battery problem

[steversssss]

Ok, I was playing music with the Spyder off (accessories on)... Battery died...I hooked up the charger but I have to leave the key in the on position because if I take it out, the parking alarm goes off. Before the battery died completely, I took the brake off so I can push it into the garage. Is this a flaw? If it does on the road, you can't put it in park or take the key out without the alarm going off.

 

[Highwayman2013]

Ok, I was playing music with the Spyder off (accessories on)... Battery died...I hooked up the charger but I have to leave the key in the on position because if I take it out, the parking alarm goes off. Before the battery died completely, I took the brake off so I can push it into the garage. Is this a flaw? If it does on the road, you can't put it in park or take the key out without the alarm going off.

It shold only beep for 20 or 30 seconds when you turn the key off with the brake released.

 

[steversssss]

Thanks...got the key out. Battery tender says it's charged but I get nothing. Screen doesn't come on...uh oh.

 

[ARtraveler]

Thanks...got the key out. Battery tender says it's charged but I get nothing. Screen doesn't come on...uh oh.

It's possible you need a battery charger rather than the battery tender. It is my understanding the tender will maintain whatever charge is in the battery, but will not charge it further. The charger will put the juice back into the battery.

 

[JayBros]

It's possible you need a battery charger rather than the battery tender. It is my understanding the tender will maintain whatever charge is in the battery, but will not charge it further. The charger will put the juice back into the battery.

:agree: If you killed it a tender won't charge it.

 

[steversssss]

I hope that's all I messed up.

 

[Highwayman2013]

Thanks...got the key out. Battery tender says it's charged but I get nothing. Screen doesn't come on...uh oh.

You may have to charge it on a regular charger and have it load tested, the maintainers aren't meant to bring them up from dead.

 

[Chupaca]

Depends..!

not knowing year and model its hard to say. You have been active here since sep 2014 if that wasxthe same time you got your spyder it is really soon for the battery to go bad. If your tender is hooked through the power outlet, is switch on power or constant..?? Simply playing the radio on a fully charged battery should not kill it. As stated tenders can not charge a dead battery you need a charger or jump start the roadster and charge it with the engine (long nonstop ryde). Could be other issues depending on farkles add on and mods consuming electrical current...:dontknow:

 

[NoLmtz]

I just replaced a weak / dead battery today. I called the dealership and they say the batteries should last 1 yr with a max of about 3 yrs.

I bought a battery tender and tried to recessitate the battery for 2.5 hrs and then the dealer told me that a tender will help prolong a new battery but won't help a dead one. So $130 later I have a new battery that I know will work! There is a sense of security in that vs trying to band-aid a dying one.

I was initially upset because I've only had my spyder for 10 months but then thought through it and realized the battery has probably been in the spyder for close to 1.5+ yrs. I bought a 2013 closeout in 2014.

I also was surprised at that motorcycle batteries are not like car batteries in that they only carry a 90 day warranty. No proration.

 

[ARtraveler]

I just replaced a weak / dead battery today. I called the dealership and they say the batteries should last 1 yr with a max of about 3 yrs.

I bought a battery tender and tried to recessitate the battery for 2.5 hrs and then the dealer told me that a tender will help prolong a new battery but won't help a dead one. So $130 later I have a new battery that I know will work! There is a sense of security in that vs trying to band-aid a dying one.

I was initially upset because I've only had my spyder for 10 months but then thought through it and realized the battery has probably been in the spyder for close to 1.5+ yrs. I bought a 2013 closeout in 2014.

I also was surprised at that motorcycle batteries are not like car batteries in that they only carry a 90 day warranty. No proration.

RE: Battery life. I had the OEM battery in my 2010 RTS when it was traded off a year ago (Apr 14). It was still working fine. Kept on a battery tender during the Oct-Mar winter sleep. Had I not traded off, I would have replaced the battery last year--just in case, and I did not want it to fink out on me in the middle of nowhere. Same situation coming up this year on our 2011. Not trading in for a new :spyder2: so it looks like we are in for a new battery this go around.

 

[steversssss]

Hmmmm, battery should last a yr? I never heard of such a thing. Out of all the bikes I have had, only replaced one battery.
I have the 2014 model. Only new farkle I have is a gopro. When it died on me, I would say the music was running maybe half an hour.

 

[Gray Ghost]

The biggest killer for motorcycle batteries is the prep done to the battery before it started the bike for the first time. Not sure what the prep time is supposed to be on Spyder batteries just out of the crate, but the buyer and sales personnel can be a big part of the problem. If you go in to buy a new one that has not been made "hot" and want it right now the pressure is on the service personnel to get it out the door as quickly as possible.

If you are replacing a battery yourself, take the time to properly prep the battery before installing it and cranking the bike. If you are taking care of your battery, using a tender or float charger if it will be sitting, etc., then the battery should last you quite awhile.

 

[finless]

My original battery on my 2011 RTS lasted 4 years. AND I was a little hard on it by running the radio a lot.
When you have it in ACC mode playing the radio (lights are off), the spyder should shut down the radio when the battery gets too low. Mine does. It keeps you from running the battery too low so it wont start.

I could have gone longer on my battery but like some said above, did not want to risk getting stranded. It was still working but would not stay charged as long as it use to. e.g. you would kill the motor and leave the key on and the battery voltage would drop much faster. So it was starting to show it's age.

Bob

 

[cognaccruiser]

It's possible you need a battery charger rather than the battery tender. It is my understanding the tender will maintain whatever charge is in the battery, but will not charge it further. The charger will put the juice back into the battery.

This is correct.

Gary

 

[LEEB]

Charging with Tender

This is correct.

Gary

Mine must be the exception then. Several years ago on my Harley bagger, I parked the bike in the garage and left the radio on. I found out 3 days later when I went to take a ride. It was totally dead. So I put it on the Battery Tender for 24 hrs. and the battery recharged. Used that same battery until I sold the bike two years later, when the bike and battery were 5 years old. Recharged my wife's PT Cruiser battery the same way one time. It worked also.

 

[steversssss]

Update....left the tender on over night and thru the workday. Came home with every intention of getting a charger. For my own urging, Sat on the bike, turned the key and it started right up. Took off for a short ride with no issues. Wasn't sure it would start because the tender only read "charging". Last night when I tried, I got nothing when trying to start, and the tender read "charged". Maybe I will just get a new battery anyway.

 

[ARtraveler]

Update....left the tender on over night and thru the workday. Came home with every intention of getting a charger. For my own urging, Sat on the bike, turned the key and it started right up. Took off for a short ride with no issues. Wasn't sure it would start because the tender only read "charging". Last night when I tried, I got nothing when trying to start, and the tender read "charged". Maybe I will just get a new battery anyway.

Now that you have the :spyder2: running, go for at least a half hour to an hour ride to get things charged fully--then--you should be good to go.

 

[bikeguy]

I'm not going to say that a battery tender will recharge a battery that is totally dead, that is reads 0.0 volts on a voltmeter, not sure anything will. But a battery tender will recharge one that is very nearly completely dead, it just takes a while. A charger will do it much faster. The 2.5 hours that NoLmtz mentioned isn't nearly long enough to bring a near dead battery up to full charge using a battery tender. 24 hours is more like it but even that may not restore a very low battery. I would leave a battery tender on it for at least 72 hours before giving up. As someone else mentioned, the initial prep on a battery has a lot to do with it's life span. Batteries should be completely charged before use. This pretty much had to be done with dry shipped batteries in the past but isn't done as much with the Gel and AGM batteries we are using now.

Cotton