Is my battery dead?
Discussion
My 98 Deauville is refusing to show any sign of life.
I turned the key and initially there was a noise from under the seat (sounded a bit like a fuse going). but none of the electrics came on. Nothing happens at all now if i turn it on and off.
I checked all the fuses and they all look fine.
There is no spark when i touch the leads onto the battery terminals.
For a while now ive had an issue whereby the bike wouldnt start first time, the lights would dim on the dash but the starter wouldnt go. After thumbing the button a few times it usually goes.
Its also had a problem where after a minute of riding the headlight goes from very bright to very dim.
Ive checked the battery date and it looks like its either a 2008 or 2009.
Maybe ive got a charging problem?
What should i check next?
Thank you
Ben
I turned the key and initially there was a noise from under the seat (sounded a bit like a fuse going). but none of the electrics came on. Nothing happens at all now if i turn it on and off.
I checked all the fuses and they all look fine.
There is no spark when i touch the leads onto the battery terminals.
For a while now ive had an issue whereby the bike wouldnt start first time, the lights would dim on the dash but the starter wouldnt go. After thumbing the button a few times it usually goes.
Its also had a problem where after a minute of riding the headlight goes from very bright to very dim.
Ive checked the battery date and it looks like its either a 2008 or 2009.
Maybe ive got a charging problem?
What should i check next?
Thank you
Ben
Since the battery is 6/7 years old it's probably toast but to check you need to get a cheap voltage meter and check it (always worth having one in the garage...)
If you recently rode it and the charging system is working correctly then with a meter across the battery terminals should show around 12.5 to 12.7v, if you can get it started by jumping from another battery then when the engine is running this should go up to 14-14.5v (anymore than 15v indicates the regulator/rectifier is fubarred)
Even if the battery shows about 12v, if the voltage goes below 9v when cranking then it's trashed as well.
Chances are you'll be needing a new battery
If you recently rode it and the charging system is working correctly then with a meter across the battery terminals should show around 12.5 to 12.7v, if you can get it started by jumping from another battery then when the engine is running this should go up to 14-14.5v (anymore than 15v indicates the regulator/rectifier is fubarred)
Even if the battery shows about 12v, if the voltage goes below 9v when cranking then it's trashed as well.
Chances are you'll be needing a new battery
Benbay001 said:
Yes to the battery? or yes to the charging system?
Yes to your original question. If you're shorting the battery terminals and there's no sparks then there's something amiss. If you have access to a volt meter you could check the battery but I'd say you already have your answer.
No joy.
Bought new battery but the same result. there is power, because the clock is still working. Once i put the key into the on position the clock stops too.
Any ideas?
Ive dismantled the body work to get to the ignition wires. so hopefully it is something related to that. I ran out of day light before i managed to achieve anything though.
What else is worth checking?
Are there any relays that would cause the symptoms?
Bought new battery but the same result. there is power, because the clock is still working. Once i put the key into the on position the clock stops too.
Any ideas?
Ive dismantled the body work to get to the ignition wires. so hopefully it is something related to that. I ran out of day light before i managed to achieve anything though.
What else is worth checking?
Are there any relays that would cause the symptoms?
moto_traxport said:
Have you checked the big fuse? It's not normally alongside the other fuses.
Just double, double-checking you've checked the main fuse. Often nowhere near the other fuses, might be hanging off the starter solenoid. Feel free to say "Yes, yes, yes, I've blooming checked that!" and I'll wander off and do something else.
Firstly you need to check the new battery is charged up and the connections are tight. Just because the clock works it doesn't mean it has enough charge to start the bike.
So assuming the battery is charged and all fuses are ok.
Check earth points are free of corrosion and tight. It wouldn't do any harm to remove them and clean them up. Check all connector plugs are ok sometimes they work loose, check them for corrosion also and the wiring for broken wires etc.
With you saying you had to thumb the button a few times to get it started. Did it try and start when you pressed it or when you pressed it nothing happened ? If the latter you could have a dodgy switch or wiring to it.
Start with the simple straight forward checks first.
So assuming the battery is charged and all fuses are ok.
Check earth points are free of corrosion and tight. It wouldn't do any harm to remove them and clean them up. Check all connector plugs are ok sometimes they work loose, check them for corrosion also and the wiring for broken wires etc.
With you saying you had to thumb the button a few times to get it started. Did it try and start when you pressed it or when you pressed it nothing happened ? If the latter you could have a dodgy switch or wiring to it.
Start with the simple straight forward checks first.
curlie467 said:
It could be as simple as a bad earth or loose connection.
Check your earths first and go from there.
I'm crap at gambling. In that other thread with the speed camera tractors I would have bet my house it was the usual fake crap off Facebook. Glad I kept my trap shut on that thread Check your earths first and go from there.
if I were a gambling man, I'd vote this.
From the first post it seemed the most logical explanation.
theshrew said:
Firstly you need to check the new battery is charged up and the connections are tight. Just because the clock works it doesn't mean it has enough charge to start the bike.
So assuming the battery is charged and all fuses are ok.
Check earth points are free of corrosion and tight. It wouldn't do any harm to remove them and clean them up. Check all connector plugs are ok sometimes they work loose, check them for corrosion also and the wiring for broken wires etc.
With you saying you had to thumb the button a few times to get it started. Did it try and start when you pressed it or when you pressed it nothing happened ? If the latter you could have a dodgy switch or wiring to it.
Start with the simple straight forward checks first.
battery is showing 12.7vSo assuming the battery is charged and all fuses are ok.
Check earth points are free of corrosion and tight. It wouldn't do any harm to remove them and clean them up. Check all connector plugs are ok sometimes they work loose, check them for corrosion also and the wiring for broken wires etc.
With you saying you had to thumb the button a few times to get it started. Did it try and start when you pressed it or when you pressed it nothing happened ? If the latter you could have a dodgy switch or wiring to it.
Start with the simple straight forward checks first.
When i turned the key for the first time yesterday, there was a definate click. either a relay or something blowing after that there was no life.
When i used to thumb the starter button the neutral light(and all the others i presume) used to go very dim, as though there was alot of current being drawn, but the starter would do absolutely nothing.
Keep the ideas coming.
I refuse to take it to a garage.
Steve Bass said:
What's the voltage pulling down to when you thumb the starter?? You need to see what the voltage is when you're trying to crank.
I cant imagine there is any voltage change now because there is litterally no power going to anything with the key in the on position. dannyintenerife said:
Alternator/stator would be my guess. Although a new battery should work for about 20 mins.
It didnt though 
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