Triumphrat

08-27-2004

Hey all,

First post, sorry if I'm digging up old dirt.

I recently bought a 1997 t595 Daytona, which, according to the old service receipts I got, has had a problem with the battery dying. Well, it still does... One morning I couldn't get the starter motor running.

I recharged the battery and it ran fine, but now a Service Engine light on the instrument panel is lit. Does anyone know why this is? How seriously should I take it - can it be ridden until it's fixed, for example?

I'm wondering if the computer might need resetting after a battery outage or something, but this is very much a layman's guess.

Less acute, but I'm also wondering why the battery keeps dying in the first place. I know this model is known for having electrical problems but not what they are and what to do about them.

But enough for now.

Thanks,

Paul

08-27-2004

Hey all,

First post, sorry if I'm digging up old dirt.

I recently bought a 1997 t595 Daytona, which, according to the old service receipts I got, has had a problem with the battery dying. Well, it still does... One morning I couldn't get the starter motor running.

I recharged the battery and it ran fine, but now a Service Engine light on the instrument panel is lit. Does anyone know why this is? How seriously should I take it - can it be ridden until it's fixed, for example?

I'm wondering if the computer might need resetting after a battery outage or something, but this is very much a layman's guess.

Less acute, but I'm also wondering why the battery keeps dying in the first place. I know this model is known for having electrical problems but not what they are and what to do about them.

But enough for now.

Thanks,

Paul

dolson · 08-28-2004

Hi Paul,

Welcome. If you have the same system as most of the rest. It might go out after 3 complete engine heat cycles. Check oil though.

Don

dolson · 08-28-2004

Hi Paul,

Welcome. If you have the same system as most of the rest. It might go out after 3 complete engine heat cycles. Check oil though.

Don

08-30-2004

Thanks Don!

In the end, the problem just disappeared. I had waited so long to ride after the service engine light first came on that the battery had died again. So, after having ready your suggestion, I recharged the battery and put it back in, preparing to give it three engine heat cycles. But lo' and behold, the light just didn't come on this time. And it rides fine. Go figure.

Now I just have to figure out why the battery keeps dying...

jefftarlton · 08-31-2004

Do you have a meter to measure DC voltage?

09-01-2004

Hi Jeff,

No, but I'm planning on buying a combined volt and amp meter today. And I have the Triumph manual and the Haynes manual. Not being a mechanic (or electrician for that matter) I'm hoping that'll be enough to set me in the right direction. But any hints are more than welcome.

Paul

jefftarlton · 09-01-2004

I don't own a t595 and I don't have a shop manual for one. This is all pretty generic, and will also apply to your transalp.
Charging system checks- Before you start your bike with the key off, measure the voltage directly across the battery. It should be 12V or so. Start the engine and look at your meter. It should be higher than 12V. Rev the engine up and it should rise to around 13.5V before the regulator kicks in. If the voltage continues to rise and gets above 14/14.5 or so, the regulator is frying the battery. If the voltage never gets much above 12, you're not putting any charge into the battery and draining it.
Battery check-disconect both battery terminals from the bike. Charge the battery overnight on a slow charger. Check the voltage. It should be around 12/12.5V. Let the battery sit for a day or two and recheck the voltage. If it's way down, the battery is gone.

09-07-2004

Hey again,

So I checked the charging and it seems fine. The battery measures around 12V engine off, a little higher with it on, and surges up to but not above a 14V when revving the engine, at which point the regulator kicks in.

I also checked for leakage by disconnecting the lead to the negative battery terminal and hooking the multimeter up in between, engine switch off. The indicator actually went below 0, which I guess means no leakage.

All fuses ok.

While I hadn't just charged the battery, the bike had been sitting for several days so I'm guessing the fact that it still measured 12V engine switch off at least nullsuggests that it's not a bad battery.

I guess I'm just going to ride it for a while and see what happens.

Paul

trypcil · 09-08-2004

I find that in the heat here in California batteries require constant tending and I regularly keep them trickle charging. One is a 9 month sealed Yuasa, the other a top up version that's 2 yr old - both require attention, the sealed does'nt fair as well though - mmmmm! I have also an old beater truck, which I use as a run around etc... the check engine light comes on sporadically and the reset for that is disconnect and reconnect the battery - but after about 1000m she pops back on again - it's been doing that for the last 50,000 miles and quite frankly I don't give a damn! :-g :-g :razz: