akaDirtyHarold Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 HI all, been riding my new to me '99 viffer for a couple months now and my first issue has popped up unexpectedly. Rode into work this morning, and when I went to leave, it wouldn't start. No dash lights, no fuel pump, no CLOCK! *(Although the clock was on up until i turned the key) I checked the battery voltage, while the key was off it was at 12.5V - and the terminals were tight and corrosion free. All the fuses around the battery were in good condition, as well as the big connector near the toolbag. What i noticed was happening was, when I would turn the ignition key ON the bike seemed like it was dead, not even showing the clock. Then turning it back OFF, the clock would come back - reset at 0100. The big red dummy switch was in the correct position too!! Im thinking some wires are damaged in the key ignition cylinder??? But I feel that I would have had some intermittent issues before this. This is sudden and throwing me for quite a curveball..... Thanks a bunch for any help !!! -Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Cogswell Posted June 10, 2015 Member Contributer Share Posted June 10, 2015 First off, we need a photo to diagnose this problem, as without it your bike doesn't exist! Second, a voltage reading isn't sufficient to determine the battery's state. Have it load tested and replace if it fails. If it's good report back and go from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akaDirtyHarold Posted June 10, 2015 Author Share Posted June 10, 2015 Will do! PROOF!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Duc2V4 Posted June 10, 2015 Member Contributer Share Posted June 10, 2015 Will do! PROOF!! In that case Welcome Aboard! I'm sure we'll be able to help find the culprit. For starters though, maybe go over the wiring harness for any obvious issues, burnt or melted wires/connectors, frayed or lose wires, general signs of a wiring issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarantzManiac Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Do you have a battery tender? If not, I'd strongly suggest keeping one connected whenever you're not riding to keep battery juiced up and ready. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmythecop Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 I'm not saying it is defo the battery, but fully charged should be above that. But remember, before you can diagnose ANY electrical problem, you MUST have a known to be good battery to start off with. They can trick you with good looking voltage, but still not possess the oomph to start the bike or take a charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTB488 Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Have your voltmeter hooked up to the battery then turn the key on and see what it reads then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wera803 Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 I chased a problem like this for a couple of hours on my old GL1000 once. I learned that if everything else seems okay, it is probably the battery. Since then, I have had several batteries fail on me suddenly. It starts fine, I ride it for an hour or two, or all day, then all of the sudden it won't do anything. With a new to you bike and an unknown age of battery, I would just start by getting a new one. Then check out the charging system to be sure everything is working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Switchblade Posted June 11, 2015 Member Contributer Share Posted June 11, 2015 I chased a problem like this for a couple of hours on my old GL1000 once. I learned that if everything else seems okay, it is probably the battery. Since then, I have had several batteries fail on me suddenly. It starts fine, I ride it for an hour or two, or all day, then all of the sudden it won't do anything. With a new to you bike and an unknown age of battery, I would just start by getting a new one. Then check out the charging system to be sure everything is working. +1 Save yourself alot of trouble ... Roll On .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
number9 Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 I've sometimes used, good car batteries in place of a suspect bike battery for troubleshooting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewin2me Posted June 13, 2015 Share Posted June 13, 2015 Had the exact same problem with my '05. Took the battery in and had it tested, bad battery. Replaced it with a lithium ion from battery's plus. Sent from my QMV7B using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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