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Electrical Issue/Battery

B

bnme

New member
Have an RT that has given zero problems and last rode about six weeks ago. Put under cover with heater and kept about 55 to 60 degrees.
Went to start and all systems go it seemed and when hit the start button it did not turn over, needles went to full position around dial then back, main screen blank during that time, and then the ABS and Limp display message lights are on, not blinking, as well as the message ABS Fault.

Parking brake does not set and is not on. All lights work, blinkers work.
Mode switch works, and the message lights only come on after I try to start.
The manual does not state anything but either bad fuses, which I don't think is true, or to have it taken to dealer, which I will do as it is under warranty and Honda East in Maumee, Ohio has been pretty good so far for repairs whether just scheduled maint. or warranty recall etc.

I have not had the DPS done as parts were not available to this point.

Ideas? Low Battery?
I am not repair savvy on this machine and expect it's just one of the electrical glitch these are subject to, and others have had. Just thought it odd that it was perfect in all respects when put up for a few weeks, and when I went to ride it, this type of electrical issue.

Thanks for any tips from you past experiences.
 
I'm not an expert by any means but the first thing I would look at are the relays...then the battery connection to make sure they were tight.
 
I ride a lot, but know little about the maintance. However, I do put a Battery Tender on my scoots. I put a pigtail on the batteries and it takes about 10 seconds to hookup my Burgman 650 scooter or Gold Wing trike. (extra pigtails are In Wal-Mart automotive, along with Schumacher chargers at $20+/-)

I do not have my Spyder yet, but understand I can charge the battery through the 12v outlet in the RT-S trunk. I bought the plug that attaches to my Battery Tender and the first thing I will do when I get the Spyder home is to charge the battery 24 hours at 1.25 amps. I leave them pluged in most of the time. It makes the battery last longer.
 
hello george and thanks also.

what makes me so mad at myself on this is that I always have put the spyders (this is my second) under a tarp with heat but never had as long of a cold snowy streak where I did not ride so battery never got low. I'm certain it is the battery issue.
But what really ticks me off, is I forgot they put a battery tender on when I bought it as a favor (salesman is a friend and great mechanic) and I just forgot it was on there.

Well anyway, thanks to all that ride the spyders. Having never been a two wheel rider I'll never know the difference but the spyder has been great for our type of riding, and this site is top notch from the most mundane of issues (mine) to the very techinical.
 
bnme said:
hello george and thanks also.

what makes me so mad at myself on this is that I always have put the spyders (this is my second) under a tarp with heat but never had as long of a cold snowy streak where I did not ride so battery never got low. I'm certain it is the battery issue.
But what really ticks me off, is I forgot they put a battery tender on when I bought it as a favor (salesman is a friend and great mechanic) and I just forgot it was on there.

Anytime a battery sits, it looses some charge, not much, but over several weeks or a month or so it will go down....it may or may not start your vehicle. As you know, your WX is bad on batteries. The heat sure helps, but not like a battery maintainer. (not a charger) I put them on my wife's car and my truck...two or three days a month or more. I keep one on my riding mower and Kubota 24/7. It works for me.
Click to expand...
 
I do not have my Spyder yet, but understand I can charge the battery through the 12v outlet in the RT-S trunk. I bought the plug that attaches to my Battery Tender and the first thing I will do when I get the Spyder home is to charge the battery 24 hours at 1.25 amps.

George-
Correct on charging from the accessory outlet in the trunk! This is rxactly how I keep my battery topped off. I have one of those smart battery tenders and I keep the 12v plug on the end of it all the time. It's smart in that if while the end of it is just hanging around in the garage, if it shorts against anything metal, it backs down the current flow so nothing gets harmed. Plug it into the bike and it knows all things are good and it charges the bike, up to 1 amp, to 12.9vdc. Then, it goes into trickle harge mode.

Long way to say... YES, it will work on your RT
 
I know of, including my own, a total of 4 Spyder RT's that have had loose positive battery cables.(3 here in WA and one in CA) I was astounded when my friend said.."Check it" and it was barely finger tight. The negetive cable tightened about 3/4 turn also.
 
draboo said:
I know of, including my own, a total of 4 Spyder RT's that have had loose positive battery cables.(3 here in WA and one in CA) I was astounded when my friend said.."Check it" and it was barely finger tight. The negetive cable tightened about 3/4 turn also.
Click to expand...
Add one from MI...mine was the same. Would not take a full charge on the Accumate charger until I tightened the battery connections.
 
