2001 GS.
Okay, so here goes...I started having trouble starting it without a jump. Once warm, it would fire up okay for about 30 minutes. Then I'd have to push-start.
took a meter to the battery and while resting was at about 8 volts. Way low.
put the jumper on it, and fired it up. Meter read about 14.4V. So the charging system is good. The battery just wont hold a charge. Cool.
Replaced the battery, charged it overnight. Bike fired up fine in the morning.
Then I stopped at starbucks. 40 minutes later, I tried to start it, and it did the cough-click-click thing. Not enough juice to start.
Took at meter to it and it reads just over 13V.
So I have plenty of juice, but it wont commit to starting.
Where do I start?
Could there be a short circuit that is draining your battery? This thread outlines the relevant test:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=42330.0
Thats the wierd thing. The new battery shows good voltage at various different temperatures and times. It still shows good voltage about 10 hours after riding.
I wouldnt rule out the battery even though its new there is a chance it could still be defective. take it back and get it load tested.
Quote from: jazerr on June 24, 2008, 11:06:25 AM
Thats the wierd thing. The new battery shows good voltage at various different temperatures and times. It still shows good voltage about 10 hours after riding.
you don't want to measure the voltage, you want to measure resistance between the negative battery terminal and the negative wiring lead...
anything over 1 amp with the ignition switch in the off position means your bike is draining off the battery from a short of some kind down stream. do you have any non-stock wiring? LED light kit... under bike running lights (thats where my experience is, PO had some and they were pulling like 4.5 amps.... killed the battery, as soon as I ripped em out, things went back to normal) or heated grips.... outlet for heated vest... those sort of things. or a non- stock configuration for signal lights (from fender eliminator).... any of these things could drain the battery.
with that said, even a short in the stock setup can drain the battery
good luck
d
Quote from: dchrist on June 24, 2008, 01:28:32 PM
Quote from: jazerr on June 24, 2008, 11:06:25 AM
Thats the wierd thing. The new battery shows good voltage at various different temperatures and times. It still shows good voltage about 10 hours after riding.
you don't want to measure the voltage, you want to measure resistance between the negative battery terminal and the negative wiring lead...
anything over 1 amp with the ignition switch in the off position means your bike is draining off the battery from a short of some kind down stream. do you have any non-stock wiring? LED light kit... under bike running lights (thats where my experience is, PO had some and they were pulling like 4.5 amps.... killed the battery, as soon as I ripped em out, things went back to normal) or heated grips.... outlet for heated vest... those sort of things. or a non- stock configuration for signal lights (from fender eliminator).... any of these things could drain the battery.
with that said, even a short in the stock setup can drain the battery
good luck
d
:dunno_white:
It takes amps to start the bike.It can go down to 9 or 10 volts and still start the bike IF it can provide the amperage.Lower the voltage the more amps the starter will require from the battery as it's trying to turn the engine..I agree that you can have a brand new battery, that will hold all kinds of voltage, but can't supply the amperage the starter needs.
Quote from: dchrist on June 24, 2008, 01:28:32 PM
Quote from: jazerr on June 24, 2008, 11:06:25 AM
Thats the wierd thing. The new battery shows good voltage at various different temperatures and times. It still shows good voltage about 10 hours after riding.
you don't want to measure the voltage, you want to measure resistance between the negative battery terminal and the negative wiring lead...
no aftermarket lighting. everything is stock. The only aftermarket wiring I've added is a little plug for the battery tender.
School me---negative wiring lead...? Where/what is that?
Take your seat off and clip your meter leads onto your battery (CLIP THEM ON SO YOUR HANDS ARE FREE--buy alligator leads from radio shack if meter doesn't come with alligator clips) observing polarity (esp. if you have an old analog meter). Read that battery voltage. ~13 volts? Now.............cut on the key.......probably no voltage drop yet? Now turn it over (hit the start button) and watch your meter. Drops off substantially? Yes? You have a "high path" (resistive) in either your positive or negative leads. It could even be a resistive fuse. Don't laugh. I used to see that all the time in the transmit main A+ source when working with commercial radios in vehicles. Check your negative lead going to the frame. Ohm out both paths.
BUT if the voltage doesn't drop any? Place negative lead of meter on a good frame ground and repeat first at positive lead at battery and then "go down the line" until you get to the starter. Look for any great voltage drop each time you try to crank it along the way. Hope you have a wiring diagram. And yes............it's possible that you have a bad new battery but I don't think so.
Alrighty---new info...
NO significant voltage drops anywhere. no flow of electricity when the key is off. "infinite resistance" when off.
good grounds everywhere.
When off, the bettery reads 11.4V resting.
I'm wondering if the starter solenoid may have gone bad. If so, anyone have any idea what they cost? Or better yet...anyone have a spare?
You could try shorting out the battery/starter motor terminals on the solenoid with a suitable tool (screwdriver?) and see if it cranks OK then. If it does, your solenoid is faulty. Be careful your tool does not short to earth. Er, thats the screwdriver, not your c..k :o :laugh:
I'm going to sound like a moron, but...do you think you could explain with a few more words?
Electricity just confuses the heck out of me.
I can program cisco routers and write device drivers but man, electricity confuses me.