Dead Battery?
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 52
Likes: 13
From: SC
I had this issue with my 18 Heritage just after I bought it. I believe I was able to track it down on this forum but can't find the post again. There is a fix if you can get the dealer to verify the issue. I can give a brief run down of it here and how to duplicate it from my research on my own bike. If the bike is put in transport mode for any length of time, I left it in that mode for as little as 10 minutes during my testing to get it to fail. The bike will do just what it says, you can carry it on a trailer and all is well for as long as it stays in transport mode. The issue starts when you return it to normal service again. The bike will then begin discharging the battery at an increased rate. I would go from a fully charged battery to a battery reading less than 6 volts in a couple of days. You can verify the issue yourself quite easily. Put the bike in transport mode for a few minutes, then take it out of that mode and let it sit. Check the battery voltage (I used the tender lead) and record the measurement ( hopefully somewhere around 12.6V ). On my bike, 18 Heritage 114, after 24 hours, the voltage would be down to 11.1V. After 2 days, it was almost always below 10. Now, here's the tricky part, when the battery is disconnected, it will reset the system back to normal and all is well until transport mode is reactivated. This includes the battery voltage falling too far and you recharging it in the bike, disconnecting the battery to charge it, or removing the main fuse of the bike. If you keep your bike on a tender, you may never notice this issue until you leave your tender behind for a trip and it doesn't start when you're out of town.
It was very hard to convince my dealer of this issue. I took it there several times and they looked at me like I was crazy. I wont accept being told that a battery on a modern automobile of any kind will only last 3 days without being charged. I think that is just b/s and I haven't looked specifically for that but I doubt that is stated on any official HD document. To prove it to the dealer, I basically charged the bike, put it in transport mode, started the bike, drove it to the dealer and told them to let it sit as is for 24 hours and then tell me the battery isn't draining. I shouldn't have to go through all this all the time with HD but it this was just the first of many. Of course, just as I had duplicated in my garage many times before, the battery was way down and then they took me seriously. Now to the thing everyone wants to know, what's the fix. Turns out, there is a firmware update for the speedometer that fixes this issue. I was told something to do with the alarm system and that is driven from the speedo. Good luck and I hope this helps
It was very hard to convince my dealer of this issue. I took it there several times and they looked at me like I was crazy. I wont accept being told that a battery on a modern automobile of any kind will only last 3 days without being charged. I think that is just b/s and I haven't looked specifically for that but I doubt that is stated on any official HD document. To prove it to the dealer, I basically charged the bike, put it in transport mode, started the bike, drove it to the dealer and told them to let it sit as is for 24 hours and then tell me the battery isn't draining. I shouldn't have to go through all this all the time with HD but it this was just the first of many. Of course, just as I had duplicated in my garage many times before, the battery was way down and then they took me seriously. Now to the thing everyone wants to know, what's the fix. Turns out, there is a firmware update for the speedometer that fixes this issue. I was told something to do with the alarm system and that is driven from the speedo. Good luck and I hope this helps
Last edited by trainedmnky; May 8, 2019 at 04:42 PM. Reason: spelling is hard
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 762
Likes: 264
From: Timnath, CO.
Thanks a lot for all the info. I will know shortly. I have it in transport mode now as I am on my way home. I will check it out when I get home. It would have had to have just started this. I have had this bike in Transport mode many times without issue.
Thanks again for the detailed response.
SR
Thanks again for the detailed response.
SR
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 762
Likes: 264
From: Timnath, CO.
Trainedmnky. Did yours do this from day one? Would you mind giving me the name of the dealer that fixed yours in case I have to convince my dealer? I want to get mine updated cause it could do it again.
Thanks a lot.
