Is my battery dead?

Author
Discussion

Benbay001

Original Poster:

5,801 posts

158 months

Wednesday 30th September 2015
quotequote all
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

Benbay001

Original Poster:

5,801 posts

158 months

Wednesday 30th September 2015
quotequote all
No but its ridden almost daily

I parked it up at 17:30, tried to ride it again at 21:00

Benbay001

Original Poster:

5,801 posts

158 months

Wednesday 30th September 2015
quotequote all
Yes to the battery? or yes to the charging system?

Benbay001

Original Poster:

5,801 posts

158 months

Thursday 1st October 2015
quotequote all
Cheers guys.
Im studying electrical at college (3rd week of apprenticeship)
So access to tools isnt an issue. Im taking the battery in with me today.
Ill let you know my findings.

Benbay001

Original Poster:

5,801 posts

158 months

Thursday 1st October 2015
quotequote all
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?

Benbay001

Original Poster:

5,801 posts

158 months

Thursday 1st October 2015
quotequote all
Yes, it was a 30A fuse in a seperate holder smile
Thanks though.

Benbay001

Original Poster:

5,801 posts

158 months

Thursday 1st October 2015
quotequote all
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 12.7v
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.

Benbay001

Original Poster:

5,801 posts

158 months

Friday 2nd October 2015
quotequote all
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 frown

Benbay001

Original Poster:

5,801 posts

158 months

Saturday 3rd October 2015
quotequote all
Starter relay frown

Cheers for all the help. Think id have given up if it wasnt for the advice! biggrin

Benbay001

Original Poster:

5,801 posts

158 months

Sunday 25th October 2015
quotequote all
So its broke again.
The issue with the starter button not doing anything returned.

And now when it does crank it turns really slowly and never catches.
I measured the voltage at the battery. 11.8v with everything off.
7v when its cranking.
Thats low right? have i got a charging issue?

Benbay001

Original Poster:

5,801 posts

158 months

Sunday 25th October 2015
quotequote all
Picking up a charger from my dads tomorrow.

Ill do some investigating tuesday
cheers

Benbay001

Original Poster:

5,801 posts

158 months

Monday 26th October 2015
quotequote all
Will do. Ty

Benbay001

Original Poster:

5,801 posts

158 months

Tuesday 27th October 2015
quotequote all
MotorsportTom said:
If it's killed a new battery already I'd almost certainly expect the reg/rec to be duff. Come and see me if you want one as I've got one that'll fit straight in you can have for not much money, while you're doing it you may as well try and work out how to get it more air/more cooling in the way of heatsink plates or similar.
Cheers.
Battery is on charge atm. Ill start the bike tomorrow and see what voltage reading i get when its running.
Looks like ill probably be needing that reg/rec if you dont mind?

Benbay001

Original Poster:

5,801 posts

158 months

Wednesday 28th October 2015
quotequote all
So, just tested it.
Battery was showing 13v with no load.
With starter going 10v
idle 14v to 16v (eek right?)
When i rev it volts drop to 6 to 9.
Almost definately reg/rec, right? And not alternator?

Starter relay performed marvolously, so the two issues are probably related.

Benbay001

Original Poster:

5,801 posts

158 months

Wednesday 28th October 2015
quotequote all
Its in the garage in bits and im using the car.
Ill take a picture tomorrow and send you it. Cheers mate.