WHEN NEW BATTERY IS CONNECTED, LIGHTS COME ON

[FreeSwede]

I replaced my old battery in my 1995 GL 1500 SE with the sealed AGM type. Easy, right? Take out old battery, put in new battery, connect battery cables from bike to the correct terminals on the battery. That is what I did, and all the lights came on. I was surprised and thought immediately I must have left the ignition in the on position. But the ignition was OFF and the key wasn't even in it. I repeated the entire process several times, and sure enough, I connect the cables to the terminals, and all the lights come on. I'm an older guy and not much of a mechanic. Can anyone out there tell me what's happening and what to do? Thanks !

[Asphaltmaniac]

All the factory lights including the headlamps???

[virgilmobile]

Strange...Pull #3 relay and try again.

[virgilmobile]

Is there any chance that a wire was left off the battery post..like an additional ground or hot wire?

[Big Blue UK]

so you re installed the old battery, and it was normal each time, and the lights only come on when you connect the AGM, or do the lights come on now, regardless of which battery you connect.

[FreeSwede]

All the factory lights including the headlamps???

Yes, All the factory lights, including headlamps and dash lights.

[FreeSwede]

so you re installed the old battery, and it was normal each time, and the lights only come on when you connect the AGM, or do the lights come on now, regardless of which battery you connect.

No, I did not re-install the old battery, as I left it for disposal at the NAPA shop where I bought the new AGM battery. But that sounds like a good idea, to try it with a different battery.

[FreeSwede]

Is there any chance that a wire was left off the battery post..like an additional ground or hot wire?

There are no additional wires or cables on the battery posts, other than the two lines to the battery maintainer. I took them completely off, and all the lights still went on when re-attached the bike battery cables to the battery terminals.

[FreeSwede]

Strange...Pull #3 relay and try again.

THANKS FOR THE SUGGESTION. I'LL GIVE IT A TRY WHEN I GET HOME FROM WORK.

[Big Blue UK]

I know the AGM is just a lead acid in a tux, I cannot see how it could be the battery. Only thing that makes sense is something come adrift when you changed the battery, but.......

[Charlie1Horse]

+1 on Virgilmobile's idea. Sounds like maybe you got a small spark when removing the old battery or installing the new one and caused the relay to stick. Take the relay cover off and try tapping on the relays with a screwdriver handle to see if one is stuck.
Russell

Those who say it cannot be done should try not to interrupt those who are doing it.

[FreeSwede]

+1 on Virgilmobile's idea. Sounds like maybe you got a small spark when removing the old battery or installing the new one and caused the relay to stick. Take the relay cover off and try tapping on the relays with a screwdriver handle to see if one is stuck.
Russell

Those who say it cannot be done should try not to interrupt those who are doing it.

Yes, I actually did create a small spark when I was installing the new battery and my screwdriver slipped. Good deductive analysis ! Thanks much.

[wingdings]

Is your bike a USA - import bike ??- Mine is a1989 k-wing model and the lights stay on all the time on that too !! - have you got a lights on / off switch??- on euro models they have -its located on the left hand handle bar switch gear its sliding switch button if its not there odds on you have a USA - import bike !! they also made a Swedish version too !! check your vin plate code located on the right hand side head stock that will confirm it too or check with your local dealer he may still have some service history about your bike too I did this and the honda dealer found most of the service history too !! ..

[FreeSwede]

Thanks for your reply. I've been riding this bike for about five years and have a few other batteries, but none of the previous batteries produced this problem.
There is no lights on-off switch. Normally, all the lights go on when you turn the key on, and go off when you turn the key off. Until now. Just connecting the battery cables to the terminals turns on all the lights, even if there is no key even in the ignition.

[MikeB]

Remove Relay #3 and see if the issue goes away.

[Asphaltmaniac]

Thanks for your reply. I've been riding this bike for about five years and have a few other batteries, but none of the previous batteries produced this problem.
There is no lights on-off switch. Normally, all the lights go on when you turn the key on, and go off when you turn the key off. Until now. Just connecting the battery cables to the terminals turns on all the lights, even if there is no key even in the ignition.

Ignition key switch problem then???

[wingdings]

hi - sounds to me like it may be a bad ground earth then - I check around the wiring that you disturbed when you changed the battery look for any chaffing in the wires and defo try a new number 3 relay too !! Virgil mobile is a legend on here - he's usually never wrong along also with mike b - both have helped me loads in the past with my wing !! ...

[virgilmobile]

Virgil mobile is a legend on here - he's usually never wrong along also with mike b - D ...

Awwwww. How nice...thanks for the moral boost...

I use the "KISS" method...and root cause analysis.

[FreeSwede]

hi - sounds to me like it may be a bad ground earth then - I check around the wiring that you disturbed when you changed the battery look for any chaffing in the wires and defo try a new number 3 relay too !! Virgil mobile is a legend on here - he's usually never wrong along also with mike b - both have helped me loads in the past with my wing !! ...

Thanks much .... I'm working on it. Got slowed down by a really large flash flood that washed away half of my landscaping. I live in Utah's southern high desert.

[virgilmobile]

Ouch...I understand flash floods...Two years ago one took 90% of everything I had.

[MikeB]

hi - sounds to me like it may be a bad ground earth then - I check around the wiring that you disturbed when you changed the battery look for any chaffing in the wires and defo try a new number 3 relay too !! Virgil mobile is a legend on here - he's usually never wrong along also with mike b - both have helped me loads in the past with my wing !! ...

Thanks for the flowers wingdings. I try to help when I can. And you are right about Virgil, he is always spot on. Wish I had his record of being right. I get it wrong about 25% of the time.

[wingdings]

Well Mike and Virgil - I can only say a big thankyou to you both for all the help you have both given me over the past few years its people like your selves that make this site what is - A great place to go and share your wing problems with fellow wingers who have the same passion as yourself too - It would be nice if the site gave some sort of award or something !! - Yes ?? If they did you would defo both get my vote !! - lol . again many thanks too ..

[virgilmobile]

The award is allowing us to post our opinions...
It's all good.

[Ravyn]

hi - sounds to me like it may be a bad ground earth then - I check around the wiring that you disturbed when you changed the battery look for any chaffing in the wires and defo try a new number 3 relay too !! Virgil mobile is a legend on here - he's usually never wrong along also with mike b - both have helped me loads in the past with my wing !! ...

Thanks much .... I'm working on it. Got slowed down by a really large flash flood that washed away half of my landscaping. I live in Utah's southern high desert.

Well FreeSwede, did you ever get the problem figured out ? Or did I miss something somewhere ?

[FreeSwede]

hi - sounds to me like it may be a bad ground earth then - I check around the wiring that you disturbed when you changed the battery look for any chaffing in the wires and defo try a new number 3 relay too !! Virgil mobile is a legend on here - he's usually never wrong along also with mike b - both have helped me loads in the past with my wing !! ...

Thanks much .... I'm working on it. Got slowed down by a really large flash flood that washed away half of my landscaping. I live in Utah's southern high desert.

Well FreeSwede, did you ever get the problem figured out ? Or did I miss something somewhere ?

THANKS SO VERY MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO HAS GIVEN ME ADVICE ON HOW TO TRY AND FIND WHAT IS CAUSING MY BATTERY LIGHT PROBLEM. I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT POSTING MY THANKS EARLIER. I still have my problem, because I have not been able to work on it. I got surprised with having to spend some time in the hospital. Things have turned out okay so far, and I'm scheduled to be released on Wednesday, Oct. Wednesday, Oct 10th. I'll be back working on my Goldwing 1500 the very next day. Thanks to all of you again.