Thanks a lot.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 2,261
From: Ft. Wayne IN
My 2018 FLHCS (Heritage) does not do this. I trailered it to Branson MO from NE Indiana in late March. Did not ride it for 3 days, but it then started and ran fine for a short (~75 mile) ride in MO and AR. Put it back on the trailer and went to SE Florida with a 1 night stop. Took it off the trailer, started it and put it into the garage without a tender hooked up. Took an 80 mile ride the next day, no problems at all. Did not ride for 2 days (played golf), then rode every day for about 5-6 days. No tender, no problems. Trailered it back to NE Indiana in Transport mode (1 night stop) and had no problems upon my return.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 587
Likes: 312
From: here n there
I had this issue with my 18 Heritage just after I bought it. I believe I was able to track it down on this forum but can't find the post again. There is a fix if you can get the dealer to verify the issue. I can give a brief run down of it here and how to duplicate it from my research on my own bike. If the bike is put in transport mode for any length of time, I left it in that mode for as little as 10 minutes during my testing to get it to fail. The bike will do just what it says, you can carry it on a trailer and all is well for as long as it stays in transport mode. The issue starts when you return it to normal service again. The bike will then begin discharging the battery at an increased rate. I would go from a fully charged battery to a battery reading less than 6 volts in a couple of days. You can verify the issue yourself quite easily. Put the bike in transport mode for a few minutes, then take it out of that mode and let it sit. Check the battery voltage (I used the tender lead) and record the measurement ( hopefully somewhere around 12.6V ). On my bike, 18 Heritage 114, after 24 hours, the voltage would be down to 11.1V. After 2 days, it was almost always below 10. Now, here's the tricky part, when the battery is disconnected, it will reset the system back to normal and all is well until transport mode is reactivated. This includes the battery voltage falling too far and you recharging it in the bike, disconnecting the battery to charge it, or removing the main fuse of the bike. If you keep your bike on a tender, you may never notice this issue until you leave your tender behind for a trip and it doesn't start when you're out of town.
It was very hard to convince my dealer of this issue. I took it there several times and they looked at me like I was crazy. I wont accept being told that a battery on a modern automobile of any kind will only last 3 days without being charged. I think that is just b/s and I haven't looked specifically for that but I doubt that is stated on any official HD document. To prove it to the dealer, I basically charged the bike, put it in transport mode, started the bike, drove it to the dealer and told them to let it sit as is for 24 hours and then tell me the battery isn't draining. I shouldn't have to go through all this all the time with HD but it this was just the first of many. Of course, just as I had duplicated in my garage many times before, the battery was way down and then they took me seriously. Now to the thing everyone wants to know, what's the fix. Turns out, there is a firmware update for the speedometer that fixes this issue. I was told something to do with the alarm system and that is driven from the speedo. Good luck and I hope this helps
It was very hard to convince my dealer of this issue. I took it there several times and they looked at me like I was crazy. I wont accept being told that a battery on a modern automobile of any kind will only last 3 days without being charged. I think that is just b/s and I haven't looked specifically for that but I doubt that is stated on any official HD document. To prove it to the dealer, I basically charged the bike, put it in transport mode, started the bike, drove it to the dealer and told them to let it sit as is for 24 hours and then tell me the battery isn't draining. I shouldn't have to go through all this all the time with HD but it this was just the first of many. Of course, just as I had duplicated in my garage many times before, the battery was way down and then they took me seriously. Now to the thing everyone wants to know, what's the fix. Turns out, there is a firmware update for the speedometer that fixes this issue. I was told something to do with the alarm system and that is driven from the speedo. Good luck and I hope this helps
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 762
Likes: 264
From: Timnath, CO.
Thanks trainedmnky, I really appreaciate all the info.
Steve, I have hauled mine before with no issues as well. This time not so good.
Steve, I have hauled mine before with no issues as well. This time not so good.
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 762
Likes: 264
From: Timnath, CO.
More questions for trainedmnky. Does your security system have the alarm? Mine does not. Wonder if that would make a difference? To reset do I just pull the fuse with the ignition "OFF" for about a minute then reinstall?
Thanks a lot.
Thanks a lot.