Faulty charger or bike?????

[EddTheDuck]

Both are only a year old. Went to use the charger over the Xmas lay off only to find that the charger just lights the power light and error light. No checking sequence when it is turned on as per the booklet. Booklet also states this means that the connection to the poles are the wrong way round yet they have not been touched and she runs fine!!!!! Duff charger? Only been used about three times.

 

[Wapping]

You are a bit short on info.

(1) Is it a BumW charger? If not, what sort?

(2) Are you connecting it straight to the battery or via the BumW aux. power socket?

Are you sure it worked the first two / tree you times you used it? I guess the charger’s light went green?

The following link may help: http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90887&page=2

#29

 

[Tommo]

Booklet also states this means that the connection to the poles are the wrong way round yet they have not been touched and she runs fine!!!!! Duff charger? Only been used about three times.

Are you connecting the battery charger leads to the battery the correct way round as per the quote above is as i read it asking.

 

[gavin@iow]

If the bike has been used in all weathers, you might want to look for corrosion at the back of the aux socket, quite common. I'm assuming you're using the bmw charger through the socket.

 

[chasr]

Thank you for your email to BMW Customer Information.

The temperature of the battery is critical to the charging process. The
lower the temperature of the battery, the higher its internal resistance.
The battery would behave as if it were flat. The optimum temperature for
charging a battery is 25°C ± 2°C.

If the temperature falls below 5°C during the battery trickle charging
process, the charger deems the battery to be flat due to its high internal
resistance and attempts to charge it. However, the current does not increase
during the charging attempt, after 3 attempts to charge the battery, the
charger will then switch to error.

We would recommend that you move the vehicle or battery to a warmer
environment for at least 24 hours (temperature>10°C). It will now be
possible to charge the battery again. There is a new version of this
charger available which will not act in the same way, therefore, if you
purchase a more recent battery charger, you will not have to charge your
R1200GS in a warmer area.

 

[marcus]

"We recommend you move out of the UK to a warmer climate???"

So just ignore all the nice brochure shots of the bike in Peruvian mountain ranges, as they obviously had a heated truck to store the "adventure bike" in overnight....

 

[chasr]

"We recommend you move out of the UK to a warmer climate???"

So just ignore all the nice brochure shots of the bike in Peruvian mountain ranges, as they obviously had a heated truck to store the "adventure bike" in overnight....

Nice mis-quote.

And the email from BMW was about the charger, not the bike.

 

[marcus]

Nice mis-quote.

And the email from BMW was about the charger, not the bike.

I'm going through the same strife!


New battery fitted last week. Will see if bike starts tomorrow having been parked up for a few days

Also found that the optimate wasn't much use in cold climes.

 

[EddTheDuck]

Thanks for replies peeps, sorry for lack of detail. Using the BM charger and the aux power socket. Is kept in a fairly warm garage so don't see a temp' issue. Have noticed a drop in ability to turn the engine over since its gone cold though! Sure it worked previously so not sure woz on as we say down 'ere.
HAPPY NEW YEAR folks.

 

[GS TRV]

New year...same old stories

 

[marsellus wallace]

Ive had the same problem (BM charger)many times,in all temperatures.Tried every possible combination of switch bike on first,charger on first,ignition on/off etc.Also had a new battery charger under warranty and the new software.Charger still did not work.

In the end I have found that if you power the bike up,plug the charger in(if the ignition is on then you shouldn't see the error light).Now,LEAVE THE BIKE IGNITION ON FOR 10 MINUTES WITH THE CHARGER ON AND CHARGING,then switch the ignition off.Fingers crossed the bike should continue charging when the canbus shuts down and should not turn the aux socket off.

I think essentially the bm charger needs to 'talk' to the canbus and tell it not to shut the aux socket down however it needs about 10 minutes to do this.

I have tried this quite a few times now with my bike and it seems to be the solution.

 

[Greybeard]

...Also had a new battery charger under warranty and the new software...

...charger needs to 'talk' to the canbus and tell it not to shut the aux socket down however it needs about 10 minutes to do this.

I have tried this quite a few times now with my bike and it seems to be the solution.

Mmmm - interesting. I had similar problems - my 1200 failed to start this morning having been 'on charge' with a new BMW charger on loan from my local dealer from 20 December until today (while I was on holiday) and the green light on the charger showed 'fully charged'. The dealer reckons it may be the battery - maybe it will get replaced under warranty as yours was...

