Dead Battery - shows 13v but blank screen & no start! Help?

[jma57]

Hello everyone,

A few days ago when I attempted to start the F3, the engine light came on(first time ever), and limp mode flashed across the display. At the same time the LED strips the PO had installed would light up and cycle nonstop, and I couldn't stop it with the remote. Weird, I thought, and I didn't know if the events were related and I did not engage the starter.

I switched off the trike and disconnected the LEDs from the battery, no more flashing lights. Then I started the trike with no issues, no engine light and no limp mode, rode for about 40 miles, parked it the garage, connected the trickle
charger like I always do, and forgot all about it, thinking one of those things...

Well, today I go to start it and it's a no go: the display is totally dead, nothing works and of course it won't start, bummer.
I'm thinking the battery died, it's original, so 7 years old. However it shows a tad over 13 volts and I thought that should be enough to at least light up the display, no??

I'm sure I'm missing something, all the fuses look good but I don't know if any of the relays have failed.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[2dogs]

Yep, at seven years, your battery is likely toast. You have probably reached its limit of usability, and it's time for a new one. Good luck.

 

[Peter Aawen]

I strongly suspect that your battery is DEAD, and the voltage you are seeing is simply a surface charge due to it just coming off the trickle charger. Put the meter on the battery and see what happens when & while you try to start/crank; I reckon you'll see the voltage plummet, and on these extremely power hungry Spyders, if the battery voltage drops below 12v while cranking, it's probably time for a new battery! :banghead:

So I reckon that's your answer here - it's time for a new battery!

If you're not getting a Lithium type replacement, but rather sticking with the original style AGM Motorcycle battery, make sure you get one that has AT LEAST 350 CCA & 21 A/h @ 6+ hrs - I can't help with the specs for the Lithium type replacements, but I'm sure someone else can.

And as always, you really should SEARCH FIRST before starting a new thread; and even now, Search is your friend if you want more info - this problem you're having, EXACTLY this problem that you're having, has been around since Spyders first hit the streets and there are already MANY threads here discussing it at length! :lecturef_smilie:

Just type 'Dead Battery' into the Search field up toward the top right of the page; tick the 'Search Titles Only' box in the drop-down list that'll appear; submit your Search; and use the titles to help choose which thread to read first - there's no difference between RT's & F3's as far as this is concerned - then once you've read up on it all, start looking for a new battery! :thumbup:

Just Sayin'