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Charging system

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Old Aug 10, 2009 | 08:23 AM
  #1  
cfoster80's Avatar
cfoster80
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Default Charging system

Friday was leaving work i started my 08 SG and the volt meter stayed on 12v. Didnt think anything of it until i was actually moving along and it was still sitting on 12v. Then the engine light came on as well as the batt light. So i turned the bike off and back on it jumped up to 14v then went back down to 12v after a min or two. So i stop at the next light and turned it off and on again it went to 14v road 30 miles home with no problem. I didnt ride Sat but Sun i road just over 100 miles with no problem with quite a bit of stop and go bar to bar riding.
Has anyone had this happen or have any experience with this??
I'd love to take it in under warr. but if its working fine can't really do that.
 
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Old Aug 10, 2009 | 08:50 AM
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kman780
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I would check for some loose wires by the battery, but since its under warranty I would probably bring it back to the dealer. I would suck to get stuck....
 
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Old Aug 10, 2009 | 09:10 AM
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69z28
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Same thing happened to a friends Ultra this weekend on a ride to and he thought the battery was bad,stopped at a dealer and the voltage regulator was bad.It would charge a little and stop.New battery and regulator and we were on our way.
 
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Old Aug 10, 2009 | 09:17 AM
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emwolb
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From: eastern oklahoma
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back to the dealer, the ecm will have stored codes for the symptoms you've described.
 
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Old Aug 10, 2009 | 09:18 AM
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So should i take it in our ride till it acts up again? Problem is im leaving for a trip on friday.
 
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Old Aug 10, 2009 | 10:16 AM
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rochkes
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I'd take it in now and have it checked before the trip. Especially if it's still under warranty.

Dennis
 
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Old Aug 10, 2009 | 10:57 AM
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Woodchuck
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I had similar symptoms a couple of times with my '89. The first case of fluctuating voltage was caused by bad contact at the voltage regulator connector causing an intermittent failure. Unfortunately, by the time I found the problem, the arcing had pitted the connector to the point that I had to replace the regulator (couldn't just replace the cord and plug). The second time was a matter of the regulator slowly dieing.

The new ones have a better connector setup but it might be something as simple as a loose connector. In any case, I would think the dealer would take your word about having an intermittent problem and replace it under warranty.
 
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Old Aug 10, 2009 | 01:21 PM
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TXCOMMISH
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I had almost the same problem with mine. Took it to the dealer three times and it acted and checked out on voltmeter just fine. I knew it was the voltage regulator acting up when it got hot (been there , done that) but, the dealer insisted all was good and told me it was probably because I had the Harley "Fog" lights installed and told me not to use them. Don't use them?? WTF?? Anyway, after a fairly spirited go around with the Service Writer and shop foreman , I stomped over to the bike which was now hot, shut it off, started it back up and sure enough, all the voltage dropped off and the idiot lights came on. Test now showed bad voltage regulator. Well DUH!!! They replaced it under warranty and no more probs.
 
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Old Aug 10, 2009 | 01:55 PM
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Originally Posted by TXCOMMISH
I had almost the same problem with mine. Took it to the dealer three times and it acted and checked out on voltmeter just fine. I knew it was the voltage regulator acting up when it got hot (been there , done that) but, the dealer insisted all was good and told me it was probably because I had the Harley "Fog" lights installed and told me not to use them. Don't use them?? WTF?? Anyway, after a fairly spirited go around with the Service Writer and shop foreman , I stomped over to the bike which was now hot, shut it off, started it back up and sure enough, all the voltage dropped off and the idiot lights came on. Test now showed bad voltage regulator. Well DUH!!! They replaced it under warranty and no more probs.
Thats what im afraid is gonna happen to me. Make a appointment, take it to the dealer, wait around and they tell me that there is nothing wrong at this time it may me my PCIII or something. Im gonna check all the connections and just have to see if it acts up again.

If its a heat thing man i should have never made it home this past sunday i was in downtown Baltimore city for a couple hours HOT as H$LL. Thanks for all the replys.
 
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