5th gen Intermittent Fuel Pump Priming Issue

Hey guys,

Just posting here for ideas.

I have this problem with my fuel pump sometimes not priming on startup.

Sometimes the bike would die while running and the issue would present itself.

-Turn bike on
-FI light comes off

No fuel pump whine.
Motor turns over.
No start

Fuel tank full.


I checked the fuel pump connection, I get 12V every time I switch the killswitch on/off.
I hear the relays going off for the fuel pump and FI light.

What I did:
Took apart the fuel pump connector and pulled the wires from the housing, tightened the female spade bits with a pair of pliers for better contact. Sprayed the connector with contact cleaner.

I'll check it again tomorrow but I'm wary that it might not be fully resolved.

When it does work the fuel pump sounds healthy.

Any ideas? Do I bite the bullet and buy a new fuel pump?

 

First of all, welcome to VFRW, kise93.

It may be helpful if you share a bit more infomation about your 5th gen.
Year, Kilometers, How long have you owned it, any other issues that you have delt with on this machine?

 

Thanks!
Sorry for the late answer. I haven't had the time to look at it again since until today.

'00, 85,000 km

I've owned it since '21. Work done when I got it:
-Regulator swap
-Thermostatic valve
-Air intake filter replacement
-Front shocks repack
-Front brake calipers repack
-Front brake pads and rotors replacement
-Steering head bearing replacement
-Oil change
-New spark plugs
-Exhaust, switched back to stock
-Rear shock, switched back to stock

Others/routine:
-New tires
-New batteries
-Oil changes

No other issues other than the intermittent pump not priming.

It happened again, after 5 minutes of riding. My engine stalled at a stoplight and the bike wouldn't start again. Same symptoms as posted.
I waited a bit on the side of the road and a few minutes later it primed and started again.

It didn't do it again, put 150 km on the bike after that. Tested a few times and it would start.

 

If you have a voltneter handy, next time your pump stops check and see if you are getting voltage to the pump terminals under the tank. If they're getting juice then your fuel pump is probably on its last legs.

 

Yeah I did that a few times the day I posted, had voltage consistently. Guess I'll replace the fuel pump.

 

I understand that fuel pumps fail intermittently and more often when they get hot.