Meta System Defcon Alarm Malfunction?

[tedrogers]

Meta System "Def Com T" Alarm Malfunction?

So today by alarm went off all by itself.

I ran to tend to the bike and disabled it.

Then when I tried to re-enable it would do the two high bips, then one low one.

It doesn't normally go this and sounded like an error....like it went "good, good, baaaaad!"

I tried a couple of times, but still got the same.

Turned the ignition on to fire up all the electrics, then off again (without starting her up), and still the same problem.

The only thing that fixed it was to start the engine, turn it off and then that seemed to reset the alarm and it armed properly with just two high bips, i.e. "good, good".

Anyone else had this? Is my alarm on its way out. The bikes only a month old from new!

Thanks.

 

[Motogiro]

double post:spank:

 

[Motogiro]

I would check to see that the static battery voltage is 12+ Volts DC. If you don't have a digital volt meter, get or borrow one. Could be your battery is bad and the alarm is warning you that you have low voltage. Don't start the bike. Just check voltage. A battery can start the bike with low voltage if it has enough current at say 9 or ten volts. Once the charging system is running, every system will behave. But if the battery is low voltage when no charging system is active it can cause problems. If that's okay then start checking all the connector to the alarm.

Cliff

 

[tedrogers]

Re: Meta System "Def Com T" Alarm Malfunction?

UPDATE:

The problem is getting worse and the 'stealer' has advised me to bring it in. Actually they were quite nice about it, but it's still unnecessary hassle for me with a 2 month old bike.

The manual says that the 2 beep + 1 boop sound I get means "Arming with open contact", which sounds worrying in itself, but also means about as much as ancient Hebrew to me!

If I get an answer I will share it here.

 

[Motogiro]

Re: Meta System "Def Com T" Alarm Malfunction?

UPDATE:

The problem is getting worse and the 'stealer' has advised me to bring it in. Actually they were quite nice about it, but it's still unnecessary hassle for me with a 2 month old bike.

The manual says that the 2 beep + 1 boop sound I get means "Arming with open contact", which sounds worrying in itself, but also means about as much as ancient Hebrew to me!

If I get an answer I will share it here.

Do you speak Yiddish? Hahaha!
Yiddish Dictionary Online ייִדיש װערטערבוך ×ַפֿן װעב

 

[tedrogers]

This morning I couldn't start the bike and had to call the RAC emergency services.

The alarm was now producing 4 beeps. Apparently the manual says this is "disarming when battery is flat" WTF! 2 Month old bike.

The RAC guy was prompt (good service from Yamaha Assist) and determined that the battery was flat and wasn't being charged as the bike was running.

So, after removing the tank and prodding in the electrics all over the place, he said it could be (in order of severity):

1. Duff battery
2. Duff regulator
3. Duff alternator

It's entirely possible that a low battery could have caused alarm malfunction apparently!

So, the bike is with the dealer, and waiting "fixing".

Not impressed. But glad I can just hand it over to the dealer and go "here, this is your problem, fix it!".

 

[Motogiro]

Well a battery might be the cheapest part to replace. Good luck!

Cliff

 

[tedrogers]

Under warranty!

It's their problem, not mine.

 

[Motogiro]

Under warranty!

It's their problem, not mine.

Very Cool!

 

[tedrogers]

Well they replaced the battery in the end, claiming that the original might not be holding its charge.

Everything else was fine, the alternator, regulator etc.

So I'm back to testing now, and we'll see what happens I guess.

 

[Motogiro]

I'm sure it'll work out for you. It's not that uncommon for the battery to just quit. Seen it happen with brand new replacement battery....

Cliff

 

[tedrogers]

So, nearly two weeks on and the alarm is telling me the battery is low again.

I was assured by the dealer that the alternator, regualtor and all the electrical gubbins were working properly and the battery was charging whilst the engine was running.

So, based on the comments made by the dealer that the alarm system uses a lot of power to "monitor" the bike when armed, it seems that it is just drawing too much from the battery (which is new) and the 20 mile daily run I do is not enough to top it off.

Next step, the dealer has offered to fit a trickle charge plug so I can plug the bike into the mains to regulate the battery. Alternative is to not use the alarm in normal circumstances, just say, when I park up at the shops.

 

[tedrogers]

After months of it working well, the same problem is back again!

This seems to have got worse since a hotgrip controller got wet and shorted out and left the grips on draining the battery completely. It might have borked my battery through the deep discharge.

I've got an optimate lead now so I'll leave it on overnight and see if that helps.

Can you get larger capacity / better chemisty batteries than the ones fitted?

 

[Leisurepleasure]

Check your battery/alarm is earthed. Had a bike and a car insufficiently earthed and lost charge that way. Good luck!

 

[Leisurepleasure]

Bottom line is, something is wrong. 20 miles is plenty to maintain charge. You should not accept the situation as it is with the dealer.

Don't let them fob you off with a lead or new battery again. You shouldn't have to optimate it or get a different battery.

The cause of the problem needs to be found and a decent electrical specialist would find it. In my opinion and experience Yamaha dealers are good at selling bikes, but rubbish at servicing them (2 bad experiences and never again).
I would firstly try another Yam dealer, as I believe you can go to any for the warranty.
All the best