29 replies to this topic

[NuggyBuggy]

In the second of my two Revs apparently going down this weekend, while on the trail my son mentioned the low battery lamp was flashing and the sled was beeping.  I assumed the battery was low and that the beeping was associated so we just proceeded on home.

 

I rode the sled for a bit (mine died in the middle of the lake) and I noticed that the very top part of the EMS/Engine Management System was also lit.  The rest of the lamp wasn't lit making it very hard to notice, so I'm not sure if the bulb is just dead or not.  While I was riding it, the sled would either beep a short beep or a longer beep, usually separated by a second or more.  The interval was varied and it wasn't always a fixed pattern - it almost seemed random.

 

Went out today to start it so I could park it near my garage and charge the battery.  Electric start didn't work.  Sled started with a pull but it kept sputtering out and hesitating and did not want to be rev'ed even a bit or it would die.  EMS lamp does not appear to be on.

 

I put my NOCO booster pack on it, and it seemed better but still uneven.  You could hear it idling, and it would sound like it would just about die, then go back to a normal idle.  Moved the sled near the garage.  NOCO charger says the battery is at 100%.  I measured voltage on battery and it's at 11.8 V.

 

I've left the charger on it but wondering if something is wrong here.  My other sled seized up on the same trip (I think).  Coincidence ? I'd topped both sleds up with coolant and oil.

 

Any advice would be appreciated.  Anything more than simple things like replacing a fuse or a battery (for either sled), I'm probably going to have to bring it to a shop in which case my season is probably over.

 

THanks for reading.

[12/3]

Good chance that the battery is toast.  SDI's rely on a good battery.

 

Do you have a battery from another sled that you could try?   How old is the battery that is in the sled? 

Edited by 12/3, 08 February 2021 - 06:01 PM.

[REV-O-LUTION]

   from what i see ....the sled is not an sdi one,more like a carb one...

[Daag44]

It sounds like voltage is too low when the sled is running. Check the running voltage.

[Craiger17]

Sounds like a couple issues I've had with both my sled and my son's (2006 GSX 500ss).  My sled had a bad battery from the previous owner, so I bought a replacement.  Fired up fine so I thought I'd test the charging system... 12.6 volts.  Revved it up, 12.6 volts.  All accessories were off.  I started looking around and found the relay for the charging system.  Bench tested it and put 12 volts to it, sure enough it worked.  But when I tried to get it to light my test light, it wouldn't.  Popped in a new relay and upon startup, at idle I was at 13.2 volts and 14.4 volts when revving it. 

 

So I'd check the battery with a load tester, can get from Amazon for $20-30 or so.  Invaluable tool to know if your battery is good or not.  Also, can get a box of 30-40 amp relays pretty cheap.  Charging relay is left side under visor heater.  Relays really need to be tested thoroughly, just seeing if the coil energizes or if it has continuity isn't enough.  Have to see if it will power something when energized.  So whenever a battery fails, it's a good idea to look further at the charging system. 

[Daag44]

Sounds like a couple issues I've had with both my sled and my son's (2006 GSX 500ss).  My sled had a bad battery from the previous owner, so I bought a replacement.  Fired up fine so I thought I'd test the charging system... 12.6 volts.  Revved it up, 12.6 volts.  All accessories were off.  I started looking around and found the relay for the charging system.  Bench tested it and put 12 volts to it, sure enough it worked.  But when I tried to get it to light my test light, it wouldn't.  Popped in a new relay and upon startup, at idle I was at 13.2 volts and 14.4 volts when revving it. 
 
So I'd check the battery with a load tester, can get from Amazon for $20-30 or so.  Invaluable tool to know if your battery is good or not.  Also, can get a box of 30-40 amp relays pretty cheap.  Charging relay is left side under visor heater.  Relays really need to be tested thoroughly, just seeing if the coil energizes or if it has continuity isn't enough.  Have to see if it will power something when energized.  So whenever a battery fails, it's a good idea to look further at the charging system.

 
Excellent account and explanation of the charging system and testing the relay!
 
Thank you.
 
 
I found the thread that I wanted to give you in return for a proper thank you. The first one has both, the relay AND stator. I added another one for relay diagnostic. In both cases the problem was diagnosed and solved in one page. Both times I was stunned with how quick it went. This is the level of diagnostics that needs to be brought to the forefront. Some things require a little more depth due to being uncommon and thus more difficult to find, but the majority of problems are reoccurring and can be diagnosed fast by knowing where to look first and what to measure. Thanks to owners like yourself, it is getting easier. What you explained is at the highest level of diagnostics with the use of a common multimeter. There are career auto techs on this site who are far more experienced and can do this with a simple test light. For the simple owners like us, I think we are doing pretty good.
 
Battery wont Charge Electrical problem
 
Relay Testing 

Edited by Daag44, 09 February 2021 - 12:50 AM.

[NuggyBuggy]

   from what i see ....the sled is not an sdi one,more like a carb one...

The sled is a 600 HO SDI. 

