| Possibly dumb battery question | |
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FishTown
| Subject: Possibly dumb battery question Wed Dec 05, 2012 2:42 am | |
| I just got my wrx. I've noticed the battery doesn't hold a charge well at all. I've had to push start it probably 5 or 6 times now. A couple of times I've left the bike on without the motor running, but not more than a minute or so. And sometimes it will start to turn over but just doesn't sound like there's enough power then the next time it just clicks like the battery is dead. Do I just need a new battery?
Sorry if this is a dumb question. I'm new to bikes. | |
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motokid Moderator
| Subject: Re: Possibly dumb battery question Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:29 am | |
| - FishTown wrote:
- I just got my wrx. I've noticed the battery doesn't hold a charge well at all. I've had to push start it probably 5 or 6 times now. A couple of times I've left the bike on without the motor running, but not more than a minute or so. And sometimes it will start to turn over but just doesn't sound like there's enough power then the next time it just clicks like the battery is dead. Do I just need a new battery?
Sorry if this is a dumb question. I'm new to bikes. How old is bike? How old is battery? Did you buy used or new? yes - sounds like you need new battery. At the very least check the connections and make sure they're tight. Motorcycle batteries die very easily if not taken very good care of. Get yourself a "battery tender" for times when bike will sit for more than a week or two with no use. Especially when temperatures dip below 40 degrees. I have a 2008 wr250x with original battery. I use a Battery Tender Jr. religiously. Got it on sale for less than 30 bucks from Cycle Gear. _________________ 2008 WR250X Gearing: 13t - 48t Power Commander 5 / PC-V Airbox Door Removed - Flapper glued - AIS removed FmF Q4 Bridgestone Battlax BT-003rs
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unoR
| Subject: Re: Possibly dumb battery question Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:50 pm | |
| ^ I'm with motokid on that one. Sounds like you need a new battery, I highly doubt theres anything wrong with your charging system.
This has happened to me before with my old cbr125's battery. I would have to charge it after every other day because it wasn't holding its charge. I found out by doing some tests with a multi-meter and I also contacted the previous owner about it and he didn't charge it the whole winter season cause his charger was on his new bike :(
The battery that is in my 08 wrx is the original battery and the previous owner took care of it very well, kept in warm place with battery tender.
I hope you find the solution to your problem, I know what your going through :(
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FishTown
| Subject: Re: Possibly dumb battery question Thu Dec 06, 2012 12:33 pm | |
| Okay. I went to autozone and got a new battery. It's the exact same size as the original but different markings and specs. Put it in, and it won't start the bike. It keeps turning over and then dies. Then sounds like its dead. Wrong battery? Completely different problem? Should I not go to autozone for bike stuff? | |
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motokid Moderator
| Subject: Re: Possibly dumb battery question Thu Dec 06, 2012 1:23 pm | |
| - FishTown wrote:
- Okay. I went to autozone and got a new battery. It's the exact same size as the original but different markings and specs. Put it in, and it won't start the bike. It keeps turning over and then dies. Then sounds like its dead. Wrong battery? Completely different problem? Should I not go to autozone for bike stuff?
Did autozone charge the battery for you? If you just pulled one off shelf and bought it, the "new" battery might need to be charged before use. What voltage rating is the "new" battery? _________________ 2008 WR250X Gearing: 13t - 48t Power Commander 5 / PC-V Airbox Door Removed - Flapper glued - AIS removed FmF Q4 Bridgestone Battlax BT-003rs
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FishTown
| Subject: Re: Possibly dumb battery question Thu Dec 06, 2012 1:59 pm | |
| - motokid wrote:
Did autozone charge the battery for you?
If you just pulled one off shelf and bought it, the "new" battery might need to be charged before use.
What voltage rating is the "new" battery?
They didn't charge the battery. The new battery is 12v and 80cca (cold cranking amps), the old battery didn't say anything about cca but instead said 6Ah/10 hours. | |
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FishTown
| Subject: Re: Possibly dumb battery question Thu Dec 06, 2012 2:01 pm | |
| Is there a good or bad battery out there? Or are they all pretty much the same (minus the acid vs gel difference)? | |
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dmmcd
| Subject: Re: Possibly dumb battery question Fri Dec 07, 2012 10:10 am | |
| I have a Shorai battery, which is just plain amazing. It is a LiFePo. No acid to mess with. They are costly (I paid $110), but it weighs less than 1 pound, and the bike never hesitates to start, even after sitting for a long time. A very worthwhile investment, in my opinion. | |
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Guest Guest
| Subject: Re: Possibly dumb battery question Tue Jan 15, 2013 6:30 pm | |
| - FishTown wrote:
- Is there a good or bad battery out there? Or are they all pretty much the same (minus the acid vs gel difference)?
Is it cranking very fast (normal) or slow? After charging the battery to be certain that is not the problem, I would suggest carefully removing, cleaning and re-installing the battery cables to make sure there are good connections not only at the battery but where the opposite ends of the battery cables connect. If one of the battery cables is corroded between where the crimp on cable end meets the wire strands, I would replace that cable before any more starting attempts. If it is NOT cranking very fast (normal), I would suggest doing all of the above before any more attempts at starting. Quite a few people have had their instrument (speedometer) cluster damaged from attempting to crank the bike with a low battery OR with bad (dirty and/or loose - usually loose) battery cable connections at either end of the cable(s). I am not saying to overtighten the battery cable bolts. They will strip without a whole lot of force. Instead, I check them a couple times a year to make sure they are properly tight. The failure mode of a damaged speedo cluster - if it happens - is obvious. The speedometer and odometer start reading at double or something like that. If the bike is cranking very fast but not fully starting, more info is needed. Did you buy the bike new or used? If new and under warranty, it should go to the dealer (with original battery back fully installed and give NO info that you worked on it) and get it fixed under warranty. If used: Was it running when you bought it? How was it first starting and running for you and what were the first symptoms of problems, did it develop over days, weeks months or a year, etc. Best of luck; hoping for a simple fix. Micke |
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miniceptor86
| Subject: Re: Possibly dumb battery question Tue Jan 15, 2013 9:00 pm | |
| X2 on Shorai, check MotoMummy, best price I found.
Jim | |
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novaks47
| Subject: Re: Possibly dumb battery question Wed Jan 16, 2013 4:41 pm | |
| If money is an issue, and you want a standard battery, just get a Yuasa. They're a bit pricey, but they're the best lead-acid batteries out there. However, the Shorai's shouldn't cost too much more, so that's always a good option as well.
As for a tender, I recommend an Optimate Tecmate 4. Best automated charger/tender out there for the money. That thing has revived two car batteries that I thought for sure where goners. | |
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miniceptor86
| Subject: Re: Possibly dumb battery question Wed Jan 16, 2013 4:52 pm | |
| If money is an issue Rocky mountain ATV has a close out on the WR250r/x battery, $23 and change.
Jim | |
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