View Full Version : Battery not charging? VFR 800 V-Tec
Got on bike this afternoon, had been sat for a week or so but started a couple of times since then. It started first press of the button.
Rode it for about an hour, stopped to look at the map. Went to start it again, starter motor made a slight whimper then nothing.
Push started it fine, rode for another hour, stopped for petrol, same problem.
Only had the bike 2 months but battery has been fine, never been flat.
Only thing I have done which may have affected it was test fitted a satnav charging cable, but didn't even take the terminals off, just rested the wires on the top.
Any ideas?
Specialone
21-10-12, 07:51 PM
Do the obvious first mate, check terminals are tight, put a meter across battery terminals when running and see what voltage is.
Okay, I'll do that and report back. Cheers.
andrewsmith
21-10-12, 08:09 PM
Lenny
Do a reg/rec test, they do go on a Honda.
Is it just got the HISS on or a Datatool etc... on top
Just the HISS. No other alarm.
How do I do such a test?
Specialone
21-10-12, 08:16 PM
Test the battery/ charging first and work back.
andrewsmith
21-10-12, 08:19 PM
http://www.electrosport.com/media/pdf/fault-finding-diagram.pdf
Dicky Ticker
22-10-12, 09:39 AM
How old is the battery? Older batteries coming to the end of their life tend to drop off with the onset of cold weather.
I would expect a good battery with proper maintenance to last 5 years approx so anything over that is a bonus.
Check the battery after running the engine and then again after 24hrs and if the output has dropped drastically it is your battery that is on its way out.
They often accept the charge but will not hold it over a period of time.
Took the battery out to charge, connected a volt meter, I don't really know what I am doing but it looks to me like the battery is fine.
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm308/mad-fish-willy/20121022_174747.jpg
It's a 3 year old bike, so I assume the battery is the same age. Never had any problems with it before, it's always started first time, even when I have left the heated grips on for half an hour.
Gonna leave it on the optimate for 24 hours and see what happens
Specialone
22-10-12, 05:03 PM
What charger have you got mate?
Some of them you can fit a plug directly to battery and then plug it in to the charger while the battery is still connected to the bike.
Personally i wouldve tested the running voltage before taking off the battery cos if thats low, you know you have an issue so the battery is a possible side issue.
Quiff Wichard
22-10-12, 05:04 PM
. You vfr drains to not enough juice to start it if not on the charger.. 4 days and it would be flat
It's an optimate 2. Can't really charge it on the bike as it's kept outside under a cover.
suzukigt380paul
22-10-12, 05:51 PM
if you charged the battery up,then 12.12 volts is a bit on the low side
I'd be expecting something like 13V from a well charged battery mate. Connect the battery back into the bike, start the bike and whilst having somebody rev the battery ala motogp grid style see if the voltage increases to around 13.8V with the voltmeter connected to the battery. This to check that the bike is charging your battery up. If not it could either be faulty wiring, the Reg/Rec unit or alternator. If the voltage is found as told then the battery needs replacing.
Are all bike batteries the same? If so I'll nick the one out of the gixer and try that.
I recently had a new solanoid fitted on my SV.
Been having problems for a while. It wouldn't charge even though the battery was fine. I'd ride for miles, stop. Come back to turn it on again and it would try but not quite get there.
Actually had it changed 4 days ago so fingers crossed. That could be a cause too. Hopefully not your alternator.
suzukigt380paul
22-10-12, 08:34 PM
I recently had a new solanoid fitted on my SV.
Been having problems for a while. It wouldn't charge even though the battery was fine. I'd ride for miles, stop. Come back to turn it on again and it would try but not quite get there.
Actually had it changed 4 days ago so fingers crossed. That could be a cause too. Hopefully not your alternator.the solaniod would stop the starter motor working,but not the battery charging
the solaniod would stop the starter motor working,but not the battery charging
Still it would seem like the battery is dead when this happens as the turning would be slow as well due to the current being lost at the solonoid. Checking the battery voltage is the way to eleminate the solonoid.
Only just had a chance to look at this today. Battery had been on the optimate since Monday and is now a very healthy 13.7v. Put it on the bike. Started the engine. Measured again 12.7v. Rode around for an hour or so heated grips and lights on . Stopped the engine. Started it again fine. Will see what it's like tomorrow.
Please check the voltage on battery with the engine running. Take note of voltage when idle and also at around 4k. You should have around 13.8. If less, either alternator or reg/rec faulty. My SV had the stock rec/reg replaced after my battery kept dying on me. Even did it when touring abroad. Not nice. When I did the voltage check at home I noticed that it was charging on idle but not charging when rev'ed beyond 2k. Replaced with a reg/rec from a fireblade bought on fleabay. Even the spark is better now. A happy bike :)
Doesn't look good for the rec/rec then
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suzukigt380paul
27-10-12, 04:03 PM
check the connectors first but if it all looks good i would say you could be 98% certain its the reg-rec,in someways your lucky it under charging,my 98 vfr800 was over charging the battery,and it was only because i had a moto-batt battery that it kept going at all,the battery started life as a square/rectangular battery like they all are,when i investigated why my lights kept going bright and dim i found my battery looked like a football,but bwas still holding a charge
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