Dead Battery!

[andyclift]

Sorry if im being thick!!! this software change is it for all 1200GS's or just current? mines 05 so would i need to sort this.

Mine is an 05 and needed it but I understand that if it has been serviced this year it should have been done. Easy to check though. Just turn the key from locked to unlocked. If the LCD display panel stays blank it means it has been done.

 

[Wuz]

Cheers for that, il check. As you said, it should have been done.

 

[Wuz]

Ive just checked and suprise suprise it hasnt, the LCD display shows the time and millage, next job today is to contact BMW!!!

 

[Phil Clarke]

Hang on - I thought the reason the display lit up when you unlocked the steering was to tell you the time before you fired her up? As in it was a feature - so is this a fault then?
Mine does this and the battery has been fine for 30 months....
But my BM sat nav socket sometimes doesn't power down.

 

[GS-Stu]

Optimate is an even better friend. Allowing any battery to discharge fully will irreversibly damage the battery, so keep it on charge when in your garage.

I have had my bike connected to an Optimate since it was new (when not in use - of course) but my battery has only lasted 27 months. My local BMW delaer advised me that only an 'Optimate 3' is recommended for the GS12, and not the standard model which I've been using.

Yet more expense then......

 

[zerocool]

Having said that I then subsequently discovered my flat battery was due to the sat nav not powering down when was supposed to so I have two batteries...

How do you do that then???

What parts did you use? identical batteries??? Costs???

Ive been thinking about having twin batteries so I have more juice when out camping and parked up. Also would be nice to know I would have extended garage life too!

Any info appreciated!

BTW, I have a non ABS 1150GSA so im guessing there is plenty of space once I move my alarm a little.

 

[Wuz]

Interesting development regards software upgrade, contacted BMW explained the bike shows millage and time when unlocked but shouldnt if upgrades been done which he agreed, but the GS records show that aparently the upgrade was completed some time ago!!! This has left the sevice dept confused scratching there heads. So taking the bike in Thursday to be checked out, will update you on the outcome later in the week.

 

[GS-Stu]

Hi folks. Just went out to my (usually) trusty 1200 yesterday to find that the battery was knackered. The bike is only 27 months old and has been connected to an Optimate when not being used - so I'm surprised this has happened
I'm off to see my local BMW dealer this morning to see if they'll entertain a warranty claim, but don't think they'll be interested - given their usual attitude.

Also, does any one know where I can buy a replacement battery at a cost which doesn't involve me re-mortgaging my house? I'm annoyed to see how expensive the replacement batteries are - given that they're about the quarter of the size of a car battery!!

Also, is it worth going for the Odyssey battery over the standard spec one??

Thanks for your help guys, Stu.

Hiya, just so you all know.... my local BMW dealer has had confirmation that BMW will replace my duff battery under warranty - despite the fact that the warranty expired 3 months ago. I guess Odessey will have to wait a while longer to get their hands on my wonga!!!!!

 

[Geordie Steve]

Hmmm - software updates. Yet another example of how BMW myth and legend perpetuates, despite our best efforts on this site to keep everyone fully informed... !

Took my 05 1200 out for a spin the other day. It had been sitting in the garage untouched for a month (I know, the shame... ) but it was being trickle charged with the BM charger. It fired up first time, although the engine only turned over sluggishly. No problem, I thought, an hour or so of brisk riding will have it charged up fine.

After about an hour I stopped for my customary smoke/stare at the bike break. When I tried to start it up, I got the dreaded click. Thankfully, a second attempt somehow got it going (luckily the engine seemed to fire before it had even turned one full rev) so I buggered off home pronto, and nipped straight to Motorworks. I now have an Odyssey fitted.

BUT, (and now I'm getting to the point!) I did the test to see if the software had been updated, and sure enough the display lit up for a moment. I rang the dealer to see if there were any software changes I'd missed, which might account for the problems, but he checked and said I'd had all the available updates for my machine. However, he also mentioned (in passing!) that the battery is ONLY fully isolated if the ignition key is turned to the steering lock position. If the key is left in the Off position, the display will stay live and the battery will be drained. Since I lock mine in a garage and bolt it to the floor, I've never bothered to use the steering lock.

Now I'd never heard that before, either from a BM dealer or on this site. I'm fairly sure he'll be correct, as the lads at AJ's tend to know their stuff. In fact they probably mentioned it to me at some time in the past, but I was probably too busy staring at the lass behind the desk to concentrate.

