1998 R1100 GS Still no power to Fuel Pump UPDATE

Well I see this has everyone baffled. Not just me. the bike was serviced and all fluids updated before I bought the bike. I will tear into it next week when I get situated in the new Apt. Supposed to have a garage which will be nice. I can ride the wife's F700GS till I get this sorted out. Glad I did not sell it yet. I am sure it will be something simple. Fingers crossed Just have to approach it systematically. First I check for spark and then move from there.

I will update this thread for you FF's as I sort through it. We can fix this together I am sure.

Does that model have a lined tank? If so, loose liner material is one suspect.

Regardless, I'd be interested in the tank's internals: pump, filter, & esp. the lines.

as RFK said earlier, make sure the the fuel pump is energized for 2 seconds at each key on sequence.

I agree. First I check spark when not starting. Then to fuel system if spark is present I have some in line test lights to plug onto the plugs to make sure they are firing. I just hope I can repeat the no start. If it starts I go for a ride for the day and try again the next day. Bike is a 98 with 32 K on it Metal tank.

My bike had intermittent stalls and once it would not even start. I checked out the bypassed sidestand switch which might have been a part of the problem. I checked out the wiring and had already replaced the HES last year. But my problem turned out to be the coil. After replacing the coil and the plug wires I have not had anymore problems. Standard caveat; YEMV.

Done a valve adjustment lately? Improper valve adjustment can be a cause of hard starting.

Looks like it is fuel related. I have spark. There must be a relay sticking for the fuel pump or the pump itself is going. Must be a relay cause the bike runs great when it starts

Advance the throttle while starting!!!
Then you can rule out the "choke" which is really a throttle advance. If it starts while you give it gas with the throttle, your on the way to id'ing your issue.

at the mileage of the bike with an (unknown?) history of service, its time to go into the tank, renew all rubber lines, pump maybe/maybe not, clean whatever peeling tank liner has clogged the fuel sock, and replace the fuel sock and filter.

No go. That was one of the fist things I did.

I agree but am in S Ca with home and shop in N Ill. Bike is running great whe running. I pulled relays and cleaned them. Now I will see since I switched heated grips telay with pump. Started rught ip then. Will see if the problem persists. Thanks.

when it does start, do you hear the pump prerun to pressurize the fuel rail before it starts?

Hopefully youve solved it, but if not, the next time it fails to start, remove a fuel injector and watch it during start attempt and watch for fuel spray

If it runs fine after she fires up, it sounds more like a fuel starvation thing. I'm thinking old fuel filter, clogged injectors, possibly a split fuel line within the internals of the fuel tank(which is a fairly common occurrence with these bikes and the infamous "U" tube).
There are certain "Must Do" items for the 1100GS, in my mind. First is SS brake lines to replace originals. Second, refurbish the internals of your tank with new rubber fuel lines, a new fuel pump with new prefilter sock, and a new fuel filter.
I would start by checking out the fuel spray from the injectors like suggested above. That will tell you everything.

I am not sure I agree RFK,
here is why, if he says it runs fine when it does start, Ill assume that means at highway speeds when it would need lots of fuel right?

when it fails to start I think it has ZERO fuel.
im betting intermittent relay or fuel pump, wiring or something like that

fuel either ON or OFF, not just starved.

that seems logical to me, but IM no vulcan, so you never really know
well at least we wont until he figures it out.

If it was an intermittent electrical issue, the bike would kick out intermittently while running. That isn't happening.

Good luck Eric!!

But, if it was enough of a fuel starvation issue that the bike wont start, it certainly wouldn't run well when it does start.

I have been wrenching a while. That is why I am stumped. This bike cruised at highway speeds no problem. I cruised 1400 miles at interstate speeds. 70 - 90 mph. No problem. It does not seem to be the relay. I will pull the tank and check and clean all wiring conections and replace internals. Not changing the pump right now since it runs well when going. Sat a few hrs last night while I watched Cub game. Same problem when I went home Seems like the pump is not energizing. Stay tooned. This is a tricky one.

OK so the pump does not activate intermittently, try and jumper the 30 and 87 terminals of the fuel pump relay socket. That will power up the pump, and if not well it will be mighty simple at that point to find the issue (connection, pump, maybe ground issue) Mind you don't go buttoning it up and ride away with the jumper wire on, that would be silly.

I will return to S Cal and bike in two weeks. then it is time to dig into it and really so some trouble shooting.