2004 Yamaha FZ6: engine stalls while driving

Filed Jun 13, 2006 · Acceleration · 8,000 miles · IL

(1) no unusual events. (2) throttle position sensor failed causing poor gas mileage, stalls, and hesitation. (3) replaced tps at a cost of $215.

Filed May 16, 2006 · Electrical · 12,800 miles · VA · crash · 1 injury

At 9m miles, my 2004 yamaha fz6 began to exhibit the following: 1) after approximately 30 minutes of operation, erratic and prolonged periods of rough idle at 500 rpms instead of the normal 1300 rpms 2) motor would stall during gear changes, even at highway speeds 3) during these times, the smell of gasoline was noticeable. Changing the spark plugs seemed to fix the problem temporarily, but they soon reappeared. At 12m miles, the bike was taken to the yamaha dealer to be fixed but they could find nothing wrong with it. I went next to an independent motorcycle mechanic who also could find nothing wrong. He suggested that it was probably an electrical problem and could be expensive to fix and I should take it to a different dealer. He also questioned if the "check-engine" light had come on which would have registered specific trouble codes, but I told him that they had not. At 12800 miles, while pulling onto the roadway, the bike stalled unexpectedly in a turn at low speed, locked the back tire and went down. I sustained minor injuries, and the bike lost a mirror, foot peg, front fairing, and generally got bummed up. Since then, I have found numerous reports of "throttle positioning sensor" defects that have created similar problems with this make and model of motorcycle. And yet, the dealers seem to know nothing about it! Installing a new tps may or may not fix the problem. But for now I'm stuck with a bike that I can't trust, has little resale or trade-in value, and probably isn't safe to ride. After reading the numerous and similar sounding complaints, this may well be a manufacturing defect that should result in a recall.

Filed Mar 27, 2006 · Electrical · 8,000 miles · PA · crash · 1 injury

This complaint is in regards to the 2004 yamaha fz6 throttle position sensor. After the motorcycle warms up (approximately 50 miles of riding), it will stall out and/or sputter when the clutch is engaged and/or shifted into neutral. Last july it stalled out in the middle of a right hand turn around a red light, resulting in the back tire loosing traction and causing a crash. I was minimally injured, but the bike suffered some exterior damage. After some research I have found that there is a problem with the throttle position sensor. This part was fixed under warranty, but seems to be an issue with most owners of the 2004-05 fz6.

Filed Mar 27, 2006 · Fuel system · 19,840 miles · CA

Vehicle: 2004 yamaha fz6 motorcycle, purchase new 12/93. Intermittently, the engine surges, cuts out, lugs, stalls/quits at varying times and speeds/riding situations. Stopping the bike, turning ignition off and on temporarily corrects problem, but problem always recurs. Different weather temperatures and fuel grades have no positive effect. Bike may stall at an intersection stop, at highway speed, accelerating or decelerating, on straight or corners, which can be terrifying--not to mention potentially fatal. Note: date listed below is only the most recent--problem occurs on almost every ride.

Filed Feb 7, 2006 · Acceleration · 14,000 miles · FL

The motorcycle had progressively worse stalling at stop-lights and stop signs. At times the motorcycle would stutter and stall when trying to initiate the throttle from a stop, and at other times the motorcycle would randomly increase speed while cruising on the highway. The throttle became quite various to the point it was not safe to ride in traffic due to not knowing how the motorcycle would react to different throttle inputs. In order to fix the problem the throttle position sensor had to be replaced.

Filed Jan 9, 2006 · Fuel system · 4,834 miles · NY · crash · 1 injury

Motorcycle's idle rpms change abruptly, to the point of stalling when at slow speeds. This abrupt change was the source of a rear end collision. The bike had been taken in previously to the dealership on multiple occasions but no corrective measures where taken, as the problem could not be reproduced. The symptoms correlate with those of other fz6 users and has been linked to a faulty tps.

Filed Sep 24, 2005 · Electrical · 6,500 miles · OH

Motorcycle randomly will not idle and stalls between shifts. Has happened 5 or 6 times. Dealer says described symptoms cannot not be diagnosed without fault codes. Fault codes are not stored unless certain "idiotic lights" come on during failure.

Filed Sep 15, 2005 · Fuel system · 4,900 miles · TX

Bike idle drops (600-850 RPM) when clutch pulled in causing vehicle to stall at red lights, exiting driveways etc... Poor fuel mileage and rough idle. Upon cycling the ignition key off and on, symptom will temporarily rectify itself only to return later. I am fearful of a rear-end impact from another vehicle at intersections as a result of this problem. It seems that the "throttle sensor assy" part no. 5fl-85885-05-00 is the major culprit per other owners experiences with this vehicle and same symptoms.

Filed Sep 7, 2005 · Fuel system · TX · crash

'94 fz6 - 5,000 miles. The bike had a hard time starting. Now it can be running at a steady 3000-4500 RPM on the highway and start to stumble or cutout. I've had to pull over and cut it off and restart it to get it to stop. It happens whenever it wants, no warning or reason. It stalled once while I was on the way to work and I dropped the bike before I could catch it. I've had friends tell me that it is a tps (throttle position sensor), but the motorcycle is out of warranty and I don't have the money to take in to be checked. That would be almost $100 and they may not find it.

Filed Sep 5, 2005 · Fuel system · 7,400 miles · OR

Trottle chunky/delayed/erratic, making motorcycle difficult to control in corners. Stalls at stops, a dangerous situation in city traffic. Does not idle, I need to keep the throttle slightly rolled on. Runs rough, smells of gas, seems to miss. Problems started with throttle delay at 7000 miles, stalling started at 7400 miles.

Filed Aug 30, 2005 · Engine · NY

1. Bike started and warmed up fine. After about an hour of riding bike was idling very low at a stop sign (800-900 RPM). Power delivery was choppy from a stop also. At the next stop light the bike stalled, and I needed to use the throttle to keep it idling . I shut the bike off at some point, turned it back on and the bike was back to normal. After about 10 more minutes of riding the bike stalled at another stop light. Since first occurrence this problem has been intermittent but usually goes away if the bike is shut off, then turned back on. .

Filed Aug 12, 2005 · Acceleration, Electrical · 4,550 miles · FL · 1 injury

Bike stalls when clutch is pulled in. Rpm's drop to zero. Was almost run over by traffic behind me when engine stalls. Injured myself (foot/ankle) when trying to push the bike off the road (so I wouldn't be run over). I've been told by many fz6 riders that many of the fz6 bikes have defective throttle positioning sensors (tps) and that yamaha has not recognized the problem. I believe it to be a very serious safety issue. Sooner or later, someone is going to get run over because of this defective sensor.