Rectifier

[Rbcmmn]

2009 BMW R1200GS Adv. broke down yesterday. Slowed down on motorway as if running out of petrol. Pulled over a lots of petrol. Couldn’t restart.

Breakdown guy came who happened to ride bikes himself. Tested battery for me both off and under load. Said it’s fine. He thinks it’s rectifier as once he’d restarted it batter was fine in testing and only replaced battery last year.

I could replace the rectifier but have 2 problems.

1. No idea where it’s located. Searched bike and can’t find it. Can anyone help please?
2. Can’t seem to locate a new one anywhere online. Any help please?

Thankyou in advance to anyone who replied


Rob

 

[sye]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.ukgser.com/technical/nick/Diagnosis%2520and%2520repair%2520of%2520charging%2520system%2520(R-series,%2520%2713%2520on)%2520V1.0.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwioxLbIr4eNAxWLTUEAHWpJGc0QFnoECCAQAQ&sqi=2&usg=AOvVaw0Gx3g9Cz8YvRiXKRHBiVAI

 

[Steptoe]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.ukgser.com/technical/nick/Diagnosis%2520and%2520repair%2520of%2520charging%2520system%2520(R-series,%2520%2713%2520on)%2520V1.0.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwioxLbIr4eNAxWLTUEAHWpJGc0QFnoECCAQAQ&sqi=2&usg=AOvVaw0Gx3g9Cz8YvRiXKRHBiVAI

That information if for a different model. He has the pre 2013 model with completely different alternator and set up .

 

[sye]

Oops, soz

 

[Mistacat]

The Rectifier is in the rear alternator casing.
I would get a second opinion before proceeding further.

 

[JJH]

Sounds like a fuel pump controller. Not too sure if that model suffered from that problem. But that’s the symptoms. JJH

 

[Rbcmmn]

2009 BMW R1200GS Adv. broke down yesterday. Slowed down on motorway as if running out of petrol. Pulled over a lots of petrol. Couldn’t restart.

Breakdown guy came who happened to ride bikes himself. Tested battery for me both off and under load. Said it’s fine. He thinks it’s rectifier as once he’d restarted it batter was fine in testing and only replaced battery last year.

I could replace the rectifier but have 2 problems.

1. No idea where it’s located. Searched bike and can’t find it. Can anyone help please?
2. Can’t seem to locate a new one anywhere online. Any help please?

Thankyou in advance to anyone who replied


Rob

Checked battery yesterday with multimeter and it dropped to 8.8 when starting so I now presume it’s the battery that’s no good. Must admit it’s been stood all through winter in garage so I now wonder if it simply needs needs a new battery. I’ll buy one and try it. Any advice on best battery? Should I go all out and get a lithium?

Cheers

 

[Rbcmmn]

Sounds like a fuel pump controller. Not too sure if that model suffered from that problem. But that’s the symptoms. JJH

Thanks JJH. Recharged battery. I only bought it in 2024. If it’s the fuel pump controller any idea how I replace/fix. Thanks Mate

Rob

 

[Rbcmmn]

Thanks JJH. Recharged battery. I only bought it in 2024. If it’s the fuel pump controller any idea how I replace/fix. Thanks Mate

Rob

Hiya. Googled this. It seems simple to do as I replaced the fuel strip a few years ago after that failed. I’ll buy a controller and replace it. Just noticed they’re £108 from Motorwors. Not cheap but after reading the responses I’m certain that this is the issue. It seems in other threads the controllers are a common failure.

Thanks for anyones help. Unless you know where to buy one cheaper.

Rob

 

[JJH]

HOLD ON. There’s other people on here that are much more qualified to diagnose this problem. Steotoe didn’t mention it. If you think that’s the problem do a bypass first. Motorworks are a great source of parts and knowledge. JJH

 

[JJH]

A simple way to eliminate the battery as a problem is to jump starting it. JJH

 

[Rbcmmn]

A simple way to eliminate the battery as a problem is to jump starting it. JJH

I’ll leave the battery on charge overnight. If I test it with a multimeter tomorrow and it still drops below 9 as it has done previously I would image them that it is the battery. I’ll post an update tomorrow

Rob

 

[JJH]

Is the charger any good? JJH

 

[Rbcmmn]

Is the charger any good? JJH

Yep it’s a good charger. Pretty new.

 

[JJH]

Right. JJH

 

[Deleted account 251024001]

Well worth getting it checked by someone before throwing parts at it. A faulty battery will normally stop the engine quite suddenly and then not restart even with a jump. Breakdown guys are not normally the best techs, there is a reason they become breakdown guys. If you list your problems I am sure people on here will be able to guide you.

 

[TLSgazza]

2009 BMW R1200GS Adv. broke down yesterday. Slowed down on motorway as if running out of petrol. Pulled over a lots of petrol. Couldn’t restart.

Breakdown guy came who happened to ride bikes himself. Tested battery for me both off and under load. Said it’s fine. He thinks it’s rectifier as once he’d restarted it batter was fine in testing and only replaced battery last year.

I could replace the rectifier but have 2 problems.

1. No idea where it’s located. Searched bike and can’t find it. Can anyone help please?
2. Can’t seem to locate a new one anywhere online. Any help please?

Thankyou in advance to anyone who replied


Rob

Just wondering what the breakdown guy did to get you restarted, did he just jump start it?
After this I presume you rode home?
Was the bike not turning over enough on the starter?
Or was it turning over and just not firing up?
A few more details might help to diagnose

 

[Rbcmmn]

Yep it’s a good charger. Pretty new

 

[Rbcmmn]

After the bike died on motorway I pulled over.

The bike would try to restart so it seemed there was enough in battery to turn it over. It simply wouldn’t fire up. After 3 or 4 times doing this it was simply making a loud clicking sound. I presumed I’d killed the battery by trying to restart too many times.

When he breakdown guy came. He use a battery pack connected to my battery to jump start it and it fired up fine.

This all made us think that there’s an electrical charging system fault rather than a fuelling fault. Hence I jumped to the conclusion it could be the rectifier failing

He gave me a lift hike on back of flat bed as I didn’t want to risk motorway. When I got home I tested battery with multimeter and could see when I started bike it dropped to 8.8 volts on starting. I’ve had bike battery in charge overnight.

Surely even a dead battery would not cause any engine to cut out when sunning as the charging system would generate enough power to keep things running. Everything I’ve read seems to say that ie generally once an engine is running the battery don’t do a lot. Hence my worry is still in this a rectifier or alternator issue.

Rob

 

[DrFarkoff]

Why would you think it was the "rectifier"?? The charge management is all done via a car type alternator and managed via PWM from the ECU

What actually happened ?? Driving along Dash and lights all showing ?

Engine goes into engine breaking mode? Dash stays on or turns off ?

Engine not running when you stop?

Will crank over ?? Sluggish? or as it did when you started the day ??
I think the recovery dude thinks its a standard Jap bike set up Stator rotor and rectifier regulator

Anyway I think you need one of these 16148523697 or to at least get a duff one and make up a bypass lead to carry with you It is likely to happen again!!

My first move would be to look in where the FPC sits in the fuel pump well left side front of the fuel tank assembly

Make sure that there are no nicks in the shaped seal (Marked with the star) and there is no water in the well below?

If there is dry it out and use silicone grease on the seal and connector and try as best you can to keep water out