Flat Battery

[Marcus789]

Hi, looking for any help with a problem 2011 Stelvio which has been off the road for nearly 3 weeks now.

Had occasional non start problems with just a click when pressing starter but would eventually fire up if I kept trying. Retired mechanic suggested a new battery as voltage was low. This seemed to solve the problem, no issues for 3 weeks. On last day of holiday in France fired up the bike in evening to make sure everything was OK then put my phone on charge via crocadile clips across battery for an hour or two. In morning had flat battery, display almost dead and no turn over. Fortunately got it going with a powerpack from a motorcaravaner, kept it running for an hour or so before refueling and had no starting problems whenever I stopped on journey home(460 miles including 90 min ferry crossing. next evening tried to start bike, flat battery. I am 100% sure parking lights were not left on on both occasions. Thought may have a duff battery(Yuasa) so took it back. Told it was deeply discharged but was charged up and tested and returned with no fault found. Fitted back to bike late afternoon and she fired up OK. Next morning, flat battery. Called out RAC who diagnosed 1/2 amp drain on battery. Used powerpack to get it going and rode to MG Dealer. They have had the bike for 12 days and have fitted another new battery but bike will run this flat overnight. Called Dealer today and no progress has been made in working out what is causing problem.

Any ideas guys?

 

[canuck1969]

Hi, looking for any help with a problem 2011 Stelvio which has been off the road for nearly 3 weeks now.

Had occasional non start problems with just a click when pressing starter but would eventually fire up if I kept trying. Retired mechanic suggested a new battery as voltage was low. This seemed to solve the problem, no issues for 3 weeks. On last day of holiday in France fired up the bike in evening to make sure everything was OK then put my phone on charge via crocadile clips across battery for an hour or two. In morning had flat battery, display almost dead and no turn over. Fortunately got it going with a powerpack from a motorcaravaner, kept it running for an hour or so before refueling and had no starting problems whenever I stopped on journey home(460 miles including 90 min ferry crossing. next evening tried to start bike, flat battery. I am 100% sure parking lights were not left on on both occasions. Thought may have a duff battery(Yuasa) so took it back. Told it was deeply discharged but was charged up and tested and returned with no fault found. Fitted back to bike late afternoon and she fired up OK. Next morning, flat battery. Called out RAC who diagnosed 1/2 amp drain on battery. Used powerpack to get it going and rode to MG Dealer. They have had the bike for 12 days and have fitted another new battery but bike will run this flat overnight. Called Dealer today and no progress has been made in working out what is causing problem.

Any ideas guys?

Does not sound like it is the issue, but first thing to check is if the charging system on the bike is working. You should be around 14V at the battery at idle. I am sure they checked this but none the less take a look. If it is not around 14V then you need to find out why. Could also be a loose ground on the starter, but the 1/2 amp drain is a big concern.

As for the parasitic drain on the battery, could be anything. Most likely a short somewhere, perhaps ignition switch. Or something directly wired to the battery. I have never measure what the usual drain on the battery is, but 1/2 amp is way to high. Should be in the low mV range. Believe the Yuasas are an 18Ah battery. At 1/2 amp draw, that 36 hours to a dead battery, much less to a battery that won't start the bike.

Only way to check is to check the amp load with the key off and start pulling fuses one by one until you can find the circuit that is affected. Surprised the shop has not done this. The test should only take 15 minutes. Make sure you include any accessories wired directly to the battery. Once you know the circuit, you can zero in on the problem.

Here is a you tube video on how to do it. It is for a car but it is very detailed on how to do it and why you are doing it. There are others for motorcycles, but the process is the same.



Good luck and let us know what you find.

 

[WayneOrwig]

There is all of the obvious, sticking relay contacts, or water in the ignition switch.

One other thing odd. Long ago I got water in the speedometer sensor. That created a dashboard fault. For some reason, the ECU stayed on. It would occasionally cycle the idle air motor. I had to disconnect the battery every evening until I got the speedometer sensor repaired.

