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Buell Forum » Knowledge Vault (tech, parts, apparel, & accessories topics) » Electrical - Battery, Charg Sys, Lights, Switches, Sensors & Guages » Archive through April 21, 2013 » Voltage Regulator problems, for the third time « Previous Next »

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Andrewlind87
Posted on Friday, March 15, 2013 - 11:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I own a 2008 XB9SX. At approx 5k mi the check engine light started to come on intermittently. Then while the light was on, the power would cut out and the tachometer and speedometer would drop to zero. Eventually the power cut out completely and the bike died. I attached the trouble-shooting dongle and got trouble code 1-6: battery voltage. According to the manual that meant that battery voltage was below 9.6 V. So I attached a multi-meter to the battery and ran the bike. While riding, the battery voltage (DC Bus voltage) dropped below 9.6V at the same time the check engine light came in and the meters dropped. I asked on the forums what it could be and was told to replace the voltage regulator. I replaced the voltage regulator and the bike ran fine for another 4k mi. Now I am at 9700 mi and the bike has experienced the exact same set of symptoms, so I replaced the same part along with the battery. I also checked the grounds, though admittedly I am not a good electrician and might have performed the ground check incorrectly. It was near the end of winter so I left the bike alone for the winter. I got it out of the garage a few times over the winter and a few weeks ago it once again started having the same problems. I am a little at my wits end here and am going to run through the diagnostics book section 3.6: DTC P0562, low battery voltage. I went through the following tests
Battery Test: Brand new battery, should not have problems
Off Idle Voltage Test: FAIL, Voltage dropped to ~10V
AC Output Test: PASS
Voltage Regulator Ground Circuit Test: INCONCLUSIVE
I am reluctant to buy a new voltage regulator with this one going so soon. I am assuming that there is an undiagnosed problem that is either causing the VR's to fail or is itself causing the problem. Please help a fellow Bueller get back on the road. Thank you
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Buell_bert
Posted on Saturday, March 16, 2013 - 12:58 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I would say that you should go thru your basics first. All positive connections AND Grounds first before replacing various parts. This includes cleaning AND tightening them.
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Reepicheep
Posted on Saturday, March 16, 2013 - 09:43 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Also look at the wire bundle routing under the seat, and inspect it closely for possible chafing. In particular, if it is routed over the battery terminal, you can get an almost microscopic nick in the wire where it will periodically short. That can cause no end of really odd symptoms.

Also check your connector between the VR and Stator very carefully... if it is damaged, that could also be aggravating your problem. Some people have just removed the connectors and just soldered the wires directly.

One other possibly helpful point... I have used probably 4 or 5 HD batteries now in my history of owning 3 Buells. All were decent batteries, except the last one, where the new one is almost as bad as the old one it replaced. So there may be a quality decline in HD batteries. To be fair, I haven't load tested it and checked all the grounds yet.
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Mbest
Posted on Saturday, March 16, 2013 - 11:59 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Symptoms on my '08 Uly were identical, Under duress, the dealer swapped in a new regulator under warranty and it drove home OK, but the issues returned. Found the Stator was bad. One of the coils was burned black compared to the normal clean-copper color of the good windings. Swapped in a new one and perfect ever since. Dealer gave me back my old regulator that that was replaced earlier and now I have an emergency spare since it wasn't the problem, it's most likely still good.
mike
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