GS500 is killing my battery...

[Holmes]

My 2002 GS500e is draining and killing batteries while shut off.

Any common problems I should be aware of?

[kml.krk]

short circuit, alarm,
most likely the short circuit.
check your wiring.

[simoniz]

The regulator/rectifier has gone out. It's not charging the battery up properly and the battery current is leaking to earth when it is parked, making it go flat. There are pattern ones out there, try one of them, the real one from Suzuki costs a fortune.

[yamahonkawazuki]

The regulator/rectifier has gone out. It's not charging the battery up properly and the battery current is leaking to earth when it is parked, making it go flat. There are pattern ones out there, try one of them, the real one from Suzuki costs a fortune.

yup, or check Eg.ay, or in the FS/FT section here

[erbilabuc]

The regulator/rectifier has gone out. It's not charging the battery up properly and the battery current is leaking to earth when it is parked, making it go flat. There are pattern ones out there, try one of them, the real one from Suzuki costs a fortune.

is there a way to check this? I have same problem but i thought it was the battery. My bike is an 06 though.

[werase643]

put a voltage meter on the battery
sitting there not running.....12.7 ish volts
start it up idling....14V ish
rev it above 3 k.....14.5ish and then back close to 14

i boiled out my battery a couple of weeks ago.....
replaced it then checked the charging voltage.....17+ will kill a good battery

[wildbill]

Ive been having the same problem. I Just bought a new walmart sealed battery and within two days it will be dead after riding each day. I have it facing sideways neg side down. Im thinking i either have a short or the neg wire is draining the battery from coming into contact with the battery box? Im not too sure but i will be covering the neg terminal and maybe get a volt meter. I thought it might be the stator rotor and magnets have come loose but i dont here them jumbling around.. i will drain the oil and give the crankcase a look. Im thinking my next issue could be the regulator now. What does it do btw?

[fred]

Ive been having the same problem. I Just bought a new walmart sealed battery and within two days it will be dead after riding each day. I have it facing sideways neg side down. Im thinking i either have a short or the neg wire is draining the battery from coming into contact with the battery box? Im not too sure but i will be covering the neg terminal and maybe get a volt meter. I thought it might be the stator rotor and magnets have come loose but i dont here them jumbling around.. i will drain the oil and give the crankcase a look. Im thinking my next issue could be the regulator now. What does it do btw?

Are you sure your battery is meant to work on its side? Just because it is sealed doesn't mean you can mount it however you want... Many sealed batteries will die if you do things like leave them in an orientation they don't like...

[wildbill]

Not to threadjack but this may help the OP too.. Anyway its the bs12 walmart sealed battery that srinath and others use on here. no reason why it shouldnt work. im thinking the unsealed battery i had in before was fine and the bike was the reason it was dying. also tha bike wont start sometimes, not even try to crank unless i move the battery leading me to believe that the neg terminal hitting the frame is the reason for it not starting.

[DoD#i]

Not to threadjack but this may help the OP too.. Anyway its the bs12 walmart sealed battery that srinath and others use on here. no reason why it shouldnt work. im thinking the unsealed battery i had in before was fine and the bike was the reason it was dying. also tha bike wont start sometimes, not even try to crank unless i move the battery leading me to believe that the neg terminal hitting the frame is the reason for it not starting.

The system is negative ground. The frame is grounded. There are wires connecting the negative terminal to the frame. If the negative terminal touches the frame - absolutely nothing happens - there's already a wire connecting them. Your problem is not that.

A crummy connection to the battery seems far more likely - take it apart, clean the terminals, and reconnect TIGHTLY - but unless the battery is an AGM-type, "sealed" and "all position" are not the same thing, so running it sideways may not be good, either.

[sledge]

Agreed......by placing the battery on its side you may be starving one or more of the plates from the electrolyte fluid or gel contained within, upshot will be a reduction in capacity and difficulty charging. Before suspecting the bikes electrical system you need to rule out the battery. The only sure way to test batteries is by conducting a load-test, this replicates the conditions the battery is put under when its in use and maximum demands are being placed on it. Auto-electrical shops and Quick-fit type places will usually do this for free.