[NuggyBuggy]

It sounds like voltage is too low when the sled is running. Check the running voltage.

Thanks Daag44.  Is this as simple as putting a multimeter on it while the sled is running ?  And dumb question -  are there any spots that it is not safe to do this while running ?

[NuggyBuggy]

Good chance that the battery is toast.  SDI's rely on a good battery.

 

Do you have a battery from another sled that you could try?   How old is the battery that is in the sled? 

I do - I have two other Revs.  I'll swap battery and see if it works.  I bought the sled used in December, the lady who sold it to me said it was a new battery but who knows.  This was the first sign of any trouble I've had with that machine.

[NuggyBuggy]

 

So I'd check the battery with a load tester, can get from Amazon for $20-30 or so.  Invaluable tool to know if your battery is good or not.  Also, can get a box of 30-40 amp relays pretty cheap.  Charging relay is left side under visor heater.  Relays really need to be tested thoroughly, just seeing if the coil energizes or if it has continuity isn't enough.  Have to see if it will power something when energized.  So whenever a battery fails, it's a good idea to look further at the charging system. 

Thank you Craiger17.  

 

Looking at a couple of testers at a local place.

 

Does one look better than the other ?

 

https://www.canadian...9p.0113009.html

https://www.canadian...=aw.ds#store=74

[Craiger17]

Thank you Craiger17.  

 

Looking at a couple of testers at a local place.

 

Does one look better than the other ?

 

https://www.canadian...9p.0113009.html

https://www.canadian...=aw.ds#store=74

 

I like the latter one, but it's a bit more than I'd like to pay for something I use once and awhile.  I copied the name of the one I use, I bought it after seeing a fellow youtuber use it below.  All Amazon products have whacky names but I can vouch this little thing works.

 

It is powered off of the battery your testing, even the smallest amount of juice will power it.  It's fast, accurate, I've used it on brand new, old, year old batteries, really gives a lot of information for a small cheap tester.  I've used it on brand new boat batteries I've drained down only to have it tell me, the battery is bad and says "Replace".  I then say, I'll try charging it and it won't take a charge.  They are pretty accurate little units.

 

The latter one you show is a digital readout and I like those, but as long as it will tell you if it can take a load, enter the cold cranking amps CCA of the battery you're testing, it will work.  

 

Then if you don't have a multimeter, you can one at Canadian Tire too.  Don't have to spend a fortune on a multi meter.  I use that for testing wall sockets in my house that go bad to anything in my garage.  Of course, Youtube is your friend on testing things, relays, batteries...solenoids.. I do better with visual things so that's my go to on learning how to do stuff.  

  LEICESTERCN Battery Tester for Automotive Digital 12V Car Battery Load Test and Analyzer for Flood, Gel, AGM, Deep Cycle Battery

[xcrsp440]

Battery story. Bought a used 2015 800 etec a couple years ago. Last winter one cold day, sled would barely turn over. Got a new YUASA from a dealer. Worked great. Had it on a tender on and off all summer, started sled just fine this fall.
Last Saturday went to move the sled. Completely dead, battery read 9.7v. Put it on a charger over night, best I could get was 11.4 v.
Still had the old original battery on the shelf (should have tossed it). It still had 12.4v, so I put that back in and it started just fine.

Heading to NAPA to pick up a fresh battery today.

[Daag44]

Thanks Daag44.  Is this as simple as putting a multimeter on it while the sled is running ?  And dumb question -  are there any spots that it is not safe to do this while running ?

  

Yes, that simple. You can measure from both battery poles, or bat positive and chassis/ground.

 

By the way I have the first tester you showed with a 125A heating element. But I can also load test with the fuel pumps priming for 2 seconds, or with the head lights using a simple jumper on the Load Relay. It may appears backyard to use a jumper, but I do have this this as an official procedure from BRP for a different test.

[NuggyBuggy]

It sounds like voltage is too low when the sled is running. Check the running voltage.

Went out to check running voltage as you suggest daag44.  It started up beautifully, no warning beeps, no engine trouble light.   I put the voltmeter on it while running, its about 12.2 V give or take a few hundredths.

 

I don't even know what a relay is but I feel like that's what I'm going to be buying next.... should I replace the 30A fuse that right above the battery as well ?

 

I bought the battery tester that you said was a little expensive daag44, because I know I can get it today with curbside pickup.  In for a penny, in for a pound, right ? I've had some weird battery issues on my other two sleds and it sounds like this is a useful tool to have even if only occassionally.  

[Daag44]

I think that tester will do fine. Canadian tire has it special for half the price several times a year, but the important thing is to get it fast. Half of me wishes I had pushed harder to use the fuel pump priming sequence as a load test, because the real money needs to be spend on the a quality battery with the highest CCA that can fit the battery tray. But on the same token, owning a battery tester is priceless. In other words it was a good thing that you got it.
 
12.2 Vdc for running voltage tells me the battery is not charging. Start by replacing the relay.

Edited by Daag44, 10 February 2021 - 01:49 PM.