Bike decided to stop working on the autobahn...

treeper · May 20, 2015

bike won't start, only 1 cylinder working; errors on display

Well, as I said in the title... Bike decided to stop working on the autobahn...whilst driving 160kph(100mph). On our 1st day while riding Belgium-Austria. After 350kms. At about 2500kms on the dash. Last Saturday.
I refueled just 10mins earlier. The red oil light came on. A minute later I couldn't use the throttle (turning it no prob, but to no response). When I stopped, the engine stopped as well. Dash also said "errors" at that point.
I did have an oil indicator on the dash from weeks before, but always thought my dealer forgot to reset it when it had 1st maintenance.
We were able to restart the engine several times. Gas throttle didn't respond. Only twice did it, after more than an hour cooling down. We disconnected the battery, waited several minutes and reconnected. Same problems occured (getting the engine turning, gas throttle response).
It got towed. And I went on to Austria with a rental car (luckily w're in a biker hotel so I've rented a bike here).
On Monday I heard from the insurrance company that the Ducati dealer in Lebach-Thalexweiler (Saarland, D) wouldn't be able to diagnose the bike bedore Friday (how hard can that be: take the HS, a computer and a cable; fire up the program and see what the error codes are).
So it'll be towed back to my dealer in Belgium in the coming days/weeks.

Some of the guessing we had:
-the oil was above max. level (when warm), so there's to much oil in
-engine cooling problem
-oil temperature problem
-CPU problem
-oil sensor problem

What else could it be?
Note that I didn't get a flickering dash, so I wouldn't think a problem with the battery is optional. Dash, all light, starter, all electronics fired up as expected.

GTHawk · May 20, 2015

? did you check the oil level ???? i know silly but did not see mention of it i your post.

treeper · May 20, 2015

GTHawk said:
? did you check the oil level ???? i know silly but did not see mention of it i your post.

It's on the bottom of my post. It was more than full before we took off in Belgium. And the glass was totally full when I was forced to stop

gatdammit · May 20, 2015

-After my recent oil change, mines been slightly above limit with no issues.
-Did you monitor engine temp? What was ambient? At 100 mph, you're getting plenty of cooling effect. Doubt this unless your fans were kaput.
-The only time I've seen the red oil light is when ignition is on and engine isn't running. I used to ride in Florida traffic during the summer, maybe 220-230 coolant temp, with no issues.

I'd lean to something in the engine diagnostics failing, either an oil pressure sensor or actual loss of oil pressure. Did the oil look cooked or radiator vent?

BlueSwede · May 20, 2015

I tend to agree. It’s more likely to be a faulty sensor, or bad connection, than actually mechanical.

NewRider · May 20, 2015

I recently had my engine stoping and barely letting me restart on a very hot day. It turn out the problem was a lot simpler than expected.... The fuel.

Too much darn ethanol. In Canada most gas station mixes up to 10% ethanol in the gazoline. And most performances machines absolutely hate ethanol with passion. The ethanol apparently weaken the performance. so the engine is working harder to compensate the gap.

Since then I refuel exclusively with ethanol free gas and the problem never came back even when the engine is boiling hot.

Winkie · May 20, 2015

Well, I've had the same problem with mine. After running in traffic (Bangkok traffic) for an hour or so, my engine started cutting out. About 30 times in 1 hour. Very difficult to restart each time. So I took it straight to the Ducati shop, they originally had it for 3 days, gave back and told me that all was OK (it wasn't - same problem). Today I am picking it up after another 6 days in the shop. This time they tell me they have replaced both ignition coils.

Ill probably not know if the problem has been resolved until Saturday, when I have time to take the bike for a longer ride. Hopefully, they have resolved the issue, but I am not sure. Ducati Thailand are wonderful for all the regular stuff, however they are sadly lacking when things go wrong, and have a tendency to look in completely the wrong area.

For sure if it happens a gain, I'll post.

