Hey all,

This is the first problem I've had with my '02 GS-500. I haven't ridden it in about a week, and I tried to start it this morning only to find the battery is dead. I've gone longer without riding it... and I did nothing different when I parked it this time (except that I had the key in the "lock" position instead of just "off").

The odd thing... is that there's NO power in the battery. It almost seems as if it's disconnected (even though I haven't even touched the battery since I bought it). The gage lights don't even light up a little, the horn doesn't even emit the tinyest of peeps... it's like the battery is 100% drained. I used a multimeter on the battery and it shows very very low voltage.

I have 2 questions:

1) Do you know what could have caused this sudden drain?
2) How can I charge my battery?

I have a little trickle-charger that I used on my old car, and I plan on just connecting that to my battery for a few hours to see if that helps. Do you forsee any problems with this? I've used this thing many times on cars... but never on a bike. Is there anything special I should know about... when charging a bike's battery?

I'm disinclined to think that my battery is old and needs replacing... as it worked 100% last week, and now it's 100% dead (it wouldnt die THAT suddenly). They key wasn't left on... as far as I can tell, there was nothing drawing power. I have no idea what died here!

Any thoughts?

did you accidentally turn/leave on the parking lights without knowing??

Quote from: TragicImage on April 14, 2006, 10:36:42 AM
did you accidentally turn/leave on the parking lights without knowing??

thats what i was thinking...i leave my bike sitting for 1 to 2 weeks at a time recently, bad weather and all but it has always started right up.

Can you turn the parking lights on with the key off?

I suppose it's possible, but HIGHLY unlikely, as I would've noticed the light in my garage. Also, I've left my bike sitting for a week or two at a time and the battery has never died before.

I suppose I'll just try charging it and see what happens. Is it fine if I charge the battery while still in the bike, or is it advised that I remove it?

Did all the fluid evaporate out of the battery?

Over the course of a week? Not likely, but I'll check when I get home.

Since you say garage: Did you let the key on "ON"? That'll drain the battery over the course of a week.

Definitely not. In fact, the only thing different this week was that I left the key in the "locked" position (meaning I had the wheel all the way turned and the bars locked). I usually just leave it in the "off" position.

Sure it was just the "Lock" position and not all the way counter clockwise to the position that keeps the parking lights on? I did that once before and had to recharge my battery the next day.

Also, do you have an alarm on it? If so, did you leave it on?

There's a position all the way counter-clockwise that turns the lights on? I did not know that... but still, i'm sure I would've seen my lights on if I did leave it that way.

I suppose that's the most likely possibility.

Quote from: syphon on April 14, 2006, 02:23:44 PM
There's a position all the way counter-clockwise that turns the lights on? I did not know that... but still, i'm sure I would've seen my lights on if I did leave it that way.

I suppose that's the most likely possibility.

thats what got me when i for got my GS500.  i didnt know turning it all the way to the left turned on the parking lights and i didnt see it either.  i dont park in a garage but i do park it at night when i get off work at 11pm and i missed it too.  most likely thats what happened.

Does anyone know of any problems if I charge the battery on the bike? (rather than removing the battery)

Quote from: syphon on April 14, 2006, 02:43:29 PM
Does anyone know of any problems if I charge the battery on the bike? (rather than removing the battery)

Nope, that's how I do it.

-M

If your battery is completely drained remove it before you charge it. A battery charger may cause it to bubble more violently than during normally charging and expel acid(bad thing). I'd play it safe and remove it. BTW, a trickle charger wont charge a completly dead battery