Did anyone else know about this? Or did everyone else know about this??

 

[andyclift]

I did the test to see if the software had been updated, and sure enough the display lit up for a moment. I rang the dealer to see if there were any software changes I'd missed, which might account for the problems, but he checked and said I'd had all the available updates for my machine.

Steve, May be you should talk to your dealer again as there seems a half truth there somewhere.

When mine started to show signs of fast battery drain and phoned the dealer he immediately checked when my last service took place (Nov 06) and asked me to go to the bike, turn the key from lock to unlock and check the display. This I did (with cordless phone in hand) and as soon I told him the display showed date and mileage the answer was "bring it in, the software needs updating".

However, he also mentioned (in passing!) that the battery is ONLY fully isolated if the ignition key is turned to the steering lock position

I was told that although the display only lights up for a few seconds it is powered all the time with a quite heavy load. This ties in with your dealer telling you the display is powered when the bike is unlocked but not when locked but I am sure that many owners with garaged bikes, like me, don't lock it as it's a pain having to get the key if I need to move it around. It seems your dealer is aware of the problem but may not be aware that there is a solution.

The software change means that it is no longer powered when unlocked.

Following the software change (took about 5 minutes) the display is blank in unlock and the bike survives long spells in the garage OK.

 

[gavin@iow]

However, he also mentioned (in passing!) that the battery is ONLY fully isolated if the ignition key is turned to the steering lock position. If the key is left in the Off position, the display will stay live and the battery will be drained. Since I lock mine in a garage and bolt it to the floor, I've never bothered to use the steering lock.

Now I'd never heard that before, either from a BM dealer or on this site. I'm fairly sure he'll be correct, as the lads at AJ's tend to know their stuff. In fact they probably mentioned it to me at some time in the past, but I was probably too busy staring at the lass behind the desk to concentrate.

Did anyone else know about this? Or did everyone else know about this??

I'm sure i was told that by SPC (who?) when i picked mine up new in 2004!, so it can't be something new. Where ever/when ever i use the GS, if i stop anywhere i put the steering lock on.

 

[beemer54]

Your battery symptoms are quite similar to what I experienced on my 2003 LT: a fully charged battery suddenly did not crank a hot motor after more than an hours' driving. Lights working OK, ignition OK, servobrakes OK, jumpstart no problem. New battery and problem solved.

When it comes to ignition key in off or lock position the info from your dealer does not correspond to what I find on my GS. I did experience current leak from my battery some time ago and did some checks. I found that - on my 2007 1200GS at least - electrics were not shut down if I had a small current draw (about 10mA) in addition of the bike's normal 70mA about one minute after I switched off the ignition.
You can find the results I got here:
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119879

I also tried this with the ignition key at lock position. There was no change. If I had the same 10mA additional current draw, neither the socket nor the system was shut down.
When I switch off the ignition, the display shuts down after a few seconds. Switching between lock and off does not light it up.

 

[Bertie]

Following a flat battery situation two winters ago, I learned that the electrics only shut down completely if the steering lock is on. Previously, I'd used a separate lock in my garage without the steering lock, which is when it went flat after three weeks of not being used.

I've not had any problems since (although now I've written this......)

 

[alimey4u2]

Confirm size & polarity with Biggles but I am sure this is correct......

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WestCo-12V14-B-YTX14-BS-Sealed-Motorcycle-Battery_W0QQitemZ160161579392QQihZ006QQcategoryZ9946QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQtrksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem

 

[deaninkl]

What Bertie mentions above is very true, unless you put the key to the "Off" position, which means locked on the GS, then the electrics are not shut down completely and therefore slowly drain the battery, I've just had my battery replaced after only 7 months. I have no extras on the bike, so the clock and computer were draining the battery, I ride weekly and always long distances and live in the tropics so nothing to do with winter. Now I switch "off".... it is actually marked on the ignition switch, but is black plastic on black plastic... and very small.

 

[Paul Mac]

Yikes - these bikes are just badly designed lifestyle toys. RTW hahahahahhahaha now that is funny !!!

 

[andyclift]

I have no extras on the bike, so the clock and computer were draining the battery

,

That's the point of this thread. If the dealer knows what he is doing it can be changed so they Don't drain the battery.