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I have a Suzuki SV1000S '03 model. It has always had vague electrical problems but it has suddenly started blowing the 30 amp fuse (to the starter solenoid) every time I turn the ignition on. It doesn't affect any of the other smaller fuses. Trouble is I can't find the problem. I've passed the bike on to a mate who has a repair business but he can't find the problem either.

Anyone got any bright ideas? Any suggestions gratefully received.

Cheers

Hud

Maybe a wire came loose somewhere and is grounding on the frame.

sv-wolf wrote:but it has suddenly started blowing the 30 amp fuse (to the starter solenoid) every time I turn the ignition on.

Are you sure the main fuse goes to the solenoid? Most main fuse goes to the starter relay not the starter or the solenoid. I don't have the schematics but I would think the SV is the same?

Since the fuse pops when you turn on the key, and not from pushing the starter button, the culprit short could be anything that goes on when you turn the key to he ON position.
Since you state this started recently, the question to start would be did you do any wiring work or install an electrical accessory shortly before it started popping the main fuse?

Fly me over, I'll rewire the bike with a full custom job, and we'll call it good.

I had this with my wife's.... Its a pain but not difficult. I know its not what you want to hear...

Pull all the plastic and follow every wire in that circuit. For a quick check look for pinch or rub points from wire clamps or ties. Something has gotten pinched or rubbed through and it shorts to ground... Get to the first disconnect and unplug it. If it doesn't blow even when you move the last wire around its after that connector. Then do it again for the next.

You might get lucky and find it right away or it could take all afternoon sitting on a curb. I got stuck doing that once too.

good luck.

Pete

Hi eveyone

Thanks for all the advice.

This one is turning into something of a mystery. I've eliminated a lot of possibles but still haven't pinned down the problem exactly yet. I'm closing in though.

I replaced the horn a few weeks back. The previous one had stopped working. But the horn doesn't take much power and I can't therefore see it blowing a 30 Watt fuse.

(On the SV, the horn is carefully located behind the radiator and right up against the engine. It therefore stops working as soon as the engine gets hot. After a while it stops working permanently on all SV thous. Who designs these things?)

Hey Hud, long time no speak!

So, could you have moved/damaged/nipped a different cable whilst doing the horn?

Have you done any other work near anything that could cause this?

Another idea is could something have been put back wrong? e.g have you got hearted grips on the bike, and when you've taken the cables off the battery they've gotten swapped over? or have you had the headlight out and goten 2 cables mixed up when putting back the tangled mess that is a japanese wiring loom?

Hope you find out!

B.

Hi Byrney

Good to hear from you. How's it going?

Hmm, yes. Being the perfectly competent mechanic is only something that I aspire to as a far off dream. I've not messed around with the SV's electrics at all except to put on a new horn. Something could have gone wrong, though. It's suspicious that this should have happened so soon afterwards. I've given up and placed the whole job in the hands of someone I know who has his own bike business.

It is getting all a bit mystical and expensive.

Cheers

Hud

Well, what happened? Where was the problem? Inquiring minds want to know....

sv-wolf wrote:Hi eveyone

Thanks for all the advice.

This one is turning into something of a mystery. I've eliminated a lot of possibles but still haven't pinned down the problem exactly yet. I'm closing in though.

I replaced the horn a few weeks back. The previous one had stopped working. But the horn doesn't take much power and I can't therefore see it blowing a 30 Watt fuse.

(On the SV, the horn is carefully located behind the radiator and right up against the engine. It therefore stops working as soon as the engine gets hot. After a while it stops working permanently on all SV thous. Who designs these things?)

Then the wiring on the horn would then be the first place I would check. It could have a short making the fuse pop.