Melted ground wire from battery
Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2015 7:32 pm
Some background:
1997 350
For a few weeks Roy has seemed to charge more than usual on startup and the ammeter stayed in positive for a bit longer. A couple of days ago I accidentally left the ignition on overnight in the garage and in the morning the battery was totally discharged. I think I am right in saying this shouldn't run down overnight and made me suspect I had a short somewhere. I had to use the bike the next day so went and bought a new battery when the old one didn't seem to recharge. Rode on that for two days intending to investigate source of the problem. Ammeter staying in positive all the time which made me think something was sucking power from the battery and the alternator was doing its best to recharge it.
Anyway, suddenly conked out on way home, battery totally dead, no horn nothing. Checked it out and ground lead was badly melted and came away in my hands when I investigated. Left bike locked up and took battery home, no reading at all from multimeter and charger seemed to do nothing.
Pretty sure I have foolishly killed two batteries. Planning on testing the function of alternator before installing new battery and trying to track down the short.
Any advice on how to proceed, tips for hunting down the short or telling me I am barking up the wrong tree would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
1997 350
For a few weeks Roy has seemed to charge more than usual on startup and the ammeter stayed in positive for a bit longer. A couple of days ago I accidentally left the ignition on overnight in the garage and in the morning the battery was totally discharged. I think I am right in saying this shouldn't run down overnight and made me suspect I had a short somewhere. I had to use the bike the next day so went and bought a new battery when the old one didn't seem to recharge. Rode on that for two days intending to investigate source of the problem. Ammeter staying in positive all the time which made me think something was sucking power from the battery and the alternator was doing its best to recharge it.
Anyway, suddenly conked out on way home, battery totally dead, no horn nothing. Checked it out and ground lead was badly melted and came away in my hands when I investigated. Left bike locked up and took battery home, no reading at all from multimeter and charger seemed to do nothing.
Pretty sure I have foolishly killed two batteries. Planning on testing the function of alternator before installing new battery and trying to track down the short.
Any advice on how to proceed, tips for hunting down the short or telling me I am barking up the wrong tree would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks