Monster Problems - Ducati.ms

navnuke · Oct 25th, 2011, 7:48 pm

Hey All,

I purchased a brand new 2011 Monster 696 this past June and cannot have been happier with my purchase...till now. I have posted earlier asking for advice on a cold start problem. It seems other people had this same problem but no real answer. When I took it to the dealer the first time they just suggested I use the fast idle switch every time I turn the bike on. Well the problem has gotten worse. Before the problem would only present itself once in a blue moon and if it was cold outside but now its doing it at least once a week. The bike just does not want to start.

I took it to the dealership and told them to keep it until the bike replicates this problem to them and sure enough it did. The dealership however seem to have absolutely no clue what the problem is. They have run countless tests and pretty much ripped appart my little baby to find absolutely nothing. They have had the bike for a month now. They sent all the test information to the DNA techs. Still no resolution.

The thing is I'm making bike payments on a bike Im not even riding. The techs seem to have no idea what the hell is going. The dealership won't return my calls half the time or update me on anything.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to approach my problem from here? Does Ducati give out loaner bike?

sofadriver · Oct 25th, 2011, 11:23 pm

start asking the dealer questions via registered mail.
paper trails scare the hell out of dealers.

acoolsubi · Oct 28th, 2011, 10:17 am

sticky situation bro. My buddy with a Buel had a repeat problem and the bike spent a few weeks on more than one occasion in dealers care. The problem still aint fixed but he complained enough they extended his warranty for another year. I think these days lawyers are the only way to get peoples attention. Slippery slope though as it kills any chance for a good relationship with the local guys. Have you spoken with anyone higher up than the service manager?

Hey my other partner just picked up an 09' 696 and we seem to be experiencing similar issues with cold start. Does yours have a steady ideal (+/-300rpm) when it does start or does it role up and down (1000+rpm) once started with the fast idle swicth? His bike once started sounds like it is being throttled up and down manually.

Good luck partner.

CrimsonCloak · Oct 28th, 2011, 3:34 pm

My 1100 has done this from time to time with no clear cause. I got tired of messing with it and put a reflashed ecu on it. It hasn't happened since. I'm not saying that the ecu is the issue, but mine hasn't done it since August. Used to do it about every 20th time, or whenever I was all suited up and running late to work. Of course it wouldn't do it for the dealer, but it has happened to enough people that at least they believed me. The only thing we hadn't tried yet was checking the cam timing, but I figured I would wait to do that at the first valve check.

Kouki · Oct 29th, 2011, 2:39 am

Im not sure about you, but I use the fast idle every time I start my 09 696. It always starts first try. I warm it up a couple minutes before riding and it runs just fine.

Are you using the fast idle every time before you start it?

BlackKat · Oct 30th, 2011, 12:35 am

If it were me... (and I wasn't working for the dealer) I would just run by for a "random" visit to another dealer if applicable ...when you go to leave, complain of the problem and chances are (if I were employed at THAT specific dealer) they would take a look at it on the spot as a gesture...because you are there anyway

Get a fresh look from a different tech...

Dave_R_996 · Oct 30th, 2011, 1:36 am

we had a similar situation with a 11 recently... it may have no relevance to what the OP is experiencing..
turns out the ECU "remembers" its first time start up and road test riding "style" if you will.. Our reluctant to start 696 came from another dealer and had only been "started" when it was assembled last Mar. When we went through the full set up and we did the road test, it seemed to perform properly.
Our customer immediately had similar issue to the OP, his would start without fail each time it had to visit the shop due to no start..?? It took us finally going to his home and trying to start it where he parked it outside that morning.. no start!
In the end the ECU needed a re-flash, we then performed a through road test and all is good now

Proper procedure if all is working correctly for a cold start is to turn key on, wait for full cycle of dashboard and then only then open the fast idle lever and push the start button. no throttle..
We like to encourage customers to only open lever half way unless its very cold outside in order to avoid a fast running engine when first started. Back down the lever as soon as possible to a point where bike will continue to idle right around 1500 or so.... finish getting ready and within the next 3-4 minutes you should be able to ride off and completely close the fast idle lever.. when its been run or its warm out, turn key on, wait for the gauges to cycle through and push button and go

navnuke · Nov 14th, 2011, 9:27 pm

Tomorrow after 6 weeks of being in the shop I am finally picking my repaired Monster. Apparently my bike left Italy with faulty and poorly machined cylinder heads. The bike would 'leak' during cold mornings and thus not start. I am still fuzzy on the details but as soon as I have a lengthy talk with the service center I will post what exactly the problem was. All I know is that my bike is now in full working condition (or so they tell me).

Thank you all for the advice and hopefully this will end my bad fortune with my Monster.