2013 - 2015 V7 over voltage problem & poll

[drlapo]

my 13 V7 is sending 15.45 volts to the battery and that ain't good.
I understand that all 13-15 V7 have bad voltage regulators and will fry the battery, cam sensor and even the ECU
the warranty expired last moth so the fix is out of my pocket
has anyone fit a mosfet VR to a V7?

[canuguzzi]

If ALL V7s have this problem, why hasn't anyone filed a complaint?

Then, instead of everyone paying for what is claimed to be a problem with all V7s, MG would simply replace them.

All it took was a very few persistent individuals and MG agreed to pay for labor and parts in the USA to fix the flat tappets.

Owning a Moto Guzzi doesn't mean paying for everything out of pocket if all the bikes have the same fault.

Suggest you file a warranty claim through the dealer, claim the problem is known to exist and has existing during the warranty period.

Overcharging the battery, frying the ECU and all that?

If everyone who had the V7 with the problem did it, it wouldn't be a problem, there would be a fix.

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/Complaint.cfm

[pyoungbl]

Yep, fitted a mosfet R/R last year after seeing 15+ volts in my electrical system.  This was not a warranty claim since the dealer would simply replace with another R/R that would probably do exactly the same thing.  The mosfet R/R was not exactly a plug and play but darn close.  The mounting required making an adapter plate.

The good news is that the new plate will also be a super heat sink.

Peter Y.

[canuguzzi]

Actually, MG could not replace the regulator with another faulty one, it is a warranty claim.

The logic that because a part is bad that all bad parts can be replace with all bad parts doesn't seem to wash. The cost is about $100 for a replacement (varies on what you buy).

If individuals just keep quiet about it and pay out of their own pockets, then MG keeps selling bikes with bad regulators and guess who is partly responsible for that?

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/Complaint.cfm

[pyoungbl]

If ALL V7s have this problem, why hasn't anyone filed a complaint?

All it took was a very few persistent individuals and MG agreed to pay for labor and parts in the USA to fix the flat tappets.

Not so! Guzzi won't even return my email about my roller repair.  They denied the dealer's claim.  The DLC is worn off and my cam lobes are burned.  The only thing missing is a rod through the block.  Be careful when you make such a generalization.

[canuguzzi]

Not so! Guzzi won't even return my email about my roller repair.  They denied the dealer's claim.  The DLC is worn off and my cam lobes are burned.  The only thing missing is a rod through the block.  Be careful when you make such a generalization.

No generalizations. MG will pay for the flat tappet repair.

Why did they deny your claim? There had to be a reason, they always state it. Ask the dealer why it was denied.

If adequate service records don't exist, that isn't on MG, that would be on the owner.

If others are getting them fixed and you are not, then why not? Doubtful they are just denying your claim for no reason.

[drlapo]

active discussion on the "other" site
it seems to be a widespread problem with 13-15 voltage regulators
the one on my bike puts out a constant 15.45 regardless of RPM, so its working; kind of
I hope it hasn't damaged the cam sensor yet
I'll talk to my dealer but I don't have high hopes

[drlapo]

I see that the standard MG VR has 6 wires and it looks like the mosfet unit has  only 5
how does that work?
the VR on my Triumph triple has 7 leads???

[canuguzzi]

If MG fixes the problem, how does that not benefit the OP?

Wouldn't a fix benefit every other owner of a V7 that has the same problem?

Not asking for a fix guarantees he pays for it. If his battery is toasted, he pays for that too. Now we're up to a couple hundred bucks. If the ECU goes, quite a bit more.

I get it, the quick fix and it goes away, for one owner. Everyone else? Who cares?

[drlapo]

there seems to be a wide spread problem with the voltage regulators on 13-15 V7s.
what's the charging voltage, at the battery, on your V7?
if this is really a widespread  problem maybe we should ask the manufacturer to fix it: Triumph did

[canuguzzi]

PM sent on how to get your's fixed.

