Battery Problem

[RichInFla]

This has happened twice so far, and I've searched through the posts but can't find anything relating to what's happening. Might be a little long, sorry. First, no new equipment installed since I bought it. So, about a month ago, the bike sat for two weeks and wouldn't start, so I bought a charger, charged it up, and the next morning it started right up. Rode for about 3 hours. This weekend marked the end of another two week "rest" for the GZ, so Friday night I put the charger on it. Started right up Saturday morning and I rode for about 3 hours. This morning, went to go for a ride, it started right up, but I was coming to a light after about an hour of riding and it just shut off. Electric start did nothing, tried push starting (which I was successful with about a month ago), but it wasn't happening this time. Luckily, my HD riding neighbor had a truck and ramp, so he came and got me. Put the battery on the charger when I got home and it was at 16%/2A. :??:

He said it might be my "stator" (he pointed to a little metal thing with wires coming out mounted the frame right under the seat) or "alternator" (don't know where that is or if the GZ has one !!). He said the battery is just supposed to start the bike, but mine was "running" off the battery, draining as I was riding. He has a riding buddy who has the same problem (different bike). He said he can ride for about 4 hours, then it'll shut off and just won't start.

Okay, GZ Wizards, I'm in need of your infinite wisdom, I can't afford another trip to the "shop" after just purchasing tires and brake pads ! Is there anything I can try myself, I can follow instructions !! Thanks all !!

[Sarris]

If the battery is over 3 years old, it's probably ready to replace. Take yours to the battery store and have them check it before anything else.

I'm not saying you need a battery, but I do suggest checking that first. Downtime kills 'em.

:banana:

[RichInFla]

I'm not saying you need a battery, but I do suggest checking that first. Downtime kills 'em.:banana:

Can you actually tell if a battery is bad once it's fully charged ??

[Sarris]

They'll do a load test. It'll tell how well it keeps a charge. Worn out batteries can "take" a charge, but not "keep" a charge.

It's easy enough to get out, and most battery stores check them for free, so why not check that first?

:??:

[Easy Rider]

Can you actually tell if a battery is bad once it's fully charged ??

Yes, **I** can. The question is can YOU ?? :biggrin:
(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

I'm assuming that you do not have a multi-meter. If you did (about $15 at Radio Shack), battery and charging system "rough" tests are pretty easy.

Like your friend, bike shops are often too quick to make ASSumptions and do the wrong thing.

Ride it to an independent battery shop....like Interstate....or an auto shop that sells lots of batteries......like Farm & Fleet, but call ahead to be sure they stock the battery for your bike......and take about $90 with you because what you have described so far is the classic story of an old, sulphated, worn out battery.

If you trickle charge it every night, it will get you to work and back every day.......for a few days or weeks. Then suddenly it will get you there and will be dead for the return trip.

What does this mean: "it was at 16%/2A" ??

[RichInFla]

What does this mean: "it was at 16%/2A" ??

Sorry, the charger I bought tells me the "% Charged" and "Amps". I have an interstate dealer down the street, so maybe I'll take it there. They close on Sunday at Noon, so it'll have to be during the week. The last time this happened, I called them and they said it'll take 3 hours to charge a new battery, which is why I went and bought the charger. If the consensus is "bad battery", I can handle that !! Thanks.

[Easy Rider]

If the consensus is "bad battery", I can handle that !! Thanks.

Can't reach a valid consensus without sufficient data. :)

You can make a rough test just with your fancy charger, though. Charge it until the charger says 100%.....or close to it. If it never goes above 90%, that's a good indication of a bad battery. If it does go to 95% or more, note the % charge, disconnect the charger and let it sit for 24 hours. When you reconnect the charger, it should not be read less than 5% below the previous charge level and should return to the first percentage withing a minute or two.
A healthy battery will NOT self-discharge any significant amount in 24 hours.

At this point, I think the consensus is: A trip to the Interstate store is in order.

[RichInFla]

Okay, more data...Coincidentally, I charged the battery yesterday until about 6:00 PM, which it stopped at 100%. Put it in the bike and it fired right up. Put it in the garage and removed the battery in anticipation of taking it to Interstate during my lunch break today. Ended up down in another part of town for work and never made it. Just went out and took it out of the Jeep and hooked it up to the charger (7:00PM, 25 hours later). It was still at 100%/13.1V.

