What happened??

[unleashd]

My 99 LT is always parked in the garage, both at home and at work.

This morning, around 9 AM, when I started it up, I noticed that the headlight did not come back ON after the bike had started. So, I turned off the ignition key, but the next 30 seconds just scared me :( :eek: :( The starter kept on going as though the starter switch was stuck :confused: :confused: :confused: I turned the ignition ON and OFF, but still no change. I set the KILL SWITCH to OFF, and still nothing. :eek: :eek: :eek:

So, as I am wondering what the heck is happening, it finally stops. I am thinking to myself, the battery must have completely died :( My bike is standing in my driveway, but on a fairly steep incline (atleast steep enough for pushing an LT back into the garage). I am in deep (not as much) shit :( and am going to have to push the bike back into the garage and drive the van to work:( :eek: :eek:

After another 10 seconds of thinking WTF, I turnen the key back ON, made sure the KILL Switch was also set to Run and hit the starter. The bike comes back to life in a split second, the headlight is back ON and everything seems normal. Outside temperature was around 30-31 degrees. I had to go back in to put on my gear etc. I decided I will go back into the house and get another cup of coffee and let the bike warm up fully.

After 5-7 minutes, I come back out and the bike is running fine, warmed up nicely. So I gear up and get on my way. At the end of the block, I noticed that the thermometer on the bike is showing -8 (that's right, minus eight) degreee farenheit. I am thinking to myself, it is not that cold out here. Its close to freezing, but not that much :confused: I kept going on my way and I noticed that after about a mile or so, it had risen up to 4 degrees. My work place is only about 3 miles from home and when I parked, it was showing 8 deg. I went back to the garage at lunch and turned the bike ON and now it seems to be showing the temp. correctly at 35 deg (prolly a little colder inside the garage).

So, What happened??

[dshealey]

Pretty sure you need a new battery, or your alternator is not charging it properly.

On pre late '01 bikes, low battery voltage can easily cause the starter relay contacts to weld. There is an upgrade kit with new wiring and relay to solve that. The method that sometimes works to unstick them is to hit the starter button and release it while it is trying to start. The impulse to the relay will cause enough of a rebound on the relay armature to unstick it if it is not welded too badly.

Low voltage also causes the BC computer to get confused, and after it has had proper voltage on it for a while it re-calibrates.

Be sure that when you turn on the ignition the alternator light comes on, then goes out after the engine starts. If it does not come on before you start the engine, either the bulb is out or the small wire connection on the rear of the alternator has come loose (happened to me). If your alternator is charging properly, then it is time to get a new battery! Go for the Odyssey PC680.

[strsout]

I' not sure on the first part of your drama, but about the thermometer I remmember reading here that will take few minutes to it shows the right temperature once the battery is disconnect for a long time.
Maybe it will be a clue for the first problem.

[meese]

Low battery voltage causing your starter relay to act up. Get a new battery, and possibly upgrade the starter relay to the newer design. And the BC (Board Computer) averages readings over time, so if it loses battery voltage it will take a few minutes to settle back down.

But be aware that BMW does not recommend letting the bike warm up. Besides the chance of it vibrating off the side stand, it probably has to do with unburned fuel fouling the catalytic converter over time. The owners manual says to just start the bike and ride right off. That works well for me, but of course I don't usually have to deal with sub-freezing temps.

[ErnieA]

The owners manual says to just start the bike and ride right off. That works well for me, but of course I don't usually have to deal with sub-freezing temps.

Gee Ken... He only has a 3 mile one-way trip to work. If it were me I would leave 20 minutes early and get a good ride to work and warm up the LT in the prescribed method. ;) You? Oh, that's right... You don't have a commute shorter than 1200 miles.:D

[unleashd]

Pretty sure you need a new battery, or your alternator is not charging it properly.

On pre late '01 bikes, low battery voltage can easily cause the starter relay contacts to weld. There is an upgrade kit with new wiring and relay to solve that. The method that sometimes works to unstick them is to hit the starter button and release it while it is trying to start. The impulse to the relay will cause enough of a rebound on the relay armature to unstick it if it is not welded too badly.

Low voltage also causes the BC computer to get confused, and after it has had proper voltage on it for a while it re-calibrates.

Be sure that when you turn on the ignition the alternator light comes on, then goes out after the engine starts. If it does not come on before you start the engine, either the bulb is out or the small wire connection on the rear of the alternator has come loose (happened to me). If your alternator is charging properly, then it is time to get a new battery! Go for the Odyssey PC680.

David, Thanks for the pointers.

I will check the alternator light again when I go home. I am pretty sure that It comes ON when I turn the switch on and then goes off after the bike starts up.

Once in a while I had seen the "alternating ABS light" syndrome. But I have noticed those only when I plug in my Gerbings before I start the bike or when starting the bike back up after having the Gerbings connected for a while after I switched off the bike. Currently the Gerbings are the only additional load on the stock bike and are wired directly to the battery, meaning, they stay ON even when I turn OFF the key on the bike. I wanted to add a separate fuse/power supply block via a relay and powered by the ignition key to avoid accidentally leaving these additional loads ON. I am going to be adding auxilliary lights soon.

BTW, any link on finding a good price for the PC680? I will also search the forum.

Thanks again.

[unleashd]

But be aware that BMW does not recommend letting the bike warm up. Besides the chance of it vibrating off the side stand, it probably has to do with unburned fuel fouling the catalytic converter over time. The owners manual says to just start the bike and ride right off. That works well for me, but of course I don't usually have to deal with sub-freezing temps.

Today was the first time since I bought the bike, that I have let it "warm up" Normally, I'd be geared up, start the bike and roll off. And yeah, I make sure that the bike is facing up the incline when I leave it running and unattended on the driveway. otherwise I always leave in first gear when parked on the sidestand. Learnt it the hard way that the bike likes to roll on the side stand. When it happened (only once), the bike was right along the garage door (closed) and so, it just leaned onto the door :) and did not cause any damage to either bike or garage door!!!

[unleashd]

Gee Ken... He only has a 3 mile one-way trip to work. If it were me I would leave 20 minutes early and get a good ride to work and warm up the LT in the prescribed method. ;) You? Oh, that's right... You don't have a commute shorter than 1200 miles.:D


Oh, I've been kicking myself pretty hard for changing jobs recently :D I had Yamaha Roadstar until Nov '05 and had a 70 mile roundtrip commute to work. Somedays it was over 100 if I had to go to the Data Center. I got the LT, and changed jobs within a few weeks and now the commute is 6 miles roundtrip :eek:

[zaphod]

Your "alternating ABS light" syndrome is a sign of a weak battery. I got my Odyssey on Ebay at http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ODYSSEY-PC680-NEW-PC-680-DRYCELL-MOTORCYCLE-BATTERY_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35571QQitemZ4611189327QQrdZ1

Fast service and seems to be the best price.

[ATFLT]

You might check battery stores in your area. I found 2 dealers that stock the PC680 in town. One is about 1/2 mile from my house. I gave them 7 old batteries and $72 and picked it up myself. I had the dealer check the voltage. It was high enough that I just put it in and started the bike.

[dshealey]

BTW, any link on finding a good price for the PC680? I will also search the forum.
There are many of us who have purchased them from eBay suppliers, but they are also available at battery suppliers such as Batterymart. Check your yellow pages for battery stores.

eBay is going to be less expensive though, you just have to wait for shipping.