Battery discharging (current leak)
 

Hello,

I have a 98' SH that has recently started to lose its battery charge. I'm getting a reading (DVM) of 1.9 amps between the negative cable (disconnected) and the battery (ignition off of course). I've tried unplugging the R/R, but the draw is still there? Any other 'suspect' parts I should check that would cause this type of leakage? I appreciate your help!

Thanks!

~Norm

Start pulling fuses and watch the DVM. When the current draw goes away then you have to start troubleshooting that circuit. It's not easy but can be done. I'll post up a wiring diagram if you'd like, but it can also be had in the service manual, which there is a link to in the Knowledge Base section.

The current leakage that I'm getting is actually 2.82 mA (not amps), and that goes away after pulling the odometer fuse? Is that the right amount of current draw for that item? This is a recent purchase (bike), and was told that it had a new battery. It had been starting/running ok for the first week and a half? The battery itself appears to be new, but we all know appearances are deceiving. I'm going to give it a slow and through charge, and see if it will hold. According to the service manual (download), there should be no more than a 0.1 mA leak.

~Norm

Yeah, that's about right. I assume you have an '02 or newer with the clock, right?

Nope, it's a 98', odometer, trip odometer only.

~Norm

I'm looking at the SH wiring diagram and the only thing that fuse runs is the odometer. So the only suspect i can say is theres a short in the actual odometer. Now i don't know how mechanicly incline you are but i would take the instrument cluster apart and see if there are any chafed wires or any burn marks and go from there.

With a '98 I would think there should be zero current draw with the key off. There are no accessories to power nor anything with memory like a clock or radio.

I've seen dead bugs, corrosion, dirt, poor wiring insulation, etc. cause a slight ground before. Check your connectors and you can pull the cluster off and take it apart. After that start inspecting the wiring harness for shorts.