help! water killed my dog....

[jsunandmax]

So apologies in advance if there is a Sticky for this; I looked and couldn't find one.

My '05 Mastiff has just crossed the 5k mark. I accidentally got rained on (first time) last week, and now it wont start. I have the following symptoms:

- with battery connected, even WITHOUT key, left turn signal turns on
- with fully charged battery, start gives me 'click click click click' many times wont stop until i remove key

I'm guessing 'something' is wet somewhere and its a) temporary, really needs to be bone dry or b) permanent short and needs repair. As you can tell, i'm not extremely mechanical so any help is greatly appreciated.

thanks in advance!

-Cali J

 

[V]

a couple of things.

1. Blow air into the switch controls to make sure they are dry. Then try your mess again.

2. A lot of your plugs and conncetors are under the tank and around the batt. Un pulg dry apply die-electric grease hook back up and try your mess again.

3.Check all batt conections and grounds. Make sure they are tight and while you have been messing with this make sure the battery is on a batt tender. Them try your mess again

4. Be very careful and clean EHC connectors. (Pins break easily) Blow with air and appy die electric grease.

5. Also load test batt to make sure it is good and check toi make sure that the circuit breaker or fuse from the VR to the batt is not tripped or blown.

 

[KaptinAmerika]

X2:2thumbs:

a couple of things.

1. Blow air into the switch controls to make sure they are dry. Then try your mess again.

2. A lot of your plugs and conncetors are under the tank and around the batt. Un pulg dry apply die-electric grease hook back up and try your mess again.

3.Check all batt conections and grounds. Make sure they are tight and while you have been messing with this make sure the battery is on a batt tender. Them try your mess again

4. Be very careful and clean EHC connectors. (Pins break easily) Blow with air and appy die electric grease.

5. Also load test batt to make sure it is good and check toi make sure that the circuit breaker or fuse from the VR to the batt is not tripped or blown.

 

[jsunandmax]

thanks....

thanks guys, i'll try this.

Question: how, exactly, would I go about doing #5 ?

also, what is this die-electric grease you speak of, whats the deal there?


thanks in advance,

 

[KaptinAmerika]

Take it to your local auto shop to have it load tested

 

[Mickeetwo]

thanks guys, i'll try this.

Question: how, exactly, would I go about doing #5 ?

also, what is this die-electric grease you speak of, whats the deal there?


thanks in advance,

While your at the auto shop to get the battery load tested ask them for di-electric grease. He'll know what it is. You put it in the electrical connections to keep moisture out.

 

[woodbutcher]

and while you are doing the di-electric grease thing, might as well go ahead and put shrink-wrap on the connections to assist in waterproofing.

 

[Sven]

- with battery connected, even WITHOUT key, left turn signal turns on
- with fully charged battery, start gives me 'click click click click' many times wont stop until i remove key.... I'm guessing 'something' is wet somewhere and its a) temporary... As you can tell, i'm not extremely mechanical so any help is greatly appreciated.

As you can tell, I'm not extremely mechanical myself. I'm just taking a guess here, but I think it rained more on the left side of the bike. No, maybe there is a leaky lens? I'm back to it raining more on that side. Think what you want. Your guess is as good as mine.

As I keep guessing, watt are the odds you dry the left lens all is fine. For some reason, why would the bulb [wire] be hot with key off? Since I am not familiar with the system, a quick check would answer that, but now we have a phantom current draw happening?

How all of a sudden you ride in the rain, the battery clicks now? Left light a current draw on the battery?

1. How old is the battery?
2. Blow out all the water at the bulb socket if water is the phantom connection.
3. As mentioned, GM dealers have that electrical grease in a clear tube. Hit the winker sockets with the stuff. The grease will keep the water out.

 

[CHOPTOP45]

:wow: :bang:

 

[smith1186]

Wait, so these bike bikes can or cannot handle getting rained on?

I gotta move back to Cali in a couple of months and it will rain for 3 months straight out there

Also, what happens if Im riding and I get hit by a rain storm?

 

[V]

Wait, so these bike bikes can or cannot handle getting rained on?

I gotta move back to Cali in a couple of months and it will rain for 3 months straight out there

Also, what happens if Im riding and I get hit by a rain storm?

Yes they can. But there are things that can be done as preventive maintanence to prevent problems.

I always wash mine with a hose and nozzle but use very light water pressure and everything above the tank gets just a hand wash with windex or some other wipe on wipe off cleaner. Don't spray water into the controls or directly into any electrical component. Also I don't wash the thing everytime i ride it.

If you are out riding and it does start to rain you will get wet.

 

[smith1186]

If you are out riding and it does start to rain you will get wet.

..... :roll::roll::roll: Right

But seriously, if I gotta ride through an hours worth of down pour, will the dog make it or short out on me

 

[Mickeetwo]

..... :roll::roll::roll: Right

But seriously, if I gotta ride through an hours worth of down pour, will the dog make it or short out on me

I've rode mine through several downpours and have never had a problem.

 

[Bowhunter]

Been caught in the rain and rode for hours, no problem. But I have removed my tank, hand controls, headlight, side panels, wiring along frame tubes, etc. and filled every connector with dielectric grease, plus the EHC connectors filled to the point that water cannot possibly enter. So far, the bike has never failed me in 14,000 miles.