95 EX500 Drains Battery

[DJ Brady]

I'm about to pick up a Cow Ninja with an issue. If it's not run in a few days, it drains the battery.. gotta be charged or jumped off to start after that.. it'll hold starting power for about 3 days.

Any hints/tips/tricks for tracking down the issue?
Thanks.

[Sheresh07]

Sounds like there is something in the electrical that is still running even when the bike is off. But I'm not sure cause I'm not too familiar with bikes. Could be a short somewhere.

[DJ Brady]

not much to run when the key's off, but I'm think it could be a short as well.
I'm curious if anyone's dealt with a similar issue and the quickest way to track it down in the wiring harness.

[speediva]

My guess would be a short in the system... however, does your EX have a "parking" light? I'm wondering if in locking the steering head, you are turning the key too far and engaging the parking light??? I only think of it because my dad once TOTALLY killed my battery that way. Good luck, anyway! Finding electrical problems is a real PITA

[DJ Brady]

I don't think it has a 'parking light'. The guy who's owned it for 3 years has just dealt with the issue. I think he'd have figured out if there was a parking light.

And yes, tracking down shorts is definately a pita.. it'll just take some time I suppose. Thanks for the quick responses.. and if anyone has dealt with this before, I welcome your suggestions.

[NaKeDZX]

It could just be a shot battery. Charge it and take it out of the bike for a couple days to see if it holds a charge. They do need replacing now and then.

[DJ Brady]

I was just talking to the guy (I'm buying it from) tonight and he's of the same opinion... needs a new battery... I'll do that as soon as I get it and see what happens..
<chuckle> thanks for the public service announcement

[aussieidiot]

sounds like the battery is shot but to check for a short, pull the battery out and put a multimeter across the terminals. should be 14v (12v is norm but 14 v is good)

next put the multimeter across the leads to the battery (without the battery connected) and test the resistance. with the key off it should be very close to zero. if not further investigation required to work out what is the resistance that will drain the battery.


ps may not be a autospark but i am a sparky non the less. 12v systems can't kill you so there's no thrill like a 240v system

[DJ Brady]

thanks Aussie, I completely forgot about the ol' impedence test *smacks forehead*