Strange problem accessory socket anybody else had this?

[Ben]

I wonder if when BMW realised the GS battery wasn't up to the demands of stop-start riding with ABS that they sent out the new software upgrade....to minimise load on their battery..by limiting access to the external supplies except when the thing was absolutely 100%

This would seem to fit. And easliy explaining why there's a rash of these complaints during winter.

Better this than get sued by exveryone having crashes as a result of ABS failure.

Not a great solution, but typically teutonic/ pragmatic.

Ben

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

OT Odyssey battery for Guzzis

off topic, sorry.



i'm looking for one at the moment, PC925 is the hawker part number. motorworks price is £129

know anywhere cheaper?

Cookie, I've found the last invoice, details as follows:

Odyssey PC680 bought from Motomecca (tel 01202823453), part number 197045900D.
Bought May '03 £73.63 plus VAT - with postage the grand total inc VAT was £95.01

NB The Odyssey is half the size of the Guzzi battery and consequently needs packing out to fit the battery tray (T3 California) - I used polystyrene blocks cut to fit.

HTH
Andres

 

[Mouse]

Another update on batteries.

Cheshire Batteries (very helpful chaps) have informed me that there is actually no such thing as a PC535GS. It's actually something made up by another retailer but all they have done is to change the terminals on a standard PC535. So how that makes it fit into the smaller battery compartment of the bike I have no idea.

It may be that a PC535 will actually fit in an R1200GS, I'm going to take my bike to Cheshire Batteries next week and find out. I shall report back here

 

[Pukmeister]

Going back to the earlier software argument, I have been riding to work all week whilst using Autocom to hear my Mp3's en-route and have experienced no problems with it cutting out anymore.

Could the software be set to a 'learning mode' or something like that the first time it is used after the update, to sense current draw on the bike or something and react, as it only cut out the once since the software update and is now back as it should be (touch wood)?

 

[Brian ROSEN]

It seems to me quite obvious (!) that on these new machines the battery MUST be in tip top condition. The use of the ABS, I know, takes a lot of current because my main beam gets dimmer when I brake. I have had eight BMW's and have to say that the batteries on all have been 'marginal.' Now, as well as ABS we have added heated grips, waistcoats etc.
I connect my 'optimate' direct to the terminals and it switches off after less than an hour and then the voltage is over 13 so my battery ( now 17 months old) seems to be OK. I don't believe that a GPS takes very much current so it is unlikely to be the cause of all these cutting out problems. I will stick to map reading for a little longer - until someone has sorted this one out!

 

[Mouse]

The use of the ABS, I know, takes a lot of current because my main beam gets dimmer when I brake.

To be pedantic, that's the servos and not the ABS. And I don't think I've ever owned a bike that didn't do that to some degree - the voltage drop from simply powering the brake light seems to make the headlight dim noticably. And almost every time you use the brakes, the engine is not running fast, so the alternator won't be supply full capacity.

Anyway I've fitted a Hawker Odyssey battery to my GS (see other thread) and to date the power socket problem has not occurred. However I won't pronounce this the cure until it's been working consistently for a week at least.

 

[Trip]

I've now got the same problem with the accessory socket power cutting off for a few minutes, then coming back on, then off and so on.

Did the new battery solve the problem mouse? Any other solutions?

Trip

 

[Mouse]

Sadly no, the new battery didn't completely cure the problem.

As Ianm00 and myself have postulated in another thread, the problem, although its root cause is almost certainly a software bug, is triggered by low battery voltage, it seems. So a freshly charged battery in good condition does help, but is not the cure.

The only advice I can offer for now is: Get a new battery under warranty anyway if you can. Start the bike with accessories turned off, and as soon as it starts, blip the throttle a bit to get the voltage up. Then turn the accessories on. This is totally unscientific but it does seem to help.

My dealer has stated that they think the problem is in software too, so there's not much that can be done until BMW issue a fix.

 

[Trip]

Thanks mouse. Which dealer are you speaking to about this?

Trip

 

[Mouse]

Southport Superbikes, their service staff have been excellent whenever I've needed anything for my GS.

 

[ratboy]

Autocom cutting out

Hi, I've just found this thread and have been having the same problem with my Autocom cutting in and out. As there does not seem to be a fix at the moment is it possible to take the feed for the Autocom fom somewhere else on the bike. Does anyone know?

 

[Yoda]

You can take a relay trigger from the green/blue wire at the back of the diagnostic socket.

However, when mine was in the dealers for a service they re-wired it to the accessory circuit as it confused their diagnostic komputer.

 

[Trip]

One suggestion I've heard involves taking a feed off the tail light or sidelight which seems sensible. Another option is presumably to wire direct to the battery. I'm pretty sure the autocom powers down when the helmet is not attached.

Any comments?

Trip

 

[Wapping]

Hi, I've just found this thread and have been having the same problem with my Autocom cutting in and out. As there does not seem to be a fix at the moment is it possible to take the feed for the Autocom fom somewhere else on the bike. Does anyone know?

I had a cutting out problem when I first installed my Autocom, with a voice feed from a GPS device. The Autocom was wired directly to the battery, plus a Panasonic bike-to-bike walky-talky. The Autocom was positioned where the handbook normally sits.

It was intermitent and very annoying. The GPS device was fine (fed off the dedicated spur on the GS1200) so the fault lay with the Autocom device itself or the wires / plugs / sockets. Striped the whole lot out and tried it all on another motorcycle, no problem.

I then removed the GS's tool tray insert and bundled the Autocom and the walky-talky into the space. 100% result. No more intermittent fault. Just to satisfy myself I moved it all back to where it was, the intermittent fault returned. I then moved it all back to the tool tray and no intermitent fault manifested itself. It has been there ever since without a problem (12,000 miles). It gets sprayed with muddy water, grit and all sorts of road grime. Seems to have no effect at all.

 

[North]

My 276C will not run off either my 2 power sockets.

Both have power to them and both will run my heated vest.

I had to connect my GPS to the battery.

 

[ratboy]

Just back from a ride into London with the Autocom cutting in and out all the time, very annoying when you have a blue tooth attached as you get a loud noise each time it comes back on.

As I was passing BMW Park Lane I decided to pop in and ask them.

Very unhelpful advice that went along the lines of 'It's an Autocom problem as our socket is only designed to work with BMW accessories'

Will try North Oxford BMW where the bike came from

Could Wapping let me know where his was before he moved it please

 

[Mouse]

Very unhelpful advice that went along the lines of 'It's an Autocom problem as our socket is only designed to work with BMW accessories'

Clearly the socket supplies BMW volts, which are incompatible with normal volts! Damn those cunning Germans.

 

[Pukmeister]

Clearly the socket supplies BMW volts, which are incompatible with normal volts! Damn those cunning Germans.

No doubt those clever Germans at Tourawhatsit will market a converter to adapt German volts to everyone elses, at a price of course !!!

 

[Trip]

Clearly the socket supplies BMW volts, which are incompatible with normal volts!

Yes, with normal volts there's a potential drop across the contacts whereas with BMW volts there's an actual drop.

Trip

 

[Yoda]

Clearly the socket supplies BMW volts, which are incompatible with normal volts! Damn those cunning Germans.

And long may it continue. We don't want any of those Euro-Volts getting into the gene pool with our traditional UK volts.

No doubt it's all part of Das GrossenPlann to ensure that our lads won't be able to shave and look smartly turned out at the forthcoming World Cup footie thingy.

But their plan will backfire as Rooney isn't yet old enough to shave, and the rest of them seem to turn out on the pitch with a three-day George Michael stubble.