Last edited:
Phil said:
I do not have my Spyder yet, but understand I can charge the battery through the 12v outlet in the RT-S trunk. I bought the plug that attaches to my Battery Tender and the first thing I will do when I get the Spyder home is to charge the battery 24 hours at 1.25 amps.

George-
Correct on charging from the accessory outlet in the trunk! This is rxactly how I keep my battery topped off. I have one of those smart battery tenders and I keep the 12v plug on the end of it all the time. It's smart in that if while the end of it is just hanging around in the garage, if it shorts against anything metal, it backs down the current flow so nothing gets harmed. Plug it into the bike and it knows all things are good and it charges the bike, up to 1 amp, to 12.9vdc. Then, it goes into trickle harge mode.

Long way to say... YES, it will work on your RT
Click to expand...
I have battery tender also, where can I get one of the plugs you refer to?
Thanks!
 
Gentlemen, it ain't just the Spyder! I ride my Gold Wing several times a week and a lot on Saturdays. Several weeks ago I went in the barn, jumped on the wing, hit the starter and NOTHING! DEAD!

I checked the switches, fuses, etc....nothing. A buddy of mine came by (who is a good Wing wrench), walked over to my tool box, got a screwdriver, took off the battery panel, tightened the screws on the battery posts, hit the starter and away it went. I have had that battery in for two years, charging it 24/7, but never thought of tightening the screws.

He said, "I can not really explain it, but the screws work loose as you ride. Always check them first when you think you are having battery failure."
 
Ok I'm dumb where do yuo get a batery tender and how do you hook it up to two bikes at the same time?? If you can that is.
 
ThreeFeet said:
Ok I'm dumb where do yuo get a batery tender and how do you hook it up to two bikes at the same time?? If you can that is.
Click to expand...
You can buy the Battery Tender or equivalent motorcycle chargers at most cycle shops, or online. There is a multiple-vehicle model, but it is cheaper to buy two Battery Tender Jr. or even Battery Tender Plus models. Cheaper still to switch manually every few days...but I just use multiple chargers.
 
rineer4635 said:
I have battery tender also, where can I get one of the plugs you refer to?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Radioshack- http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3802148

My battery tender has a polarized plug so you can change out the clips, or other connectors. I took the one I would use least, cut off the end and spliced on the 12v accessory plug from Radio Shack. BE CAREFUL OF POLARITY! Can't stress that enough. End result is that it works perfectly.
 
NancysToy said:
You can buy the Battery Tender or equivalent motorcycle chargers at most cycle shops, or online. There is a multiple-vehicle model, but it is cheaper to buy two Battery Tender Jr. or even Battery Tender Plus models. Cheaper still to switch manually every few days...but I just use multiple chargers.
Click to expand...

100% correct Scotty. There are also potential issues if one battery went whacko and began what we electrical geeks call a current loop between the bikes. Just know that's not a good thing.

Here's a Battery Tender made for 4 batteries....
http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tende...PHUI/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1297636057&sr=8-8
NOTE--- it is $200!! A lot more than buying 2 simple ones that will do .75 to .9 amps.
 
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I have a couple of Battery Tenders and several Schumacher 1.25 amp maintainers from Wal-Mart @ $20 or less. (works the same for half the price) I use a seperate "tender" on each battery. I have several machines with batteries and use tenders on each one of them. I have eight "tenders" hooked up to various batteries as we speak. I unhook it when I use the machine and hook it back up when I park it. I personally would not hook two batteries to one tender unless built for that purpose.
 
Well the battery tender worked well and the RT started this morning so thanks to the help of Lamont and George.

I will check the terminals on the battery for loose connection also as the light on the tender has not changed to fully charged yet. Maybe 24 hours is not enough for full charge, but I was able to remove the tender and start the RT this morning.
It's back on the tender for now to see if it will change to full charge/trickle charge auto mode.

Took a nice little ride. Hard to be cold on the spyder unless really cold out. mid 30's when I rode with lined jacket and flannel lined pants. Comfortable for the few miles I rode.
Missed the spyder more than I thought since the last ride. Maybe more rides this week with temps in the 40's to maybe 50.
 
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