Lost all power and lights

[icedad]

My wife's car car broke down last night, lost her headlights. So, I went out on the trike have to her follow me home. 1/2 way home during the darkest stretch on the highway of course, I lose all power and lights in rural Ga. No street lights or anything but my wife's parking lights. Woa.. Right away I move into the left lane so my wife doesn't run my butt over. While I'm coasting down the road at a slow rate of speed. I checked the kill switch, it's ok.
I wind up pushing the trike a 1/4 mile down the road to a church where I feel around under the ignition switch for any lose wires. None. Ok. I drove the car home another 6 miles and get the pick up and trailer. On the the way I get pick up my son and get the trike and bring it home. Still had plenty of battery left, because of the LED'S were still working.
Any ideas anyone of where I should start looking? 1998 Goldwing 1500 CSC. My first impression was the ignition switch. But is there any relays in line to the switch that might go first? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated before I just go out and buy a new switch. They don't give returns on electrical parts. :Shrug:

Thanks, Randy

 

[mhgoldwing]

when my ex 1500 quit on me like that it was the alternator that had quit letting the battery drop below levels that will keep the bike running. Once the voltage drops the Wing will not function. Replacing just the battery will only last as long as it can operate without being charged. The alternator failure was common on the 1500.

 

[icedad]

Allrighty mhgoldwing, I'm gonna go out and recharge the battery with the trickle charger. I'm hoping by doing that, if the trike fires up or if I have any juice, then the verdict will be an alternator. I just never heard of an alternator failure that fast. I do have a voltage gauge on the bike and didn't notice it not charging. Thank-you sir for your suggestion. I will let you know what happens.

 

[cscsonny]

My alternator went out last year less than 5 miles from a gas ststion fill up where it started perfectly.
You could also check 1st for a loose cable at the battery,that would do it also.

 

[Shimpy]

A friend's 1500 died on him while we were riding this last Sat. It would jump start but died when the cables were removed. It took a new alternator to fix it.

 

[jackpoet]

Allrighty mhgoldwing, I'm gonna go out and recharge the battery with the trickle charger. I'm hoping by doing that, if the trike fires up or if I have any juice, then the verdict will be an alternator. I just never heard of an alternator failure that fast. I do have a voltage gauge on the bike and didn't notice it not charging. Thank-you sir for your suggestion. I will let you know what happens.

I had to replace my Alternator on my 1500 this spring. Same thing, got lucky, seen on my monitor it was not charging. drove straight to the shop, about 3 miles. By the time I got there it was over. So I agree, start there.

 

[Bikerbozo]

Driving though rural GA. Lights out on car. Then power gone from trike...OK, I'm going to say it. It was aliens. And not the illegal type. Some of the Nanu, nanu take me to you trikeleader type. Really, I swear I didn't hit my head in the accident.

 

[Chumbly]

Driving though rural GA. Lights out on car. Then power gone from trike...OK, I'm going to say it. It was aliens. And not the illegal type. Some of the Nanu, nanu take me to you trikeleader type. Really, I swear I didn't hit my head in the accident.

:xzqxz: Ya, I was thinkin' the same thing. You didn't ...like... loose a coupla hours or anything, didja ?:Shrug:

 

[Bikerbozo]

:xzqxz: Ya, I was thinkin' the same thing. You didn't ...like... loose a coupla hours or anything, didja ?:Shrug:

That could explain not remembering the road and butt being sore after 1000 miles or so.

 

[Chumbly]

'Specially the "butt being sore"... I've heard about those "probings".:gah:

 

[icedad]

Driving though rural GA. Lights out on car. Then power gone from trike...OK, I'm going to say it. It was aliens. And not the illegal type. Some of the Nanu, nanu take me to you trikeleader type. Really, I swear I didn't hit my head in the accident.

ROFLMAO Bozo..... I didn't think of that until you mentioned it. I like that one. Good one. clapping Been raining down here, so I haven't done much of anything on the trike. The car on the other hand is going to cost me $600.00 to repair. Needs a new light whatchamacallit that's only found on a few cars that Ford's make. Gran Marquis, Crown Vic's and etc. Has something to do with the automatic light sensing device. Will be finished today.

 

[John Luciano]

Stupid question you did check the main fuse. Right? Also you may not need a new alternator. Just brushes. The 1500 require new alternator brushes every 60,000 miles . Easy to do. The hang up due to dust from wear. Cost me $40 to have mine done . If you get bike running tap in the alternator with the back of a screwdriver and see if it stars charging . ( hook a volt meter to the battery and it should jump up to 14 volts .)
Don't just look at the main fuse totally remove it. They some times get a hair line crack that can't bee seen. Removal and it will fall apart. There is a replacement in the. Fuse holder cover..

 

[icedad]

John, I have to admit "I" did not check the main fuse. I really didn't think they would build a system designed for a complete failure such as this. This is dangerous.
Thanks, I will look at this as soon as it quits raining down here. epressed:

 

[Lucky]

Had my 1500 do that and found it was the bank angle sensor.They are designed to shut down the bike after it lays to far over in a curve.When mine went bad it would shut it down on a bump.However if you recycled the icgn,it would sart againRIDE SAFE

 

[John Luciano]

Fuse should be to the right side of the battery in a little black box. Looks like a dog bone. They some time develope a hair line crack that you can't see.

 

[icedad]

Thanks John, I'll pull the "dogbone" and check it. Visually, it looks fine.

 

[icedad]

After all the rain and flooding we've had down here and cleaning up the yard, I checked that main fuse again. Pulled it out, seemed ok. Jumped the fuse and still did not have anything. Is there anything else I can easily check, or is this a job for an experienced goldwing mechanic, which obviously I am not?

 

[orange winger2]

Have you checked to confirm the alternator is charging battery? The brushing sometimes stick due to dust. If not charging try taping alternator, it's an emergency fix until removed and cleaned proper.

 

[icedad]

Well after it's all said and done, the problem turned out to be the fuse on the starter solenoid. The shop was extremely busy this time of year with watercraft and etc. I'm glad they finally found the problem. I guess I'm just too intimidated by all the plastic on these things to tear them apart. Thank you all for all of your thoughts and suggestions.