HELP - Battery problems following Autocom installation

[JonL]

Need some advice here (on an 1150 GS):

I bought an Autocom a few months ago and asked the bike shop (not BMW but good reputation) to install it. I picked the bike up at the end of the day and as I was riding home I noticed the fuel light was dimly on; being the end of the day (now closed) I decided I would take it back the next day. When I got home I tried out the Autocom and there was a background hiss.

In the morning the battery was dead . The shop came round and picked up the bike - I asked them by phone if they had wired the Autocom to the Auxiliary socket (NO) and when they checked with Autocom they then did this and charged the battery. Picked the bike up, rode for a few days, left the bike alone for a couple of days - battery dead again . In to the shop, drop tests - "battery is fine sir". Rode again for days, left it for a few days and battery dead .

I called BMW assist this time and after testing the battery it was dead as a Dodo. Could be coincidence - new battery.

Rode for a few weeks every day, left the bike alone for a week - battery dead (yesterday). Went into the shop and bought an Optimate III SP. Left it on overnight (yellow light, not orange, so not dead flat), checked the battery at 06:30 this morning - dead. Plugged in the Autocom (with ignition switched off) and Autocom working . Sniped the Autocom wire at its solder point to the Auxilary socket and charged again for a couple of hours - still dead but needed the bike. Jumped the battery, rode down motorway for 30 minutes, stopped for petrol - battery dead. Jumped off a car (nice bloke), rode for an hour, got home and STILL DEAD .

Battery is now back on the Optimate III but:

Does it sound like I have further problems? I will be taking the bike back in tomorrow (well they can pick it up) but what should I be aware of? Yesterday the mechanic tried to tell me the problem was my HID installation - load of bollocks - that was a straight forward installation (like for like wiring) and went in long before the Autocom did. They have cocked up and I want my electrics sorted.

 

[sidpick]

Sounds similar to mine, 04 1150, ended up - although I'd only just bought it - I had a duff battery. (Ta Steptoe!)

I've now got the autocom wired up through the fuse box (horn fuse) and....I don't want to jinx it but the bike's started first time everytime

I think the addition of HiD/HiD spots, GPS/Autocom all in a small space of time may have freaked the battery out

I'd rewire the autocom to the fuse box and get a new battery works a treat now!

Sid

 

[GSrich]

Just to let you know from the many 1000's of GS I have fitted I have never had any issues with our systems killing batteries as I always go to the correct power soruces.

The only time I hear of flat batteries is when people have not read our instructions and wired their systems directly to the battery.

So you need to find out where they have taken the power from to see why the source is killing the battery.

Rich

 

[JonL]

Rich,

Thanks, I was hoping you would reply. I don't know where they first took the power from (somewhere in the fuse box) but after calling Autocom they then moved it to the aux. socket and earthed to the frame. This still provided power to the Autocom even with the ignition in the OFF position! I thought that when the ignition was in the off position the aux. socket would only accept a charge and would not provide power.

I talked to them today and they are picking up the bike tomorrow. The boss says my new battery must be a dud and will replace it . He mentioned moving the Autocom power source to the battery with a switch in line - bit of a drag having to switch it on each time, not to mention unnecessary.

 

[rubberscrubber]

the Aux socket is on always and runs through a fuse, so having it connected there is the same as having it run direct from the battery..

 

[Womble]

Your garage really don't have a clue about electrics. I can understand them getting it wrong the first time, but to then call Autocom and get it wrong again is inexcusable . The accessory socket is always live on an 1150 - it's only the 1200 that does anything fancy to the socket when the ignition is turned off.

GSRich explained it all in this thread - Wiring Autocom to 1150GS

Hopefully your battery will have survived the experience, but it's now been deeply discharged twice, as a result of the inability of the workshop to correctly fit the intercom. The instructions for my Super Pro AVI state "Connect the red (Positive) wire to a recommended, switched ignition, fused supply, such as the positive feed to the tail lights, or rear brake light switch". Note, the instructions explicitly refer to a switched supply, so it's not like they have an excuse.

By the way, I dread to think what they have done that caused your fuel light to flicker - hopefully that's just coincidence I'm a bit worried about your new battery - leaving it with a load on it for a week is bad news, which may well be why it's not holding a charge any more. If the battery is knackered, I'd look to a contribution from them.

 

[Womble]

Just a thought - did you tell them to wire it to the accessory socket, or was it their idea? If you suggested it and potentially overrode any directions from Autocom, then you're on a sticky wicket regarding getting the cost of a replacement battery from them