2004 500. I was just out for a ride and the battery light in the speedo head started flashing. Checked the charging rate and I have just battery voltage (11.65-11.80) no matter what the r.p.m.s. were. Only 20 hours on this machine. Any Ideas? Checked all of the obvious stuff cables ect.

 

Since its so new i would take it to the dealer let them fix it... Could be the stator, voltage regulator, a short some were.

 

Those charge readings are probably what the battery has for charge and not what your putting out. It may be a bad lead or fuse. Check the wiring if you can. If not warranty time.

 

when u put a voltmeter on the battery and have the engine running, does the voltage on the voltmeter go up as the RPM's go up? if not then it's not your batter........could be your stator.......

 

The voltage does not go up or down with the r.p.m.s. It only changes slightly if the lights are on and then you turn them off it will come up a little but not much. When you turn it off the voltage will come up to about 11.80 but that is because it is not running or drawing anything out of the battery. Before this afternoon it was fine and no signs of a charging or starting problem.

 

try this, connect a DC AMMETER in series w/ the negative battery terminal and the negative cable. the negative cable on the ammeter should touch the negative cable to the quad, the positive cable on the ammeter should touch the negative battery lead.
-your ammeter should read negative amps
-start the engine w/ the recoil starter
-rev the engine, you should see the ammeter go from negative to positive indicating a charge is being delivered to the battery

-if this doesn't work either, let me know, I might have something else....

p.s. I don't mean to insult your intelligence if I have.......

 

I will try this later today when I get some time. I should have thought about that myself. I have been insulted for less no big deal. (no feelings who cares)

Thank you

 

Skratch, I tried the amp meter and when you start and run it it stays in the neg. between 2.10 & 2.14 amps. What next?

 

Assumming all your connections are clean and secure. I would guess it's gonna be your stator. I suppose the voltage regulator could be the culprit Not sure where the regulator is at.

 

Do your lights get brighter when you rev up the motor?