Fuel injected M900 cold start problem

4842 Views 15 Replies 6 Participants Last post by terrible_viking, Oct 25, 2003

Rich

Discussion Starter · Oct 23, 2003

I have a 2001 M900 Dark that I bought used recently with a cold start issue. This is my first Ducati and I'm wondering if it should start right up with the first crank of the starter when then engine is ice cold. When I say ice cold I mean 60-70 deg farenheit and the engine has been sitting all night. I use the "choke" lever and open it all the way and the engine cranks catches for half a second then stops. I repeat this procedure 3 or 4 more times until she finally starts. Am I the only person that has to try this many times before the engine starts? Is this a fuel injection issue possibly. The battery voltage looks good at rest but I haven't tried it at load. Am I expecting too much from the Marelli fuel injection system in wanting her to start right up when cold? Any and all help is appreciated.
Rich

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terrible_viking

· #9 · Oct 24, 2003

My S4 used to have a really, really hard time starting up after sitting overnight (similar ambient temperature, too). Then one day I tried it without the choke for laughs, just gave it little gas, held the throttle, and pushed the starter button. Fired right up, and settled into a smooth idle almost instantly. I never use the choke now anymore.

-R.

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terrible_viking

· #12 · Oct 25, 2003

The fuel injected bikes don't have a choke. That lever is really a just a fast idle.

Really. Well, it makes sense when you think about it. So the choke really functions like I was twisting the gas some? Why does it make that big of a difference whether I do the one or the other then? And why does it smell like unburnt gas when I use the "choke" and doesn't when I don't?

-R.

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terrible_viking

· #16 · Oct 25, 2003

There's some resistance so the lever IS doing something... Ah well, as long as it starts... Thanks for pointing out the difference between choke and fast idle though...

-R.

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