only worry is that the garage wont get any diagnostic if they cant replicate what happened and get the bike to start with the same issue. I will repost my findings as soon as its sorted. Cheers

 

[pof]

Ive got the same issue with my 2014. I get it when been sat in traffic , turn the bike off ie at petrol station , pay for fuel come back out and "bam" engine light no throttle and jumpy idle. Temp is fine on gauges but its been sat there getting hot. I have to wait 5 /10 mins turn off and back on again and all good. Happened 3 times now. Ps no jump starting and battery fine

 

[soofsayer]

My thoughts are a faulty sensor telling the ecu intermittently that there is a problem, and the diagnostic tools will find the fault code when it is plugged in easily enough as these event are logged by the bike. It could be the o2 sensor being at fault for example giving you the limp mode experience.

i don't think it can be the battery. The ecu requires a minimum voltage from the battery to run through the startup routine and start the bike. It won't start with insufficient power to run the engine correctly.

Leaving the battery to go flat will damage the battery, decreasing life and performance, worth having it on trickle charge if you can.

 

[Kingsman84]

Have you not had it in to check what the fault is? Its really annoying to me that these bikes have so many issues and the cost only really reflects the workmanship. The reliability factor just isnt there!!! I mean come on. ?26,000 the bike was when it was new. You dont expext to pay that and have to sit there waiting on the bike to cool down for 10 mins. The only thing ai have done different is change the end can out for a stubby. Im quite confident that isnt the issue but you never know. There are a few people experienceing the same issue and yet no real answer to the problem. I will spend what it takes to get her right... just really annoying when bmw havent even got a clue of what is seemingly a common fault.

 

[Kingsman84]

Have you not had it checked out yet?

 

[Kingsman84]

Did you not get it checked?

 

[Kingsman84]

Dont know why my comments keep redirecting of my original post and replying directly to this??? ��

 

[Kingsman84]

Cant reply to the original post????

 

[alex]

Use "Reply with Quote" to reply to another comment - if that's what you're trying to do.

It wasn't 26k new.

Just get it to the dealership and get the codes. No major drama. POF hasn't gotten his codes yet either. One guy got a Crank Position sensor fault...hardly uncommon in the world of motoring. The Switchgear is an FOC replacement from the dealership under BMW warranty. Literally no idea what your beef is with the reliability. There have been a couple of lemons on here but the dealerships/BMW have replaced the bikes with usually no cost to the customer. But of course some dealers are better than others.

If you want the codes without the dealership, you'll need to find someone with a GS-911.

 

[Mick753]

Wouldn't be the first bike I have seen to have had an exhaust change and then the engine management throw up a problem. One of the RSV's that I have just sold had a nightmare when i changed from full length OEM Akrapovics to considerably shorter Mivv GP cans.

Most people don't actually realise that back pressure from the exhaust is key to some engines running correctly and most engines are setup for a certain length exhaust because of that, if we are talking about a HP4 that has the full titanium system instead of the standard system which has the bulky catalytic convertor then I imagine the bike is designed to run with the Akra can that it comes with and any changes after that would likely need a bit of a tweak on the fueling.

That being said it's probably something easy to diagnose as anything that is normally thrown up by an engine management fault is normally stored in the ECU until read and cleared.

 

[stuartb]

Some of these comments on here worry me........ Or is it just me ?

 

[stuartb]

Wouldn't be the first bike I have seen to have had an exhaust change and then the engine management throw up a problem. One of the RSV's that I have just sold had a nightmare when i changed from full length OEM Akrapovics to considerably shorter Mivv GP cans.

Most people don't actually realise that back pressure from the exhaust is key to some engines running correctly and most engines are setup for a certain length exhaust because of that, if we are talking about a HP4 that has the full titanium system instead of the standard system which has the bulky catalytic convertor then I imagine the bike is designed to run with the Akra can that it comes with and any changes after that would likely need a bit of a tweak on the fueling.

That being said it's probably something easy to diagnose as anything that is normally thrown up by an engine management fault is normally stored in the ECU until read and cleared.

I'm with Mick on this one Kingsman... I reckon its the can mate....bike companies spend millions on getting fueling..emissions etc spot on, an exhaust system is an integral part of that function, for you to simply change something within that chain is bound to affect that balance..... BTW I've done it stacks of times, but I'm reticent with my HP 4.. The electronics and engine management are really quite advanced.