ducati 996 just died while riding

Yorke · August 4th, 2012, 04:47 PM

I have a 2001 996s that's got a 916 motor in it, it's been setup as a track bike only. Today while at the track, while riding in the first session the motor sputtered a few times then died. I pulled over and sat for less than a minute and then it started up and ran like nothing was wrong.

So I went out for my second session and within a lap when I was getting up to speed, it sputtered several times, ran very rough for a bit and then died.

I have not been able to get it started since then, the starter motor turns over just fine. Just not spark or fuel.

Here is what I have checked and changed.

1. Battery- I have used two batteries and they are both good.

2. Fuses

3. I changed out the two relays, near the battery, the yellow relay and the smaller relay.

4. I pulled the fuel pump and both (2) hoses were connected and the fuel filter had fuel pouring out both ends.

My gut feeling it's not getting spark, I pulled a plug and ground it to a grounding nut and didn't see anything. Ive been told by a Ducati Tech that even if the regulator was bad the bike would start and run, albeit by draining the battery.

Any good insight is helpful, thanks.

widewalker · August 4th, 2012, 09:12 PM

I had the same problem with my 996s 5 years ago. Would just die then restart after a while. Tried everything we could think of but never found the problem. sold it in the end. sorry that's no help to you but I have read quite a few similar problems. It seems quite a common problem. Try changing the chip in the ECU..they're cheap. Good luck.

Spudd · August 5th, 2012, 09:13 AM

The Fuel Relays are under the seat. Try changing one or both. If you aren't getting spark, try changing the coils, don't just sell the bike...it can be repaired.

Yorke · August 5th, 2012, 03:57 PM

When I turn the kill switch to ON, of the two relays under the seat, only the right one clicks, not the left one. Can you tell me which relay is which and what it does?

Should I jump it to see that is it? I think I read that you can jump them somewhere.

Ya, I am not selling it, LOL.

Yorke · August 5th, 2012, 08:23 PM

I hooked the tank up and set it over the sub-frame, while cranking over the motor and opening the throttle. I didn't see any fuel being sprayed from the fuel injectors.

widewalker · August 5th, 2012, 08:56 PM

Does the fuel pump cycle when you turn the key on? You can hear it if you put your ear near the tank.

Yorke · August 6th, 2012, 03:35 AM

Yes it cycles, every time.

widewalker · August 6th, 2012, 08:19 AM

If the pump cycles and the bike won't fire then its either the injectors not shooting or no spark. Both functions are controlled by the ECU with other factors also influencing. Unlikely to be both coils packing it in at the same time. Could be the ignition pickup sensor is faulty/bad connection. Could be the engine cut-out switch having an intermittent grounding problem. Could be blocked fuel line/injectors but unlikely, especially if its an intermittent problem. I'd be looking at proper grounding of the ECU first, the chip in the ECU second or the ECU itself. There's a few things to check. good luck buddy.

Yorke · August 7th, 2012, 04:33 AM

I took the bike into Houston Superbikes yesterday after I decided I checked everything out properly. They are going to put there mathesis tester on it, and switch out either the ecu and chip to see if that's it.

I am kind of surprised that after looking on ebay and the web, there isn't a lot of ecu's out there to be had. I could have sworn there were plenty of them out there.

widewalker · August 7th, 2012, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorke

I am kind of surprised that after looking on ebay and the web, there isn't a lot of ecu's out there to be had. I could have sworn there were plenty of them out there.

Are you searching "eprom"?

August 4th, 2012, 04:47 PM	#1
Yorke Junior Member No ducatis in the registry Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Houston Posts: 9	Ducati 996/916 Issue I have a 2001 996s that's got a 916 motor in it, it's been setup as a track bike only. Today while at the track, while riding in the first session the motor sputtered a few times then died. I pulled over and sat for less than a minute and then it started up and ran like nothing was wrong. So I went out for my second session and within a lap when I was getting up to speed, it sputtered several times, ran very rough for a bit and then died. I have not been able to get it started since then, the starter motor turns over just fine. Just not spark or fuel. Here is what I have checked and changed. 1. Battery- I have used two batteries and they are both good. 2. Fuses 3. I changed out the two relays, near the battery, the yellow relay and the smaller relay. 4. I pulled the fuel pump and both (2) hoses were connected and the fuel filter had fuel pouring out both ends. My gut feeling it's not getting spark, I pulled a plug and ground it to a grounding nut and didn't see anything. Ive been told by a Ducati Tech that even if the regulator was bad the bike would start and run, albeit by draining the battery. Any good insight is helpful, thanks.

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August 4th, 2012, 09:12 PM	#2
widewalker Member ducatis in the registry: [998 S] Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 163	I had the same problem with my 996s 5 years ago. Would just die then restart after a while. Tried everything we could think of but never found the problem. sold it in the end. sorry that's no help to you but I have read quite a few similar problems. It seems quite a common problem. Try changing the chip in the ECU..they're cheap. Good luck.

August 5th, 2012, 09:13 AM	#3
Spudd Member No ducatis in the registry Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 198	The Fuel Relays are under the seat. Try changing one or both. If you aren't getting spark, try changing the coils, don't just sell the bike...it can be repaired.

August 5th, 2012, 03:57 PM	#4
Yorke Junior Member No ducatis in the registry Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Houston Posts: 9	When I turn the kill switch to ON, of the two relays under the seat, only the right one clicks, not the left one. Can you tell me which relay is which and what it does? Should I jump it to see that is it? I think I read that you can jump them somewhere. Ya, I am not selling it, LOL.

August 5th, 2012, 08:23 PM	#5
Yorke Junior Member No ducatis in the registry Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Houston Posts: 9	I hooked the tank up and set it over the sub-frame, while cranking over the motor and opening the throttle. I didn't see any fuel being sprayed from the fuel injectors.

August 5th, 2012, 08:56 PM	#6
widewalker Member ducatis in the registry: [998 S] Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 163	Does the fuel pump cycle when you turn the key on? You can hear it if you put your ear near the tank.

August 6th, 2012, 03:35 AM	#7
Yorke Junior Member No ducatis in the registry Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Houston Posts: 9	Yes it cycles, every time.

August 6th, 2012, 08:19 AM	#8
widewalker Member ducatis in the registry: [998 S] Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 163	If the pump cycles and the bike won't fire then its either the injectors not shooting or no spark. Both functions are controlled by the ECU with other factors also influencing. Unlikely to be both coils packing it in at the same time. Could be the ignition pickup sensor is faulty/bad connection. Could be the engine cut-out switch having an intermittent grounding problem. Could be blocked fuel line/injectors but unlikely, especially if its an intermittent problem. I'd be looking at proper grounding of the ECU first, the chip in the ECU second or the ECU itself. There's a few things to check. good luck buddy.

August 7th, 2012, 04:33 AM	#9
Yorke Junior Member No ducatis in the registry Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Houston Posts: 9	I took the bike into Houston Superbikes yesterday after I decided I checked everything out properly. They are going to put there mathesis tester on it, and switch out either the ecu and chip to see if that's it. I am kind of surprised that after looking on ebay and the web, there isn't a lot of ecu's out there to be had. I could have sworn there were plenty of them out there.