maybe battery help?

strick3n · Post by **strick3n** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:11 am

Now that it's spring time, i need to get back on MB more often. But a little background is that i have a heated/attached garage, and would start my scooter up periodically over the winter, and i always had to kick start it(once every couple weeks). now that the spring weather is here i noticed that the horn, blinkers, lights or anything else electronically doesn't work. the horn makes a very feint noise, and the blinkers make a loud buzz noise when i try to use them. I've tried charging the battery, and only when i have a "jump" mode (50 amps i think) pushing through the scooter, will it work fine. The only thing i can think of would be the problem is a drain on the battery, or the battery i just bad. Does MB have any other ideas?

I looked around and didn't see this posted anywhere, but does anyone have any recommendations on what a good battery would be, if this is the actual problem? (prima, yuasa, or parts unlimited?) any help would be greatly appreciated.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:46 am

If you're having the same problem with the blinkers, horn, etc. when the engine is running, that doesn't sound like a battery problem, because the engine should be producing the necessary current to drive those.

strick3n · Post by **strick3n** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 2:33 pm

That's what I thought at first, but I ran an alternator check and it passed, and I've had similar problems with car batteries in the past, but what else could it be then?

Also it's a 2008 buddy 125

pdxrita · Post by **pdxrita** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 3:05 pm

It seems pretty obvious to me that you need a new battery, since you had to kick start it all winter and it won't start unless you have the charger set to jump. Since you have to replace that anyhow, start there and then troubleshoot if your issue persists. In my opinion, which battery you choose doesn't make a heck of a lot of difference. You can get a battery from Sears, or Batteries Plus or any other place that sells a variety of batteries. Just take the battery with you and they'll tell you what to replace it with. It's nothing special. What's more important is that you take care of the battery, either by riding often or by keeping it on a trickle charger when you aren't riding.

Lotrat · Post by **Lotrat** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 3:05 pm

If your battery is shorted it will pull down the output voltage of the charging system. You also run the risk of blowing your charging system with a bad battery that draws full charging current all the time.

What voltage are you reading on the battery with the scoot off and with the scoot on (not running)? What does the voltage drop to when you start it?

If you have been charging the battery every now and then with limited time you may have lost it.
A 100% discharged battery will read 11.7V.
10.45 to 10.65 volts indicates a shorted cell.
A battery left under 10.5 will have damaged cells.
Under 9V is a boat anchor.

Time is the main factor here. You may be able to recharge your battery, but if it sat for a few weeks under 10.5V it may be time for a new battery.

siobhan · Post by **siobhan** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:52 pm

I upgraded to this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003L7 ... 00_details

It was a little cheaper when I got it, but this is still a good deal (free shipping). It's a stronger battery that fits into the Buddy battery compartment without having to cut the floorboard flap.

strick3n · Post by **strick3n** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 2:20 am

Lotrat, im not sure the voltage readings, on account of not owning a tester. but i'm going to try to find a new battery for a decent price(just paid off school and i'm a little on the broke side) I'm looking into buying a battery and i can't understand why theres such a price jump from the "parts unlimited brand($45) to the yuasa or pretty much any other ($60+)