Check engine light
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 1
From: cd. Obregon, Sonora, mx
I believe the warning lights will only come on if the voltage drops below 12 volts. With a new battery, if this happens again, you have a charging problem. It's either the voltage regulator or the stator. The service manual will tell you how to check them.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,932
Likes: 4
From: 46th State, USA
3 things should be done to a motorcycle battery on a regular schedule.
1. Keep it charged when not riding (Battery Tender)
2. Keep the terminals clean and tight
3. Have the battery laod tested at least once per riding season
If a battery ever gets weak or discharged, the motocycle charging system will not fully charge it.
Just because a battery will start your bike doesn't mean the battery is in good condition.
1. Keep it charged when not riding (Battery Tender)
2. Keep the terminals clean and tight
3. Have the battery laod tested at least once per riding season
If a battery ever gets weak or discharged, the motocycle charging system will not fully charge it.
Just because a battery will start your bike doesn't mean the battery is in good condition.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 931
Likes: 11
From: Orlando, FL
Just went through this. Had the voltage regulator changed under ESP, and everything has been good since. BTW, when I asked the dealer if I should change the battery, he said no, factory battery should last much longer. ('08 with 30K miles). Dealer told me NOT to buy something. Surprised me - but that's why this dealership services my bike.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, UT. Dushore, Pa.
If the battery is bad will the warning lights come on like that? Seems to me that it is not charging properly. I would think that if it was charging then the voltage would not continue to drop like it did. But maybe if the battery is a goner it won't accept the charge.
What do you think??
Don
What do you think??
Don
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 128
Likes: 2
From: Gilbert
Just went through this exact same thing. Long story short it was by battery. It was a harley battery and only less than 2 years old. Have ridden with new battery only about 5-600 miles, but have not had any issues at all.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
From: Heaven
I agree!..
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 215
Likes: 2
From: Houston,TX
Well I got a new battery and will install it tonight.
The "dead" battery is almost exactly 2 years old.
The first battery only lasted 1 year. I guess I got double life out of this one.
Just one more thing that HD needs to improve the quality on.
Thanks for all the suggestions!
Don
The "dead" battery is almost exactly 2 years old.
The first battery only lasted 1 year. I guess I got double life out of this one.
Just one more thing that HD needs to improve the quality on.
Thanks for all the suggestions!
Don
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Des Moines
It's not just an HD issue, it's all battery manufacturers. I just put a new Interstate AGM in my Ultra on May 16th and 15,000 miles and three months later it was junk. I spent hours trying to find "another" problem because my battery was "new". 
Good luck...
Good luck...
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,374
Likes: 20
From: Felton Calif
I have a 06 ultra and mine did the same thing as yours. I was 350 miles from home.
I rode it until the bike just quit. My brother has a 07 ultra and he was with me. We
switched voltage regulators to see if that was the problem. Both bikes charged
14 volts so switched them back and they worked fine. We think it was the conections
to the regulator and they worked after unpluging and pluging back in. Any way that
was two weeks ago and all is still fine
I rode it until the bike just quit. My brother has a 07 ultra and he was with me. We
switched voltage regulators to see if that was the problem. Both bikes charged
14 volts so switched them back and they worked fine. We think it was the conections
to the regulator and they worked after unpluging and pluging back in. Any way that
was two weeks ago and all is still fine
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville, FL
Don,
I have the same symptoms as you do and have checked the battery connections etc. and after talking to an H-D factory rep explaining everything, he believes it is the voltage regulator. Not to say the battery couldn't be bad but today's batteries last much longer than they did 6 or 8 years ago. Also keep in mind that the volt meter shows the output of the charging system when the bike is running, not the voltage of the battery. The rep also told me that H-D had a run of bad regulators that were manufactured with lead free solder and that when they heated up the solder would start to melt and they would sometimes lose connection and then when cooled down make connection again. The heat is generated by the regulator converting AC power from the stator to DC power and then sending it to the battery and electrical system on the bike. H-D actually had a recall on some of theses regulators a few years ago. I bought a regulator for mine but haven't installed it yet. I'll post an update after I do and let you know how I make out.
I have the same symptoms as you do and have checked the battery connections etc. and after talking to an H-D factory rep explaining everything, he believes it is the voltage regulator. Not to say the battery couldn't be bad but today's batteries last much longer than they did 6 or 8 years ago. Also keep in mind that the volt meter shows the output of the charging system when the bike is running, not the voltage of the battery. The rep also told me that H-D had a run of bad regulators that were manufactured with lead free solder and that when they heated up the solder would start to melt and they would sometimes lose connection and then when cooled down make connection again. The heat is generated by the regulator converting AC power from the stator to DC power and then sending it to the battery and electrical system on the bike. H-D actually had a recall on some of theses regulators a few years ago. I bought a regulator for mine but haven't installed it yet. I'll post an update after I do and let you know how I make out.