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Tech => Tech Help => Topic started by: spelunker on March 30, 2013, 12:37:52 AM

Title: 2013 Zero S 11.4 charge issue
Post by: spelunker on March 30, 2013, 12:37:52 AM
Okay, so I get to work and plug in my bike.  The charge light flashes a little faster than normal and the warning light fliashes quickly, then both go out for several seconds.  Then start again.  I didn't get an owner's manual with my bike (which the dealer is looking into).  What am I up against?  I hope it's not too serious.
Title: Re: 2013 Zero S 11.4 charge issue
Post by: BrianTRice@gmail.com on March 30, 2013, 02:28:44 AM
That's happened to me, too. The manual lists some diagnostic interpretation to the flashes, for the "system warning indicator" (the red triangle). Most of them are benign. I think that during charging, one result will come up if the throttle is slightly engaged or the cutout switch is in the wrong position (but I'm speculating - I haven't interpreted the flashes when I did get them). It's supposed to be a quick sequence like morse code, like "1" and then "3" as two clusters of flashes that repeat, which the manual says means "Charger Connected" (with throttle not relaxed or the cutout switch on) so maybe that's what you're getting.

The BMS light (in the little plastic window in front of the bike behind the forks on the left side) more directly tells you about the battery rather than the bike state. It's more like a progress meter (but also shows another state when balancing cells).


Title: Re: 2013 Zero S 11.4 charge issue
Post by: BrianTRice@gmail.com on March 30, 2013, 05:16:55 AM
I should add that the bike charges normally even when those lights happen. The first time it happened I just kept unplugging and re-plugging it in. But after that I just ignored the lights and it turned to normal charging after a short time.
Title: Re: 2013 Zero S 11.4 charge issue
Post by: firepower on March 30, 2013, 08:04:48 PM
Maybe battery temperature warning? did you ride it hard to work?
After it cool a bit charging resume ?
Title: 2013 Zero S 11.4 charge issue
Post by: spelunker on March 30, 2013, 08:19:24 PM
Outside temp was about 70. Not hard riding. After sitting for 9 hours, still doing it.
Title: Re: 2013 Zero S 11.4 charge issue
Post by: spelunker on March 30, 2013, 10:37:29 PM
My dealer ran a diagnostic this morning and found a breaker was kicking out.  So, now he is ordering a new breaker and a new charger to see if the breaker was defective, or if the charger is bad.  I should have the bike back by the middle of next week.
Title: 2013 Zero S 11.4 charge issue
Post by: spelunker on April 07, 2013, 09:38:34 AM
It turns out there was a defective fuse holder that was not allowing a good connection to the charger. All is well, now. Yay for me. I was really surprised that I missed the bike as much as I did while it was at the dealer awaiting parts.
Title: Re: 2013 Zero S 11.4 charge issue
Post by: benswing on April 07, 2013, 06:09:22 PM
Agreed, you'll find that leaving your bike at the dealer for service or upgrades is worthy of some emotional distress.  I love riding my Zero and any day it is not available to ride on a sunny day causes a slight case of depression.  :-[

Of course the cure is simply to get back in the saddle and ride the hell of of it when you get it back!   ;D ;D ;D