2002 Honda Shadow ACE

[Billybuzzkill]

Hi All,

My ACE is only starting sometimes. When it doesn't start it reacts as if the key was turned off. No spark or sputter. Then I walk away and come back....and it starts up fine , so it's not the battery.

It feels like there is a disconnect somewhere between the ignition and .. well, wherever the ignition goes to .

I've tried starting the bike in nuetral (The bick will start if the kick stand is down so long as it's in neutral, but not if it's in gear. I've always tried to start the bike with the kickstand up).

Any suggestions would be great!

Thanks,

Dan

[Billybuzzkill]

Could it be something as simple as a loose battery connection?

[roscowgo]

Or a pinched cable? Since you say "when i get up and go away"

[CORSCO]

If it does not start when in gear, the clutch switch is disconnected or bad.

IS the battery good? Connections tight?

[thespirit]

Crap in the fuel lines? Have you checked the fuel filter? Could be a flakey ignition coil or module too.

[xsyamahadg]

Could it be the ignition switch itself going bad ? Did you ever try staying with the bike when it won't start and flicking the ignition switch on and off a couple of times ? Sometimes the contact points in the switch get oxidized and won't make contact on the first attempt to start. XS

[Billybuzzkill]

OK,

For a few weeks (after I checked the battery cables) the bike started all right.

Yesterday I drove to work, came out and moved the bike (started fine) to a closer parking spot, but at the end of the day I had no power. I've also noticed that I can drive, fill up with gas, and then when I go to start it again, nothing. No lights and the tripometer has reset it's self to 0.

I took off the seat, played w/the connections (battery) and it clicked a few times....then turned over.

Does this give any one any ideas as to what it could be?

Bad battery was suggested, but why would it not provide any power, and then turn over no problem a few minutes later?

I'm pretty confused.

[ZooTech]

Don't just check the connections to the battery, follow the hot wire to the fuse block or relay and follow the ground to the frame. Make sure everything is clean and tight. It sounds like the battery is fine, you're just experiencing intermittent disruptions to current flow from an open circuit.