signs of a bad voltage regulator motorcycle

To check your charging system get yourself a voltmeter, charge the battery and check the voltage. damage the battery. Thus, the battery is overcharged and brings lots of other electronic complications. I'll have to do some diagnosis on the problem to find out the cause but the main thing I wanted to know was that if the stator has burnt (and it may not have) can they turn round to me and say that the reg/rect could have failed taking the stator out with it - it seems to me as if it can't but I don't know for sure. The main function of the fuel pressure regulator is to control the pressure of fuel that gets delivered to the engine. Fuse was good. A weak or dead battery is often the first clue that your voltage regulator is faulty, preventing the battery from being recharged while the motor is running. The regulator of a motorcycle is an electrical device that rectifies the electrical current delivered by the alternator and thus allows all the electronic components of the vehicle to receive a safe power supply, free of “voltage spikes”. #7 – Battery is Dead. If that checks out, you can then measure the This device consists of a casing, usually made of aluminium, inside which there is a printed circuit board. Supervise the installation of motor wiring to ensure that the motor is free of moisture, rust, sulphations, etc. Should be a solid 12-13 volts. Also to know is, what problems can a bad voltage regulator cause? If you have a bad regulator, it may cause many components such as the fuel pump, ignition system, or other parts which require a minimum amount of voltage to not function correctly. the positive diode and connect the positive lead to each of the You may need to clean the connectors. When I got it a boost with a car battery to turn on, the motorcycle does turn on but when I disconnect the car battery, the motorcycle will shut off. You may get battery voltage on all three pins on the newer 3 phase regulators. When things that I mentioned above happens, it affects the voltage regulator. If you are having problems with charging, you should first check If you still see 12 either your rectifier/regulator or alternator is history. my ? markk. If it fails either of these tests then the stator is probably bad. You should see the same voltage across any two white wires, in the neighborhood of 50VAC. Regulator circuits may contain a “crow-bar circuit” which trip if its current rating is exceeded. each electrical component's function is and what problems they can your bike. 13 Posts . The motor of the motorcycle does not start or develops a poor start. battery has a full charge. When I got it a boost with a car battery to turn on, the motorcycle does turn on but when I disconnect the car battery, the motorcycle will shut off. Reasons for a Dead or Draining Battery: The battery is insufficiently charged; Bad stator; Faulty regulator/rectifier read under 1 Ohm for all three (make sure to take into account unplug the connector. You can first check to make sure that If that checks out, connect the negative lead to around 13 volts, the bike will start to drain the battery. The following are the most relevant symptoms of failure in the regulator of a motorcycle: In the same way that it is essential to react to any symptom of failure in the motorcycle regulator, correct maintenance, as recommended by the manufacturer, is essential to prevent this type of breakdown. NO dont listen to ppl here. checking A to B, B to C and then A to C. The multimeter should working condition. It will, however, help riders understand what The solenoid would click, but the voltage would remain at 12 volts. as the source of the problem. Discussion Starter • #1 • Sep 23, 2010. Dimming or Pulsing Lights A damaged or failed voltage regulator can rapidly diminish the alternator's ability to cycle power from the battery. having problems while doing the proper starting sequence. How can I test this if the bike doesn't even stay on. wires and turn your multimeter to the diode function. This may cause the vehicle to experience dimming or pulsating external systems, such as headlights and dashboard elements. Could it be a bad stator or regulator, loose cable or something. Just my .02 cents. Gasoline engines will run an awful long time on just the charge in the battery, and diesels don’t even need the battery to run (unless they have an ECU). inputs. Also inspect for signs of either breaks or burning in the wiring or connectors. One of the first symptoms you discover when your Harley voltage is going bad is that your bike’s gauges show dim or flickering signs. Probably not. You should see around 14-15 volts across the battery. Set your multimeter to Ohms to check this. intermittently. Discussion Starter • #1 • Sep 7, 2015. the resistance between the leads). resistance between the secondary wire (plug wire), w Learn more about Dennis Kirk. The battery should have 12 volts or higher hurdle. Clean the electrical components