'13 R1200RT starting issue

[RTRay]

Ray,
I don't believe your bike has a MAF sensor so I presume the inlet air temperature sensor and a barometric pressure sensor report this information to the ECM, the computer then performs the necessary calculation and adjusts the fuel supply to match the quantity of air being pumped into the engine. Maybe try locating the sensor and unplugging it and have a look at the plug see if there's any corrosion present.

I feel for you man, these things can be a PITA for sure. Do you have a GS-911 or access to one? One of these scan tools would give you some real time data with the bike cold may give you a few more clues.

It is very frustrating. The bike is nearly perfect in every other way. However, this refusal to start in cold temperatures is a deal breaker if it can’t be fixed.

 

[lkraus]

It is very frustrating. The bike is nearly perfect in every other way. However, this refusal to start in cold temperatures is a deal breaker if it can’t be fixed.

To be clear, you ARE opening the throttle a little bit for a cold start?

 

[RTRay]

To be clear, you ARE opening the throttle a little bit for a cold start?

Yes. I actually read the manual. It doesn’t help.

There’s actually a video on YouTube of a 2014 having the same problem starting in the cold. The guy never could get it fixed so he traded the bike and got an F800GT.

My 22 year old R1100RT with 96,000+ miles will start well below freezing every time I hit the start button.
It’s still my favorite bike ever.

 

[lkraus]

Yes. I actually read the manual. It doesn’t help.

There’s actually a video on YouTube of a 2014 having the same problem starting in the cold. The guy never could get it fixed so he traded the bike and got an F800GT.

My 22 year old R1100RT with 96,000+ miles will start well below freezing every time I hit the start button.
It’s still my favorite bike ever.

Just verifying. Many people can read but not understand.

The 2013 Camhead and the 2014 Wethead use different fueling systems so I would not necessarily expect the solution to a cold start problem to be the same.

 

[RTRay]

Just verifying. Many people can read but not understand.

The 2013 Camhead and the 2014 Wethead use different fueling systems so I would not necessarily expect the solution to a cold start problem to be the same.

This is what it does until the temp warms to above 43-45F.

https://youtu.be/9ySX84qagoA

 

[lkraus]

This is what it does until the temp warms to above 43-45F.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=r1200rt+cold+start+pronlems

Wrong link?

The first six videos from that search all show bikes that do start when cold. One has a weak battery.

Though I think we do understand that yours cranks but does not start.

 

[omega man]

This is what it does until the temp warms to above 43-45F.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=r1200rt+cold+start+pronlems

I had a listen…… To me, the starter turning sounds weak, how old is the battery? This could be confirmed by using jumper cables to a known good battery at the temperature you are having trouble with.
Interested in the results.
OM

 

[RTRay]

When I first had the problem my battery was 3 years old and weak. I replaced it with a new AGM battery in February. This battery has been strong until the last few weeks. I suspect it was old when I got it and I’m going to replace it with a new battery when I get back to Arizona in a couple weeks.

Which battery Do you think is the best? Odyssey or Yuasa?

This should be the correct link for the cold start issue.

https://youtu.be/9ySX84qagoA

 

[RTRay]

Replaced my generic battery with an Odyssey PC680 along with a CTEK AGM charger. Since then my bike has started every time I’ve tried, all the way down to 38F. The engine turns over very fast and it catches within a couple seconds. It has started several mornings in a row below 40F. I do have to follow the manual instructions on cold starts. Bike in N throttle about 1/4 open and it starts up fine so far.

Hopefully this takes care of the problem.