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Old 09-25-2007, 08:51 AM   #1 (permalink)
Happy-ass Lunatic
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 11,423
Default Let's Talk Batteries

I've got a bike, brand new w/a little over 600 miles on it. It got wrecked back in March and now (in September) it appears the battery is dead. I've hit it with the charger (6 amps) a few times, but it won't take a charge (I guess). The charger needle just lingers near the bottom of the range.

When I turn the key, I get nothing. Not even a light. I checked the battery last night with a voltmeter and I got:

Charging: 13,97 volts
Idle: 3.56 volts and steadily dropping

Once while it was on the charger, I turned the ignition key to "ON" and everything lit up. I immediately turned it back off.

I hooked up jumper cables last night to my Dodge Ram and I still got nothing. I'm thinking the cables must be bad (they were cheapos).

Question 1: What are the odds that this battery's dead for good?
Question 2: Would you think the fuse is blown, and is that it under the left-hand fairing?
Question 2: Should I expect the dealership to pony up a new one? I'm guessing not, as I let this one sit for 6 months.

My plan is to take any input here and get another set of jumper cables so that I can try again tonight.