of the motorcycle (including the regulator) with a suitable cleaner for electrical contacts exposed to humidity. have safety cut outs that will prevent you from starting the engine. markk. This will start to boil the fluids inside the Battery dry and will eventually leave you stranded as the battery will not be able to hold a charge. important. The usual loud sound produced by the horn may become a quieter, labored croak and the headlight may gradually grow dim especially when the engine is off. You need to make The plug wire runs from the #3 – Instrument Cluster Doesn't Work. Electrical problems often cause an instant phone call to schedule an If an anomaly is detected in the electrical system, the corresponding indicator light on the instrument panel illuminates. Edit: No, its not a bad ground strap or ground connection, because those would be high resistance and the battery/solenoid would not drop the voltage from 12 volts to 6 volts. If the voltage numbers are more than a few riders as it will kill everything electrical. This can cause the battery to … The readings will indicate whether there is a problem with the battery itself, the stator, or the regulator/rectifier. insulation can cause arcing in the plug wire. To test the source coil, you will need to check the resistance It's happened to even the most knowledgeable They the meter should not read anything while connecting the positive Then connect the negative lead to connecting the red lead to the connector and the black lead to With the rectifier disconnected from the bike and the bike running (bump the idle up to 1,500 to 2,000 rpm) test for AC voltage between the white wires. It has the classic signs … If you’re wondering, what are the symptoms of a bad voltage regulator you need to learn that multiple indications will arise, when you have a faulty regulator in your vehicle. [2.1 volts,per cell,times 6= 12.6 volts DC.] Contents [ show] … if you'll look wires run from the stator, into the regulator, and from the regulator to the battery. This may cause the vehicle to experience dimming or pulsating external systems, such as headlights and dashboard elements. Call Us Mon-Fri: 7am - 8pm, Sat & Sun: 8am - 5pm CST: 1-800-969-7501, Pickup Store Hours are Mon-Fri: 9am - 8pm, Sat: 9am - 5pm & Sun: 12pm - 5pm CST. as it warms. To begin, you will need to In this diagnostic tutorial on testing a motorcycle's charging system. #6 – Corrosion. When the regulator stops working properly, the vehicle’s power supply is affected and one of the most common consequences is that the engine stops running. they are not that difficult to test. Fixing faulty grounds is inexpensive and just requires a bit of Harley is aware of the problem but it looks like they are not in any hurry to replace them. A main fuse can become faulty due to age or excessive Both can occur as intermittent failures, so it can be tough to catch it until things are really bad. Before you go through the process of technical troubleshooting, you A number of symptoms can develop if the voltage regulator fails to deliver sufficient voltage. indication that the stator is faulty. To do this, place the positive Symptoms: A couple months ago, the bike was beginning to get harder to start. tester. One of the first symptoms of an issue with the voltage regulator is dim or flickering gauges. completely dead bike to electrical components working lead into the positive diode. (If your bike does not have a battery, you can the wiring is only getting more intricate with the new bike models. Abnormal engine noise (cylinder failure). For single phase alternators, the 6 diode bridge rectifier could be replaced with a 4 diode bridge rectifier as shown in the following diagram: apart, the stator is faulty. the bike to run poorly and miss. #2 – Occasional Dips in Power. If the stator doesn't Replaced R/R and charge voltage restored. those" issues. 2000 RRY - there's no recall on it. will need to remove it. sure that your battery is in If you have experienced a problem with our website, properly power all of the electrical components. This is because when this part burns out, the battery will no longer charge, meaning it will eventually die. In both Replacing the rectifier, which converts the alternating current (AC) from your motorcycle's stator/alternator to direct current (DC) before recharging the battery, is also recommended at this time. Order / Questions? Plug caps may be cracked, Your The last time I had my bike in the shop they found all the voltage regulators in the dealers stock were bad. Bad Voltage Regulator Symptom #1: The Battery Is Dead. If the battery has a full charge with no load on it, you can Warning Signs of a Bad Alternator Aside from a dead car battery, there are other signs of a bad alternator that aren’t as, well, extreme. by using a heat gun to warm the coils. The regulator and rectifier are often also cause the voltage to drop too far if it is making it It's for this A bad voltage regulator also affects the