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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: respite on February 03, 2009, 08:50:30 PM

Title: Battery fail.
Post by: respite on February 03, 2009, 08:50:30 PM
Had my bike not start for the first time yesterday. Starter whirred twice, then only clicked. My new landlord happened to be in the garage at the time, and ran over with a handheld unit and gave me a jump. Nice guy. Road to work, it sat for 8 hours and started fine for the ride home. This morning it didnt have enough juice to start, so i had to jump it off my girlfriends corolla. Cells are low, but not past the low indicator line on the battery. I commute and ride it every day, so its never been on a tender until now. Hope its just the low fluid levels causing the issue. Battery is stock and has been in daily use for over a year. Im sure i should get a longer life out of it then that.

Called the shop on the corner, they wanted 100 bucks for a battery. :icon_eek: Called pep boys, they have 10l-a2 batteries for 35.
Title: Re: Battery fail.
Post by: Honch777 on February 03, 2009, 09:41:20 PM
Yeah $100 is outrageous.  I got mine at Walmart for $32.
Title: Re: Battery fail.
Post by: utgunslinger13 on February 03, 2009, 09:42:29 PM
Yeah I bought mine for 28 at a battery store.  Although I didn't know such a store existed till I went to it, but the ONLY thing they sold was batteries.
Title: Re: Battery fail.
Post by: fred on February 03, 2009, 09:42:39 PM
You should top it off then get it tested at a shop. If you commute with it daily, it should be charging the battery.... It is also worth giving your charging system a quick test with a multimeter. Just put a multimeter on the battery terminals, rev the bike up past about 3K and watch for the voltage to go over 14V or so.... It does sound like your battery is dead though... I got one at Honda of Hollywood not that long ago for less than $100... I think it was only $60 or $70 with acid and charging and all that as I recall. It might be worth calling them if you haven't already. It would also give you an excuse to go eat at Fred62 or Home, my two favorite places to eat in LA, both of which aren't too far away from honda of hollywood....
Title: Re: Battery fail.
Post by: loki7714 on February 04, 2009, 02:41:03 PM
Quote from: fred on February 03, 2009, 09:42:39 PM
You should top it off then get it tested at a shop. If you commute with it daily, it should be charging the battery.... It is also worth giving your charging system a quick test with a multimeter. Just put a multimeter on the battery terminals, rev the bike up past about 3K and watch for the voltage to go over 14V or so.... It does sound like your battery is dead though... I got one at Honda of Hollywood not that long ago for less than $100... I think it was only $60 or $70 with acid and charging and all that as I recall. It might be worth calling them if you haven't already. It would also give you an excuse to go eat at Fred62 or Home, my two favorite places to eat in LA, both of which aren't too far away from honda of hollywood....

Really 60$? I got mine at walmart for like 20$...
Title: Re: Battery fail.
Post by: fred on February 04, 2009, 04:51:16 PM
Quote from: loki7714 on February 04, 2009, 02:41:03 PM
Quote from: fred on February 03, 2009, 09:42:39 PM
You should top it off then get it tested at a shop. If you commute with it daily, it should be charging the battery.... It is also worth giving your charging system a quick test with a multimeter. Just put a multimeter on the battery terminals, rev the bike up past about 3K and watch for the voltage to go over 14V or so.... It does sound like your battery is dead though... I got one at Honda of Hollywood not that long ago for less than $100... I think it was only $60 or $70 with acid and charging and all that as I recall. It might be worth calling them if you haven't already. It would also give you an excuse to go eat at Fred62 or Home, my two favorite places to eat in LA, both of which aren't too far away from honda of hollywood....

Really 60$? I got mine at walmart for like 20$...

Don't know, I'm not really a fan of Walmart... Did you get a battery that fit or did you get a stock replacement battery?
Title: Re: Battery fail.
Post by: Honch777 on February 04, 2009, 05:30:04 PM
Just get one that says "10L-A2."  It's an exact fit.

Price is also not an issue, so cheapest one is fine.  Battery acid is battery acid, you just have to take about 5 mins and some careful handling to fill / charge it yourself.
Title: Re: Battery fail.
Post by: loki7714 on February 04, 2009, 06:55:15 PM
Random sport bike battery lol :)
Works fine...
Title: Re: Battery fail.
Post by: respite on June 05, 2009, 02:04:57 PM
So the battery tender kind of solved the problem.

After being on the tender the battery does not give me any problems for 4-6 weeks. Then i notice the starter being weak. I put the battery on the tender overnight and all is well for a few more weeks.

Yesterday i noticed the starter was weak in the morning. I forgot to put it on the tender last night. This morning it wouldnt turn over. After three tries its weak enough to only click.

I think im going to break down and buy a new battery. Riding the bus sucks.