battery problem/question?

[wizard]

We were in rangeley this weekend with overnight temps below -20 deg. Saturday moring my 03 and my girlfriends 04 would barely crank over a couple times. We ended up jumping them with my truck and after 10-15 min we got them started. my friends cranked over and started on its own but left the choke on too long and fouled plugs. After the were running and warmed up both started the rest of the day on their own. I didn't try them before we left on sunday but I did try to start them when we got back to Mass and they fired right up. Should the batteries be replaced or were they just too cold in the morning?

 

[1xr]

At -20 would anything start?

 

[wizard]

HEMI fired right up!

 

[Mighty]

First time out last season my RX sat outside at -22 and it fired right up in the morning. Wish I could have said the same for the 2-smokes in the crowd :lol: We were there for quite a while getting them all going

 

[4stroker]

Friday night after sled sitting in trailer for two weeks and temperature in -20 degree range my sled would barely turn over. Jumped with booster box and rode the night with out any problems next AM (after a low close to -30) after leaving sled outside wouldn't turn over enough to catch. Jumped again and rode all day with no problem. Put charger on it (outside and -20) all night and it fired right up Sunday AM with no problem. I'm not sure if the battery was just weak or maybe it's shot. I'll have to wait until next weekend to see for sure. I do know the local dealer had a few RX's in with the same problem over the weekend. If it's shot I might have to take some of the blame since I didn't purchase my charger until after the summer and I didn't charge the battery at all. Last year with some very cold nights I didn't have any problems.

 

[POWERHAULIC]

I have seen numerious '03's not start this season. I believe that the batterys are just a little on the weak side.

The stock battery is a YTX20L-BS, I am using the high performance replacment, a YTX20HL-BS.

YTX20L-BS = 270 CCA (cold cranking amp)
YTX20HL-BS = 310 CCA

Same physical size, just more power. 8)

 

[wizard]

thanks for the feedback. I took both batteries out this morning and I called the dealer. I told him what happened and he wanted to check them out. He wanted me to bring them up to him and he'll charge them up and then test them under a load, then we can determine if there is a bad cell. There was 1 time last year it was -20 overnight but it still cranked over. I could see a problem with mine being a year old, but my girlfriends is a 04 and I don't think it should have failed. Mine cranked over more than hers. If they need to be replaced I will ask about the hi-po one unless they will be replaced under the warranty, then maybe I'll see if he'll split the difference.

thanks!!

 

[jim-bob]

Last year I had no problem with the '03 and I started it in some very cold weather several times/ this Warrior's battery went dead this fall sitting in a heated garage/ I slow charged it for a couple days and to this point it has been fine/ Yamaha may have changed companies and this battery may require more attention at the dealer "prep" time/ anywho- we're back in business/later

 

[Rx1 cowboy]

-30 over here in rockwood last weekend and the fired right up

 

[Honk]

just had to share this one with you guys. A buddy of mine just called a couple days ago to say he was now an RX-1 owner! Man did he love that pull! He was comin off a 6ooho rev.He put it away in the garage and for days it wouldn't start, He figured that this was why he got a great deal on this sled, 5500us 03 shorty and all the acc included. So he wakes up yesterday saying I am going to trade this sled today if it won't start again, well, it didn't start! Before he traded he called me to ask questions on starting the sled, that is when he found out about the, -CHOKE-!
He now loves this sled again!!

 

[POWERHAULIC]

He mush have thought it had EFI. :lol: ( I WISH )

 

[low flying missile]

The batteries are a problem. The mechanic at my dealership has warranteed several from the 2003's. They worked all last winter but failed over the summer. Supposedly the fate of the battery is determined early on. The battery must be charged for 24 hrs using an Optimate or similar charger. If the customer is rushing the service department to get the sled ready quickly and the battery doesn't recieve the full charge the battery is doomed to an early death. Yamaha is giving the dealers a hard time about warranteeing the battery as they say it is the dealers fault.

 

[wizard]

I took the batteries up to the dealer yesterday and he tested with the meter yamah sent him from yusa. both batteries tested fine, tested as good as a charged one on the shelf. Maybe the motor was just too cold? If it happens again I'll look into the high cranking amp battery that mx900 recomended, but for now I may pick up a battery booster/charger, that will be easier than unhooking the truck to jump them.

 

[low flying missile]

Wizard... A cheaper alternative would be to buy the light weight Rage battery for under 20 dollars and use it to boost the sled in the morning.Better yet,install the lightweight battery for the weight savings and use the original to boost the Rage if it ever becomes necessary.

 

[LazyBastard]

Last weekend it was -35 where I ride. The sled had been sitting for 2 weeks (lack of snow) since last run. Cranked over a bit slower than usual, took about 15 seconds to get it running. 03 with original battery, running SYNTHETIC oil. I was looking at bottles of oil in the morning, and everything I could find (all I had on the shelf was semi synthetic and mineral), and they were thick like tar. I would imagine that the syn. was runnier, which would allow the beast to crank easier.