999 Starting Problems - Fuel Pump Relay?

**jamesguschi** · 13 Sep 06, 07:39 PM

I was just sayin on the Site last night that I have never had a problem with my Ducati ( not even the dreaded Ducati misfire ) and low and behold tonight after I filled her up with petrol at the garage 6 attempts it took to start. Then I went over about 50 yards to where we all meet up on a Wednesday night at the garage. 30 minutes later when we were all getting ready to go for a run, same thing again. Three lads tried to give me a bump but twins are terrible for starting on a bump. After about 8 tries and a smell of petrol it just started no problem running, none what so ever. We all went out about 9 miles to a village called Dunning but I did not want to risk shutting her down so I just came home. When I got home I waited about 30 -60 seconds and I tried to start her.....Not a chance. 3-4 attempts nothing so in the garage she went. Giving her a dirty look as I shut the behind the BITCH!
Anybody had this or possibly know what it could be?

Jim

**jamesguschi** · 14 Sep 06, 07:45 AM

Getting back to this starting problem Lads.
I was out on the Bike Tuesday for a 20-30 mile run, no problems at all. Last night at the house it started OK, I went for a 10 mile spin before meeting up with the lads. With the amount of times it took to start the Bike, after filling her up and after chatting for 30 mins. it can't be the battery. Two green lights on the Optimate before I left. The Bike was hot at the garage when it turned over, the first time it took 6 attempts the second even more. We all did smell petrol after a while then it just, I believe started and no more. I don't think the battery would have given out much more anyway.

Any of you Ducati Tech. heads have an idea as to what it is?

HELP!!

Ducati Glasgow is the nearest and now the only Dealer in Scotland I think.

**Brian** · 14 Sep 06, 09:03 AM

Just coz the battery is on the optimate it dont mean the battery is good :wink: the optimate really just stops the battery from going flat so you can recover it. How old is the battery Jim

**jamesguschi** · 14 Sep 06, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian

Just coz the battery is on the optimate it dont mean the battery is good :wink: the optimate really just stops the battery from going flat so you can recover it. How old is the battery Jim

I think I have it under control thanks Brian. I went out this morning opened the garage door and looked at her like a Dog that cost me £40 to get him out of the Police Pound if you know what I mean.
Put the key in and turned her on..........Eh! Something is missing. The little whirr....you get from when the fuel pump when you switch the ignition on, it primes the system. It was not there. I tried it a couple of times. Nothing.

I gave Ducati Glasgow and a very good Lad.. :wink:

called Stewart gave me the run down. He told me it was probably the ' Fuel Pump Relay '. " You will find it in behind the Battery Box, between the box and the heat shield ".
If anybody has had the Box out at all before

" WHAT A FLAMING NIGHTMARE "

You have to take all the box off first. There are 3 or 4 electrical connectors you have to take off and the main starter Motor connection too,Behind the box there are 4 small philip screws that hold on the heat shield, they will be covered in sh*t and chances are you will round of the heads when you try to take them off.

Sh*t B*ll*cks Dam and Blast!

After faffing about with all this I cleaned up the relay a small black box that just pushes into like any relay on a car etc, No Joy, so back on the phone to D. G. " It is a common fault Jim, I will pop one in the post for you "
I hope it is the relay or it is the Pump.

Question though?

If the fuel pump relay has gone would the bike fire up like it did at the garage?
D.G. Said that if there was enough pressure in the system it would, you need about three Bar.
I make that about 33.5 PSI Mmmmmmmmmhhhhhh!

**jamesguschi** · 14 Sep 06, 04:43 PM

Well here is the low down for the Replacement of the F. P. R.

Here goes. Once I got the info from the Boys at Ducati Glasgow on how to do this, I got cracking.

Basically it a simple as putting in a new fuse or in this case a relay but getting into it is a different matter.

The 1st pic shows the Bike ready to get guts taken out. Here is where I have the PC 111 USB. It disconnects here when the Battery is removed as easy as that.

The 2nd Pic shows the three screws you need to take off to release the Battery Box. Once you release this, the whole thing comes away with the heat shield aswell.

The 3rd Pic shows you the Electrical Connections behind the Battery Box. Once you take them away it will come out easier. Disconnect the Starter Motor cable and it will pull out like a book case. If you need to hold the Box in place at all when working on the Relay etc, put the middle Allen screw back into the main Battery Box it has a large bolt with a securing nut behind it to hold it in place this screws back straight into the frame.

