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PCX starter issues
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 7:33 am
by romaldho
Wonder if any of you in the know can help me out here please...
I have a starting problem with my 2011 PCX 125 and guess what, it is a few months out of warranty. I can get the bike going after a few attempts but it is a struggle getting the power from the battery to the ignition system. I turn on the ignition and straight away the lights begin to flicker and after a couple of attempts the bike starts. I have bought a new battery but the same problem exists.
I have taken it into a stealership and they have done an initial examination but they have come up short. They now want to dismantle the bike to get to the ecu at £60 an hour (3 to 4 work) with no guarantee they will fix it!
The bike has just passed 3000 miles and I must admit I am livid to say the least. Even my £800 chinese import lasted three years!
I have just been on to Honda directly to complain and ask about a contribution from them but I have a feeling they are going to tell me to go away as the 2500 mile service was not completed by the dealership (it was out of warranty hence this decision).
Has anyone experienced similar issues and managed to come out the other side?
Thanks for reading!
Romaldho
Re: PCX starter issues
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 1:33 pm
by romaldho
Update..... They think the issue is with the start/stop switch and connections and this further work will take 4 hours with no guarantee of success. Spark plug replaced and cost me £65.
Re: PCX starter issues
Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 4:44 am
by yttikeiram
Yeah, that either sounded like a battery or wiring issue. Is there any rust on your bike? Is it possible that there is a pinched wire somehow? I'm not sure it should take 4 hours of labor to see if the issue is with the start/stop switch. Have you tried another dealership?
Re: PCX starter issues
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 2:38 am
by romaldho
I have replaced the battery so I don't think that is the issue unless I have bought another dud and there is no rust at all as it is garaged every night. The problem is intermittent in that sometimes it fires up first time, but more often than not it takes a couple of attempts but I can always get it going (touch wood). Not sure about a pinched wire but would have thought the dealership would have spotted this but then again..........
I have tried a couple of independent bike garages who have directed me towards the dealerships. There is another dealership I could try but I have raised a complaint against Honda so I will see what they have to say first. I am not holding out much hope but for a £2500 premium bike to have problems after two years and 3000 miles is just not good enough in my opinion.
Cheers
Romaldho
Re: PCX starter issues
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 3:35 am
by gn2
Have you tried the idle stop in both positions?
Do you regularly use the sidestand?
Are you pulling the left brake lever hard enough?
Re: PCX starter issues
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 10:16 am
by WhiteNoise
^^
Dad always told me, "Don't dig deep

until you've checked the obvious first."
Saved me many a dollar and aggravation over the years and I have passed on his wisdom since.
If you had a U.S. PCX, I would have said, check the "kill switch" (in the same location as your idle stop, I believe). gn2 is pointing you in obvious directions
Good luck, and hang in there! It's possible, you're starting problem could very well be simples

Re: PCX starter issues
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 8:13 pm
by kramnala58
When you turn the key in the ignition, does the speedometer needle move completely to the top speed and then return to zero, and does the gas gauge stay illuminated? If not, it is probably an electrical problem, including the possibility of a dead/weak battery, even though you have just replaced the battery. Maybe there is a short somewhere that is causing the battery to drain.
Re: PCX starter issues
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 9:00 pm
by Mel46
I do not have the solution to this issue, but I wanted to tell you about something thst just happened to me. I just traded in my Burgman for a new pcx. I had it for 2 weeks and wanted to add some lights to the rear. When I took the rear cover off I found a mouse nest. The mouse was gone, but the wires were eaten almost completely through in some places. The service area took the bike apart and said that they would have to replace the entire wiring harness because they found other areas that the home loving mouse had used for dinner or a nest. In any case, wiring can be a nightmare to investigate because you don't know if the problem is easy or hard to see, just like the wiring I couldn't see that the mouse had enjoyed.
Re: PCX starter issues
Posted: Sat May 03, 2014 8:33 am
by MichRocks
Mel46 wrote:I do not have the solution to this issue, but I wanted to tell you about something thst just happened to me. I just traded in my Burgman for a new pcx. I had it for 2 weeks and wanted to add some lights to the rear. When I took the rear cover off I found a mouse nest. The mouse was gone, but the wires were eaten almost completely through in some places. The service area took the bike apart and said that they would have to replace the entire wiring harness because they found other areas that the home loving mouse had used for dinner or a nest. In any case, wiring can be a nightmare to investigate because you don't know if the problem is easy or hard to see, just like the wiring I couldn't see that the mouse had enjoyed.
Boy, that happened to me on one of my Hondas. The damn mouse ate through the central harness, and it cost me a ton of time to get it repaired. I have lost a lot of love for the little creatures. Hope you get it fixed; and hope they replace it under warranty.