Battery dead?

[Hoorenga]

This one is probably a no brainer but then that's me, no brains. My 1999 R1100RT had been running real sweet all Summer and Fall but It went into the garage once the weather got wet, cold and nasty. I know I should have had a battery tender on it but I did take it out for a couple of late season rides and intended to ride it this weekend but it wouldn't start. The battery was completely dead, nothing, nada. I left the battery tender on it over night and it was still dead, dead, dead. I figured I had forgotten something like the kill switch or the side stand was still down but no. Now I'm just wondering where to look next. I have never seen a battery go from serviceable to absolutely dead in so short a time. If it were my car I'd just replace the battery, but the last BMW battery I bought for my 1989 R100RT cost me $175.

[DrPaul]

Battery "tenders" (float chargers) are not designed to charge a fully discharged battery. Take the battery out and put it on a real charger (making sure fluid levels are good if it is not a sealed unit) or have it tested at the shop before replacing. What type of battery is it and how old?

[BubbaZanetti]

and if it is totally dead, don't spring for another BMW battery unless you enjoy paying the high costs, there's plenty of cheaper, well made alternatives out there.

[Hoorenga2]

Thanks guys, guess I'll brave the cold today and do some knocking around on the 'Ol girl to see what I can figure out. Not sure how much I'll get done, it's freezing out there! Time to get that wood stove installed in the garage. Do I have to remove the fearing to get to the battery? That would be a bummer. I removed it last Summer and it was a pain in the arse. I know how to do it now so it should go a bit smoother.

[DrPaul]

Do I have to remove the fearing to get to the battery? That would be a bummer. I removed it last Summer and it was a pain in the arse. I know how to do it now so it should go a bit smoother.If your bike is like my '04 R1150RT you will need to remove the left side panel only. Release the rubber strap and the battery can be slid out of its cradle to the left and cables detached.

[Hoorenga2]

Sweet! Thanks for the info. I'm going to pull the left side today and yank the battery. My curiosity is killing me. I have already checked the fuses, including the one on the hot side of the battery tender harness. The battery tender has indicator lights that show when it is fully charged and when it is charging. The light to show that it is charging is not coming on. It does on my other bike. I'm hoping for a dead battery. Simple fix.

Doug

[Hoorenga2]

OK, got the battery out. It's an Interstate Gel. All of the cells were way down on water (gel?). I filled them all back up with water and put it on the trickle charger. It isn't showing that it is taking a charge. Is it possible that the battery has dropped to low for a trickle charger to work and now needs a regular, more powerful charger to kick it back into life? I want to do the ER thing with the shock paddles...Stand back....ZAAAAAAP! It's still flat lined __^__^__^___^_________________

no pulse...time of death 1:18pm. Is it off to the morgue with this cadaver?

[bikerfish1100]

a trickle charger is designed to keep a battery AT full charge, but not to bring it UP to full charge.

umm, if you could add water, that is NOT a gel battery! gels and AGMs are sealed items- you could not add water short of using a sharp, heavy tool- like a maul or hatchet.

[patiodadio]

:lurk


.

[kgadley01]

If your garage ( storage space ) is not heated, it is very important that once you get your currant problem corrected, that you always keep the charger on the bike in the winter. COLD weather will kill a battery faster than anything. you may get lucky with a good charge on your old battery, but I doubt it. good luck...

[Dave_Faria]

GE list. For those needing a new battery I got this info off the sport rider list. My battery died last weekend. I bought a 22amp-hr battery for my 04RT from batteriesasap.com for $42.95. Shipping from Dallas to Austin was $10.49. It comes with a 1 year warranty for manufacturer's defects. The battery size for my RT was UB12220. I received the battery in 1 business day. 24 hours after charging the no load voltage was 12.9 volts.

Dave Faria
Austin, Tx

[Dave_Faria]

Forgot to say it is an AGM battery.

[Mr. Frank]

I got one of those Universal Batteries a few months ago. I've had a few cold morning starts with no problems. So far so good.

[Hoorenga2]

Whoo hoo! My new AGM battery was on the porch this evening. I now have it on the charger and will install it tomorrow baring any incidents. The one thing I need to know is what to do to cover up the bare neg and pos posts? I'm thinking it will slide in but I saw some where here that some people had to add some adapters on to the terminals to get the battery to fit. I haven't tried fitting it yet so I don't know If that is something I will have to do. Even if I do it will leave me with bare posts. The battery was $57 including shipping. So cheap it's a little scary. While I was on the battery site placing my order I saw a space to enter a coupon number. Aha! I thought, if they are asking for one, there must be a coupon out there some where so I googled it and found a 5% off coupon. Yabba, dabba, doo! Thanks all. Now if the bike will just start.

Doug

[Mr. Frank]

Doug,

Which brand battery did you get?

[Hoorenga2]

It's a Universal brand, made in China. I am a little suspicious of anything Chinese but for the price ($57) and the fact that a couple of other people have had good luck with them made it an easy choice. The terminals are slightly indented or inset. Not completely inset, with plastic covers like the original. There are no covers or caps and the connections are bare. It looks like it will slide in OK, I'm just wondering if someone has figured out a way to protect the terminals from contact with other wires or metal? Tape? It is a glass mat, sealed, maintenance free battery. It didn't need any battery acid upon arrival, just a charge.

Doug

[Mr. Frank]

I have the same battery and have been pleased so far. You will have to ream out the terminals quite a bit for the original bolts to fit. The battery is slightly less tall than OEM. I put a rectangular piece of plastic on top of the battery to make the strap tight enough. This also covers the terminals. My tank is plastic so it's not a big deal. I also have retrofitted the jumper terminal extension that appeared on late model 2004 RT models.

[Hoorenga2]

Sounds like I'm good to go then. The old battery was dead, dead, dead. I will look for some rubber or plastic to cap the top with. Thanks for all the encouragement.

Doug

[Mr. Frank]

A trick I use when swapping out batteries alone is to place an upside down plastic garbage can next to the left side of the bike to act as a table or shelf to support the battery's weight while I'm attaching the cables. Otherwise it's hard to hold the battery in mid air while you fumble with washers and nuts. You need three hands. Also, do the reaming off the bike until it is sufficient.

[Hoorenga2]

Well, it's in the bike and I just got back from a quick ride. Works great. I made a cap for the battery out of one of those disposable plastic cutting surfaces. They are about 1/32 of an inch thick and are fairly rigid. I cut a rectangular piece the size of the top of the battery with an inch to spare over each side. I scored it with a knife and bent the edges over and taped it. I ended up with a rectangular cap with inch tall sides that slid down over the top of the battery. I had to cut openings in the side for the copper post extensions that I added. I don't like the copper posts sticking out bare but it seems to be clear of any possible hazardous contact. Job done.

Doug

[Ozonkiller]

This suggestion comes a little late... sorry

Did you check for any current draw with everything turned off? That may have been what killed your battery.

Just a thought.

Good luck

Tom