rsv electrical problems

scoopfiddle · May 10, 2012

Old hands will hopefully recognise the symptoms. Problem started with clicking from starter solenoid even with new, fully charged battery.
Two or three times this has then gone on to a greyed-out or blank instrument panel, only sign of life is a faint immobiliser light, flashing every three seconds or so. Nothing else.
Fiddle with ignition several times and everything returns to normal.
Loose battery terminal explained one such episode but there is another intermittent fault somewhere.
The battery tends to need topped up on conditioner every four days but this COULD be due to Datatool alarm.
Voltage regulator? Any help would be appreciated. Bike's a 2008 RSV1000R

Cheers

scoopfiddle · May 10, 2012

Come on guys, don't fail me . . . need this bike running sweet for trip to the TT! Have seen people with similar problems but few seem to post resolution. I know this should require poking around with meter, but I'm not so hot on electrics. May be someone recognises the symptoms . . .

Paul2 · May 10, 2012

Mate, my 03 RSVR does a similar thing, mines a loose connection near the battery terminal, quick fiddle and its right as rain (as long as battery is tip top). Aprilia Bracknell had mine for 4 weeks over Christmas and couldn't find anything wrong, so i'll just have to live with it.
Im ***** with electrics too, sorry cant be any use.
:confused

BB1000 · May 10, 2012

mine kept dying ...that was earth strap problems

eddievtwin 7 · May 10, 2012

Is the starter solenoid/relay u/s ( next too the battery , two threaded brass connectors ), try placing a screw driver across the two metal terminals ( shorting it ) if it fires then the solenoid/relay is faulty

Eddie

scoopfiddle · May 10, 2012

Thanks guys. Will investigate earths and try shorting out the solonoid. Could be the latter but because of the other problem (instruments and total loss of power) suspect it's more likely a short or bad connectionl. Paul, have you any idea where this loose connection near the battery is?

caz1314 · May 10, 2012

I've had the same prob and never had it since I removed both the main fuses next to the battery and cleaning the terminals as they were real bad

scoopfiddle · May 13, 2012

Update on the starting fault - initially solonoid clicking, occasional blanking or greying out of the instruments and loss of eletrical power. Seems I have an earth leakage. Voltage from battery (12.6) drops to 3.6 volts at the steering head wires and 8.9 volts can be detected at the frame (earth). Now trying to find the source. Anyone any suggestions? It's an RSV1000R from 2008

scoopfiddle · May 13, 2012

slight progress in diagnosis. Checked the earth wire to the engine on the right hand side and discovered two earth wires. One of these wires was, incredibly, live. When it was disconnected it seemed to affect the alarm and the instrument panel blanked out apart from a faint red flashing immobiliser light. Anyone any theories?

scoopfiddle · May 15, 2012

Feel I've made some progress. Having replaced the slightly furred up brown connector at the regulator the charging system is working better. Discovered loose connection in white six-wire connector behind front nearside fairing which was causing error message and stopping the bike from starting. Seems everyone's warnings about brown and white multiple connectors is well warranted. Slightly confident I have sorted electrics but will update if starting problem (clicking at solonoid) recurs.
Paul

caz1314 · May 15, 2012

It's a good feeling when you think you've got it, did you do a wee dance lol

scoopfiddle · May 16, 2012

caz1314 said:
It's a good feeling when you think you've got it, did you do a wee dance lol

Bit premature for that, and will take a few months to rebuild confidence in the bike. Sold my Ducati because of electrical gremlins and am not going to invest any more in the bike until I know it's going to be reliable. Power Commander on hold for now. Thanks to everyone for their help

Carbon Kid · May 17, 2012

I would also check AND clean al fuses, incl the little inline car type small blade fuse the most datatool alarms use.
I hate datatooll and now only use Meta.
I always had my V2 hooked up to the optimate even though it was used daily.
Hope yer problems go away before your trip mate.
ck

scoopfiddle · May 17, 2012

Carbon Kid said:
I would also check AND clean al fuses, incl the little inline car type small blade fuse the most datatool alarms use.
I hate datatooll and now only use Meta.
I always had my V2 hooked up to the optimate even though it was used daily.
Hope yer problems go away before your trip mate.
ck

Thanks for that. Day three and it's still starting on the button. Just wonder how long it will be before the bike, with Datatool alarm, will need battery topping up on conditioner

wizbit · May 17, 2012

I found 2 weeks without starting was the absolute max when on the datatool alarm. Even then sometimes it was pushing it a bit.
Optimiser all the way now, never looked back

Carbon Kid · May 18, 2012

I used to worry slightly about charging/starting, when on our euro trips ,when I had th e02 mille, but if yer using it on a long run over a week or so it should stand for a few days between starts no probs.
My prob now is fuel economy, with the v4, after 80 miles im frantically pressing the satnav to find a petrol station, which is at least 20 less than my mates..I even took 2 litres of fuel with me to BRNO lol lol (and v nearly needed it)
ck

scoopfiddle · May 18, 2012

Carbon Kid said:
I used to worry slightly about charging/starting, when on our euro trips ,when I had th e02 mille, but if yer using it on a long run over a week or so it should stand for a few days between starts no probs.
My prob now is fuel economy, with the v4, after 80 miles im frantically pressing the satnav to find a petrol station, which is at least 20 less than my mates..I even took 2 litres of fuel with me to BRNO lol lol (and v nearly needed it)
ck

Day four and I cracked. Put it on the battery conditioner and, guess what, it was only seconds before green light came on. I'm sure the bike has never charged properly since I bought her a year ago at one year old. Having done it, I'd say brown connector replacement is a must. Fingers still crossed. Looks like the TT may be no problem

scoopfiddle · Dec 9, 2012

After further electrical gremlins I am posting this update which I hope wilal be of help to anyone experiencing similar electrical unreliability.
Thought I'd update now my RSV 2009 appears to be sorted. Was having big electrical problems - flickering dash, hesitancy to go through start-up sequence on ignition, charging issues. This slowly deteriorated until the bike started cutting out on the move. Checked earth connections on each side of the frame above footpegs but it was only after a few weeks of testing that a third earth was discovered under the fuel tank. Aprilia's wiring diagram shows components going to earth but doesn't specify how many earth straps there are and where they are located. The allen bolt securing this third earth was loose and arcing so badly it had destroyed the washer, making the connection even worse. Cleaned bolt, replaced washer and tightened up and hey presto, the bike is behaving. Hope this is of help to anyone experiencing similar problems.

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