Rode fine all day, then it died completely no power anywhere

[ajmiller]

I had been riding around town just cruising around since it was gonna rain the next four days and when I got back home left it running while I jumped off and opened the garage door, jumped back on kicked it into first and started pulling into the garage and it died (it felt like I killed it) but it acted like I was in second or a higher gear going from a stopped position and it died. So I went to re-start it and it started to turn over BUT THEN it made a loud POP towards the front of the motor and I had no lights, horn, no nothing. It was pretty cold out and so I just said F it and pushed it into the garage and left it for the night since it was gonna rain the next day (today) and work on it then. Well I dont even know where to start so I am asking for help before I mess anything up. Most of you seem to know a thing or two about gems so let me know what to do and what to check PLEASE!!!

Thanks everyone!

[JWR]

The first things I would do is :

Take off seat and side cover.
Put battery on a charger.
Turn on key and see if you have power back.

If no power check fuses and wires for shorts.

How much do you know about working on the GZ???

You have to get power back on before I can guess anymore.

[ajmiller]

I am actually out buying a charger right now. I did check the two 20amp fuses next to the battery and they were not blown. Just wanted to update ya.

[JWR]

Good, I will check back.

[mrlmd1]

Was it running, then you put it in first gear and let out the clutch with the sidestand up?, or did you let out the clutch with the bike in gear and the stand down, and then it died along with making a loud pop sound? Was that a backfire (gas exploding in the muffler) or some other noise?
The bike will not run if it is in gear if the sidestand is still down, but you probably know that.
Have you tried to start it since and you still have no power, no lights?
Like JWR said, check the main fuse and check your battery voltage. Hook up a set of jumper cables to another 12v battery and see if you have lights.
A blown fuse shouldn't really make a loud pop, that would have to be a pretty big short.

[ajmiller]

The pop was not a backfire and if the starter is located towards the front and bottom of the motor I think it came from that general area. I believe if the stand is down clutch in or out it will kill itself but the lights will stay on. That only kills the motor not the electrical power. Which one is the main fuse? I checked the two yellow ones and they were fine.

[mrlmd1]

See page 22 of the parts manual downloadable on here. There is another 20 amp fuse in addition to the 10 and 15 amps ones you found.

[Water Warrior 2]

If you haven't already got them, a test light and a cheap meter will save you hours of guessing. Visually checking fuses will not always tell the story. Eliminate the simple stuff before looking for the hard stuff. Use the K.I.S.S. principle. You will be up and riding in no time.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by ajmiller

The pop was not a backfire and if the starter is located towards the front and bottom of the motor I think it came from that general area.

You need a multi-meter......or find someone who has one......to trace the problem.

One of the main battery cables might have worked loose at the OTHER end and then arc'ed and popped to complete the failure.

Without a meter, you need to find THE main fuse and then check the main cable connections; I think they both end up in the general vicininty of the starter. After that, you need a meter. It is possible that your battery has suddenly failed.

[ajmiller]

Ok. So no meter. No test light. I have a fuse puller and fingers and that told me that none of the fuses that were mentioned in the owners manual were bad. My new battery charger says its charging the battery and that it was dead. Tried the ignition and still no lights or anything electrical.