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Cruiser
Posts: 175
Hinton, Iowa | Today I accidently left the key on my Vision on for about 25 minutes. When I went to start it
the battery was dead. Got it jump started, and the voltage gauge was only reading about 13 volts
at a fast ide and wouldn't go any higher. Has anyone else had issues with a bad battery or charging system.
I understand some of the early bikes had a recall on the voltage regulator but after checking with the dealer, he said my V.I.N. wasn't included in that recall. he thought maybe the battery was bad. because with the switch on, the voltage (bike not running) was only less than 12 volts.
So I guess my question is ; Has anyone else had this problem? Or is this one of the common problems that the Vision has?
Thanks in advance, Mike
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | Several bad batteries mentioned here. That's where I'd start. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I've noticed that the battery drains quickly on the Accessory mode or if you leave the light in the on position in the trunk, even thought it is suppose to be off when you close the lid. I've not checked out the battery, but I hope to replace with a more robust battery before winter starts. Your gauge might not show a good charge if you have a bad battery, but as SongFan mentioned there are serveral post running around on this issue.
Edited by varyder 2008-10-05 7:28 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 185
Nebraska | Mike, The first thing I would do is check the batt. connections. Then put it on the tender over night. If problem persists I would say you got a bad battery or a problem in the charging system. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| put it on a battery CHARGER for 24 hours, then keep it on a tender for a few days between use. Tenders will charge but it takes forever to get to full capacity. A charger will get it back up an then the tender can be used to maintain. Yes there is as much debate over this as there is over oil brand, but I have NEVER had to replace a battery. Take that as you will....... T
ps... don't use the bikes charging system to bring it back up, its too much work for it even though the Visions charging system is awesome. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 175
Hinton, Iowa | But with the battery being dead wouldn't it be charging at more than 13 volts? Thanks, Mike |
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Cruiser
Posts: 185
Nebraska | airguy - 2008-10-05 10:56 AM
But with the battery being dead wouldn't it be charging at more than 13 volts? Thanks, Mike
Yea I would think the voltage would come up. Unless there is a bad cell in the battery. I know low voltage is usually a bad diode or stator. |
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Tourer
Posts: 404
San Antonio, TX United States | The charging system should read a MAx of 13.8 to 14.8 Volts while charging. This is a reading taken with a reliable multimeter.
Please go to the link provided. I have also supplied this link in the Tech section of the forum. You can download a PDF copy of the service manual. There is a diagnostic section for the charging system.
http://www.mediafire.com/2008visioninfo |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | I rode home 30 minutes last night. Started right up this AM to go vote. Not enough power to start when I left pollin place. I have done lots of short trips and turned it off. This is the first time I had to walk home. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | cw1115 - 2008-11-04 8:11 AM
I rode home 30 minutes last night. Started right up this AM to go vote. Not enough power to start when I left pollin place. I have done lots of short trips and turned it off. This is the first time I had to walk home.
Check the battery first. I think that the charging system gets blamed when it is a bad battery. Mine has gone dead a few times because of that stinkin' trunk light and once because I played the radio for about 30minutes. I'm make sure I have good battery next go around, meaning, quality. I don't think they put a quality battery in this machine and that has caused these problems. Sorry to hear she made you walk, argh!  |
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New user
Posts: 2
| Good Morning!
I used to operate an Indian motorcycle dealership in the cold Northeast. I can still "see" and hear my Service Manager.....who was a definite die hard biker......constantly tell me that a) motorcycles.....are very small, and are not car batteries....and more importantly b) that motorcycles only "maintain" the 12 volts in the battery.......they don't "charge" the battery.
What he meant was that you can't drain a battery below the voltage needed to start the bike, and expect it to "charge" the battery back by idling it or fast idling it for a short time. It won't happen.
Many motorcycles that we saw.....were honestly NEVER properly FULLY charged prior to DELIVERY.
Put your bike on a good TRICKLE CHARGER....and FULLY CHARGE it. Then, don't leave it on ACC.
That's asking for trouble. If you're still concerned....buy one of EXIDE or YUASA's new sealed SUPER CRANK type batteries. Either that....or jump it.....and go for a 4 or 5 hour ride.
