2004 VFR800 battery/electrical issues

Discussion in '6th Generation 2002-2013' started by vishwo707, Jun 27, 2018.

  1. vishwo707

    vishwo707 New Member

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    Hi all,

    i request some help or guidance in rectifying the issue my VFR has. Here is how it started.
    i left my bike off for 3 or so weeks without running and i found the battery drained out. so i charged it and started the bike. it started ok. next day i went to start but it seems it didnt have enough power so i had to charge again. This has happened few times so i got battery load tested and sure enough the battery is no more.
    Now i purchased the new battery and installed it. before i started the bike i noted the voltage of 12.6V.
    as i turned the key and clicked the other switch i heard fuel pump power up. as i pressed the power button to start the bike, there was a click noise somewhere and battery went dead. no indication on instrument cluster. the voltage on the battery showed 3V. So i took the battery out and put it on charge again.

    Has anybody experience this kind of issues before?
    i think i blew a fuse somewhere so i am going to find it.
    your help is much appreciated.

    Regards
    Vish
     
  2. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

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    I'd suggest you take a look at the 30A main fuse by the starter relay, on your 6G I believe that is under the seat. Maybe the fuse has popped, or possibly the holder has melted (which can happen if the holder gets some corrosion).
     
  3. vishwo707

    vishwo707 New Member

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    Thanks for the reply. I have checked both 30A fuses and they are fine. I am going to check all the other fuses tonight.

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
     
  4. skimad4x4

    skimad4x4 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

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    Sadly 6th Gens are just as liable to suffer from electrical gremlins as earlier models. If you are lucky its someting simple like a failing starter solenoid. or even a second defective battery. So start eliminating things - Make sure the bike is out of gear then check if the starter works by taking a live feed to the starter from the battery - if it turns over then inspect the starter switch/and wiring for damage or corrosion.

    If you are unlucky that drained battery my be down to a charging system fault. Search on here for a thread called "the Drill" orginally about 5th Gen models but the same issues and cures apply to 6th gen bikes too. Basically if your RR or stator has shorted out, then the moment you hit the start button you may be melting wires in the charging circuit.

    Let us know how you get on.

    SkiMad
     
  5. vishwo707

    vishwo707 New Member

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    Thanks for the reply SkiMad. Yes it was a faulty 2nd battery. Here are the steps.
    i brought my old battery from the shop that i gave the shop to recycle and connected it. Straightaway my clock started working. upon ignition on, the lights worked to and fuel pump prime up. but i couldn't start as my old battery didn't have enough grunt.
    So with this in mind, i went back to the shop. the rep said the "new" battery has low voltage and it can be recharged.
    after recharge with 12.6V , i connected it and as per earlier symptoms, clock didn't start up and battery would show 2.6V while it is connected to the bike. i took the battery out and measured voltage again and now it showed 10.8V and slowly climbing up.
    So just to make sure, i connected my old battery and sure enough everything worked.
    So I went back to the shop and i was given new battery and it worked as well.

    Hope my detailed steps explains it better.

    Regards
    Vish
     
  6. skimad4x4

    skimad4x4 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

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    Thanks for the update Vish

    I am glad to hear you have got this sorted out.

    It is easy to assume that a brand new battery cannot be faulty. However experience shows that batteries tend to either fail almost immediately you get them from the shop or will last for ages. You seem to be unlucky to have been supplied with a couple which failed almost immediately. I guess in your part of Western Australia shops may not supply many motorcycle batteries and you could just have got a pair from the same batch with the same defect.

    At least fingers crossed it sounds like your charging system is working OK at present.

    Certainly given the likelihood of electrical gremlins with all 6th Gens, and especially for bikes in a hot climate like Australia, I would still consider fitting the bike with a cheapo LED battery voltage monitor - sort which shows volts as a number like 14.4v - so you can spot if the system volts are acting up - either way too high or too low. It won't prevent a problem, but it will give you a chance to head for some place safe before you end up stranded once the battery is depleted. I guess in your part of the world it is not a good idea to end up broken down in the middle of nowhere in an area with no cell phone cover, and relying on some passer by to get help.

    Take Care


    SkiMad
     
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