Yellow Key displayed on instrument cluster - EWS - Bike Wont Crank

[Stu]

Of the 3, could this be the one on the RT in question.

Thats what I was thinking

But my brain has gone in to overdrive wondering if there is an antenna still that would work with all except the keyless ride where it may need to be coded in?

I know on the GS you hold the emergency key under the bike at the back wheel against the undertray as that's where the antenna is placed but they will have the same key configuration as above so surely it must have the separate ring to pick the key up?

[David.]

Between us, I think we might have cracked it.

[David.]

From the Rider's Manual.

Electronic immobiliser EWS

The electronic design of the motorcycle allows it to access data stored in the ignition key by means of a ring antenna located in the ignition switch/steering lock. The engine control unit will not permit the engine to be started unless the key is identified as “authorised”.

[Tche_Gradiente]

@sakm @David.

I can't thank you guys enough for the effort towards solving this mystery...

Please, look this video at 4:00 minutes... The ignition is out of BMW S1000 but its exactly identical to mine... and at minute 4:00 the guy disassembled the unit/module... From what i can see, i do have a ring antenna on my ignition... what you guys think?



a little background: When i arrived in Florida, i had a problem with my left combined handlebar switch (the one that controls menu etc..) so, i removed it and tried to clean the buttons... i actually managed to damaged the circuit board inside the switch... so i ordered one out off ebay to get delivered on my house in New Jersey... after messing with that left handlebar i noticed that sometimes my alarm was acting up... (so in my mind the bike was noticing the Menu button was damaged...

i made the whole trip back to NJ within 20 hours not being able to mess with my menu feature due to the damage i've caused to my combined switch Back to NJ i parked the bike and right in the next day the yellow key showed up... 2 days later my new combined switch was delivered and i replaced it thinking that would solve the issue... I was wrong... it still have the yellow key...

So, putting the puzzle together, i remember, back in florida, washing the bike with the key inserted in the ignition... and i rode during rain and differents weather in Florida... i'm thinking it might be something related to moisture...

i've attached one picture with the exactly same ignition as my bike.

[David.]

The ignition is out of BMW S1000 but its exactly identical to mine.

Looks the same as this one from Bob's BMW, https://www.bobsbmw.com/store/product/i ... s--r1200gs

Not the same part # as that for an RT.

[Tche_Gradiente]

@David. YEap! that is for sure the same one... It says (out of stock) on his website...

i found one on Ebay, removed from a 2016 S1000.. the guy actually is selling the whole upper fork cross Brace with the ignition attached to it for $200... I've asked if he would sell just the ignition, and the answer was NO, but he said he could give me a $50 discount...

Do you think worth drilling mine out, opening it and try to dry it prior to buy a used one?

[David.]

Do you think worth drilling mine out, opening it and try to dry it prior to buy a used one.

Nothing to lose doing that, although I'd be very surprised if water is the problem. The bikes are designed to be ridden in the wet with the key in the ignition.

[Elkinell]

Have you tried putting the ring antenna as close to the key as possible and then trying to start the bike? Can you get it close with the wiring etc? If you can get the bike to start this way, you could have the chip in the key copied by a specialist of which there will be many, mainly for cars but its the same shiz. You then fasten the new copied chip to the ring antenna. As it'll be the same as the original the ECU won't mind where the signal comes from. There's a lot on the internet from people who this works for but you then have security implications that you'll have to decide about.

[David.]

With 2 keys and a spare ring antenna, the bike can be started as per this video.

[Tche_Gradiente]

Guys, just an update...

Coincidence or not..? So, i removed my upper tree brace to take a closer look of the security bolts... started drilling them, and gave up... next day i read in a different forum, the guy suggested to take my fobs away from the keys and try to start the bike... I tried that and it didn't work.. same issue... let the bike sit for another few days... and in meantime i ordered a ignition key switch/module... i still convinced its some sort of damage to my ignition lock switch integrated ring antenna...

So... today, few minutes ago i was on a face call and went to show to my friend what was showing on my instrument cluster.. so, i got the key that has been left alone, single, without the alarm FOB attached to it and put in the ignition..

Guess what happened!!! The stubborn came back to life! Like, literally out of the blue! i pressed the start button not expecting anything and she... Vrrrooommm.. i was like i even hang up on my friend! lol

And i started it another few times.. like nothing ever happened! And now i have a used part coming from Europe!!

Idk what to do, because i do long trips (you guys can tell by my "117k miles on the clock") and i don't want to get stranded middle of nowhere , but cant trust to take it for a long ride anymore!

I just checked the second key and it did started normally... probably was just coincidence removing the fob from the keys...most likely moisture that was in the ignition lock ring antenna circuit board and probably is gone by now..

I'm so happy she is back! Tomorrow will take for a ride and only turn it off when i get back home! lol

[Stu]

As daft as it sounds could it be a lose wire or bad connection?

[David.]

I don't know what to do, because I do long trips and I don't want to get stranded middle of nowhere but cant trust to take it for a long ride anymore.

As per the video posted above, when the used ring antenna arrives, test it with a spare key. Then, keep both the ring antenna and key with you on the bike.

[Tche_Gradiente]

@sakm yes, i thought that too.

@David. ill see if i can manage to make the part i've order work with the bike.

Thanks all of you guys for all the insight and tips! I really appreciate the effort!

[Tche_Gradiente]

The issue came back, i removed the whole ignition lock switch, cleaned really good, hit it with a heat gun carefully, cleaned the connector...

Problem solved. How can I close the thread?

[Stu]

Thanks for updating this @Tche_Gradiente

The video I have seen of facebook makes interesting viewing too

I wasn't aware there was a pin that came out the ignition switch and pressed a button in the antenna

I am wondering if its a defective switch or something like that