Stelvio Alternator Failure

[brenwin]

Has anyone with an 012 Stelvio had to replace their alternator ? The bike died and had to leave it overnoght . Tried recharging the battery and no go , so got a new one which got the bike home . Lights not working , no aux lights , ABS light on , no heated grips . Checked all fuses as well as newly installed fuse for the aux lights , all good . The new battery was fairly run down as well . So my dealer tells me it is probably the alternator as he has replaced three so far . I have 15000 kms on the bike and of course the warranty just expired . The bike just came back from its service as well and was running well . I'm taking the bike to a local guy for a look before I make the journey to my dealer . Any similar experiences and fixes would be greatly appreciated .

[rdbandkab]

3 so far?  That's the first I've heard of that...  
Sounds like you checked all fuses.....but make sure the mains under the seat are checked/changed out.

[pyoungbl]

Assuming you are talking about the NTX model:  When you say that all fuses are good..does that include the 30A fuze located behind the triangular panel below the seat on the right side of the bike.  This is not the same 30A fuze located under the seat.  If the suspect fuze is blown you won't get the power needed to excite the alternator and thus you are running off the battery alone.




Of course you might have a bad alternator but that's really uncommon.  The dreaded 30A fuze problem is very common.

Peter Y.

[Kiwi_Roy]

I think Peter Y is probably onto it. I know zilch about these bikes.

Does it have a generator belt like some of the other modern Guzzis?

[brenwin]

Assuming you are talking about the NTX model:  When you say that all fuses are good..does that include the 30A fuze located behind the triangular panel below the seat on the right side of the bike.  This is not the same 30A fuze located under the seat.  If the suspect fuze is blown you won't get the power needed to excite the alternator and thus you are running off the battery alone.




Of course you might have a bad alternator but that's really uncommon.  The dreaded 30A fuze problem is very common.

Peter Y.

Thanks for the reply , I checked these out too but better take another look . Rdbandkam suggests changing then out anyway . I have some extras so might be a good idea . I sure hope it's not an alternator replacement with the cost of the parts and labor ! Thanks guys , appreciated .

[boxermoose]

Check the 5 pin relays as well - I had to change out one of mine that seems to have fused when the battery ran down and I tried to start it.

Swap it with the one beside it to see if it takes care of things

[rdbandkab]

Can't imagine the belt being not having the correct tension correctly...especia lly on three bikes.  But I would believe that before finding 3 bad alternators.

It may be worth a check if the fuses turn out good.  Maybe use the 90 degree twist test to verify the correct tension.   It should be close anyway.

* Not sure about the ground strap off the battery on a 2012,  but on my 2014 the ground strap was attached to a threaded spacer (attaching the starter cover  to the motor) that could have been quite a bit tighter. I'd check that while you're checking things out.

richy

[pyoungbl]

Randy hit another weak spot in the charging system...the ground strap attached to the starter motor cover bolt (that's a mouthfull!).  The bolt is, as I recall, only 6mm at the threaded part so it won't give nearly as positive connection as other locations.  I moved that ground to a better and more secure bolt that also secures the starter.  Yes, I had to fab up a new connection.

Here you can see the ground connections.  There are two of them.  The lower one is from the battery and the upper, I think, is from the ECU.  Neither is what I would call robust.


Here you can see a much more secure connection.  This also includes higher capacity wire, the kind of stranded wire used in welding.

[Wayne Orwig]

So my dealer tells me it is probably the alternator as he has replaced three so far

I don't know what that dealer is doing to trash alternators, but they should stop doing it.

[brenwin]

OK , will check everything again . Always good to double check . Kind of went at it a little too quickly , hopefully something simple . Sure don't need it to be the alternator . Taking the bike to a good guy here today who works on all bikes . Thanks for the input .

[kirb]

The common problem on these bikes is the Aux lights are not fused. I sell a plug and play fuse kit to fix this issue.
The 30A main fuse blows preventing battery charging. You keep going until the battery dies.

Unplug your aux lamps, check the correct 30A fuse again, watch the dash voltmeter when running. Should be near 14V if the alt is charging. ADD FUSES TO THE AUX LIGHTS!

Here is how to do it yourself (or PM me for a set. I have 2 sets left): http://stelviontx.blogspot.com/2013/05/fog-lamp-fuse-holder.html

[Wayne Orwig]

OK , will check everything again . Always good to double check . Kind of went at it a little too quickly , hopefully something simple . Sure don't need it to be the alternator . Taking the bike to a good guy here today who works on all bikes . Thanks for the input .

I did encounter one guy here on a Breva, that I had to replace his alternator belt on. I'm thinking he was at around 35,000 miles. Pretty unusual from what I've heard and seen. It had turned into a shredded ball of fiber.  :D
Fairly easy to check that also.

[brenwin]

The common problem on these bikes is the Aux lights are not fused. I sell a plug and play fuse kit to fix this issue.
The 30A main fuse blows preventing battery charging. You keep going until the battery dies.

Unplug your aux lamps, check the correct 30A fuse again, watch the dash voltmeter when running. Should be near 14V if the alt is charging. ADD FUSES TO THE AUX LIGHTS!

Here is how to do it yourself (or PM me for a set. I have 2 sets left): http://stelviontx.blogspot.com/2013/05/fog-lamp-fuse-holder.html

I had the aux lights fused at the bikes last service . The alternator is not charging the battery after checking the bike with a volt meter off then on . 12.4 volts for both . Anyway , the bike is at Dragonfly motorcycles here in Courtenay and the worst that can happen is a new alternator .

[brenwin]

I did encounter one guy here on a Breva, that I had to replace his alternator belt on. I'm thinking he was at around 35,000 miles. Pretty unusual from what I've heard and seen. It had turned into a shredded ball of fiber.  :D
Fairly easy to check that also.

You know , maybe that's what I could smell after the bike quit . It wasn't gas or oil ! We'll know soon enough . Apparently there have been issues with corrosion on the brushes , accessible through the rear tin cover . Maybe the salt air out here on the wet coast ?

[kirb]

This could be a long shot, but make sure they fused the +12V side of the 2 wire connector. Fusing the wrong side won't help. Don't assume someone did it correct. Not hard to check.

Check the 30A fuse again anyway.