Harley Davidson Forums banner

Excessive battery drain

60K views 31 replies 18 participants last post by  Dan89flstc 
#1 ·
Help..... Bike is currently at Dealers for the 4th time with same problem.

After riding it home from a service the day before, putting her away in the garage, turning the ignition off and leaving her for the night, I returned to ride her the next day. The engine was cold, with the ignition in the 'off' position, as I'd left her. However, the alarm key light was on all the time (not flashing) and a noisy strange clicking sound was coming from the engine behind the air cooler. I went to start her and there wasn't enough juice to fire her up. I turned the ignition back off, removed the key and the alarm set properly with key light flashing. Charged the battery up before taking it back to the dealers.

This has happened 3 times before - the first time, the battery was replaced even though this wasn't faulty. Last time the rectifier was changed but I rode it home, only to find that the alarm didn't activate properly with the key light staying on and the strange clicking sound. I rode it back to the dealers the next day and thay said nothing was wrong!

Something is draining the battery and I can only think it's something to do with the ignition or the alarm. The dealer has no idea....does anyone on here?

Someone suggested it could be the fuel pump rleay and corroded fuses but the Dealer seems to have poo pooed that one.
:pull
 
See less See more
#2 ·
It definatly a relay clicking cause of low voltage charge your battery
then disconnect the negative lead from the battery put a test light from the negative battery cable to the negative battery post if it lights up you got a drain somewhere if you do leave the test light where it is and start pulling your fuses one at a time when you pull a fuse and the test light goes out that is the circut that has the drain..I hate alarms somtimes they are more trouble than what there worth...
 
#5 ·
Same type of problem

Here's the issue: 2005 Ultra Classic - no security system - all stock

On the 4th battery from dealer, they changed only the stater then rebuilt my radio, 3rd & 4th nothing wrong, put in a new battery.

Bike is under extended Warranty and they are saying SORRY we can't fix it! Then they said to get a trickle charger, but I can't don't have access to plug it in!

It discharges randomly, sometimes its 2 times in a week, sometimes 3 weeks it will stay charged.

Can anyone give me any ideas to give the "specialists" at HD on how to fix this problem? Thanks!

It's been a year of taking in it and not one of them has any ideas... and now I am getting sick and tired of this. :(
 
#6 ·
sounds like a stuck relay...also I have a battery tender that I plug my scoot into everytime I park it at home...keeps my battery at a full charge all the time so it lasts longer...but fix the relay thing...the random thing sounds like the relay sticks when it wants to...by the way , how old is the bike. ???
 
#8 ·
you could have an intermitant short(something like a pinched wire shorting out only when conditions are right). Lots of wiring on an Ultra....I'll talk to my buddy in the HD repair biz..he rides an 03 Ultra...maybe he knows something about it....have you added any extras on that draw juice ? my memory wire on my stereo that I put on will drain my battery over about a week without the battery tender hooked up....
 
#11 ·
thanx

There is nothing added, all stock. They rebuilt the radio at one visit....

I need to know what my rights are concerning the warranty, how do I get them to take the bike in and do the troubleshooting? I don't have time for it, and that's why I paid for a warranty, so I don't have to do this?
 
#9 ·
My buddy says put a full charge on your battery and check with volt meter..make a little chart to keep a log of your tests.....pull your left side cover off and pull one fuse only, writing on the chart what fuse you pulled....leave the fuse out over night and check the voltage at the battery. log your results....then reinstall that fuse and move to the next one and pull it logging down which one it is....wait overnight again and check battery voltage again...Keep doing this pattern till you get all the way through the fuses....you should find the source of your electrical discharge by doing this .....then after you find the culprit go talk to the HD boys and enlighten them as to where they need to look....It'll take a few days to do this but it very well might send you in the right direction...let me know how it goes...
 
#12 ·
Sometimes you gotta be smarter than the machine & the Hd boys aren't paid to be smart, just follow their procedure and bill it out by the preset hours for the job..anything past that and they just throw their hands up in defeat....I don't take my scoot to the dealer for anything.....it's an 05 and I do all my own wrenching and modifying....and when it's at a dealer, the boys there say, Oh wow, how did you do that ? no kiddin'....but I sure don't trust them with my ride....
 