**jamesguschi** · 14 Sep 06, 05:10 PM

As I said when all the Electrical Connections are disconnected. The whole Battery Box opens like a bookcase.

Here is where the Heat shield needs to be taken off. There a 4 screws that need to be taken out. ( This is where the fun begins ) All the crap of the day is behind this shield so make sure you have a small dumpy philips screw driver and do not let it slip and round the heads of while doing it when you are SCREWING! :wink:

Or it is a case of......... OH DEAR, OH MY!!!!! HOW WILL I GET THEM OFF NOW. ( Santa won't come early now after all that language )

Take away the shield and go and get yourself a beer. Better still if the heat shield screws came out no bother .....Go and get ****ed!....... YOU DESERVE IT.

The 2nd pic pointing to the top arrow shows you the solenoid which runs directly to the positive side of the Battery. Just under it there is the F.P.R. There is nothing to protect it really here at all. So when I get the new one I will be putting a bit of the most famous Bike accessory in the world known to man ......FECKIN DUCK TAPE.

Replace all parts in reverse order. Thank you and have a nice day.

**jamesguschi** · 14 Sep 06, 05:13 PM

I hope to hell it is the F.P R. If it is the pump itself ...Does anybody know how much?

**Ducky** · 15 Sep 06, 08:35 AM

You could always check the wiring to the pump if the bike still doesn't start, see if there is power getting to it, if so then you know there is a fault.

If it's like the older models 996 etc, I'm not sure if you need to buy the whole unit that goes in the tank.

Bit pricey I think too

**Oldie** · 15 Sep 06, 08:52 AM

Sorry to hear 'bout your problem.

I had water getting in mine so the pump was running all the time but the bike wouldn't start.FPR was changed and no problem. Hope yours is just FPR.
Nice post
Best of luck mate

**Itisteve** · 15 Sep 06, 09:37 AM

I had a very similar problem, but on my 996. It turned out to be an intermitent fault with the alarm/imobiliser not allowing the fuel pump to run, even though alarm (Datatool) was showing disarmed.
It was a right pain as you never knew when it would happen sometimes the fuel pump would cut out when riding- not too bad if it stays off, but when it decides to cut back in halfway round a bend itc it was v.v.v.v.v sphincter twitching.Often as you describe.
Usually part of the imobiliser wiring is put in series with the fuel pump wiring, if you can find this, try replacing with a link to test.

**jamesguschi** · 15 Sep 06, 05:23 PM

Well that was quick, thanks to the Lads at Ducati Glasgow if Martin 8) reads this. I will pop the money over the phone to the lovely Kerry.... :wink: Growl ...Snarl ....Howl....... like the dog I am..

Cough splutter. Where was I? Oh yes. Fuel Pump Relay. :wink: I am working all weekend but Monday I will pop it in and I hope it will be OK. When it is stuck in I hope to hear the Whirr..... when I switch the ignition on. The old one was not corroded on the connection but there was a lot of **** dirt greasy crappy stuff, know what I mean. The D. G. Lads say that it is a common fault so here is hoping.
Thanks for the info Frenchy and Guys.

**jamesguschi** · 15 Sep 06, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldie

Sorry to hear 'bout your problem.

I had water getting in mine so the pump was running all the time but the bike wouldn't start.FPR was changed and no problem. Hope yours is just FPR.
Nice post
Best of luck mate

I get the pump prime noise....you know the whirr only when I switch the ignition on. But then the noise disapears when it is primed .....that is why the lads at DG think it is the relay, because there is no noise at all on switching the ignition on. If it was just the Relay then that means no whirr... when you put the key too the on position.
If my pump was to run all the time like yours would I not get the whirr all the time Bud? When I switch the ignition on.

**998gsb** · 15 Sep 06, 06:32 PM

Hope you get it fixed james

- let us know how you get on

**jamesguschi** · 15 Sep 06, 10:05 PM

Well as I said. " That was quick " It came from lunch time one day to the next morning. Good on you lads and Stewart at the Ducati Glasgow shop. Here is hoping it is the relay and not the pump. According to the mechanic it is a regular fault with them.

**Oldie** · 16 Sep 06, 07:02 AM

Yes you are right, you would hear it all the time. If you are not getting any
noise at all, I suppose it may be the pump.

Good luck James and let us know.

Rick