Trying to help a buddy of mine out. Bike is a 2002 Electra Glide Classic.

Battery was dead, down to 4 volts...so he tried charging battery with automobile type (big) battery charger. Used as high as 225 amps...bike would do nothing but click.

He went and bought a new battery at dealer, installed it and bike fired right up, but lights immediately blew out. Fuse for lights, he said a 15 amp mini fuse, was blown. Replaced the fuse, but as soon as he turns the ignition switch on, the fuse blows for the lights. By lights, I mean ALL lights, but, the brakelight and turn signals work as they should.

I know we've all read or heard NOT to use a high amp battery charger to start or charge a battery on a bike, but (I'm sure he isn't the only one who has) what has happened here?

Any ideas, suggestions, are greatly appreciated...

Cliff Notes:
Battery was dead
Never started with battery charger hooked up
New battery, bike fired right up
As soon as ignition is turned ON, light fuse blows, bike doesn't have to run

 

Fuses only blow when there is a short.............he is going to have to check the wiring

All the things together seem connected but are more than likely coincidental.

If bike runs and everything else works then there is a short on the lighting somewhere from the taillight to the headlight and down to the fender light.

 

Is the bike fuel injected because if it is and you tried "JUMP STARTING" it with anything other that another motorcycle battery or a charger set properly you can easly damage the ECM and the problems there after can have a wide range of effects.

 

I'm going to offer to haul the bike to my house and dig into it. I am leaning towards coincidence myself.

That, I am not sure of. He didn't tell me if it is carbed or not, and I never asked. I understand that there could be weird issues with ECM, but don't understand how an ECM issue would have anything at all to do with the lights? Can you elaborate any, why or how they are connected?

Thanks for replies.

 

Could the problem have existed before the new battery was fitted????

 

Can you tell me why?

 

Bike starts so ECM is fine..........ECM does not control lights or have anything to do with light fuse.

 

No sir. I talked to him this evening a little more in depth. Lights were working when he first tried starting the bike with the bad battery and charger hooked to it. Sometime between that first time trying to start it, and getting the new battery, he noticed lights weren't working. I'm going to go get the bike from him Tuesday and get it to my house where I have the time and the tools to hopefully track the problem down without a whole lot of time invested...famous last words, huh? lol ...wish me luck.

 

But why was the battery originally only showing 4 volts?

 

original battery was dead...almost...which is why he tried hotshotting it