I have often gotten wet riding my 2002 Savage, never had an issue before.  But the last time I rode it, got caught in a real soaker, got drencehd and pulled into a bar (closed at the time d/t COVID) so as to take some shelter as the place has a covered porch.  Waited out the storm, sun came out and everything started drying out.  But when I went to get back on the bike, it wouldn't start- no electical signal at all, no starter, no lights, just dead.  Tried it repeatedly, same thing.  Tried to see if any of the electrics were wet, nothing obviously shorting out that I could see but of course much of this is under the seat and not accessible without some disassembly.

Eventually, a couple of guys showed up, about 45 minutes or so later, by which time it was warm and sunny.  They agreed to give me a push start, but then when I turned the ignition on, I had power and the bike started right up.

Something was obviously wet, shorting out the ignition, until it dried up.  So that I don't run into this again, I'm hoping someone else has experienced this problem and can tell me where to begin looking.  Is there a particular point of vulnerability in the electrics where I should start?

Gary_in_NJ wrote on 08/03/20 at 07:46:12:


Thanks!  Do you mean at the end where the key is?

What Gary said......also do the same for both connectors up under the fuel tank.

The rubber boot on the connector under the tank originally had some electrical tape on the wire end - but it usually is gone if anyone has ever moved the rubber boot to get the connector apart.  The tape seals the wiring to the boot - but prevents the boot from sliding off the connector, and most mechanics pull it off but never replace it.  After you take the connector apart and put the dialectric grease in, replace the tape to seal the boot.

You'll know it's wet when you put a foot down at a stop and can barely tolerate it because every spark fired is lighting years UP.