Temperature/ Coolant Warning Light

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

Past week I’ve had three times where if I’ve been on a ride then popped into a shop for a couple minutes then come back out to the bike and started it: they engine temperature warning light has stayed on for about a minute then went off again.

The first time I thought it was a one time thing and ignored it. The second time, I popped off the panel that hides the coolant reservoir on the right hand side of the bike but it’s fine.

Also noticed it’s been popping and crackling when I am shifting up gears as well as down gears. I don’t know if it’s related at all I just put it down to using premium fuel because it only started doing it after that. Might not even be related at all.

Is it maybe a sensor that’s on its’ last legs? I have driven it 30 mile runs a few times between first and second time and it never illuminated any lights. It’s literally only happened when I’ve got off the bike while it’s warmed up (twice after getting off to pay after fuelling it and then the latest time was tonight when I nipped into my parents to collect some things).

Maybe it’s nothing at all or maybe it’s the sign of something? Anything else I should be looking at? It runs pretty good, sounds good and I don’t have any issues other than the fairing buzz that’s always been there since I got it and a squeaking noise coming from the front wheel that I was going to get checked out when it’s in for a full service soon.
____________________
PRESENT: 2018 BMW S1000XR SE Sport.
PAST: 2009 Kawasaki ER-6F. 2021 Zontes ZT-125U.

[stinkwheel]

Is the fan coming on too? It's usually on a seperate switch.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[WD Forte]

Might be wrong but I have vague memory of that bike having one warning light for 3 seperate faults
Oil pressure, coolant and battery

I have a diagram which shows this but isn't annotated to prove its for
your model so best check

It's bloody stupid idea if it is, couldn't live with that
I'd hoik it out leaving the oil pressure cable as is
and fit a temp gauge and voltmeter.

the 'crackling' may be exhaust header leaks
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[Polarbear]

Presuming it's not wired as WD says, which is utter madness, then first, is the fan coming on?

If the engine is already hot and you stop, with no air flow, then yes, it could be getting to the point of alarm but the fan should have come on before that.

Put bike on stand. Start engine and run it till the fan cuts in. If it doesn't and the temp light comes on, you have a fan problem. Either the fan itself or more likely the temperature switch. Check the fan by putting 12v diectly on it.
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

[jeffyjeff]

[stinkwheel]

Worth checking for exhaust leaks. Don't underestimate the amount of damage a jet of hot exhaust gas from a leaking exhaust can do. It can make stuff very melty. Mate of mine melted a 'tunnel' clean through the coolant bottle on his KLR650 when he had a leaky header pipe. The plastic re-solidified as it melted through leaving the bottle still full but with a hole you could poke your finger through.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Easy-X]

Could you remind us of any mods to the air intake, exhaust, fuel system, etc. done to this bike?
____________________
Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

[WD Forte]

Aftermarket zorst and no Baffles eh?
It could be lack of back pressure then so on the valve overlap
some of the air/fuel getting sucked in to the chamber runs straight out
the exhaust port to assplode in the pipe.

very theatrical and loud but not the most fuel efficient
If its leaning out the engine this can raise cylinder temperatures too
I'd suggest taking a look at your plug colours to get an idea of
what's going on

In the absense of baffles a db killer would give it some back pressure
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[xX-Alex-Xx]

[stinkwheel]

All the above notwithstanding. It would seem odd for it to be leaned out enough to make the temperature warning cut in after parking it up for long enough to goto the shop. If it was that bad, I'd expect problems while riding in town. I'd also expect the fan to be on.

A replacement temperature sensor for an ER6 is less than £20...
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

[xX-Alex-Xx]

Might be worth checking the thermostat too in case it's stuck partially closed.
____________________
DILLIGAF

[jeffyjeff]

[jeffyjeff]

[stinkwheel]

Also, a full reservoir is not the same as a full radiator. Is the radiator full? Check by removing the cap with a cold engine.

A pressurised water jacket from something like a small head gasket failure can empty the radiator through the reservoir leaving some fluid in the reservoir.

EX500 head gaskets used to let go in this way. It would actually leave the temperature sensor uncovered so it wouldn't show you the overheat but the fan would be going batshit (because the fan switch was lower down).
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Tdibs]

Yeah I would just change the coolant to make sure some tard has not just filled it with tap water, low or on original coolant etc. Obviously can troubleshoot fan at the same time.

That 230mm can is basically nothing and I can imagine the fuel/air is pretty poor and probably costing you power without any other tuning air/ecu side. Obviously could be wrong without dyno/af mix readout, but would very much lean that way. Baffle will help (and make everyone hate you less)
____________________
Previous : 09 Vanvan 125| 02' Sv650s || Current: 1999 Xj600n | 1992 DR650 RSE | 2005 Fazer 1000

[Nobby the Bastard]

Tap water is fine in a vehicle is fine so long as antifreeze is added in countries where the temperature may drop below zero.
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[stinkwheel]

[Nobby the Bastard]

In long term use swapping the water would be worse than keeping the same water in it. There is only so much mineral that a few litres of water can carry to deposit in the system to reduce the efficiency of the system.

Keep changing the water and quite quickly it'll be a bit like the inside of your kettle.
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[stinkwheel]

[Nobby the Bastard]

Cumbria is mostly igneous rock.I live near Salisbury plain which is chalk so calcium carbonate rich.
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

Update on the thread - took it to a mechanic and he said it's the thermostat. Just going to get him to replace it, I can't be fucked with taking the fairings off again if its' even involved. Pretty awesome to see like three separate people on here diagnosed it from very minor symptoms that only happened a few times. Just glad I got it now before it became a bigger problem down the line.

Thanks guys!
____________________
PRESENT: 2018 BMW S1000XR SE Sport.
PAST: 2009 Kawasaki ER-6F. 2021 Zontes ZT-125U.