Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech No Electrics

I was going for a ride, turn the key hit the start button and it clicked. No lights, no nothing. Pulled battery, which is fairly new, checked the voltage and had 12.4. Cleaned the terminals and placed battery back in bike, turn key and still no lights. Checked earth ground and all the fuses. My guess is the ignition switch may have failed. I have checked the red and red white and have 12 volts there. Any thing else should I check.

headlight relay

+1 on headlight circuit - Most probably the fuse. And it's the cheapest place to start.

The one under the tank.

exactly

My 60's Triumph Scrambler had the best electrical system. Turn key on, kick start and go. I was 14 when I had er in school.

Jumped the relay still no lights. Checked the ignition switch harness and tested the 3 pairs with key on and got no ohm resistance. Pulled the switch and took it apart and it was just like new. I am having the battery load tested tomorrow...I noticed it was a Walmart brand.

Those old Triumphs would start with a totally dead battery too since the alternating current generator didn't need juice to make juice.I used to pull the harness out and put in a 5 wire harness that actually worked too.

If your bike is an EFI then the ECM (computer) requires 12.6v before it will let the bike start.

Had the battery tested and it read 8.36v and charge required. So tonite is goes on the big trickle charger. My question is there a point in voltage that nothing works, I had no horn, lights, brake lights, nothing worked. Bike is an 05 carburetor model.

My guess is you will be very lucky to resurrect a lead-acid battery from empty (8.6v).

Quote:

---

is there a point in voltage that nothing works

---

9 volts as a general rule.

In general it's as follows.

Above 12.6 Fully Charged

12.4 75% Charged.

12.2 50% Charged.

Below 11.9 Fully Discharged.

Below 10.5 The chances of bringing it back to normal are very slim.

Well, here goes. Battery had tested after charging to 13.2 volts, bought a light tester to check it. No light, checked my mowers system, no light. Bad tester, returned it and on the same day a new battery I ordered also showed up. New tester on mower battery, tester lights up, new battery, tester lights up, old battery shows no light but still shows 12.6 volts. This is the weirdest battery failure I have every seen. Also my mowers 12 volt battery tested 12.6 volts. Anyway I purchased a battery by Chrome for $38 delivered to my door. Has a 18 month warranty.

The lead plates are coated with hardened sulfur, the electrolyte will show a charge on your meter but without the lead to react to you'll get no power. She's a goner, just take it the recycling drop off and be done with it.

Thought I would put a clip in my AR and open it up. Lot more fun.

Yeah! High velocity acid everywhere.