just bought an 05 and quite running

[snrusnak]

This is my first post, sorry it's a question! I just bought an 05 firebolt with 6900 miles on it. I rode it a couple of miles to make sure it ran fine, and with the exception of a dead battery it was great. We dropped a new battery in and it fired right up. I believe it has been sitting....maybe has bad gas?? Also, the battery probably is not fully charged. Here's what happened: I fired it up and it was running good, after about 20 seconds it started stumbling, I shut it off, restarted and it stumbled, backfired slightly and died, I started again it backfired alot and I kept it running by giving it throttle, then it gave a big backfire and died, I tried to start again it backfired and didnt start, I quite trying to start it at that point. I'm going to charge the battery, put fresh gas in, and check the plugs....is there anything else that some of guys might know about? Thanks

 

[anrkizm95]

possible bad fuel pump,ecm,cam sensor.

 

[onelogue]

If its been sitting a while i would make it a priority to change the spark plugs. It makes a big difference on these bikes and since its probably the first time doing it, research the How-to on spark plug changing cause its a bit tricky.

Keep posting til you fix the problem.

 

[xtremelow]

Like onelogue said, if it has been sitting you need to do a complete tune of the bike, change all fluids, plugs, check all your connections, blah blah....

 

[snrusnak]

Ok thanks guys, Im gonna start with fuel, plugs, and charging up the battery, will post back after that, Ill be on my honeymoon so it will be a few weeks... I should have also added that when it was stumbling it was letting some whitish smoke out the exhaust, this made me think there could be water in the gas? Thanks again.

 

[anrkizm95]

welcome to the forum and congrats on the marriage.

 

[snrusnak]

Thanks!

So I figured out my first problem, battery terminals were loose.....that's why it was stumbling. Now it turns over fine but won't fire, I'm going to change the plugs and hopefully that'll resolve this issue as it tried to fire a few times.

 

[SchoolHouseCycles]

I bought an 05 Firebolt to fix and sell. After doing a new top end, I had it die on the test ride. It coughed a couple times acting like it was running out of gas, and then just crapped out. I would do all the above with changing oil, gas, and plugs. If nothing else, now you have a baseline and know what you have. In my case, the problem was corrosion in the fuse box..mainly the fuse/diode that runs in the top right position. Cleaned all the contacts and it runs like a champ.

 

[snrusnak]

Well, the honeymoons over...! I changed the plugs last night(NGK's), they were burnt and the rear cylinder gap was almost completely closed. The NGK's were all the shop had in stock, I will probably go back to the harley or the iridiums after I get it running(I have had terrible failure with aftermarket plugs in anything with an engine). My next question is to verify that I can use the royal purple cycle max 20w50 in the engine oil AND the transmission without causing problems with the clutch, I've searched but just want to double check. I'll be changing the oil and fuel tomorrow and will see if it'll fire...

 

[uly luigi]

actually a lot of folks on here run that particular combo, it is fine for both holes, good luck with the bike and wife

 

[snrusnak]

Thanks, NAPA carries it and I'm going to pick it up today. I drained and put fresh fuel in the tank last night and with that and the new plugs it fired right up. Rode it around the block and it runs great. (How do you guys catch the fuel when draining the gas, I did a managable job with a dixie cup and a hole in the bottom but I spilt some on the swingarm and don't like the fact that a got gas everywhere). I'm sure I'll have many more questions since I'm new to this bike and this is one of the best forums I have come across...thanks for the help.

 

[uly luigi]

never had to drain my fuel tank, but am interested in how to do it easily and cleanly, glad you figgered out the bike, I think like MOST of us here, you will fall in love with the new toy, congrats

 

[snrusnak]

I caught most of the fuel but there was alot of splashing that got everywhere, you really need a small diameter funnel that is long and slightly curved that would sort of "cup" the drain on the fuel pump. I used to have a transmission filler funnel that would work perfect but through it out...

 

[Dave A]

Glad you got it running. Your questions and the forums responses taught me a couple of things-- Happy trails.

 

[snrusnak]

So I finally took the bike on a ride longer than fifteen minutes today, it runs good but it has a hesitation at times at partial throttle, seems worse as it gets hotter. It runs perfect otherwise. Could this be resolved by a tps reset possibly? I'm going to buy the cable tonight.