It'll be fine. Also, I didn't pay attention to where you live.....but I found out something the hard way. We moved from New England to Key West 5 years ago. We lived in our motorhome for the first year, trying things out. What we painfully found out was that even with SOLAR charging for the bus batteries......THE HEAT.....destroys batteries. I always thought that it was COLD that was hard on them. It's not. It's heat. Batteries just don't last as long down South or in hot climates....and they "go down" quicker as well. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | I suspect the battery if anything. I'm always above 12 volts at idle with the HID on. Goes 14 plus off idle. I jumped it and rode home the mile and a half. Put in on the 1 amp battery trender at home and it showed charged in less than 30 minutes. I normally keep th trunk light in the off position, but it was in auto mode today. Maybe it was on. I'll let you know what I figure out. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | Its been raining here since monday. I ride to work using mainly side streets. I noticed at idle, with the seat and grips on high, add the HID for visability and the voltage gage gets real close to 12. The heaters seem to cool down at idle also. But, keep the rpm's around 2k and I swear my backside started cooking. People think Im crazy. They have no idea, with the grips and seat on high and the right tunes on, its not that bad. Just for GP, I put the battery ternder on at night. Takes less than a 1/2 hour to bring it to full charge. The last leg of my trip home is highway miles. I think that helps keep the battery up.
Edited by cjnoho 2008-12-17 11:56 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
|  It always brings "deer in the headlights" look on people when I explain, don't you put your camera batteries in the freezer to make them last longer? Same is true for M/C batteries. The summer heat beats them up but the winter's cold bring out the bad in them through the extra drain.
If you go to a local NAPA store they should be able to test the battery under load. That is the best way I know of to find out if your battery is bad. Sorry Wal-Mart doesn't do this. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 212
Tavares, Fl | My bike just came back from the shop in Florida for the same reason. I had to jump it to get it there. I parked out front and the service writer said to pull it back and when I tried it was dead again, they had to push it back to the shop. He said they received a "WEDGE" for the ignition switch from Victory that they installed in the ignition switch. He said the contacts in the switch was loose and the Wedge cured that problem. I had to run to Ohio for the holidays so I haven't put many miles on it since the repair but I did notice afterwards the voltmeter seemed more steady at around 14 volts as before it would swing up and down from as low as 10 to as high as 16 volts when running on the highway. Anyone else heard of this repair????? |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 30
| As I wrote in the Dead Battery post....I had a similar oproblem...dead battery after leaving ignition switch on for only 5 min. Bike was only good for one start attempt even after what I would consider giving the battery a full charge...whether riding or battery charger. Tthe voltage gauge also fluctuated from 14+ to about 12.5 depending on RPM and how long I've been riding. Guage dropped dramically when brake light was activated...
After getting stuck a few times, and befor my warranty ran out I took the bike in to the shop...the tech told me my gauge cluster was causing a drain on the battery...
They replace the gauge cluster under warranty and also performed all three recalls...I had assumed the first one for the voltage regulator was done befor I purchased...not so!
The effect...voltage guage is a solid 14 + volts regardless of RPM...no more dead battery's (although I haven't ridden much lately...too wet in North Alabama!) and it seems to run better, but this may be due to the new stage 1 MAP. I also got a new gauge cluster that read 0000 miles..
The dealer here also told me the other Vision he sold about the same time I got mine has/had the same problem...
just something to consider.
SL
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Cruiser
Posts: 193
Buford, GA United States | A few months after I got mine I went to crank it and nothing happened. I jumped it of from the car and noticed that the trunk light was on. Ever since I make sure that the trunk light is not on auto and I have had no problems. I leave the stereo on while I wash the bike and I have never had any trouble cranking it when I am done. I am curious though, do most of you ride with the HID light off or on during the day. The only time I use it is at night as I don't know if it adds any more visibility during the day. |
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Tourer
Posts: 404
San Antonio, TX United States | A couple of answers. As for the HID light, i have never turned mine off since i started riding the bike. I would think if anyone was going to have trouble with batteries, i would be a likely candidate. I start my bike and let it idle a few minutes as i finish putting on my bloves and jacket and then drive the three miles to work and then in the evening i drive the three miles home. The only time i get to ride is on Sundays when i am trying to rack up at least 100 miles or more. I have never used a battery tender in the last 12 years on my bikes. I just ride the bike and keep the battery up.
As for the "wedge" under the ignition switch, that was from a safety recall released back around April 2, 2008 for almost all 2008 Visions. This was to correct a stalling issue, not a charging issue. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 193
Buford, GA United States | Well I rode today with the HID light on for about a 100 miles all during the daylight hours and twice I had cars flash their lights at me so I guess I am more visible with the light on. However, I didn't feel as comfortable with the light on though as I had to ride a couple of times with one finger in the air...Tis the season... |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | I rode all week with the HID on and seat and grips on high. No starting problems. I did have the battery replaced earlier, so out of curiosity I put the battery tender on just to see how low it is. Has never taken longer that 15 min. to bring it to full charge. When I did change the battery, since my dealer is a couple of hours away, I went to the local Honda store and got one for a Goldwing. Couldnt see riding to the dealer and him telling me there's nothing wrong. Havent had a problem since. Whether it needed it or not, replacing it was cheap "peace of mind". Doesnt matter if the old one was bad or not, the new one works great. |
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Bike not charging prperly