Battery draining problems with an '57' R1200GS

[Sidestroker]

Hope someone can help point to the cause of this one.

It started off with the Speedo and Odometer stopping working and at the same time (I think) the "Brakes Failure" and Red Triangle came on permanently, also the indicators failed to auto-cancel.

I was told that the most likely cause was the speed sensor on the back wheel. The wheel was very tight (discs on?) so I sprayed it all very liberally with Brake Cleaner. Wheel now turns properly but no improvement in the speed sensor.

Shortly after that the battery began to drain itself even though the bike was switched off and steering was locked. The BMW Emergency guy held an ammeter against it and it showed a drain of 0.2 amp.

Charged the battery and raced off to my 'local' dealership some 25 miles away. They have checked it over and say four sensors have failed (maybe including the main cpu). They are scratching their heads. The people in the know in Germany are on their Easter Hols, so no joy there either.

Has anyone had similar problems with a draining battery and can point me / them in the right direction?

Thanks, Dave, Leamington
PS it is a '56' registration not 57 as indicated!

 

[Bones]

I've had the 'Speedo and Odometer stopping working and at the same time the "Brakes Failure" and Red Triangle' problem loads of times. To remedy I just switch ignition off, push the front break lever forward (towards hand guard), this confirms that the lever isn't being fouled, switch on and try again. Occasionally I need to repeat this more than once. Never had the problem with the battery draining though.

Good luck

 

[pinkytiff]

I had the speedo & Odo stop, together with the brake fail & red triangle when I fitted a spoke wheel instead of alloys. It turned out that the replacement front wheel ABS ring had a different number of "slots", meaning the calibration was so far out that the sensor shut down and didn't send any data to the clocks. But, no clue with the battery draining.........

 

[Bigkid]

Battery Drain

Hi,

If I leave the bike for 3 days without using it, I have a flat battery, the only thing 'none' standard but still dealer fitted is the Zumo power direct to the battery.

First reported to Dealer under warranty and they said Battery is duff, so they replaced battery...still does it..

They have held an ammeter and it shows no drain at all when parked etc.

They have however, loaded the 2008 computer mapping and they suggest this may resolve it.

My symptoms are different to yours, I have every check passed, not even the low batt warning, but when I press the start button all I get is...click click..

Battery then goes on charge and within 8hrs starts no problem..

Just my experience.

Steve

 

[piebaps]

That sounds oh so familiar!

I had identical symptoms with my 05 bike. Turned out that the rear brake servo motor was sticking on. It wasn't applying any braking force but was draining the battery quicker than the alternator was producing juice. I would ride 25 miles and have a flat battery at the end!

Dealer first of all changed the battery but when that didn't work the rear brake servo was changed as was the final drive. It hasn't been a problem since.

 

[Sidestroker]

Thanks for the tip Bones, will try it when I next need to.

Cheers, Sidestroker

 

[Sidestroker]

Thanks Pinkytiff. It's funny you should mention a replacement wheel cus I had one a few months back. I wonder...

Cheers, Sidestroker

 

[Sidestroker]

Hi Bigkid,

I had similar problems on my RT.

Check out the electronics for the fuel pump. It's a small device under the near-side top panel (I think). The older ones let water in which would damage them. A diagnostics run should tell for sure, or look for particle traces inside the 'well'.

Cheers, Sidestroker

 

[Sidestroker]

Hi Piebaps!

It certainly is a serious drain, so much so that when I tried to recharge the battery 'in-situ' it was draining out faster than the Opti-mate could supply it. That, and the sticky rear wheel problem sort of convinces me.

Cheers, Sidestroker

 

[Sidestroker]

The Offending Article ....

... was the ABS pump. It seems to have caused the computer to go a bit haywire and record faults everywhere, which is what confused the repair tech boys. But once the pump was replaced everything cleared up. Fingers Crossed Many Times!