Does that help/say anything ?? Thanks.

[Easy Rider]

hooked it up to the charger (7:00PM, 25 hours later). It was still at 100%/13.1V.

Does that help/say anything ?? Thanks.

Yes. That tells us that your next action should be to take the WHOLE bike to Interstate.
At this point, I would say that it is not likely the battery is bad......although still possible.....and it might be the charging system at fault after all.

It is also possible that you just have/had a bad connection at one of the battery posts or at the other end of one of the main cables.

Let Interstate test.

[RichInFla]

Interstate can test the charging system ?? I thought you were joking about taking the whole bike to Interstate (thought all they tested were batteries) !! My neighbors recommended a cycle shop here in town, but I don't know if they work on Suzuki's. If Interstate Batteries can test for something else, they are right down the street !!

And sorry, incorrect info on the charger. It tells me % and Volts.

[Easy Rider]

Interstate can test the charging system ??
I thought you were joking about taking the whole bike to Interstate

Yes and no.....in that order.
They can't FIX the charging system but they can TEST it.
Absolutely.

[RichInFla]

Okay thanks...It'll probably be this weekend, will have to find out their hours and if they'll do it. Will let you all know what they say...

[mrlmd1]

Get or borrow a multimeter.

Start up the bike with the battery in it and test the voltage at the battery terminals with the engine running at at least 1/2 throttle (in neutral) and you can see the amount of voltage the charging system is putting out.

Your battery may still read full charge at 13V at rest but have little capacity.That's what a load test measures. Measure the voltage while trying to start the bike and immediately afterwards and if it reads 7-8V you know it is shot.
A bad battery on the bike will never really get charged sufficiently to top it up enough to restart the bike after you draw it down (by starting it the first time) because the charging system of the GZ is so puny.

If you wind up buying a new battery, and most of these are now the sealed AGM type, regardless of what the store owner tells you that it's ready to go after they fill it, put the battery on a charger for a few hours or overnight and make sure it is FULLY charged otherwise it will fail very prematurely and never charge up to it's capacity. Even if it says 12.8 V when you test it out of the box or in the store, it is NOT fully charged. You will get one or two starts out of it and have to return it for another one and keep thinking something is wrong with the bike. Be warned - charge the new battery fully before you use it.

There are numerous threads on here about batteries, I even started one many months ago and then became a semi-expert trying to solve my own problem.

[Easy Rider]

There are numerous threads on here about batteries, I even started one many months ago and then became a semi-expert trying to solve my own problem.

Well yes, I think you did!
Good post. :tup:

I suggested a meter about 10 posts back.
Doesn't look like that's going to happen.
Might be for the best, however. :biggrin:

[RichInFla]

Sorry, don't know anyone with a multimeter, but will ask around. Just out of curiosity, put the battery on the tester after 48 hours of sitting, and it said 100%, but hit the charge button anyway. After about 5 minutes, it was back to 13V and 100% again.

If I can find a multimeter, I'll try what was suggested. Thanks again..and again...and again...

Richard

[Easy Rider]

If I can find a multimeter, I'll try what was suggested. Thanks again..and again...and again...


Rich......
I made that suggestion BEFORE I knew that you had an Interstate store just down the street.
THEY have a multi-meter, as well as other testers which they will be happy to use on your bike ......probably free of charge.....and tell you exactly what is and is not the cause of your problem.
You seem like a nice guy and all but..........this discussion has about run it's course. :roll:

[RichInFla]

Last post...Ended up being the "stator" the shop said. It'll be two weeks Saturday without riding, as the shop was slammed with bikes getting ready for "BikeToberFest" in Daytona last Saturday. It's wierd not seeing the bike in the garage. Hopefully I'll be back riding soon.

Thanks for all the help.

p/s: With it taking them that long to fix, I'm thinking about changing my own oil...I figure if I can read the posts here and follow instructions, I should be okay, right ??? :2tup:

[patrick_777]

Yes, you'll be fine. For your first time...have a lot of old towels handy.

[Badbob]

Changing the stator isn't a big deal either. I've had mine out a couple of times.