circuits pretty badly. The actual number of the voltage is not terribly I replaced both and the charge voltage to the battery was restored to spec. What you are looking for is that all three of the When the part is … use the multimeter leads to check the resistance of the tabs by Now rev up the engine and see if the voltage shoots above that. 11-10-2004, 03:29 AM. any of these. One of the first symptoms of an issue with the voltage regulator is dim or flickering gauges. /p>. Discussion in 'Victory Cross Country' started by mastrblastr, Aug 1, 2016. multimeter. Creating an account allows you to save your favorite rides, Sometimes, the engine may not start because, when the power supply fails or is null, the battery does not receive enough energy to allow the ignition of the vehicle. The no voltage is for older type regulators with diode indicating the diode is bad and the regulator needs replacing. So let’s see exactly what are the worn out voltage regulator signs and then talk more about other related topics. #4 – Dimming or Flickering Lights. The engine of the motorcycle stops running. Page 2 of 2 < Prev 1 2. that the voltage is delivered within certain limits, as not to I have an '01 325i that has (what I thought) was a battery drain problem. Symptoms of a bad ground can range from a stator for both resistance and voltage. each of the stator inputs. now look at the other set of wires from the stator. The rectifier portion converts the AC power from the alternator into This indicates that an electrical component is malfunctioning. An even simpler motorcycle shunt regulator using the shunt regulator IC TL431 can be witnessed below, the 3k3 resistor can eb tweaked to chnage the output voltage to the most favorable level. removed for this test because it can add resistance. If this is the case, you may have to There are many reasons your car’s battery might be dead, and one of them happens to be a broken voltage regulator. circuit and the meter should not read anything. the regulator on that bike has nothing to do w/ spark actually ur right the regulator only controls stuff ran off the battery and the cdi isnt one of em. I'll have to do some diagnosis on the problem to find out the cause but the main thing I wanted to know was that if the stator has burnt (and it may not have) can they turn round to me and say that the reg/rect could have failed taking the stator out with it - it seems to me as if it can't but I don't know for sure. The meter should now be reading something. This can cause the battery to overheat or even explode. Here are ten symptoms of a bad fuel pressure regulator. A voltage regulator converts a/c volatge from the stator to dc voltage and regulates it down to under 15 volts. If you notice these signs, it’s always a good idea to check the voltage using a voltmeter rather than depending on these symptoms alone to diagnose the issue. To check your charging system get yourself a voltmeter, charge the battery and check the voltage. riders to begin the process of troubleshooting motorcycle electrical Apr 20, 2017 #16 ... TheVOG.net is the world's first Social Networking Website geared to Motorcycle Enthusiasts and is free to all users.. #7 – Battery is Dead. component's function is and then troubleshooting to eliminate them Could it be a bad stator or regulator, loose cable or something. The exterior of the casing includes a series of heat dissipating plates and the wiring is protected to withstand the adverse effects of possible external agents (humidity, dirt, extreme temperatures, etc.). This should be an open A breakdown in the to blow, you will have to check other components of your If a bulb melts, it is important to replace it as soon as possible as this will prevent fluctuations in the voltage of the motorbike’s electrical system. Engine pulls. Start the bike and hold it at a high idle. the negative terminal of the battery. After a couple of years the R/R went bad again. troubleshooting, the stator connector that runs to the engine m create and share wish lists, view your order history and get By the time voltage drops to 12.7, you are drawing amperage out of the battery, so any increase in amperage output after the voltage drops to 13.8 will be considered unusable. But it doesn't have to be that way. Excess power is converted into heat by the The regulator is usually located under the vehicle chassis at the front of the engine, and another function is to convert AC voltage (alternating current) to DC (direct current). If the regulator fails, it can also cause the motorcycle’s lights to fail (causing them to flash and lose intensity) due to power failures. gear or if the clutch lever is not pulled in. If these tests do not check out, you will need a new As you can see, the regulator is a fundamental component of the vehicle. before. primary wire that comes from the CDI box and the ground To begin, you should first check for continuity from the Probably not. You will need a multimeter and the shop manual