#13 ·
Battery drain

That would be fine if I were a mechanic or inclined, I think they need to work through it until it's fixed, or send it back to the factory, where they supposedly have people who can either re-wire the bike. It's a matter of the Warranty now, so I will keep on calling and searching until I find an electrical HD mechanic who can fix it. I do appreciate all your input and help! :thumb
 
#31 ·
Battery drain

That would be fine if I were a mechanic or inclined, I think they need to work through it until it's fixed, or send it back to the factory, where they supposedly have people who can either re-wire the bike. It's a matter of the Warranty now, so I will keep on calling and searching until I find an electrical HD mechanic who can fix it. I do appreciate all your input and help! :thumb
You need to find the regional Harley rep. Don't blame you for not wanting to f with it. Make some calls there may ba a hd service bulletin no one ever read or were to lazy to look. Get the factory rep involved you may be surprised he wants your bike fixed, its bad PRESS! You are entitled for Warranty to be honored. Sometimes it goes good other times not. The battery drain test is time consuming but correct.
 
#14 ·
tell the dealer to do a static current draw test.
basically with the negative battery terminal removed. put a multimeeter in line to the battery. at this time you can see the exact milivolt draw of every electrical item on the bike. about 18-25 miliamps is normal on the bikes that i have seen. at that time start removing items from the posative side. any aftermarket wires first. tenders, amplifiers. accessory ports etc. then start removing fuses from factory fuse block. the last bike i had here from the dealer told the customer that the stereo was drawing 2 amps of power. i showed the dealer this test and proved the stereo was not drawing any power. then removed the factory ign fuse and showed them a 800 miliamp draw. they determined the cpu was intermittently not turning off??? replaced and battery never drained again. most mechanics do not know how to use a multimeter and it is the most important diagnostic tool around. a test light in line will light up on new bikes due to completion of a circuit. the stronger the circuit the brighter the light. a meeter tells you how much draw. a small draw is normal as i stated before.
 
#15 ·
Battery drain electrical

Hello friends, I think I have the same issue did you resolve yours?
I would like to see if I can get some help please. I have some electrical issues with my HD. I believe I have a battery drain. Just purchased a new 350 cold crank amps and after a proper initial charge, and run, the next day the battery did not have enough juice to turn over. My 84 FLHTC has the EVO motor, and while it runs and sounds like a dream, starting it has become a issue. Any ideas?
Thanks and ride safe
 
#16 ·
Hello friends, I think I have the same issue did you resolve yours?
I would like to see if I can get some help please. I have some electrical issues with my HD. I believe I have a battery drain. Just purchased a new 350 cold crank amps and after a proper initial charge, and run, the next day the battery did not have enough juice to turn over. My 84 FLHTC has the EVO motor, and while it runs and sounds like a dream, starting it has become a issue. Any ideas?
Thanks and ride safe
Test the stator and regulator output .
The testing procedures are outlined in the electrical section posts .
 
#19 ·
Keep me in your loop! Please! Same thing happens to my 08 ltra

My 08 ultra does same thing battery draws down to wont start over week or so. I also was riding and lost power, low voltage. Replaced stator and rotor, runs n drives, but still goes dead after a few days so leave on battery tender now at home. I have replaced the battery and the voltage regulator, saga continues. I checked draw on the 2 negative battery leads1.17mA and 1.12mA.
Any suggestions? Comments?
 
#28 ·
My suggestion is to obtain a multimeter and test the electrical system yourself, easy test for static battery drain. A quality digital multimeter can be had at most hardware stores for under $10 bucks.
If you want me to walk ya thru the test just ask.
 
#23 ·
It's inexcusable that a dealer says they can't fix it.
Contact Harley customer service in Milwaukee and explain the issue and dealer responses to them
MILWAUKEE (414) 343-4056
1-800-258-2464
If the dealer can't fix it Milwaukee should send a tech rep out to assist.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fuzzman71
#24 · (Edited)
What do you mean by unusually draining?

What are the clear signs that the battery is dying?

Tell us exactly what is happening.

It's inexcusable that a dealer says they can't fix it.
Contact Harley customer service
This is a resurrected thread, the guy who said the dealer couldn`t fix the problem is long gone...
 
#26 ·
Do a search for Battery Draw Test, I've written on this subject several times here at HDF over the years.
Battery volts drain down overnight indicates a circuit is still active after the ignition is turned off. A common function for bikes with radios and security systems. BUT there are limits as to how much draw is allowable.
 
#29 ·
The bike is under warranty, right?

Let the dealer solve the issue.

Just because the battery is good does not mean there is not some other issue causing the battery to go dead.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top