Reversed the polarities - bike does not start - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

taurus · 08-06-2006, 12:46 PM

Hi all,
My weekend got worser and worser. I own a 2003 Suzuki Gixxer 600. Couple of days back, i left my parking lamp on for a while and as i had guessed it drained the battery. It was cranking but did not have enough meat in it to start the bike up. So I tried to jump start it and very carefully I reversed the polarities!!

. So i took the battery to an autostore and they checked the battery and said it was fine and that it only needs some charge. I bought a charger and charged the battery and tried my bike again. Nothing happened. No ignition light, no self check nothing. I thought i might have blown a fuse, but the main fuse looks ok. i checked the battery with three different auto stores and they all say the battey is good (excecpt that it needed a little charge).
I'm completely lost as to what to do..
is there a chance that the battery tests good with a charger, but it is no longer good to be used on the bike?
Have I possibly fried any thing on my motorcycle?? If so how much damage could i have caused? could I have blown up any sensors too? The thought of having to replace all the electrical units haunts (along with my stupidity) hanuts me....
Please help!!!!!

**Clint** · 08-06-2006, 03:46 PM

It's clearly not the battery. Did you check the subsidiary fuses?

DrBob · 08-06-2006, 09:11 PM

Usually there is a diode, fusable link, cercuit breaker, or fuse that is designed to blow out in case you do something like this, to prevent the reversed polarity from frying a more expensive part like the ignition box or rectifier. I am not familiar enough with the GSXR to know which you have. Call a dealer or look in the Clymer manual.

Lukor · 08-08-2006, 12:11 AM

That's not good. Most likely you fried the ECU (electronic control unit). This thing has EFI and ECU's don't like reverse polarity. Unless like DrBob says it has a diode to protect it. Don't think a fuse would blow from reversed polarity, but you should check all of them anyway.

If you have all your other electrics, lights horn etc., but no ignition or check engine light, and you had these right before you reversed polarity, that points to ECU.

It's tough to diagnose all you can do is substitute a known good unit and see if it fixes. Pretty expensive you might try the wreckers but make sure it's the correct part (should have a part # on it), they change every year just about, and aren't necessarily the same just because the bike is the same generation.

It's the rectangular black box near the battery, at least that's where it is on my '01 600. about the same size as the battery but thinner. About 30 wires running to it.

Kodatech · 08-14-2006, 09:42 PM

i dont think you cooked anything...usually there is some kind of fuse or fusible link to protect the brains.

Lukor · 08-17-2006, 12:20 PM

Service manual finally came.

Nothing protects from reverse polarity on an K1, K2, K3.

page 4-3

"Battery connection in reverse polarity is strictly prohibited. Such a wrong connection will damage the components of the FI system instantly when reverse power is applied."

other things you should look out for

make sure key is off when disconnecting and connecting the ECU

do not disconnect the battery when engine is running

planc · 08-28-2006, 05:30 PM

Have you checked for a blown main 30 amp fuse?

08-06-2006, 12:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
taurus Newbie Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1	Reversed the polarities - bike does not start Hi all, My weekend got worser and worser. I own a 2003 Suzuki Gixxer 600. Couple of days back, i left my parking lamp on for a while and as i had guessed it drained the battery. It was cranking but did not have enough meat in it to start the bike up. So I tried to jump start it and very carefully I reversed the polarities!! . So i took the battery to an autostore and they checked the battery and said it was fine and that it only needs some charge. I bought a charger and charged the battery and tried my bike again. Nothing happened. No ignition light, no self check nothing. I thought i might have blown a fuse, but the main fuse looks ok. i checked the battery with three different auto stores and they all say the battey is good (excecpt that it needed a little charge). I'm completely lost as to what to do.. is there a chance that the battery tests good with a charger, but it is no longer good to be used on the bike? Have I possibly fried any thing on my motorcycle?? If so how much damage could i have caused? could I have blown up any sensors too? The thought of having to replace all the electrical units haunts (along with my stupidity) hanuts me.... Please help!!!!!

08-06-2006, 09:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
DrBob In The Zone Joined: May 2004 Bike: several Location: Decatur, GA Posts: 2,764	Usually there is a diode, fusable link, cercuit breaker, or fuse that is designed to blow out in case you do something like this, to prevent the reversed polarity from frying a more expensive part like the ignition box or rectifier. I am not familiar enough with the GSXR to know which you have. Call a dealer or look in the Clymer manual. __________________ Dream like you'll live forever, live like you'll die tomorrow. You MUST obey the pug dog!

08-08-2006, 12:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
Lukor Newbie Joined: Aug 2006 Bike: '01 Gixxer 600 Location: Seattle Posts: 8	That's not good. Most likely you fried the ECU (electronic control unit). This thing has EFI and ECU's don't like reverse polarity. Unless like DrBob says it has a diode to protect it. Don't think a fuse would blow from reversed polarity, but you should check all of them anyway. If you have all your other electrics, lights horn etc., but no ignition or check engine light, and you had these right before you reversed polarity, that points to ECU. It's tough to diagnose all you can do is substitute a known good unit and see if it fixes. Pretty expensive you might try the wreckers but make sure it's the correct part (should have a part # on it), they change every year just about, and aren't necessarily the same just because the bike is the same generation. It's the rectangular black box near the battery, at least that's where it is on my '01 600. about the same size as the battery but thinner. About 30 wires running to it. Last edited by Lukor; 08-08-2006 at 12:20 AM.

08-17-2006, 12:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
Lukor Newbie Joined: Aug 2006 Bike: '01 Gixxer 600 Location: Seattle Posts: 8	Service manual finally came. Nothing protects from reverse polarity on an K1, K2, K3. page 4-3 "Battery connection in reverse polarity is strictly prohibited. Such a wrong connection will damage the components of the FI system instantly when reverse power is applied." other things you should look out for make sure key is off when disconnecting and connecting the ECU do not disconnect the battery when engine is running Last edited by Lukor; 08-17-2006 at 02:08 PM.

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08-14-2006, 09:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kodatech Handlebar Consultant Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 616	i dont think you cooked anything...usually there is some kind of fuse or fusible link to protect the brains.

08-28-2006, 05:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
planc Newbie Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 2	Have you checked for a blown main 30 amp fuse?

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