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Battery being pulled down?

A

andrewg

New member
Joined
Nov 12, 2006
Location
Menlo park
Moto(s)
zzr600
A few days ago when I tried to start my bike (ZZR600), I thought I heard a quiet "pop" sound, and then nothing - no lights on the instrument display even. Initially I thought the battery had drained or died (though it's on a battery tender). However when I pulled it out it was around 13.6V. When I reconnected to the bike, it dropped down to around 8V.

A weird feature is that initially when I turn on the ignition, everything is dead. But after 5 or 6 seconds, the dashboard lights begin slowly flashing accompanied by a ticking noise. Eventually they come on steadily, but there is no response to hitting the starter button.

I'm wondering if there could be a short somewhere, or something like a relay ? I'd almost guess that a capacitor had blown somewhere given the pop and the weird oscillating lights.

If this behavior suggests any ideas, I'd love to hear them! Thanks.
 
Healthy key-off battery voltages normally in the 12.6v or 12.8v range.

Normal bike running/charging battery voltages in the 14.4v range.

Double check the battery terminal screws are snug, not loose.

And review the battery sticky thread for further troubleshooting steps.
 
Do not use the battery testers at places like Autozone or O'Reilly's. They're crap and will often declare a battery good when it's shot. Find a place that has a real load tester that puts a real resistive load n the battery.

If the battery is reading 13.6, either your meter is bad or you just removed a battery charger from the battery or just turned off the engine. Batteries must sit for at least one hour, preferably two, after ANY kind of charging to get an accurate and meaningful reading.

And if the battery is healthy and fully charged, 8 volts when you turn on the ignition is most often a sign of a short.

Have you checked the fuses? Try removing them all and turn the ignition on and note the battery voltage. Then add one fuse at a time (ignition off when you do it) until you find the circuit wth the drop.
 
If there is a load that causes the battery to drop 5 volts, that's a pretty good load and a fuse will blow. Your suggestion of checking individual fuses to see a voltage drop ain't going to happen.
 
Except that it isn't blowing fuses.

I agree that a load large enough to pull battery voltage down to 8 volts would likely blow most fuses, but if the OP follows my direction, at least they'll be able to eliminate various circuits as being the troubling one.

Also, on many bikes there is a main fuse, often located somewhere else than in the main fuse panel. See if your bike has that. Pull that one as well and see if you still get the voltage drop.

And check the cables to the battery. Make sure one's not rubbing somewhere and shorting out intermittently. And make sure that nothing it shorting out the battery terminals when everything is buttoned up.
 
My money is on it's being a bad battery. Try completely disconnecting the battery, both terminals. Then hook up a car battery to the bike's cables. Be absolutely sure nothing is shorting. Then try starting the bike. If it starts and runs fine, it's the battery that's the problem.

Sometimes there can be an internal short in lead/acid batteries that won't show up until a load is applied. Then the battery shorts internally, voltage drops way down and the battery starts to heat up.

And FYI, these are the kinds of conditions that those cheap electronic testers at places like AutoZone, O'Reilly's, and Pep Boys will never pick up because they don't apply an actual load to the battery.
 
Very likely.

OP: If you want to find out if it's the battery quickly, simply completely disconnect it (both terminals) and hook up a car battery. (Car engine off and not running!)
 
OP: What brand of battery? What type? Flooded (conventional)? AGM?
 
There is no sign of life when I try to jump start the bike, so I don't think it's the battery. I'll chase up the other suggestions. Thanks!
 
See if there is a main fuse. Often it's located at the end of the positive battery cable at the starter relay.
 
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