I used the same technique when putting the battery on charge except I never left it with the ignition on for as long as 10 minutes (it's not in the manual). When I get the bike back I will try this. Not sure if it might be something to do with the power drain from the 4 aux lights I fitted 2 months ago...!?!

 

[gavin@iow]

I used the same technique when putting the battery on charge except I never left it with the ignition on for as long as 10 minutes (it's not in the manual). When I get the bike back I will try this. Not sure if it might be something to do with the power drain from the 4 aux lights I fitted 2 months ago...!?!

These 1200's certainly are strange beasts, i bought mine new in 2004, and bought the specific charger at the same time. Initially, i used the sequence stated in the manual for charging, and it worked. Now, 2 years and 10,000 miles later, i decide to see what happens if i don't use the 'correct' sequence,.....nothing!!!, well, when i say nothing, i mean it still charges the battery as before, how do i know?. The bike is not used much in winter, after 4 days of inactivity, i plug the charger into the socket, and turn it on, i then remove the seat, put a meter across the battery, and observe charging status. I leave the charger attached, next day the green light suggests charging is complete, meter across battery, 12.48 volts, all ok, just to satisfy my doubts, i turn the charger off at the wall, disconnect from the bike, plug it back in and turn it on again, charger lights up, and with the meter across the battery, charging again!!!

 

[marsellus wallace]

These 1200's certainly are strange beasts, i bought mine new in 2004, and bought the specific charger at the same time. Initially, i used the sequence stated in the manual for charging, and it worked. Now, 2 years and 10,000 miles later, i decide to see what happens if i don't use the 'correct' sequence,.....nothing!!!, well, when i say nothing, i mean it still charges the battery as before, how do i know?. The bike is not used much in winter, after 4 days of inactivity, i plug the charger into the socket, and turn it on, i then remove the seat, put a meter across the battery, and observe charging status. I leave the charger attached, next day the green light suggests charging is complete, meter across battery, 12.48 volts, all ok, just to satisfy my doubts, i turn the charger off at the wall, disconnect from the bike, plug it back in and turn it on again, charger lights up, and with the meter across the battery, charging again!!!

I bought my bike brand new in september 05 and like you I bought the bmw charger.It worked perfectly for a few months until the bike went in for its first service and sofware update,and the charger has never worked the same since!!

 

[marsellus wallace]

Mmmm - interesting. I had similar problems - my 1200 failed to start this morning having been 'on charge' with a new BMW charger on loan from my local dealer from 20 December until today (while I was on holiday) and the green light on the charger showed 'fully charged'. The dealer reckons it may be the battery - maybe it will get replaced under warranty as yours was...

I used the same technique when putting the battery on charge except I never left it with the ignition on for as long as 10 minutes (it's not in the manual). When I get the bike back I will try this. Not sure if it might be something to do with the power drain from the 4 aux lights I fitted 2 months ago...!?!

Mine has never done that.It charges ok until the canbus shuts down and then the error light stays lit.

 

[wilbjr21]

Mine has never done that.It charges ok until the canbus shuts down and then the error light stays lit.

Do you have anything connected to the socket's wiring? ANY current being drawn either from an Autocom or similar soldered to the back of the socket OR the GPS being left on (if connected to the plug at the front of the tank) will cause the charger to error.

I've found the charger to be excellent and convenient - always connect up when I put the bike in the garage.

I've also found that as long as the charger is connected while the socket is still "live" there's no problem.

 

[marsellus wallace]

Do you have anything connected to the socket's wiring? ANY current being drawn either from an Autocom or similar soldered to the back of the socket OR the GPS being left on (if connected to the plug at the front of the tank) will cause the charger to error.

I've found the charger to be excellent and convenient - always connect up when I put the bike in the garage.

I've also found that as long as the charger is connected while the socket is still "live" there's no problem.

The only electrical extra the bike has is the bmw navigator2,which is switched off when connecting the charger.

 

[EddTheDuck]

Have spoken with the dealer and the parts guy has said there is an issue with the odd bike whereby for some unknown reason the canbus shuts down the socket completely and won't let it charge the battery through the socket He also said their way round this problem was fitting an extra relay in the syteme somewhere, didn't go into detail, to get over the problem. just waiting a call back tomorrow to see if I have to pay for this. Needless to say if they say yes I will be saying no f way, it's faulty and you admit it mate!!!!!!