Mille won't start

I need some advice since 2 (yes two) shops don't know what's going on with my bike.  I've been really busy and didn't ride my 2002 RSV Mille for about 3 weeks and when I tried to start it, it cranked but would start.  I jumped it off of my SV650 and it started right up, no problem.  I rode it for about 30 minutes that night and it ran fine.  The next morning I tried starting it and it started right up.  

I needed new tires, so i took it to my shop to get a new set put on and then they called me and said the bike wouldn't start.  I asked them to check the battery and they said it tests perfect.  They tried it again and it wouldn't even turn over, it only makes clicking sound.  I asked them to try and jump it and the same thing... just clicking.  The Diagnostic code on the screen reads "Diag 1" but they didn't know what that meant.  I called another aprilia dealer and they don't know what that code is.  so, can anyone answer these three qeustions...
1-Why won't it start? (I know electronics are tough to diagnose)
2-What does "Diag 1" mean?
3-should I be pissed at the dealership who installed tires and then couldn't start my bike?

thanks a lot.  

What kind of Aprilia dealer is this that they don't know diagnostic codes on a bike model they carry and sell?

I would take it back to the shop and (respectfully) demand some answers.

Good luck getting this resolved.  

All big V-twins like the Aprilia and the Ducatis require a lot of power to run their electronic fuel injection systems. The starters also drain a lot of energy when you crank them over (they're turning over some pretty hefty components compared to inline fours). If the battery power isn't sufficient to run the EFI, the ECU shuts everything down; even the bike's generator doesn't provide enough juice to run the bike by itself. I would say that your bike's battery is in need of replacement; it didn't hold the charge that you gave it by jumping it and riding it to the shop.

I would also find another dealer to take your bike to. The two dealers you dealt with are obviously incompetent. All they'd have to do is call Aprilia if they didn't know what the problem or code was.  

Wheelspin could be onto something here. I know from personal experience that Ducatis are more sensitive to battery voltage than most other bikes and a moderately weak battery has a hard time turning the engine over and may register as a fault to the ECU.

If you are able, put a voltmeter to the battery. It should measure at least 12.5v with the bike off. With the bike running, you should be getting 13.5 to low 14v of charging voltage.

Whatever the case may be, it is agreed that you might want to check into a different dealer.

Good luck.  

thanks a lot for the input guys... I actually found another aprilia dealer (about 75 miles away though) and I'm taking the bike to them tomorrow.  I'll pass along the info you guys left to the mechanic and see what he says.  

Quote:

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I know from personal experience that Ducatis are more sensitive to battery voltage than most other bikes and a moderately weak battery has a hard time turning the engine over and may register as a fault to the ECU.

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Greetings, I'm new here because of the "mille won't start" thread. My 2001 Mille R did the same thing. Diag Code 1 and one metallic/electric clunk (like a solenoid sound). Since the bike’s battery is 4 years old I assumed it was the battery. Purchased a new one and charged it with my Tender at 1.25amps for 12 hours. I installed it and again. A clunk sound and nothing. Diag Code 1 so this time instead of guessing I got a volt meter. The battery I removed measured 12.7 volts after sitting for 24 hours. The installed new battery measured 14.3 volts after receiving an additional 10 hours charge at 2amps. So I’m certain the battery isn’t the issue as has been alluded to in this thread. I suspect a faulty ground or failed Solenoid. The clunk sound comes from the round electrical item installed between the battery and the computer just aft of the 30amp fuse block.

Here are my question:
1.) Is that round item the start solenoid?
a.) If so do these fail?
b.) Or is the fact that it makes that clunk sound an indication that the contact is closing and it’s working?
2.) Since TWINs vibrate more than other bikes are there weaknesses in the ground circuit?
a.) Are there known area’s where Aprilia Mille grounds fail?
b.) How should I trouble shoot this?
3.) Any tips on this and perhaps a place that lists the Diag Codes? I was only able to find double digit codes, nothing on the mystery CODE 1.

Thanks for helping a newbie out; I have 2 identical Mille R’s so I guess I’m a fan of the bike.  

Sorry; Forgot to mention that the accessories all work fine and the bike’s headlight appears bright. Also I have to connect the Diag connectors to get the CODE1, it does not show up otherwise.  

Hello resqav8r, i've had the exact problem on my aprilia etv1000. The round item is the start solenoid and yes they do fail especialy when you try to start your bike with almost no power left in your battery. This will make the battery peak very high currents and melt the isolation inside the solenoid. When the isolation hardens it may get in the way of the solenoid closing the circuit. This is why all your lights and indicators work fine but you can't start the engine. I tested the start solenoid by disconecting the wire connecting the startermotor to the starter solenoid and and then turning on the ignition and by hand carefully connecting the wire from the startermotor to the other wire connected to the starter solenoid. The bike should now start and when its has started remove the wire from the start solenoid. If your bike started then you now know that it was the start solenoid which had failed.

Hopes this was helpful.