 

[Brooksy]

hi, looking for a bit of help ref charging, collected the bike on Saturday and on checking the charge at idle its running around 13.7v on the bikes metre but when I put the fogs on it drops to 12.6v is this normal?

 

[abbienormal]

Idling or at a certain rpm? At. Idle you may not get enough output to charge and run the fogs. If the voltage goes back up when you add RTPM you're fine. I'm not sure on a Stelvio but normally by 3,500 rpm most systems are running max. Some older Hondas needed almost 5,000 to break even.

 

[Brooksy]

Idling or at a certain rpm? At. Idle you may not get enough output to charge and run the fogs. If the voltage goes back up when you add RTPM you're fine. I'm not sure on a Stelvio but normally by 3,500 rpm most systems are running max. Some older Hondas needed almost 5,000 to break even.

many thanks mate

 

[canuck1969]

many thanks mate

Came across this TSB for the 2012+ Stelvio. Think Piaggio finally figured out what they were doing wrong and why so many batteries failed and leaked. Of course they won't tell you that without reading between the lines. The part they left out was the part about if the battery does not sit for at least an hour before charging, the battery may not hold charge and rupture since the electrolyte is not fully absorbed into the cells.

 

[john zibell]

Better to let the battery sit for at least 3 hours or longer. Even over night is OK. This has been standard practice for years for us old timers. Also charging to full capacity prior to use will give the battery a longer life. Once the battery is in service, it is important to not over charge the battery.

 

[Brooksy]

is it possible to trickle charge via the 12v socket under the seat or will I need to wire another one direct to the terminals due to my garage having no electricity at present I have an oxford solariser on the roof however this only has a cigarette style plug.

 

[canuck1969]

is it possible to trickle charge via the 12v socket under the seat or will I need to wire another one direct to the terminals due to my garage having no electricity at present I have an oxford solariser on the roof however this only has a cigarette style plug.

Pretty sure that will not work. There is no power to the plugs without the key on so no direct connection to the battery. Can always remove the plug socket from the back of the bike and wire it to the battery. It just unplugs. It is easier to take off the back than the front. Positive is the center blade on the socket. Would not be my first choice, but given the circumstances.

 

[Brooksy]

Pretty sure that will not work. There is no power to the plugs without the key on so no direct connection to the battery. Can always remove the plug socket from the back of the bike and wire it to the battery. It just unplugs. It is easier to take off the back than the front. Positive is the center blade on the socket. Would not be my first choice, but given the circumstances.

thanks for that, as my bike is the 2008 model it only has 1 socket so I think wiring an additional socket direct to the battery for charging only will be my best bet and that leaves the socket under the seat for ancillary charging.

 

[WayneOrwig]

is it possible to trickle charge via the 12v socket under the seat or will I need to wire another one direct to the terminals due to my garage having no electricity at present I have an oxford solariser on the roof however this only has a cigarette style plug.

My 2009 is wired so that there IS power at the socket even with the key off. I use it often with a tire pump. So it would charge the bike just fine through there.
But, I've always hated the simple cigarette lighter style plugs as they are horribly unreliable. I would still go directly to the battery long term.

I have a small low wattage solar panel on an out building to trickle charge a bike and the lawn tractor. Even as low as the wattage is, it still dried the batteries. It needed a regulator to no damage the batteries with long charge times (weeks).

 

[canuck1969]

My 2009 is wired so that there IS power at the socket even with the key off. I use it often with a tire pump. So it would charge the bike just fine through there.
But, I've always hated the simple cigarette lighter style plugs as they are horribly unreliable. I would still go directly to the battery long term.

I have a small low wattage solar panel on an out building to trickle charge a bike and the lawn tractor. Even as low as the wattage is, it still dried the batteries. It needed a regulator to no damage the batteries with long charge times (weeks).

My bad....assumed a newer Stelvio. My rear plug needs the key to power. Actually disconnected it and used the feed for my heated seat as the 2012+ has a plug at the front also.