Starts were getting weak with a year-old (cheap) battery so I got a new one today, "Xtreme" (by AGM Technology). When I touch the negative lead, the fuel pump runs without the key being on, & I get no instrument readouts when the key is on. Sounds like electrical/electronic but I don't know where to start. :-[ Anyone have any ideas?
NEED HELP with a new battery problem!
- Thread starter TacoPapa
- Start date
tuonodave
Member
Are you sure you didn't switch the leads? It's easy to do with the weird way our batteries are mounted, especially with a different brand battery.
Man, Dave, I've scratched my head on this one. I secured the red lead low on the frame, & black higher, so I wouldn't mix them up. But with the new battery positioned in the frame with terminals on the left, same as the old one, the top terminal on the new battery is marked +, & it seems strange to be connecting the red lead to the bottom (-)terminal! I don't have the old battery anymore to compare, but could batteries be that different? In fact, to reverse the leads I'd have to find a way to stretch both to the alternate position. Any ideas?tuonodave said:
What is the part number on the new battery?
Checking the 2012 owner's manual, page 7-29 shows the battery position exactly as I've re-installed the new battery (attached); "1. Positive battery lead (red)" is shown at the lower left position, like my bike. ... but darned if I can account for the fact that my new battery has "+" marked at the top position!! And that seems to be the case for almost every brand of battery suggested for this bike.
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WJBertrand
Ventura Highway
Yup, that’s reverse to the OEM, you got the wrong battery. The + terminal is at the bottom and the - is at the top on the OEM battery to match the cable locations. If you don’t have enough slack to reverse the leads to accommodate the battery you bought, you’ll have to buy the correct battery with the correct terminal locations.TacoPapa said:
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Does it say XTAZ12S on the battery? The one in this picture has the positive pole in the correct position.TacoPapa said:
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AdvToorer
Active Member
Your battery was/is installed backwards. Terminals should be on the right, with positive lead at bottom, like this:TacoPapa said:
R
RonH
Guest
Good luck. It sounds like battery you replaced with was installed and hooked up backwards. Most the time this happens it's quite a bit of damage done.
Don in Lodi
Well-Known Member
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The battery posts can be attached to from two sides of the battery, it can let you put aftermarket batteries in wrong very easily.
Tacopopa,
I was just in batteries and bulbs today looking at their batteries. My two cents advise would be to return it for two reasons the description says “Maintenance free and virtually spill proof” and when I looked at the Top I could see where they add the battery acid and it is not properly sealed like the one they sell for $99 IMO. Good luck hopefully it works out and no damage done.
I was just in batteries and bulbs today looking at their batteries. My two cents advise would be to return it for two reasons the description says “Maintenance free and virtually spill proof” and when I looked at the Top I could see where they add the battery acid and it is not properly sealed like the one they sell for $99 IMO. Good luck hopefully it works out and no damage done.
WJBertrand
Ventura Highway
Those terminals are to the left in that shot not the right.AdvToorer said:Your battery was/is installed backwards. Terminals should be on the right, with positive lead at bottom, like this:
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Gigitt
Active Member
Also the terminals face the right side of the bike and are at the rear.WJBertrand said:
Thanks for weighing in, guys; It's obvious that the terminals are reversed on this new battery. Gotta figure out what to do next: reverse the leads, or get a new/different battery. And hope that no damage has been done to the electronics! I'll be posting again soon.
What is the part number stamped on the battery. As far as I know these 12Z & 14Z batteries don't come in a version with the poles reversed. When the poles are reversed they put a letter (L) in the part number. For example a Yuasa YTX14-BS has reversed poles from a YTX14L-BS. When you see an L in the part number the negative post will be on the left .TacoPapa said:
WJBertrand
Ventura Highway
The pictured battery appears to have the correct terminal locations. Is that a photo of the battery you bought? Did they send you the wrong one?TacoPapa said:
That's a Z battery so it is factory activated and the poles are in the correct position. What are we missing here???
OK, it's not a battery problem, but I did screw up -- royally. I connected the terminals wrong, & now that the battery is hooked up right, I get no indication on the instruments, no fuel pump running, nothing. I checked the fuses & they're alright. Is there anything else I can check before I load it up on a trailer & take it to a dealer?? Am I s--t out of luck? :'(