Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech No start whilst wet

My 03 America will not start (no spark) whenever it gets wet.
It has only happened once while riding in a hurricane, but almost always after giving it a wash in the driveway.

Sounds like a bad ignitor box - seen a few do this now.

Pa,
Many have had some problem in wet conditions - Ranging from rough running to cutting out and completely dying. Seems the ussual solution is to keep the connections dry using dialectric (sp?) grease. Oh, and stay out of hurricanes

I was going to replace the Igniter, but after a couple of days of drying out, it runs like a charm again.
I would have thought that the Igniter should have stayed broken.
It's such a simple circuit, it is driving me nuts not being able to sort it out.

Yea, it's a pita with no spark. Pretty easy though, comes from magneto, goes through sensor (green plug under seat) then into ignitor box, into coils to plugs. Pretty basic circuitry.
Matt's Speedmaster is doing the exact same thing you describe and we swapped ignitors, his bike then ran great and mine would not fire. Switched back and the problem was back on Matt's bike. Problem successfully diagnosed. Beware...the parts is over $500US!!!!!!! Try to get a warranty replacement - beg/plead/cry whatever helps.

I had ordered one last summer (post hurricane), $1000cdn, cost me $100 just to send it back for re-stock.
I don't mind spending the bucks as long as the reliablity returns to the ride.
We ride to Myrtle Beach in May and it rains alot!

Before you re-order the ignitor box try sealing up the original. You've got nothing to lose. First, remove each ignition connection, place ignitor in a small reseable freezer baggie, punch appropriate holes into baggie, use dielectric grease on the connectors, pass the wires through the bag holes, re-connected them to the box, then zip-tie the bag around the wires. Apply silicone chaulking to the zip-tied bag holes so the bag is water-tight. Might be a good idea to also wrap the bagged ignitor box in some insulating foil to repell engine heat. Find every ignition connection, including sparkplug hookup, and apply dielectric grease. Try and seal out the moisture that is penetrating your ignition circuit. Put the bike back together, and start 'er up. Now, wet the bike down to simulate a rainstorm. Try re-starting the bike a few times under wet conditions. If this doesn't work, then try a new ignitor box. If it does work, you've saved yourself $1000.

I had an ignitor problem for a month. It hasn't come back for over a month after I took it off the bike and put back on. I found the wires to the multi-pin connector were pulled tight by a tiewrap. I eased the pressure on the wires, sprayed the connector with contact cleaner and re-connected. Not one iota of a problem since.

Have you tried carefully checking the connector to the ignitor? Also make sure water can't get around the connector housing.

Grandpa, If you look at all the post on this subject you will find that most problems can be stopped by following the advice of Singring and Ramsound. When I first did my freak kit, while I had everything apart, I used dielectric grease on my ignitor connections and wrapped it in a waterproof wrapper. So far, so good......Angelis

Will do, I've started by sealing up the fuse box, so many open to atmosphere connections.

There are little rubber plugs on the CDI connector. You may want to make sure they're in place.