Poll

I have seen strange error messages (other than "LOW BATTERY") when trying to start the bike with a battery too low:

Yes
6 (16.2%)
No
11 (29.7%)
I have never tried to start the bike that it didn't start
17 (45.9%)
Ask me later, I can't remember S*** right now
3 (8.1%)

Total Members Voted: 37

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Author Topic: Low bat = freak out  (Read 15629 times)

Offline maxtog

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Low bat = freak out
« on: September 22, 2012, 09:34:17 PM »
I guess my battery is getting weak.  This is the second (third?) time now that I could not start the bike after a dozen+ days of it sitting.  I don't have anything added that is parasitic.   Seems way too soon to need a battery on a 2011.

Anyway, last night I hopped on to go to my friend's (25 min away) and press the starter and yikes, too slow, and I got some message that flashed and went away, and it didn't start.  Tried a second time and it seemed to have no brain left and threw up all kinds of errors - KTRIC ERROR, ABS ERROR, FI ERROR.  Geesh.

So I went and got the tool to remove the panel and hooked up my battery box, waited a few min, then started it.  "FI ERROR".  Turned it off, waited, tried again... "FI ERROR".  One more time, same thing.  So while it was running I pressed both buttons for a while.... "Error code 24".  And I could not clear it so I gave up and just left.  As soon as I was moving a bit, the error went away and stayed away.

When I got home later, I looked up error 24... "Speed sensor malfunction".   ???  I could be wrong, but I just think the wild voltage drop up and down just scrambled the computer's functions for a split second and caused phantom errors.

I drove the bike 200+ miles today, no problem at all.
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Offline PH14

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #1 on: September 22, 2012, 10:34:05 PM »
Have you checked the connections? I keep mine on a Battery Tender while I am away. I had too many batteries killed by sitting too long. I travel so my bikes sit at times. I had an RC51 and its batter was $170. I wen through three before I bought the Battery Tender. I am on my original 2009 C14 battery. I keep it plugged in.
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Offline maxtog

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #2 on: September 22, 2012, 10:42:03 PM »
Quote from: PH14 on September 22, 2012, 10:34:05 PM
Have you checked the connections?

No, but it really was a dead/weak battery, not a bad connection.  Started instantly when I put the jump box on it.  And once it was charged by the alternator enough, started every time perfectly and strongly today.

Quote
I keep mine on a Battery Tender while I am away. I had too many batteries killed by sitting too long. I travel so my bikes sit at times. I had an RC51 and its battery was $170. I weny through three before I bought the Battery Tender. I am on my original 2009 C14 battery. I keep it plugged in.

I have been procrastinating, but a battery tender has been on my to-do list.  I think it just jumped up in priority now...

Oh, I forgot to add there was also "IMMOBILIZER ERROR" thrown in to all the other messages I mentioned, too :)   I just remembered that one.  It really was a laundry list of stuff.
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Shoodaben (was Guhl) Mountain Runner ECU flash, Canyon Cages front/rear, Helibars risers, Phil's wedges, Grip Puppies, Sargent World seat-low & heated & pod, Muzzy lowering links, Soupy's stand, Nautilus air horn, Admore lightbar, Ronnie's highway pegs, front running lights, all LED, helmet locks, RAM Xgrip, Sena SMH10, Throttle Tamer, MRA X-Creen, BearingUp Shifter, PR4-GT, Scorpion EXO-T1200,etc

Offline ZG

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #3 on: September 22, 2012, 10:47:13 PM »
Anything more than a week in between rides I plug my bikes in to the BT...  :-\
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Offline Canada44

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #4 on: September 22, 2012, 11:28:54 PM »
Every time I park my bike at home it is on the BT ;D


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Offline r2t2

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #5 on: September 23, 2012, 12:15:12 AM »
Quote from: Canada44 on September 22, 2012, 11:28:54 PM
Every time I park my bike at home it is on the BT ;D

+1 I've trained my pea brain to turn the key off and plug the BT in... I then had to train same peabrain to unplug it before a ride...  :o
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RayK
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Offline C1xRider

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #6 on: September 23, 2012, 12:44:34 AM »
When I was battling the failing battery last year on my 2010, I saw all kinds of weird / strange behavior, beyond just the display reporting things.  One morning after jump starting the bike, my turn signals would not work all the way to the office.  Twice (after 20+ miles), I was able to get the right side to blink but only after pushing the horn button (horn didn't work either), then they would not work again!  Even the emergency flashers would not work.  That afternoon riding home, everything worked fine.

