battery and warranty?

[Chris G]

Hi All

I fink that my battery is on it way out [abs not engaging on the cooler morning starts], has anyone managed to get one out of the delaers while the bike is still under warranty?


Or am I mostly gonna be spening £70 on a hawker jobby

 

[wessie]

Optimate is your friend

My bike had similar symptoms as it has lengthy spells in my Abergavenny garage when I am in Cardiff.

Since plugging it into an Optimate during these periods I have not had the same problems. The battery is 3.5 years old so is not going to be in the peak of condition but I'm not going to have to replace it until next Spring at the earliest.

 

[andy white]

I agree with Wessie,

I have a Optimate charger, my battery is four this year and it works fine.

 

[Chris G]

thats just it, i have been using the optimate on a regular basis, it even gets to the point where I can plug the charger in, leave it over night, next morning fully charged up , wheel the bike outside where it can be left for a while so I can faff around getting ready, then by the time I start the bike I get the abs lights alternating

 

[Commuter]

Charging Problem?

Sound more like a charging problem, if the battery is showing full and then lights come on after then this sounds like your charge isn't getting through.

If I have read your explanation properly then I suggest that a BMW warranty issue happens soon as it could be more than a new battery.

HTH, Nick

 

[Captain Beaky]

Just checking, but do you thumb the starter straight after turning the ignition on?

I find that if I do this, then the ABS defaults all the time.

If I turn the ignition on and wait a few seconds, it rarely trips out.

 

[Jimb]

Either fit a voltmeter, Farnells do a very nice LED meter or if you have access to an AVO or digital multimeter the battery should be at 12.8v when at rest, it will charge at 12.8-13.5 volts when on the Optimate.
With the engine running at 2000 rpm the alternator should be charging at 14.0 volts, if all this is OK then you have a cell on its way out, replace the battery.
If its not charging at 13.8-14.0 volts then either the alternator or the rectifier is defective.

 

[Chris G]

I Checked the voltages with a multimeter, and it would appear that the battery is on its way out, so back to the original question- has anyone managed to get bmw to replace the battery while the bike is in warranty?