battery gremlins
Moderators: the2knights, Highway Rider
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- Cruiser
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- Joined: Sat Aug 10, 2013 9:45 am
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- Current bike(s): 2002 voyager xii
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
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battery gremlins
Hi all I know this maybe common but I cant figure it out! firstly...On my ride today I noticed the battery light flickering at idle and stay on when brake or signal applied. the bike started fine can ok lights where bright. When bike was running battery gauge was 13.8 to 14.0 volts when bike turned off was 12.8 volts.took the faux tank off removed the battery seems its between low and full mark when placed on flat surface.The sensor wire had a lot off corrosion inside on on the resister area.I believe my battery is ok right? I think that sensor light is the problem,any way I can bypass it? what if I just cut it off and taped it up ? any suggestions guys or gals? thanks Rob!
- vxiirider
- Tourer
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Re: battery gremlins
The only purpose of the battery light is to let you know that the battery needs to have water added, it has nothing to do with the charge condition.
John Ramsay
Charlotte, Michigan
'02 GL 1800 Goldwing Trike
It's the journey, not the destination
Charlotte, Michigan
'02 GL 1800 Goldwing Trike
It's the journey, not the destination
- bikerking.biz
- Traveler
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- Current bike(s): 1988 Kawasaki Voyager XII
1970 Honda CL 350 - Location: PA
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Re: battery gremlins
It sounds like your sensor connection may be bad, or the sensor may need cleaned. You indicated that the water level is between low and full so the battery may be ok. If you want to bypass the level indicator (not the best with a lead acid battery), you can if you like by connecting the sensor wire to the orange wire on the turn signal flasher.
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- Elite Tourer
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Re: battery gremlins
Get a sealed battery & get rid if the sensor. Connect it to the + post and the low level light will go out.
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- Cruiser
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- Joined: Sat Aug 10, 2013 9:45 am
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- Current bike(s): 2002 voyager xii
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Re: battery gremlins
thanks guys I decided to order a new sensor as this one actually looks burnt so I don't want to connect it to anything right now!
- ekap1200
- Master Fabricator
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Re: battery gremlins
In time the batt acid will work its way up to the resistor and corrode the thin leads. Take a razor knife and slit the plastic, you may find its just corroded away. A trip to Radio shack for a new resistor and some heat shrink tubing is an easy fix.feenixx613 wrote:thanks guys I decided to order a new sensor as this one actually looks burnt so I don't want to connect it to anything right now!
"Its not bad if you don't know something, but when you don't know you don't know; That's when your in trouble". Joe Place 1912-2008 (my grandfather)
- doug of so fla
- Grand Tourer
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Re: battery gremlins
Also the lead end of the sensor basically disolves and makes it shorter so it won't reach the water level. New sealed battery and connect wire to a + source or New sensor.
doug of no fla
- JHD
- Traveler
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'09 FLHT Police
'03 RE Bullet 500
'77 XS 360-2D - Location: Edmonds, WA
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Re: battery gremlins
Who would want to use a lead/acid battery these days? This sensor was great to have when it was designed in the 80's but we are in a new millennium now with battery technology that is leaps and bounds beyond the 80's. I have a glass battery case w/terminals from a model T sitting on a shelf as a piece of art from a gone by era. At one time it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I'm not saying one should put their lead/acid battery on a shelf. Just don't put it on a shelf inside the house!
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- Cruiser
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- Current bike(s): 2002 voyager xii
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Re: battery gremlins
Thanks all! took all into consideration, Since the battery is good I just ordered a new sensor $18 but when the battery goes I will go maintenance free and connect sensor to positive when I brought some distilled water home my wife was scratching her head when I said it was for the bike! Lol. I did notice that the battery in these bikes are huge! almost like my car battery.
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- King of the Road
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1958 Cushman Eagle restoration has been finished,and have put 3030 miles on her! - Location: Orrville,Ohio
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Re: battery gremlins
I bought a sealed glass mat battery, so I could install it on it's side, for my Cushman Eagle, and it lasted almost 340 mile before it failed .I was not impressed with that short a life, and the Interstate dealer would not even cover it.
'99 Voyager VXII,'58 Cushman Eagle
- Mr Jensee
- King of the Road
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Home Phone disconnected.
Previous bikes. Yamaha 180, Honda CM200T, Suzuki 1000LNKawasaki ZRX1100. - Location: Lafayette, La
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Re: battery gremlins
The design of the AGM battery is not the problem. You most likely got a bad battery. I have a AGM battery in the Voyager that is probably 2 years old, gets put on the tender after each ride and it has never shown any signs of low voltage or failure. I had a AGM battery that come on the Kawasaki ZRX1100 I had and it lasted 8 years before I replaced it doing the same thing. Don't give up after one try. Save the warranty papers.
For Voyager XII Manuals click the link below.
https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ao3K0Ai2gvglgS3l7J4pBJrjfBhc
https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ao3K0Ai2gvglgS3l7J4pBJrjfBhc
- Scott-(Altoona, PA)
- King of the Road
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Re: battery gremlins
For what it's worth, my AGM battery is going on 3 years now and it starts my Voyager XII in temps below freezing. I only take it out of the bike when it's put away for the winter and trust me I had to defrost the windshield yesterday as it was 28*f and the bike started and ran just the same as if it was July. So the battery is only out of the bike for a few short months.
I did get a bad one but mine came with a 1 yr warranty, I contacted them at the 9 month mark and they advised that when I wanted (it was end of summer) the replacement to let them know. Since they're sent filled, sealed and charged I waited till April, emailed and 3 days later it was installed and bike running.
I did get a bad one but mine came with a 1 yr warranty, I contacted them at the 9 month mark and they advised that when I wanted (it was end of summer) the replacement to let them know. Since they're sent filled, sealed and charged I waited till April, emailed and 3 days later it was installed and bike running.
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2001 Voyager XII
We may not know them all, but we owe them all! Thank a Veteran today!
2001 Voyager XII
We may not know them all, but we owe them all! Thank a Veteran today!