[Guzzidad]

   I have the same problem with my 01 EV. I don't think the regulators are bad. I just think there is faulty electrical engineering. The original owner of my bike must have had some experience with this. He had a set of spot lights installed with the lighting power coming through an added relay. When those lights are on regulation is correct. On my bike, can't say if the V7s are this way, the regulator detects battery condition (voltage ) through the headlight circuit. When the headlight is on there is a 2 volt drop and the regulator is just trying to do its job and make up the difference. You could verify if your bike is acting like mine by removing the headlight bulb and then start the bike and check voltage.

[drlapo]

I didn't check mine until I heard about the "problem"
ignorance is not bliss especially if it leaves you stranded at the side of the road

[drlapo]

now that's a novel solution and I'm going to try it

[Kev m]

Mines in its winter sleep after 3 years and 10k miles.

But I'll check come spring.

And that's getting close.

[drlapo]

does the 13 V7 have a single phase alternator? the wiring diagram shows only 2 wires from the alternator but my bike has 3 yellow wires into the VR and the yellow wires are input??

[fotoguzzi]

does that regulator get ground through a plate with captured nuts ? like the big blocks, if so that is not the best arrangement for continuous ground connection and maybe all you need is a dedicated ground wire from the regulator to the block?

[drlapo]

I looked again; only2 yellow input wires. Must be single phase
According to the wire diagram there are2 green ground wires and2 red power wires= 6wires total

[jas67]

Both of mine are in their winter sleep as well.   I will also check come spring, which, as Kev said, is coming soon 

[kingoffleece]

Yep.  I'll check mine then, too.  WAY too much salt on the roads right now-although it was tempting at 52 degrees last Sat.

[drlapo]

I checked mine in the garage
Just installed the battery and started the bike
Put a voltmeter on the battery terminals and problem confirmed
I'm certain the dealer will need to confirm and expect me to ride to the shop in 40 degree weather
Not much to gain if the VR is replaced with another model year 13-15 VR as I understand they are all bad

[sib]

Guess I'm in the lucky majority.  My '13 Stone went 12K miles, 2 years with no overvoltage problems, and my '16 Stone has nearly 7K miles so far with no such problems either.

[Kev m]

Who is claiming they are "all" bad?

If they are "all" bad, how did I get 10k miles and 3 years out of it and the battery so far?

[acogoff]

     Make sure all grounds are making good contact and connections between battery and regulator. The regulator may not be sensing the battery voltage properly, thus the high voltage. Other wise the regulator is indeed bad.

[Guzzidad]

   I will expand on my experience. First, Fotoguzzi, I've added extra ground to the VR and it didn't help. Next, drlapo, if you have 3 yellow wires from the alternator it is most likely 3 phase. No matter, the VR knows what to do with that. What I do know for sure is if I unplug the headlight bulb charging drops to 13.8 volts. I think that the wire gauge is too small to handle the load of the headlight after going through a relay, the ignition switch, and the high/low dip switch as well as a couple plug connectors. Now, I'm not a factory trained motorcycle mechanic, but I have managed to keep my bikes out of the crazy expensive bike shops since about 1982. Credit that to Guzzi since they are relatively simple. I'm just a retired bum sitting on the beach in Florida who rides about 30,000 miles a year.
                           Steve

[drlapo]

Mosfet regulator prices range from $50 to $150!
Some are obviously made in China.  I don't know if that's a bad thing

[Kent in Upstate NY]

MPH dropped Guzzi because the oil market in Houston tanked. It is hard to sell "toys" when nobody has a job.

[Cam3512]

Stop freeking the hell out, no need to panick here.  Mine has been fine on my '14 Special.   As far as the 8V tappet recall, just because ONE customer has had EVERYTHING covered doesn't mean that's across the board.  If you assume that, you don't know Guzzi.

[Guzzidad]

   baileylee, the R/Rs are working as intended according to the demands of the machine. They are NOT the problem. Obviously MG does not make the R/Rs or the fuel injection or anything else electrical. Just like any other motorcycle manufacturer. Those items just need to be integrated into the bike to work in harmony with everything else.

[drlapo]

Perhaps the problem is more widespread than currently realized
I didn't check the output of the electrical system on myV7 until I was informed of the problem
I checked and found that my bike has the problem
Maybe now that we are discussing it more people will test their bikes and maybe more examples will arise