FJRiders.com

I had the same problems as you. I thought it was a dying battery or a connector but I could never find anything wrong. Sometimes it wouldn't start unless the throttle was wide open. Sometimes it would hiccup & fart then it would be fine. After a while the S4 spider gave up. And that failure was instantaneous- one time it started, the next time I had all the symptoms and no start. I had inspected my spiders just a couple months before and everything was fine.

https://www.fjrowners.com/threads/the-g ... ost-909154

The solenoid could be the entire issue. It could make the bike not crank, crank slow, stick closed and always crank, and then crank over fine.

Stopped by the dealer today and bought the solenoid. Not cheap. The ones on Amazon are a fraction of the price but are POS. Paid the big bucks for the "official" solenoid. Will try to get it in today or tomorrow. Doing oil, filter and antifreeze since I'm in there. Keep you posted.

Again, thanks for all the comments.

2WheelJon wrote: ↑Tue Aug 17, 2021 5:03 pm Stopped by the dealer today and bought the solenoid. Not cheap. The ones on Amazon are a fraction of the price but are POS. Paid the big bucks for the "official" solenoid. Will try to get it in today or tomorrow. Doing oil, filter and antifreeze since I'm in there. Keep you posted.

Again, thanks for all the comments.

Thanks for not feeding the PLA.

[/quote]
Thanks for not feeding the PLA.
[/quote]

What's the "PLA"?

Well the last place you look for something is usually where you find it. Replaced the old starter solenoid. Had a very hard time removing the plug with the three wires in it. Reason why was the corrosion at the contacts. I'd post a picture of the solenoid but I don't know how. Anyhow, I cleaned up the contacts, smeared in the dialectic grease and installed the new solenoid. Bike started right up.

Hopefully that does it. However, if you see an old guy on the side of the road cursing at his dead FJR, please stop and lend a hand.

Sounds like Art/Roadrunner was the schmart one. Glad you got it workin!

That connector isn't waterproof, although under cover..... corrosion there is an issue on many older bikes.... mighta caused some bridging on the "stuck" relay, as juice does flow when you turn the key...... anyway, you're good now, and your old relay can be kept as a spare. No don't carry it around with you, keep it in your stash.

raYzerman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 18, 2021 8:19 pm That connector isn't waterproof, although under cover..... corrosion there is an issue on many older bikes....

It is interesting that the plug faces up and has no cover. Even though it's under plastic water obviously got in and corroded the contacts. I was thinking of covering it with some silicone. Or never riding in the rain.

Silicone dielectric grease is the secret.

Dielectric grease loaded into the back of the connector... don't use silicone sealant.

raYzerman wrote: ↑Sat Aug 21, 2021 8:13 am Dielectric grease loaded into the back of the connector... don't use silicone sealant.

Dielectric grease is silicone based. But I agree - "Don't use silicone sealant". Makes a gawd-awful mess and (depending on the type) may release acetic acid during curing and cause major corrosion.

FJRoss wrote: ↑Sat Aug 21, 2021 8:22 am

raYzerman wrote: ↑Sat Aug 21, 2021 8:13 am Dielectric grease loaded into the back of the connector... don't use silicone sealant.

Dielectric grease is silicone based. But I agree - "Don't use silicone sealant". Makes a gawd-awful mess and (depending on the type) may release acetic acid during curing and cause major corrosion.

... and in any case moisture eventually gets under the sealant and is trapped in, won't dry out. Promotes corrosion after a year or so.

Seen this when a professional electrician did this in an outside electrical junction box. Although protected from the rain, it gave me considerable grief until I fixed it myself. (Don't need no stinking official wiring qualifications to do a proper, lasting job.)