Big Mango Ducati · May 20, 2015

I had a similar problem a couple of times over a period of one year when I gtot stopped in heavy traffic in extreme heat here in BKK. Once the bike cooled down no problem. It was almost as if the cooling system was being overwhelmed and it could not keep out. Maybe fan was not strarting up. But has only happened twice a year a part in extreme conditions.

Winkie leave me a pm and we can discuss on the phone would be interesting to compare the situation.

treeper · May 20, 2015

gatdammit said:
-Did you monitor engine temp? What was ambient? At 100 mph, you're getting plenty of cooling effect. Doubt this unless your fans were kaput.

-Did the oil look cooked or radiator vent?

-Engine temp was about 78-82 degrees C (172-179 F), the whole way.
-Ambient about 12 C (53 F)
-Fan was working
-Oil looked normal (except too much). The bike didn't smell of oil, no smoke.

treeper · May 20, 2015

NewRider said:
I recently had my engine stoping and barely letting me restart on a very hot day. It turn out the problem was a lot simpler than expected.... The fuel.

Too much darn ethanol...

Well, it happened 10mins after refuelling. But I took Super 95 as always. (I'm sure, I still have the receipt). 2 others did as well (BMW 1200GS, Ducati 900SS). In the same gas station, but not at the same pump.
There was also bio ethanol available in the station.

Winkie · May 21, 2015

Well, Picked my bike up from Ducati Thonglor yesterday, and after 40 mins of riding, the problem returned. This time my bike cut out on me in the middle of a 4 lane road, night time, with many large trucks ( Thai trucks don't like to stop for much, even the ones with working brakes! Not a nice experience!)

Anyway, this morning I have told Ducati to send a van to collect the bike, to which they have agreed. I have also asked them to give me a replacement bike whilst they are working on mine (this one they are struggling with, but have not said No..... yet).

I guess the bike will be gone for at least 4-5 days, whilst they try to investigate.

Will post what happens next.

treeper · May 21, 2015

Winkie, what year is tour bike from? Mine is a December 2013

Winkie · May 22, 2015

December 2013!

What is the latest with your situation Treeper?

treeper · May 23, 2015

Nothing ftm. I'm back in my home country. The bike is still in Germany. It'll be ferried one of thr next days.
I'll keep you updated, as soon as I hear something.

GR8 · May 23, 2015

**** man that sucks...sorry to hear about that.

I just picked mine up and don't even have a hundred miles on it yet. Hoping for trouble free riding. Although the lock on the left side bag isn't working when I unlock it. I have to use a flat head screw driver to detach it.

niiico · May 23, 2015

about your bag, you should lubricate the mechanism. I did it with chain lube and since then I had no problem.

gkmapv · May 24, 2015

Throttlesensor broken? I had it with my strada last year. No reaction when you go on the gas? The sensorproblem is known at Ducati. My Strada is sold and I changed it for a new Multi (in 1,5 year - battery , throttlesensor, oilleak breakfluidreservoir,...). My 2013.

Winkie · May 24, 2015

Well... here is the update for my bike in Bangkok. Firstly, Ducati Thonglor loaned me an 899 Panigale over the weekend, and I had a blast (literally!). So fair play for the loaner (I have to take it back this morning though).

They test rode my bike extensively over the weekend, and now want to keep it for 2 more days. They believe that there is something no correct with the air circuit at high temps, they believe something is expanding and causing air supply problems.

Lets see what happens later in the week.

Maybe I'll have a Diavel this weekend!

treeper · May 26, 2015

gkmapv said:
Throttlesensor broken? I had it with my strada last year. No reaction when you go on the gas? The sensorproblem is known at Ducati. My Strada is sold and I changed it for a new Multi (in 1,5 year - battery , throttlesensor, oilleak breakfluidreservoir,...). My 2013.

That could be it. As simple as that.

Hope your Multi is a bit more solid.

Bike has been delivered to Ducati Gent today, parts of it in boxes (?).
Waiting for the diagnosis...

I'll update as soon as I hear something more.

treeper · May 27, 2015

He's at the dealer:

Bike decided to stop working on the autobahn...

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