Bike Just Dies Intermittently

madpawn

Joined
Oct 11, 2024
Messages
9
Location
Arkansas
Bike
2010 NT700v
So just picked up a new to me 2010 NT700v with about 50k mikes. I've rode this bike for days on end, but a few days ago it did something really weird. While ridding 2 up (not done this much on this bike) at about 70mph all the instrument clusters and lights died. Speed, RPM, and everything just dropped off like bike was off. Pulled in the clutch and coasted to a stop. Once stopped bike would not start. Lights came back on the instruments eventually, but that's about it. A kind guy gave me a jump and I puttered along my way to the parts store thinking it was just a bad battery. New to me bike so I have no idea how old the battery is. Got new one installed and went on my way. About 35min later ridding at about 65-75mph bike dies again just like it did, but I keep the engine spinning and about 5 min later the bike wakes up. Stopped and let it idle. Looked it over and everything looked ok, but it had me spooked now so I high tailed it home. Did it to me again on the way home while I was driving about 60mph, but just let the engine keep spinning and the throttle open and it woke up again. While trying to pass a car it died on me again and when I was trying to accelerate it was almost like I was starving the engine of fuel, but it eventually woke up and did just fine for the next few miles home. Just a note of when the bike dies it doesn't reset the trip counters or the clock unlike when you unhook the battery.

This was my first major 2 up trip on the bike and it did this. Since owning the bike I've done 8+ hour long rides with at times ridding for over 3 hours without stopping without a single issue. I'm a bigger guy and was carrying some serious luggage on my pervious rides. So bike had about 300lb of burden on it with me and gear. This time with the electrical issues bike had me and all the other gear plus 140lb passenger. Not sure if that could have been the cause, but want to make sure you all have all the info

The only thing I've done to the bike is swap a broken saddle bag out with another new one which I doubt this would have affected the bike in this way. Haven't had time to check the charge on the new battery, but I doubt it would be dead with bike shutting off for like 2-5min and keeping throttle open and going then it wakes up and goes for another 30+min without issue. This is an odd one for me and wanted to get some advice before I start tearing into the bike.

*Edit* Bike barley seemed warm. Was riding on a 70 degree day with stiff 20mph winds Temp barley got 1/4 the way up.
 
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Chucksklrst said:
Look at you cam positioning sensor. They get a bit flaky when old and hot. I am sure others will speak up.
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Would that cause everything to go dark like that? It acts like a bad battery if you stop and will crack slow or click like its not got enough juice.
 
Your comment " I was trying to accelerate it was almost like I was starving the engine of fuel, " sounds like the TPS. But it wouldn't make the instruments go off. You can easily check the TPS with some map pins and a multi-meter.

I would be looking at wiring connections first.

 
JQL said:
Your comment " I was trying to accelerate it was almost like I was starving the engine of fuel, " sounds like the TPS. But it wouldn't make the instruments go off. You can easily check the TPS with some map pins and a multi-meter.

I would be looking at wiring connections first.
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The starved for fuel only happened when the bike was acting like it was dead and trying to accelerate. Any other time I can just rip back the throttle as far as I want and she goes without issue.

I will defiantly take a look at the wiring! Thx for the video to watch too.
 
madpawn said:
at about 70mph all the instrument clusters and lights died.
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That's bad for safe riding, but it should eliminate a lot of possible problems.

For the cluster and lights to go dead it's as if the key is turned off... which sounds like the entire ECM lost power too. Sounds serious, but it should make finding the problem easier because not many things can cause simultaneous...

1. Head lights to go out. (Check tail lights and blinkers if it does it again)
2. Dash go out including RPM and Speed indication
3. Ignition stops

madpawn said:
Once stopped bike would not start. Lights came back on the instruments eventually, but that's about it.
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When it does this, will the electric starter not even crank the engine? If so, that leaves very few components to check for why your NT is losing electrical power. (Battery ground, Battery, 30A main fuse connections on the starter relay, ignition switch, 10A sub fuse, Engine Kill Switch, and wiring + connectors.

Also cycle the ignition switch and listen for the Fuel Injection Relay's small click, for the whining of the fuel pump if your NT loses electrical power again.

If it was me I'd...

- jiggle/cycle every switch listed,
-pull and reinsert every fuse (especially 30A on the starter relay),
- disconnect/reconnect every connector for Ignition Switch, starter switch, Kill switch that I could get to,
- check Battery ground connection,
- check battery cable connection to starter relay and 30A fuse
- and hope for the best.

I would waste any time looking Crank or Cam or Throttle Sensors because none of those could fail and cause your lights to go out.
 
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@dnktng I'll check those things as soon as I'm able to. As far as the fuel pump, the time I pulled off right after initially the fuel pump didn't cycle. I tried it a few times with kill switch on too and it never cycled or would even crank. But after I let it sit a few min and tried again it cycled and tried to crank and then got fast clicking like battery dead.
 
That's good info. I'd be focusing on battery connections, Battery ground connection to the frame, starter relay 30A main fuse and connections, Ignition switch connections.
 
Woodaddict said:
Look for any rodents chewing on wire looms, possible intermittent problems if not broken wire
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Everything looks good as far as I can see, but the ground wire at the rear under the seat looks like it needs to be terminated again due to some exposed wire. That's about all I've seen.
 
madpawn said:
Would that cause everything to go dark like that? It acts like a bad battery if you stop and will crack slow or click like its not got enough juice.
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Ah more symptoms, In that case would look at charging system and battery connections. Are you getting 14.2 volts at battery when running at around 3 to 4k RPMS.
 
I have found the problem could be in the kill switch. There was a time on my previous NT700 that the bike would do something like this and eventually wouldn't try to start unless your thumb was pushing the kill switch into the on position.
 
Check the fuel pump, specifically the internal resistance and if possible, current draw while running.

I suspect your fuel pump is “on its last legs” and is causing a large current draw that the battery and charging system is struggling to keep up with. You mentioned you did not hear the fuel pump cycle which may be another symptom.

The NT700 is now old enough that there have been several reports of failed/failing fuel pumps.

Seagrass
 
The fuel pump current is easy enough to check with an Amprobe, but I'm inclined to think that an excessive current draw from the fuel pump would likely have cleared the fuse

Mike
 
On the left hand side just behind the rider's foot peg (ish) is a connector block coming out of the alternator and going towards the Voltage Regulator and ECU. It gets a very hard life, give it a clean and check if any of the connectors in that area are "crispy".
 
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