Total power loss every morning

[lionelli]

A few days ago I rode my bike to work in the evening with no problems. That morning I went to start it and when I turned the key I got nothing. No power anywhere. I was sure it wasn't the battery as I leave it on the tender every day and this thing was completely dead in a 12 hr. period. Anyway I got a ride home from work and came back the next day with some tools. Put the key in and BAM everything works, bike starts right up.

This has happened 3 days in a row now. I think it's temperature related, maybe getting some moisture somewhere. The temps have been around 75 highs and 50 lows.

Any ideas?

 

[woodbutcher]

how old is the battery? if it is on the border of dying, this sounds normal.

 

[pastor t]

Are the battery cables on tight? I had a similar situation and had a loose negative cable.

 

[RoadRider]

I agree with pastor t check the ground wire. Could be loose or corroded.

 

[bruce]

i had a problem like this, and it ended up being ground at battery. the wire was broken just behind the connector at battery and because all the wires were so close together sometime they would make a connection and things would work.

 

[lionelli]

The battery is about a year old.

I went to go get my bike this afternoon and the same thing happened again. Turn the key on and all the lights came on and fired right up. I was thinking it was a bad battery, but it seems weird that it would have no lights at all and then 8 hrs later it starts right up without me doing anything to it.

I'll check around on the ground wires and see what I find.

Thanks for the suggestions so far!

 

[TrickDog]

Also check the ground at the frame too. I had a Mustang that would do that too. Turns out it was where the negative cable connected to the frame was corroded just enough to make contact when it felt like it. Some sand paper and a new bolt fixed it right up.

 

[Matt Moore]

Check the keyswitch too. Sometimes the connections go bad in them.

 

[Mr. Wright]

X2 on the key. Ran into that before.

 

[Little-Boo]

X2 on the key. Ran into that before.

X3 sounds like the battery is good, could be that you ignition key switch is not work as it should. Turn the key on and wiggle the key, see if it goes off and on. :2thumbs:

Carlos

 

[Dawgboy]

Sounds like a key switch to me too

 

[lionelli]

Ok, I have been messing with the key and jiggling wires all day. Everything stays lit up and haven't had any problems with it. I will report back in the morning and see if it does it again.

I didn't get into the ignition yet so there could still be a loose wire there.

 

[bigdogtech01]

X5 on Ignition switch, Lol.
But, if it does it again, take your seat off and check to see if any lights are on, on the EHC or Ignition box. Wiggle the key if you have nothing, turn it back and forth a few times. Also wigle the wires around going to battery, going to EHC and see if anything comes on.
Have you ever had the wire harness off the EHC to make sure the rubber seals have been removed? If not, do so. Disconnect battery, remove the battery so it will be easier to get to wire harness. Remove both sides of harness going into EHC. Remove rubber seal out of the base of the connection of EHC and then put Dielectric grease onto connections of EHC. It's also possible you have something going on under the fuel tank. That year had some problems with chaffing under the fuel tank. If a wire is chaffed threw the insulation and is grounding itself against the fuel tank, it will cause the EHC to go into a falt mode, triggering one of the internal circuit breakers.
Let us know how you make out

 

[lionelli]

It's cool outside again so I went out to see if my bike had power. I turned the key to the on position and all hell broke loose. The horn was blaring, all the lights where flashing and the starter was cranking over. EHC issues? I love electrical problems

 

[stlmikie]

Was it hooked up to the charger?

 

[lionelli]

No. I turned it off and back on a few times and it's doing the same thing. Can the EHC do that or do I have a loose wire somewhere?

 

[bigdogtech01]

EHC can do this yes. I would still take time to check as I already stated above before you invest in another EHC or something else to take the place of.

 

[lionelli]

I missed your last post bigdogtech01, just went and read it. From what I recall when I put the dielectric grease on my EHC several months back, it does have a rubber seal. You say I should remove it and not put it back on, right? And I'll check out under the Gas Tank.

I did wiggle the key and wires at the battery and didn't notice a change. Also when I have no power at all I get no lights at the EHC either.

 

[lionelli]

Quick update

I took the gas tank off and the bike started acting normal again. Still looking for a bad wire. I did notice a brand new wire that was ran from my new speedo. I had it put on just a week ago and figured the problems weren't related. This new speedo has a fuse on it by the battery. The old one didn't. Looks like they had to route this new wire all through the bike and they did a terrible job (no cable ties and the wire is loose) . It could be that wire or they jacked something up when installing it. I'll keep looking.

 

[bigdogtech01]

Ugh, yeah..they might have messed up some of the wiring under the tank or maybe one of the connections is loose..?
Yes, Remove the rubber seal on both EHC connections.