I have recently bought a 2005 R50 with the cvt- for my daughter. Previous owner had just swapped the motor. He put in a used motor. Thats about all I know he did.

It ran fine until about a week ago- when it stalled and refused to restart. turns over, but no ignition. I waited about 10 min and tried again and it sputtered then started. I drove it home, parked it in the garage and it wouldn't start again for a week. It would sometimes turn over, and sometimes nothing. And sometimes it would turn over, then the starter would make a noise similar to trying to start while the engine was already running. And sometimes it will turn over just 2 or 3 revolutions and stop.

I focused on the starter and found a loose (not overly) starter bolt. Tightened it and gave it another try. (I was charging the battery mostly during this down time.) It started right up- with a sputter at first again but ran well for about 2 days. Then while driving it, coming to a stop, it stalled and rolled to a stop in front of a chain auto repair shop. When trying to restart I could hear a clicking from the ews box. that clicking has sense stopped. Also, with the ignition on, the P on the shift column erratically blinks. And my cheap scanner connected to to OBDII port says "No Link" (it wks fine on my other car). The starter make the same noise again as before. I will check that bolt again. Although I put a good torque on it.

It has a new battery, Replaced after this problem

I had the shop look at it and they said it might be the immobilizer system (I told them about the clicking ews). No fuel, no spark--at least thats what they said. Their primary business is tires.

If it is the ews/ dme, whats the repair?

I have no clue, and would love any suggestions.

Thanks!

Mike

 

Check the ground cable. I think the R50 has it in the same location.
Nik

 

Yes, I did check that, thanks. It's secure.

 

Do you have the second key? Sometimes the chip for the ews (antitheft) goes bad in the key...gets flakey...
So to make sure we understand you right, it dies not always crank? Or it always cranks, but does not always start?

 

Just reread it....sometimes no crank can be a bad key lock/ignition cylinder.... Same for random turn offs...
Yup...do check all grounds...depending on who swappied the motor,things don't always go well...

 

Thank you Zipp, No, no 2nd key. How can I check the key? Dealer?

 

Naww...don't think they have a key reader/tester...
But when you first put the key near the ignition you should hear a "ding"... That is the key getting read.
Frankly, I am wondering if the ignition switch is faulty... A few worn ones have been getting threads on failures as of late.

 

Yes, definitely the key triggers the ding. Can I just replace the ignition switch from salvage or would it need to be programed to wk with the dme ews?

Or does the "ding" eliminate the key and switch?

 

Found it! This little bugger was loose!

 

Thanks again for your help

 

Yeah!! Simple and related (hopefully) to the motor swap!!

 

Yea have not seen the other side ground cable come loose before. Most of the time its the one on the other side motor mount or the cable corrodes and disconnects, glad you found it.

 

Nice find for zero $ repair. I find it amazing that one of many grounds can wreak such havoc.