Flat battery and starter problem.

[Goodfella]

Went to start my bike this morning, kept trying to turn over but wouldn't start. I was certain I had turned my hotgrips off but decided to see if the battery had gone flat over night. Plugged in the charger then I hear a funny noise, not sure if it was from the charger or the battery, and then I got a shock as the bike was trying to start itself even though the keys weren't in the ignition. Then it just slowly died.

So, I've got absolutely no power at all, no dash lights, nothing. I check the charger and the light says the battery is fully charged, hmm that's weird. I disconnect the bikes cables from the battery then reconnect the charger, this time it says the battery is flat. Which seems right as my hotgrips don't power up either.

Surely there would be enough power to light up the dash lights at least? Why does it say the battery is charged with the power cables connected and why did the bike try to start itself when I connected the charger?

[Stephen McG]

I had a problem on a 1 year old Honda DV some years ago.
The starter switch (mechanism) stuck on, even when the switch sprung back.
The bike started with the key was turned on.
It also must have been turning as I was driving (could not hear for engine)
it all got replaced under warranty - I no longer have the bike.

It may be that this cold damp weather has done something to your switchgear.
just a suggestion

SMcG in Glasgow

[Goodfella]

Cheers. At the moment it seems like the battery was completely flat but something else (not the hot grips) has caused it to discharge I am sure. Charged it enough to test again and as soon as I connected it up the bike tried to start on it's own again.

When I first tried this morning it wasn't trying to start on it's own, only since I connected the battery charger has it started doing it.

Hmm.

Edit: Also concerned about that crackling/pop noise I heard when I plugged the charger in though.

[Sid Squid]

What bike do you have? If an SV then:

If the solenoid was closed when the bike wasn't being used, then the battery will have run down very quickly - which is what you've found. If there is a chance of that do not reconnect the charger, it may just pop the charger fuse - but possibly worse.

If it's trying to turn over without the keys being in it or the button pressed then the solenoid is doing something odd, or is being powered when it shouldn't be.
First off remove the battery, or at least disconnect it, and charge it, then remove the four pin plug on the solenoid. Be careful when you reconnect the battery as the solenoid may be closed and the starter motor will be energised, if so then the solenoid is duffed or possibly just stuck.
If nothing happens when the battery is reconnected then put the four pin plug back in, if it turns over then, then there is a wiring/switchgear problem.

[Goodfella]

It's a sv650n curvy.

Thanks, I've disconnected the battery and charging now. Erm, where is the solenoid?

[Sid Squid]

Behind the triangular black panel under the right side of the seat. Remove the 4mm socket bolt, and you'll see it, it's a very roughly 1 1/2" cube with a green translucent cover, two big fat wires and one four pin plug.

[Goodfella]

Ok thanks Sid, I'll have a look in a bit.

The battery is charging now so it wasn't the charger that went pop, unfortunately, that only leaves the bike to have made the noise which is obviously not good at all. :(

[Goodfella]

Well this is just ridiculous, battery almost fully charged, connected it up and it starts fine (doesn't try to start on its own), just like new again.

WTF?!