Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => Tech => Topic started by: DucRS on May 24, 2009, 05:39:43 PM

Title: 2nd Time S4RS Turns "Off" while cruising @ 90+
Post by: DucRS on May 24, 2009, 05:39:43 PM
     Any ideas why the battery would suddenly die . I was on my way home after a couple of hours on the twisties ( just like the last time it happened ) and with no warning at all the damn thing shuts off on the freeway and I bout crap my pants again  :o. The first time it happened  I had it towed in and the dealer found nothing wrong with it. This time as I waited for tow truck I tried to restart and found the battery almost dead so I had tow man charge it up and off I went like nothing ever happened. It has ONLY happened after long rides at high speeds on my way home.

     1- Could it be a bad circuit or relay
     2- Could it be a heat issue
     3- Bad battery
Title: Re: 2nd Time S4RS Turns "Off" while cruising @ 90+
Post by: Slide Panda on May 24, 2009, 07:07:48 PM
Well if you run for a while an the bike eventually dies.. but come right back after the battery get's a charge again - sounds like your charging system may be at fault.  It is possible that your battery is crapping out as a result.  But even with a marginal battery the bike should not crap out while the engines above idle. But if the charging system is bad then your basically running the bike off the charge you have in the battery at the time you started running.  You charging system isn't keeping up with the load, so your slowly drawing down the battery.  Once your battery hits a critical level the bike will die.

I'd say have your battery checked out - since that's pretty simple.  After that, it's time to break out the multi meter and see if your chaging system is making it's numbers.
Title: Re: 2nd Time S4RS Turns "Off" while cruising @ 90+
Post by: Howie on May 24, 2009, 07:21:25 PM
More than likely an intermittent charging issue or a bad connection.  Intermittent problems are hard to find since when all is good all tests good.  Sometimes bad connections are fine until they get hot.  The most important ones to check are the battery connections, engine ground and where the stator wires connect to the regulator. 

Since the bike is probably under warranty I don't know how much you want to, or even should get involved in diagnosing this problem yourself. but temporarily hooking up a voltmeter can help.
Title: Re: 2nd Time S4RS Turns "Off" while cruising @ 90+
Post by: corndog67 on May 24, 2009, 07:39:23 PM
My sidestand/neutral safety switch was shorting out, causing some untold grief, killing the bike at real inopportune times.  Something to check though.