Extremity
Junior Mint
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2010
- Messages
- 228
- Reaction score
- 2
- Points
- 0
- Location
- Tampa Bay Area, FL & Baton Rouge, LA
Before I post, I want to make sure you guys know I did search, but it was hard to find a proper combination of keywords to use. I did find posts regarding batteries and I did try a bunch of different things, but I don't have a voltage meter so I couldn't do everything. I'm sorry if this has been talked about before! Anyways, onward...
I recently did the pod lights mod. My turn signals don't work as running lights since a tech replaced them after my crash (Uncle had it done for me or I would have myself), so I decided to connect them to the tail light. After not being able to find the proper hot wire, even when using a guide, I just decided to be lazy and I attached the power to the rear tail fuse on the right side of the bike (while sitting on it) and the ground to the frame. Pods worked fine, looked great, bike ran great, everything was fine.
I left my key in the "on" position in the bike like an idiot and it sat there for about 24 hours. Needless to say it was totally dead when I went out for a ride today. My neighbor helped me jump it, I let it run for a bit, put the tank back down, and took it for a ride down to the ATM. It lurched once on the road but other than that everything was fine. I let it idle while I was getting my cash, and on my way walking back to the bike it cut out and would not start. I had a small amount of power (gauges lit up a bit) but not enough to start it. I also heard a ticking sound from the left (while sitting) side of the bike, under the little "pod" next to the seat that pops out just by pulling out the two little snap-in connectors. Every time the key was in the "on" position I would hear the clicking, until the battery completely died again. The blue wire I tried to tap into for the pods was in this side, and I took the crimp out once it didn't work and wrapped the wire in electric tape, no wire exposed, should have been fine, just wanted to mention that just in case.
I noticed two cut wires on that side, blue and DARK brown (almost black). They looked cut by a razor, no wire exposed at the end, not torn or melted or anything, and they were tucked away in to the back. I think these were the two wires used to make the rear signals running lights and they werent used when the lights were replaced, and I think they've been like that for a while while the bike has been running great but I included pics at the bottom of this post just to be safe.
So I re-jumped the bike. At first it wouldnt jump, the cables would just spark where they connected to the battery terminals when I hit the starter - ie, I connect the cables, the bike gets power, I hear the fuel pump... but when I hit the starter button I just get a small spark and everything dies. Anyways, I eventually get it started. The bike is running like ****, it dies immediately if I don't keep it revved up. I did do searches and saw to keep the bike above 5k RPMs, but even after doing that for 10 minutes it still sounds like its choking or bogging down and dies when I let off the throttle. It also dies if I flip on my high beams, IMMEDIATELY.
It also seems to be running really... rich? When I twist the throttle to keep my RPMs up I'll get little pops with a flame shooting out of the two bros exhaust, I also get a similar little flame spurt when the RPMs are dropping after letting off the gas.
I took all of the wiring from the pod lights out. Everything is the way it was when the bike was working fine, none of the fuses (even the ones above the battery) are bad, all fluids are topped, every "might as well check that" thing has been looked at.
My bike is my car, I have nothing else, and I have school and work tomorrow. I'm totally screwed if I can't get this working. I know there are things I should do like get the battery looked at or replaced, but I can't get around to anywhere without the bike so I need a "It's most likely this" answer so I can just walk somewhere, get the part I need, and swap it. Would this most likely be a battery? Is it possible that it's old (it MIGHT be the original one still, it's a 2005 and I got it used, no idea if it is or not but it's very probable) and maybe I messed it up with the pod light wiring? I'm pretty sure everything was wrapped, I put it through the proper places, I used quick disconnects, never touched a hot to the frame as far as I know, but I guess we all make mistakes and I could have done something... Anyways, if it was the battery would the ignition sparks be weak making the bike compensate by sending more fuel, therefore making it run richer and create the bursts of flames out the exhaust? Is that a realistic explanation for the entire issue, or am I completely on the wrong page?
I know this is a long, drawn out post, but I've searched and tried things and I'm totally screwed if I can't make my exam tomorrow. I know that's lame but I a genuinely freaking out and rambling and oh god make it stop and help
Here are the pics of the two wires. I really don't think these are the issue, but the clicking sound WAS coming from this side. If anything, the only realistic POSSIBLE issue on this side's wiring would be the tail light wire that I tapped into to get power to the pod lights. Once I realized they didn't work I removed the crimp and tightly wrapped the wire with electric tape, going far enough down the wire to ensure a water-tight seal. Aside from that and the cut wires, everything else on that side should be A-OK.
Another note - the only extras aside from the pod lights (which aren't connected right now anyways) that consume electricity are Xenon replacement headlights. That's it.
