XJ electrical

[planedick]

I finished the tranny fix on the XJ and after putting the headlight back on (all the wiring inside was unplugged) and plugging everything back together, the computer indicates a battery problem when there isn't any. The owner even spent money on a new battery and the red light still is lit. He has a factory manual and there isn't anything about troublshooting that problem and the electrical diagram doesn't make any reference to that either. I'm pretty sure I connected everythig like it was as the color codes are easy to see and the plugs are such that they only plug into the correct one. What have I missed??

[BigRed]

Don't have the complete answer for you, but I know that there are special batteries with an electrolyte level sensor that plugs into your bike. Your new battery probably doesn't have one of these sensors. The light doesn't necessarily mean that there's a problem, it just means that the sensor's not hooked up. I know there's a fix, try searching for "battery light".

Of course, it's possible that your new battery does have a sensor and it's hooked up properly. If that's the case, you should check your battery's fluid level.

Good luck,
Brian

[planedick]

No sensor

I took the battery out when I turned the bike over and there wasn't and connections except the +/- leads. Are you sure the '82 had such a sensor?

[BigRed]

Pretty sure. Here's a link to an owner's manual courtesy of CatatonicBug.
XJ owner's manual

It says there's a button on the dash that you can push once to make the flashing light glow steady, or push it twice to make the flashing light go out. If there's another fault, then the flashing light will come back on. You will have to do this each time you start the bike.

Good luck!

[bikerphil]

I took the battery out when I turned the bike over and there wasn't and connections except the +/- leads. Are you sure the '82 had such a sensor?

Yes, it has a sensor, maybe it's missing. This tech tip might help....

http://www.xs11.com/xs11-info/tech-t...liminator.html

[Jerry]

One note on the Thech Tip noted above. The resistor value is not real critical. I wrote that you should use a 2K ohm resistor; if you can't fine one, a 2.2 K Ohm, which is real common, works just as well.

[soccer4m]

It works

Hi Planedick,,,, I can verify that the xj fix works, when I bought my xj the battery light came on also,,,so using the ohm fix on the wire, found buried in the mess of wires by the fuse box area and battery, it works. I cant remember the color but I think its white with a plug about 2 inches long. The P.O. probably never used it, because it requires a special battery just for the xj,,,,anyway, use the tech fix, its easy 3 min. job and it will last forever.....Mike

[Cobia]

My XJ has the battery level sensor and the old battery that came with it didn't have the hole to insert into. Luckily the PO didn't just take it off and toss it.
The new battery I bought from WalMart did have it but it was too small. I had to grind down the plastic part (stopper type) so it would fit. Now, although the sensor is in the battery acid, it takes a few minutes before the battery light turns off at the console.
May do the resistor mod one day but for now all's well.
And yes, you can turn off the warning light by pressing that button twice.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Yep.
Had to do the same fix to mine. Once you change out the battery to one w/o the sensor, the fix is to install a 2k ohm resistor. Works like a charm.

Course, then you lose the warning function if your batteries electrolite level actually should get low...

Strange idea they had when they thought that one up...

[planedick]

I wonder

The real problem is that the owner bought the bike in AZ and rode it home. When I asked him if he had that problem on the way he said no, but the battery had no place for any sensor and I didn't see any sensor when I took out the battery.

[icecycle]

Varibles work

My 750XJ maxim had the "battery flashing warning" problem. Previous owner just hit the warning control to solve the problem. What I did was disconnect and remove the unit from the battery and clean it, reinstall. The part inside the battery looks like a mini dip stick, makes sence because it just measures the level of fluid in the battery, or charging problems. Level goes down you may have to look for an electrical problem or just a standard maintance of adding water. Used to clean the sending unit every 3rd oil change.
Now I've got the same problem with the battery light on my 1100 XJ maxim; but just sometimes. A different problem than yours because its intermited. Got to spend time looking for some pain in the a$$ ground fault or corroded connector. I lost my gremlin bell on the way to XS-XJ Mindin rally. This too must be part of the problem.

[KA1J]

Yep.
Had to do the same fix to mine. Once you change out the battery to one w/o the sensor, the fix is to install a 2k ohm resistor. Works like a charm.

Course, then you lose the warning function if your batteries electrolite level actually should get low...

Strange idea they had when they thought that one up...

I've just come across that issue. The XJ1100 has a wire to detect electrolyte level. It has a banana plug on the end. The mating female recepticle had a wire & a resistor in series which connects to the sensor which was placed in the battery.

My AGM has no such opening for a sensor. So if I want to defeat this error info to the computer and put a 2K ohm resistor in series, what do I connect the other end of the resistor to? Ground or positive?

Thanks

[Yahman]

So if I want to defeat this error info to the computer and put a 2K ohm resistor in series, what do I connect the other end of the resistor to? Ground or positive?

Thanks

Positive.

Larry

[KA1J]

Positive.

Larry

Thanks Larry,

I just needed to know before doing a wrong thing.

And... your YICS eliminator just arrived & I haven't opened it yet. I'll put it in in 10 minutes!

Thanks for the fast shipping!

Gary

[Yahman]

Your welcome.

Larry