GZ Will Not Start

[Kvstrobe]

Hi. I'm new to this bike and I hope some one can give me some advice. My GZ 250 started great last week but today I got nothing. Here's what happens.

I have fuel.
I turn the ignition to start the headlight turns on.
The bike is in neutral.
Engine cut off is set to ON position.
Choke is open.
Clutch is in.
I hit the starter and it's totally dead. No clicks no nothing.
I've tried it with the kickstand up and down. It's like the kill switch is still killing.

Any ideas?

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by Kvstrobe

I hit the starter and it's totally dead. No clicks no nothing.
I've tried it with the kickstand up and down. It's like the kill switch is still killing.

Most likely cause is the side stand switch; loose, corroded or just failed.
Then the kill switch......then maybe the ignition switch or the start button itself.
Seems like I remember a switch on the clutch lever too.

If you haven't already, switch the kill switch off and back on a few times.

You will probably need a meter and a shop manual (available here for download) to really figure it out.

That all assumes that the headlight lights up brightly; if it is dim, then you probably have a battery problem.

[JWR]

Boost the battery and see what you get.

[mrlmd1]

Jump it from a good battery, like from your car, WITHOUT THE CAR ENGINE ON, or you will fry the electronics on the GZ from the car's alternator output.
If it starts and runs, then try charging up the battery overnight. If it still dies, get the battery load tested after you charge it again. If it's no good, get a new battery and make sure YOU CHARGE IT UP OVERNIGHT FIRST, before using it, or it will fail real quick and you'll be right back where you started from.
You can also see if the battery is dead or real weak if the headlight dims way down or dies as soon as you hit the start button - you may not have enough juice to turn over the starter. I think this thing draws something like 80 amps if I remember correctly reading that somewhere.

[Kvstrobe]

The headlight is bright. I checked the battery and it is good. Any other ideas?

[alantf]

The other day - first time in months - the bike wouldn't start. Flicked the kill switch off then on again, & it started up straight away, with no problems since. Hope it's something just as simple with yours. It often is.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by Kvstrobe

The headlight is bright. I checked the battery and it is good. Any other ideas?

Yes, there were about 4 of them in my first reply.

[mrlmd1]

"The headlight is bright" -- does it stay bright when you hit the starter button?, or does it get very dim when you do that? There may be enough current to light up the light but not enough to kick over the starter.

"I checked the battery" -- What does that mean? Did you measure the voltage at rest or did you do a load test (which is the only way to measure a battery's condition)? How many volts did you measure at rest, and how low did the voltage drop, if any, when you hit the starter button?
Resting voltage across the battery terminals may not tell you the capacity of the battery.

Those answers will give you and us a clue about battery status and connections to the starter motor when you hit the button. It gives us a better place to start from when you ask a question. So take another look, measure the voltage before and during hitting the button and come back again. If the light dimmed significantly and the measured voltage dropped considerably when you hit the start button, your battery is at fault. If the light did not dim at all and if the battery voltage did not drop at all when you hit the start button, then we have some electrical problem we have to sort out, as no juice is getting to the starter motor. Understand what I am trying to say? We need some more information from you to proceed in an orderly fashion instead of just spouting out multiple possibilities.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by mrlmd1

We need some more information from you to proceed in an orderly fashion instead of just spouting out multiple possibilities.

Indeed, that needs to be done before running off and looking for other problems.
Good clarification.
AND if the light comes on strong but goes off when the start button is pushed, it could be a sign of a loose or corroded battery cable too. :cool:

[johnd]

My bike wouldn't start either! It is a perfect day here in North Carolina and I rolled my bike out to let it warm up, but the battery is low and it wouldn't spin fast enough or long enough for the engine to start. I suspect I may need a battery as this one is dated 02/09/06. It is a "Parts Unlimited" and made in China. The battery is on the one amp charger for now. I have had my bike for five months and haven't ridden much. What is the best deal for the money? I think I remember Easy saying that they are about a hundred bucks at the dealer. That will hurt. I didn't see the the battery specifications in the handbook. Pep Boys? Auto Zone?

Thanks,
John D