anyone else got a charging problem

[Austin]

one of the benefits of the Honda heated grips is the LEDs in the switch also tell you about the state of your battery and charging system. I had a problem about a year ago with the grip LEDs constantly flashing, ie telling me there wasn't enough charge to heat the grips. At the time I thought it was a fault in the switch or the grips but Blackpool Honda first replaced the battery and then the regulator/rectifier under warranty. Great, everything back to how it should be.

Trouble is its all coming back again - LEDs flashing when the grips whould be on and that warning single LED flash with just the ignition on (less than 12.5volts). Either the battery has gone, or the R/R has gone, or there is a more fundamental problem with the charging circuit that's causing one or both of those to have a short life. It'll be back to Blackpool Honda again next week as it is still under warranty.

[Boris]

Are these oxford grips? If so the ones with the temp buttons to the right side of the controller did cry wolf a bit. It could also be a poor connection to the grips causing a problem.

Best bet would be to put a meter across the battery and check the charging voltage.

The Reg could go again especially if they haven't cleaned the crud off the frame before bolting it in place as it does act as a heat sync.

Basically if you are unsure get it in to the dealer under warranty. You have paid for it so you might as well use it.

[DiverChris]

Hi Austin,

Looks like this is happening to me too, I have a 2008 XL1000 ABS and the battery looks like it wont hold it's charge via the bike or a charger.

Did you get anywhere with your dealer? As it looks like I'll be contacting mine tomorrow.

Regards
Chris.

[Austin]

I am getting a new battery and reg/rec fitted on friday - for the second time. It does feel like there is another problem elsewhere which is causing these 2 items to fail, but honda don't seem interested in investigating any further

[DiverChris]

Thanks Austin,

Mine think it's just the battery and that a battery is not a warranty item (bike is a year old today), so bye bye £60+ pounds.

Hopefully the new battery will solve my prob.

Regards
Chris.

[Austin]

Thanks Austin,

Mine think it's just the battery and that a battery is not a warranty item (bike is a year old today), so bye bye £60+ pounds.

Hopefully the new battery will solve my prob.

Regards
Chris.

It bloody well should be a warranty item - if you do buy a new one from Honda (in my experience nearly as cheap as anywhere else) it will come with a 2 year warranty itself, so I don't see why the original battery shouldn't have the same warranty. I'd get back on the phone and embarass them into giving you one.

[alanvendy]

hi guys
i've not had any charging problems with a varadero (mines only a baby anyway) but i do know that any electrical heaters consume a lot of current & bike charging cicuits generally cope with their own life support and not much else. if you're riding with lights on & heated grips working you may find there is little left for the battery charging !! just a thought try using one at a time.

regards alan

[Austin]

update.... Blackpool Honda have replaced the battery and Reg/Rec under warranty but it hasn't changed anything - the heated grips won't even come on at all now and the low voltage warning in the switch flickers all the time even at higher revs. They are hanging onto the bike for a few days to try and find the problem - they reckon it'll be a bad earth or poor connection somewhere. Meanwhile I have got a CB600F on loan .

[DiverChris]

My update..... New battery collected on Thursday night from 21st Moto Swanley, Kent (told by them batteries are not covered under the warranty). Charged it over night, fitted on Friday morning, bike started fine, and again on Friday afternoon, will test over the weekend.......

Regards
Chris.

[Austin]

update........after 1 week of investigation during which the Service manager rather worryingly told me "the bike is completely stripped down" they have called to say it is the "stator generator..... and the cost is £500plus fitting......(long long pause during which I said nothing)......oh, its warranty isn't it" To bloody right it is. The only new/spare generator in Europe is in Spain and will take 1-2 weeks to be delivered. Which involves another trip to the dealers, a loan bike etc etc. I asked if they could borrow one from one their new bikes in the showroom - which was met with a "do not compute" type of reply and even can you can you take one off a 2nd hand bike seemed too hard for them. Ho hum.

Also looks like I will be taking the Transalp on the Longest Day now as I don't want to find the generator finally gives up the ghost in the middle of that.