Once I tried turning off the key while rolling down a long hill to reset the system, then bump started it so as not to load the battery with the starter, and it would not clear up the mis-behavior.

From my experience, every electrical system on the bike was at risk for malfunction just from starting it with a low battery.

Once I gave up on Kwak honoring their warranty, and just bought a new battery, all the problems went away.  Even the dealer was frustrated with Kawi on that one.

If you can't get them to warranty yours (or even if you can), I strongly recommend the Yuasa YTX14H-BS battery with the Sulfate Stop additive.  Very happy with mine.  Picked it up from Amazon for about $75 delivered, as I recall.
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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #7 on: September 23, 2012, 06:39:35 AM »
These bikes are so tied in to voltage levels that a low battery can illicit all kinds of weird problems.  Happens on cars as well.  I was having an issue with my Prius and replacing the Accessory battery (12v) seemed to resolve it.  It was 7 years old.

With that being said my original C14 battery was replaced after 5 years just because......  I've never put it on a tender and sometimes have left it for over a month without starting (winter).....no issues.  Could be due to me being an EA and FC, though.
« Last Edit: September 23, 2012, 08:08:05 AM by VirginiaJim »
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Offline Conrad

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #8 on: September 23, 2012, 06:52:48 AM »
Quote from: maxtog on September 22, 2012, 10:42:03 PM
No, but it really was a dead/weak battery, not a bad connection.  Started instantly when I put the jump box on it.  And once it was charged by the alternator enough, started every time perfectly and strongly today.

I have been procrastinating, but a battery tender has been on my to-do list.  I think it just jumped up in priority now...

Oh, I forgot to add there was also "IMMOBILIZER ERROR" thrown in to all the other messages I mentioned, too :)   I just remembered that one.  It really was a laundry list of stuff.

So Max, you've never checked the battery connections and you've never used a battery tender and now you're having issues with the battery on your 2011? Hmmm, imagine that? I check my battery connections twice a year and use a BT if I'm not riding it for more than a week. I'm still using the original battery...
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Offline gPink

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #9 on: September 23, 2012, 07:06:19 AM »
I left the lights and drained the original battery on my 08 awhile back. Jumped it off a truck 12v. Connections were clean. No error codes. Went ahead and replaced it.
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Offline Makz58

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #10 on: September 23, 2012, 07:08:32 AM »
Somewhere in the manual it tells you about the batterry draining itself while sitting for extended periods, it also gives you some timelines. I guess the battery has demands on it even while sitting.
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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #11 on: September 23, 2012, 07:45:04 AM »
It does and the highest drain is in the first 24 hours.  After that it tapers off significantly.  I suspect that some people who have battery issues either use their high beams during the day, run lower octane gasolines, use non-mc specific oils, part their hair in the middle, secretly hate ABS brakes, hate linked brakes, have a black bike, use non-oem headlight bulbs, have or have ridden BMW bikes, worship their key fob, have dried up squirrels for friends, always take the key out of the ignition, always keep their key in the ignition, use other than the stock muffler, dislike their tire pressure sensors, live in Ohio and Illinois (and possibly Virginia), have a black bike, and get the F1 error code for no rhyme or reason.  I'm sure there are more.  Oh yeah, wash their bikes more than once a year...

Believe it or not, that actually happened to me.  Washed the bike  :yikes: and the darned thing cranked slowly and caused all kinds of fuss afterwards.  Took the battery out, cleaned and tightened all the connections and it fired up correctly.  It only did it that one time.  Didn't put a charger on it either.  Strange and kooky thing I guess.
« Last Edit: September 23, 2012, 10:37:39 AM by VirginiaJim »
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Offline maxtog

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #12 on: September 23, 2012, 07:45:13 AM »
Quote from: Makz58 on September 23, 2012, 07:08:32 AM
Somewhere in the manual it tells you about the batterry draining itself while sitting for extended periods, it also gives you some timelines. I guess the battery has demands on it even while sitting.

Well, all batteries will "self discharge" even with nothing at all connected to them.  That is just the nature of the chemistry.  Most vehicles (including the Concours) also will pull a very tiny amount of current to power the clock and certain other functions.

