Starting question
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Club Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,815
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From: Virginia
Starting question
What's with the wait till the engine light goes out before starting posts I've seen around here before? I don't see anything about doing that in the owners manual. I used to do that just because I've heard people saying to do it but they never said why. After I had the PC III put on though if I wait till the light goes out it is harder to start, if I hit the start button right after flipping the run/stop button to run and the engine light is still on it starts right up with no problem.
Not sure where this myth started, maybe it was required on older bikes though.
Not sure where this myth started, maybe it was required on older bikes though.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 368
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From: Alexandria, VA
RE: Starting question
I was told by the dealer that you wait until the light goes off so that the tank will be up to pressure for the EFI system. You can hear the fuel pump running while the light is on so I figured that it must be right.
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Club Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,815
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From: Virginia
RE: Starting question
That's the only reason I could think ofalso but the manual says the pump runs for 2 seconds to fill the fuel lines with gas and you can hear it purr while that is happening. It then goes on to say the engine light will light for approximately 4 seconds. The engine light has nothing to do with starting, it is to there to alert you if something is wrong after running a self diagnostic check.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,340
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From: Upstate NY
RE: Starting question
When I picked up my bike, the service guy there said that you should wait for the light to go out before starting. He said that if you continually start it before the light goes out, then it'll produce an error code and may cause problems starting in the future (myth or reality, who knows).
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Supporter
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: along the shore of Mishigami
RE: Starting question
It's also to my understanding that the wait is basically for the engine monitoring system going thru it's self test. I too have also heard of popping from those who didn't wait. Your bike your call. I even wait for the carb bike to do it's thing. At this stage in life and the things I've seen, courtesy of uncle sam, 2-4 seconds doesn't bother me any more. It's the things I've seen in 2-4 seconds that do. Ride safe
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Club Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,815
Likes: 16
From: Virginia
RE: Starting question
The time doesn't bother me a bit, the harder starting does though if I do wait (since the install of the PC III). I believe the PC III causes this because it doesn't have power to it the whole time the key is turned on with the bike not running, just the few seconds that the fuel pump is running. I have seen others report the same thing in regards to harder starting.
Just wanted to clear up the myth that you have to wait for the light to go out is all.
Just wanted to clear up the myth that you have to wait for the light to go out is all.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,788
Likes: 5,621
From: along the shore of Mishigami
RE: Starting question
with the pcIII issue i understand your concern, i have seen the same question come up on another site concerning the fuel inj. police bikes. i believe the response was if the motor officer has to go now there was no need to wait for the lights. i guess this would fall under one of those subjects like what what kind of oil is best to use? Have a happy new year