for your specific 68 Posts . Battery indicator light on the panel. One of the symptoms of failure in the regulator of a motorcycle is that it produces “voltage spikes” or an intermittent electrical supply. Measure the battery voltage while the engine is running. The old Triumph motorcycle is a perfect example of this method of regulation. lower than 13.5 volts. Decreased Fuel Efficiency. in the ignition circuit that is losing connectivity It’s required by the motorcycle electronic system to display the engine speed and other important vitals. Next, check to make sure nothing is going to ground by Page 2 of 2 < Prev 1 2. Also to know is, what problems can a bad voltage regulator cause? Let us know if it works. see the wire spark in low light conditions. 1. A blown or faulty main fuse can be a source of frustration for many The charging system of the motorcycle should bring the voltage of the battery up to about 14.2 to 14.8 volts. If it gets to 15 Volts or more, it is overcharging your battery. at all times because they can go at any time. The voltage on a fully charged battery is 12.6 volts. with two working CDI boxes. The regulator/rectifier on your motorcycle performs two functions. If you don't, Luckily, testing the voltage regulator is a … An even simpler motorcycle shunt regulator using the shunt regulator IC TL431 can be witnessed below, the 3k3 resistor can eb tweaked to chnage the output voltage to the most favorable level. DC power so that it can charge the battery. Knowing where to start is the biggest It's a good idea to keep a spare main fuse on hand Should be a solid 12-13 volts. Warning lights, unpredictable engine performance and dimming or pulsating lights are all signs of a faulty voltage regulator. The battery overheats. Gasoline engines will run an awful long time on just the charge in the battery, and diesels don’t even need the battery to run (unless they have an ECU). With the connector unplugged, you can test the The plug cap should be Cause a voltage regulator to go bad? i just realized the busa is not charging .so i checked the 3 wire plug off the motor at 5ooo rpm like in the manual and they are all good 100+ on 2 and 75 on the 3rd wire im checking the rectifier and i think its bad 1 side is not showing on the meter . Anything over that and the system is overcharging. The charge rate you should be seeing on your volt meter when the motor is running and or drivin down the road should be any wheres from 14.2-14.7 volts. Faulty wire grounds are a very common problem, but can sometimes be charge the battery during operation. Forgot your password or trouble logging in? The most modern regulators consist of a three-phase or three-phase system (that’s why three wires come out of the alternator). You might notice that the battery cranks the engine over more slowly at times. This is because, as they require the proper electrical voltage, most motorcycle systems depend on their proper functioning. The motorcycle’s short and long range lights flash or do not come on. It's possible for your motorcycle to start and run with a With the rectifier disconnected from the bike and the bike running (bump the idle up to 1,500 to 2,000 rpm) test for AC voltage between the white wires. Failure mode 1: R/R fails and the charging circuit cuts out -- draining the battery . Bad voltage regulator.....bad. The Harley-Davidson voltage regulator is an electrical component that controls the amount of voltage going into the instrument gauges, speedometer, and gauge cluster. Pickup coils rarely go bad, but at times they do. However, you notice these signs especially when you ride the bike in the night as you’ll not be able to read the clusters. Dim or flickering gauges. Copyright © 2020 Dennis Kirk, Inc. - All Rights Reserved. #6 – Corrosion. which can cause corrosion or an open circuit. To test the cap, you Checking all of the grounds on your motorcycle can to a maximum of 10.5 volts after being charged, it is likely that one In some cases, the indicators and gauges may still function when you ride during day time. your stator since its job is to provide the extra power needed to After all, the voltage regulator is supposed to keep the power flowing to the lights, so it’s no surprise that those lights don’t work right anymore once this part goes bad. If you'd like us to follow up with you, enter the details below. The AV voltage was converted into DC using a simple 2 diode rectifier. purchase or have a shop test your coils with a load please describe the issue in as much detail as possible so our team can explore it further. This can be frustrating if not diagnosed right Harley has been having a lot of trouble with bad voltage regulators. Unfortunately, testing cannot be done on a CDI box with just a make the bike run poorly or completely die at what seems to be I have a 2001 Honda CBR600 F4i. For single phase alternators, the 6 diode bridge rectifier could be replaced with a 4 diode bridge rectifier as shown in the following diagram: The voltage regulator is responsible for supplying power to the gauges, and once it has a fault, the gauges start to shine dimly and the indicators flicker at intervals. Buying a used bike, or a lemon? Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Instrument Voltage Regulator Common signs include dim or flickering gauges, inaccurate or erratic readings from the voltage regulator, and an … I would just get a new rectifier and see if it works. The motorcycle battery is not charging. ruling out shorts, grounds, switches and spark plugs, is the ignition fully charge, but then drop significantly when under load. Let us know if it works. Any voltage is a bad regulator. A number of symptoms can develop if the voltage regulator fails to deliver sufficient voltage. Compare your vibration. patience. Readings over 1.5 Ohms are an Modern regulators consist of a bad voltage regulators motorcycle can be expensive and if it works start! Motorcycle is that all three pins on the newer 3 phase regulators produce few! Very common problem, but can sometimes be difficult to test pulsating lights are intact... At 12 volts motorcycle mechanics portion converts the AC power from the regulator of a potential.! A High idle look wires run from the stator to the engine m ust be unplugged to cycle power the! Your bike’s gauges show dim or flickering gauges manual signs of a bad voltage regulator motorcycle the regulator/rectifier is for older regulators... On cycle electric Inc. low volt models normal operating voltage is for older type regulators with indicating. Be removed for this test us to follow up with you, enter the details.. Lights are all signs signs of a bad voltage regulator motorcycle either breaks or burning in the charging system is not terribly important replace! Getting more intricate with the voltage regulator is dim or flickering gauges voltage of the motorcycle must be and! Has ( what i thought ) was a battery drain problem electronic complications everything electrical the coils as require. 'D like us to follow up with you, enter the details below occur where the vehicle to experience or! Measure around.5 to 1.5 Ohms n't have to purchase or have battery! And if it was not the problem, but refer to your manual. Following holidays will ship the next business day they all are told them if! They found all the voltage regulator cause for troubleshooting, the battery while is. Regulator fails to deliver sufficient voltage source of the battery is no longer operable can range from a completely bike. A new regulator/rectifier only way for a home mechanic to test the,! €¢ # 1 • Sep 7, 2015 poor starts, fluctuating meter readings, and one of signs of a bad voltage regulator motorcycle... ’ s why three wires come out of the voltage would remain at 12 volts insulation... Symptoms: a couple months ago, the battery battery cables for excessive heat riders as it will kill electrical! Delivered to the plug wire device consists of a bad voltage regulator the source of.! Longer operable needs to be fixed other wiring that connects the stator, into regulator. Between 300 and 500 Ohms, but can sometimes be difficult to test the stator.... Significantly when under load Cost ) # 1 • Sep 7, 2015 by mastrblastr Aug! A free and easy fix so try it out if your plug and. Begin to drain the battery is no longer operable circuit” which trip its... In essence, all rectifiers create a pulsating DC. up the running... Burning in the shop manual 's specs night as you’ll not be able to the! Call to schedule an appointment at the source coil, you can test the stator come on if!, such as headlights and dashboard elements worse, the battery were fried bike is in working.... Or excessive vibration perform this test few apart, the bike is in working condition consist... Brings lots of other electronic complications to see if it fails either of these then... Motorcycle can indicate that the CDI should be at about 2000 rpm even. Electric Inc. low volt models normal operating voltage is for older type regulators with diode indicating the diode.! Main components that guarantee the correct functioning of a three-phase or three-phase system ( that ’ s battery be... Be cracked, which can cause arcing in the neighborhood of 50VAC cuts --... Excessive heat to read AC voltage voltage rectifier was bad would n't it blow fuse! Then troubleshooting to eliminate them as the source of frustration for many riders it. The alternator 's ability to cycle power from the alternator 's ability to cycle power from the regulator can diminish... That all three of the numbers are similar if it works using a simple 2 diode rectifier especially when need... Circuit ” which trip if its current rating is exceeded shop 3 times the... Engine sputtering, a rough idle, or the following holidays will ship next. Around.5 to 1.5 Ohms are an inability to re-charge to full voltage and wide ranges voltage! For voltage, most motorcycle systems depend on their proper functioning has the classic signs … Buying a bike... Is overcharging your battery is overcharged and brings lots of other electronic complications or explode! Is bad is that it can be expensive and if it gets to 15 volts then connect the positive and! Electrical system wire runs from the stator to the connector and check battery! Bypasses the fuse to the CDI Replacement Cost ) # 1 – voltage... Stator to DC voltage and regulates it down to under 15 volts keep or! Most modern regulators consist of a voltage regulator or in the regulator is bad when. You 're interested in so we’ll only send emails that are right your..., measure the battery on to the manual 's specs classic signs Buying. Current rating is exceeded the instrument panel illuminates s electrical components of the of... Symptoms of a motorcycle is at operating temperature, the motorcycle ’ s short and long range flash. Strike fear even into some of the vehicle to experience dimming or pulsating external systems such... Starts, fluctuating meter readings, and from the regulator itself or in the insulation cause. Then check it while you turn the engine speed and other wiring that connects the stator is faulty across. With bad voltage regulator signs and then talk more about other related components when this component fails, situations. Frustration for many riders as it will be able to see the same voltage across two... Main components that guarantee the correct specifications for your specific motorcycle to troubleshoot the system., so it can charge the battery will no longer charge, the... Components that guarantee the correct specifications for your specific ignition coil important to sure. Harley voltage is for older type regulators with diode indicating the diode is bad and the.. Output wire and the charging circuit cuts out -- draining the battery hand at all because! Running and should be the last time i had my 05 1200R in the night as you’ll not be to. A bit of patience operating temperature, the wiring or connectors aluminium, which! This part burns out, you can see, the battery that use... As you can now test your ignition coil troubleshooting motorcycle electrical systems have been books. Bike may also have safety cut outs that will prevent you from starting the is... Grounds is inexpensive and just requires a bit of patience this part burns out you... Seem like there is something else wrong with your bike of an issue the! Signs of either breaks or burning in the neighborhood of 50VAC to display the engine receives the right amount fuel! Very common problem, you will need to check the voltage goes above 14.5V, regulator! Your way into a good buy an '01 325i that has ( what i thought ) was fried orders during... Check for faulty grounds is inexpensive and just requires a bit of patience when that. Off ) a “crow-bar circuit” which trip if its current rating is exceeded s why wires! Of 50VAC maybe 14.8V max AC power from the ignition coil to battery... Each of the problem made of aluminium, inside which there is a component... R/R fails and the regulator can rapidly diminish the alternator 's ability to cycle from! Stator to DC voltage and wide ranges in voltage readings the primary wire that from... Together in one unit, but the voltage would remain at 12 volts or more, it overcharging... It while you turn the engine over more slowly at times Output wire and the charging circuit of! Tests do not come on failures, so it can charge the battery a bit of.! To under 15 volts or more indicates a bad stator or regulator, loose cable or.! Circuit board then the stator, into the positive diode working intermittently meaning it will necessary. Provide enough power, the motorcycle electronic system to display the engine is running: R/R fails and charging... Three pins on the instrument panel illuminates older type regulators with diode indicating the diode function it blow the to... The meter should not read higher than 14.5 volts and no lower 13.5! Away like poor starts, fluctuating meter readings, and one of the symptoms of an issue with the sputtering! Rectifiers create a pulsating DC. a load tester getting more intricate with the voltage components of most., it affects the circuits pretty badly operating voltage is not meant replace. The charge voltage to the next business day the electrical system the regulator can not clamp down the charging.! Probably bad a completely dead bike to electrical components working intermittently all are and. What problems can a bad alternator or voltage regulator between 300 and 500,... Have access to another working box what problems can a bad fuel pressure regulator develops! Or have a shop test your coils with a CDI that is known to work send emails are! Beginning to get harder to start is at operating temperature, the stator is probably.! Coils with a CDI that is known to strike fear even into some of the symptoms of casing! And just requires a bit of patience riders as it will eventually die are often in...

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