The life of the battery will reduce over time- based on usage patterns and environment (and on design/capacity/and quality of the batter).  I was just surprised that 1.5 years, mine is weak enough that it can't start the bike after 2 to 3 weeks of not being charged.  I was further surprised at how incredibly freaked out the electronics became during one of the attempted weak starts.
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Offline Makz58

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #13 on: September 23, 2012, 07:57:31 AM »
Yes I totally agree with what you are saying here...
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Offline Conrad

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #14 on: September 23, 2012, 07:58:52 AM »
Quote from: VirginiaJim on September 23, 2012, 07:45:04 AM
It does and the highest drain is in the first 24 hours.  After that it tapers off significantly.  I suspect that some people who have battery issues either use their high beams during the day, run lower octane gasolines, use non-mc specific oils, part their hair in the middle, secretly hate ABS brakes, hate linked brakes, have a black bike, use non-oem headlight bulbs, have or have ridden BMW bikes, worship their key fob, have dried up squirrels for friends, always take the key out of the ignition, always keep their key in the ignition, use other than the stock muffler, dislike their tire pressure sensors, live in Ohio and Illinois (and possibly Virginia), have a black bike, and get the F1 error code for no rhyme or reason.  I'm sure there are more.......

Woah! Good thing that I don't have a black bike!   :)
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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #15 on: September 23, 2012, 08:06:54 AM »
Yar, good thing, Cheborneck.
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Offline r2t2

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #16 on: September 23, 2012, 08:10:50 AM »
Consider this.... Relativly small batter charged with a Relativly small alternator that has to provide consistent 12volts to a whole lot of electronic devices that make the bike go... My very first farkle on any bike is to put the BT pigtail on the battery. I have managed to have healthy batteries on the last few bikes that used a lot of the magic stored in the battery.

Just my 0.02...
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RayK
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Offline just gone

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #17 on: September 23, 2012, 08:15:00 AM »
Quote from: C1xRider on September 23, 2012, 12:44:34 AM
  One morning after jump starting the bike, my turn signals would not work all the way to the office.  Twice (after 20+ miles), I was able to get the right side to blink but only after pushing the horn button (horn didn't work either), then they would not work again!  Even the emergency flashers would not work.  That afternoon riding home, everything worked fine.

Was there anything else going on that morning like rain or snow or bike washed the day before? The reason I ask is because as best I can tell the signals, emergency flashers and horn have no connection to the ECU other than being powered in parallel with it. There is the Kipass ECU flash connection to the signals, but I can only see that it would malfunction by leaving all four signals in the on position, not stop them from flashing (well it would stop them from flashing since they would be on all the time.  ::)). I'm wondering if there was a moisture problem in the switches that dried out in the afternoon? The display problems of course are another matter.
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Offline maxtog

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #18 on: September 23, 2012, 08:15:33 AM »
Quote from: r2t2 on September 23, 2012, 08:10:50 AM
My very first farkle on any bike is to put the BT pigtail on the battery. I have managed to have healthy batteries on the last few bikes that used a lot of the magic stored in the battery.  Just my 0.02...

Yeah.  The sad part is- had I done this with all my bikes over the years, the battery tender probably would have paid for itself several times over (including the power it uses) by extending the life of relatively expensive batteries.
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Shoodaben (was Guhl) Mountain Runner ECU flash, Canyon Cages front/rear, Helibars risers, Phil's wedges, Grip Puppies, Sargent World seat-low & heated & pod, Muzzy lowering links, Soupy's stand, Nautilus air horn, Admore lightbar, Ronnie's highway pegs, front running lights, all LED, helmet locks, RAM Xgrip, Sena SMH10, Throttle Tamer, MRA X-Creen, BearingUp Shifter, PR4-GT, Scorpion EXO-T1200,etc

Offline r2t2

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Re: Low bat = freak out
« Reply #19 on: September 23, 2012, 08:54:07 AM »
Quote from: maxtog on September 23, 2012, 08:15:33 AM
Yeah.  The sad part is- had I done this with all my bikes over the years, the battery tender probably would have paid for itself several times over (including the power it uses) by extending the life of relatively expensive batteries.

Then make up with the bike and give it a gift wrapped BT... Don't forget the bow on top...  :rotflmao:

I've been happy with the MotoBatt batteries. They have given me great service and the terminals are highly configurable...
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RayK
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