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer, even speculation. While I do have decent car and electrical knowledge (enough to fix things on my own and follow instructions), I really have no in-depth experience with bikes and am clueless as to what to do. New battery? New alternator-thing (I know it's not an alternator, I forgot the name of it but you know what I'm talking about)? How much do those run? Is it going to break the bank? My bike is my favorite thing ever and has always been great to me, this is so devastating. I feel like my best friend is hurt or something!
I recently did the pod lights mod. My turn signals don't work as running lights since a tech replaced them after my crash (Uncle had it done for me or I would have myself), so I decided to connect them to the tail light. After not being able to find the proper hot wire, even when using a guide, I just decided to be lazy and I attached the power to the rear tail fuse on the right side of the bike (while sitting on it) and the ground to the frame. Pods worked fine, looked great, bike ran great, everything was fine.
I left my key in the "on" position in the bike like an idiot and it sat there for about 24 hours. Needless to say it was totally dead when I went out for a ride today. My neighbor helped me jump it, I let it run for a bit, put the tank back down, and took it for a ride down to the ATM. It lurched once on the road but other than that everything was fine. I let it idle while I was getting my cash, and on my way walking back to the bike it cut out and would not start. I had a small amount of power (gauges lit up a bit) but not enough to start it. I also heard a ticking sound from the left (while sitting) side of the bike, under the little "pod" next to the seat that pops out just by pulling out the two little snap-in connectors. Every time the key was in the "on" position I would hear the clicking, until the battery completely died again. The blue wire I tried to tap into for the pods was in this side, and I took the crimp out once it didn't work and wrapped the wire in electric tape, no wire exposed, should have been fine, just wanted to mention that just in case.
I noticed two cut wires on that side, blue and DARK brown (almost black). They looked cut by a razor, no wire exposed at the end, not torn or melted or anything, and they were tucked away in to the back. I think these were the two wires used to make the rear signals running lights and they werent used when the lights were replaced, and I think they've been like that for a while while the bike has been running great but I included pics at the bottom of this post just to be safe.
So I re-jumped the bike. At first it wouldnt jump, the cables would just spark where they connected to the battery terminals when I hit the starter - ie, I connect the cables, the bike gets power, I hear the fuel pump... but when I hit the starter button I just get a small spark and everything dies. Anyways, I eventually get it started. The bike is running like ****, it dies immediately if I don't keep it revved up. I did do searches and saw to keep the bike above 5k RPMs, but even after doing that for 10 minutes it still sounds like its choking or bogging down and dies when I let off the throttle. It also dies if I flip on my high beams, IMMEDIATELY.
It also seems to be running really... rich? When I twist the throttle to keep my RPMs up I'll get little pops with a flame shooting out of the two bros exhaust, I also get a similar little flame spurt when the RPMs are dropping after letting off the gas.
I took all of the wiring from the pod lights out. Everything is the way it was when the bike was working fine, none of the fuses (even the ones above the battery) are bad, all fluids are topped, every "might as well check that" thing has been looked at.
My bike is my car, I have nothing else, and I have school and work tomorrow. I'm totally screwed if I can't get this working. I know there are things I should do like get the battery looked at or replaced, but I can't get around to anywhere without the bike so I need a "It's most likely this" answer so I can just walk somewhere, get the part I need, and swap it. Would this most likely be a battery? Is it possible that it's old (it MIGHT be the original one still, it's a 2005 and I got it used, no idea if it is or not but it's very probable) and maybe I messed it up with the pod light wiring? I'm pretty sure everything was wrapped, I put it through the proper places, I used quick disconnects, never touched a hot to the frame as far as I know, but I guess we all make mistakes and I could have done something... Anyways, if it was the battery would the ignition sparks be weak making the bike compensate by sending more fuel, therefore making it run richer and create the bursts of flames out the exhaust? Is that a realistic explanation for the entire issue, or am I completely on the wrong page?
I know this is a long, drawn out post, but I've searched and tried things and I'm totally screwed if I can't make my exam tomorrow. I know that's lame but I a genuinely freaking out and rambling and oh god make it stop and help
Here are the pics of the two wires. I really don't think these are the issue, but the clicking sound WAS coming from this side. If anything, the only realistic POSSIBLE issue on this side's wiring would be the tail light wire that I tapped into to get power to the pod lights. Once I realized they didn't work I removed the crimp and tightly wrapped the wire with electric tape, going far enough down the wire to ensure a water-tight seal. Aside from that and the cut wires, everything else on that side should be A-OK.
Another note - the only extras aside from the pod lights (which aren't connected right now anyways) that consume electricity are Xenon replacement headlights. That's it.
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer, even speculation. While I do have decent car and electrical knowledge (enough to fix things on my own and follow instructions), I really have no in-depth experience with bikes and am clueless as to what to do. New battery? New alternator-thing (I know it's not an alternator, I forgot the name of it but you know what I'm talking about)? How much do those run? Is it going to break the bank? My bike is my favorite thing ever and has always been great to me, this is so devastating. I feel like my best friend is hurt or something!