Battery drained after 3 & 1/2 weeks standing, cranking slow, and throwing VSS Error - is this normal? Any help appreciated...

[dlwilliams48]

I installed a NOCO Lithium NLP20 battery back in January just because of all the negative comments about the original batteries that are installed from the factory. I did fully charge it before installation and normally keep the Spyder (2024 RTL) on a tender. The last time I rode it was March 11, and I neglected to put the tender back on, figuring I would be riding more with the nicer weather. But, I didn't get around to cranking it up until yesterday, April 5, about 3 1/2 weeks since I last started it. I don't have any after market accessories attached directly to the battery. I did install some 12V outlets for a GPS using the accessory port. The thing started yesterday, cranking a little slow, and threw up a VSS error code. I rode it around the block and decided to go back home and put the tender on it. It indicated the battery was low, but after being on the tender about an hour and a half of charging, the tender indicated fully charged.

Now, my question. Normally, should the battery be that low after 3 1/2 weeks? I haven't done a parasitic draw test yet, but thought I would post the question to see if I should be concerned if it gets that low or should I just remember to always put the tender back on. Anyone have any enlightening information?

I did search several threads but did not find this specific kind of information. Any help appreciated.

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[CloverHillCrawler]

Which charger are you using? Lithium batteries require a charger that is made for them, I bought the NOCO NLP20/Genius 2 combo from Lamonster and have not had any problems with it.

 

[dlwilliams48]

Which charger are you using? Lithium batteries require a charger that is made for them, I bought the NOCO NLP20/Genius 2 combo from Lamonster and have not had any problems with it.

I'm using a NOCO Genius2 as well. Battery has been fine but I was riding a lot before the cold weather hit. Just wondering if it is normal for the battery to discharge in 3 1/2 weeks. Still strong enough to start the Spyder, just not fully charged. I didn't check the actual voltage before cranking and starting, but it was definitely lower than I would have thought. Maybe that's normal??

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[Snoking1127]

The spyder has a pretty high paralytic current drain. If you have a meter that can measure milliamps of current, you could remove a battery cable, and insert the meter in the circuit and read the milliamps that flow with the key off. 1000 milliamps equals 1 amp. So if it reads 100 milliamps you are drawing 1/10 of an amp and so on.

 

[dlwilliams48]

The spyder has a pretty high paralytic current drain. If you have a meter that can measure milliamps of current, you could remove a battery cable, and insert the meter in the circuit and read the milliamps that flow with the key off. 1000 milliamps equals 1 amp. So if it reads 100 milliamps you are drawing 1/10 of an amp and so on.

Yep, I will probably do that once the weather cooperates. Thanks.

 

[CloverHillCrawler]

I'm using a NOCO Genius2 as well. Battery has been fine but I was riding a lot before the cold weather hit. Just wondering if it is normal for the battery to discharge in 3 1/2 weeks. Still strong enough to start the Spyder, just not fully charged. I didn't check the actual voltage before cranking and starting, but it was definitely lower than I would have thought. Maybe that's normal??

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I was reading somewhere that it needs monthly maintenance when not in use. I was going to mention how the literature states that in colder temperatures, it may take a few short cranks to get the battery to a normal output, but I see your location is in Georgia, so that should not be an issue right now.

 

[AndysF3S]

I have a '22 F3S that sat from late November until yesterday, and it started right up with no codes. The battery is the Yuasa YTS24HL-BS that I replaced last Spring after I replaced the Hiajiju that came from factory. I forgot to remove the lead on this battery and it turned out fine.
I do not use a battery tender on any of my toys, but I will disconnect a lead off the battery in the Fall (if I remember to) on my seasonal toys.
Charge your battery to full charge and do a Load Test on it, it may have an internal problem. If that checks out fine, you can do a Parasitic Loss Test as well.

 

[BajaRon]

This is what PowerSonic, a lithium battery manufacturer, states. In short, a standard battery charger will work as long as it does not have a De-Sulfate process and you don't leave it connected when the charge is completed. Don't use a standard float (tender) type charger.

 

[Mikey]

I have had my Noco battery for three years, got the same charger as you when I bought the battery! I do not keep it on the charger all summer long, but I do keep it on the charger during winter storage! If I was you, I would call the company and tell them what you are going through, they may give you another one to replace the one you have. It should not go DEAD in four weeks, unless you have one hell of a draw with the key off! Good Luck!!

 

[dlwilliams48]

I have had my Noco battery for three years, got the same charger as you when I bought the battery! I do not keep it on the charger all summer long, but I do keep it on the charger during winter storage! If I was you, I would call the company and tell them what you are going through, they may give you another one to replace the one you have. It should not go DEAD in four weeks, unless you have one hell of a draw with the key off! Good Luck!!

It wasn't entirely dead, just pretty low. It still started the Spyder but it certainly wasn't up to snuff. After being on the charger about an hour, it turned over nicely and I had a nice ride before the rain came.

 

[EdMat]

Parasitic draw will typically drain a LiPO battery a little quicker than a standard because the total capacity of the LiPO is lower. The LiPO will have higher CCA but lower total Amp Hours.

 

[Outtomunch]

If it only took an hour on the charger to get back to full charge it doesn’t sound like it was deeply discharged.

Was it particularly cold?
LiOn batteries works best when warm and simply putting a load across them for a minute or so (such as switching your lights on) will warm them sufficiently to get them cranking over properly.

Andres

 

[CloverHillCrawler]

If it only took an hour on the charger to get back to full charge it doesn’t sound like it was deeply discharged.

Was it particularly cold?
LiOn batteries works best when warm and simply putting a load across them for a minute or so (such as switching your lights on) will warm them sufficiently to get them cranking over properly.

Andres

The NOCO Genius 2 that he has is like mine and they will charge a lithium faster than a normal charger. Noco states that the Genius 2 will charge the NLP20 to a full charge in a little over 2 hours. When I got mine from Lamonster, it only took about an hour and a half to fully charge it with the Genius 2.

 

[Mikey]

It wasn't entirely dead, just pretty low. It still started the Spyder but it certainly wasn't up to snuff. After being on the charger about an hour, it turned over nicely and I had a nice ride before the rain came.

So, what you're saying is that the battery wasn't dead but just rolled over slowly but didn't throw any codes? Mine will do that from time to time, but it's never not wanted to start. I think it's the nature of the beast! As long as it starts, and you don't get codes popping your good to go!

 

[dlwilliams48]

So, what you're saying is that the battery wasn't dead but just rolled over slowly but didn't throw any codes? Mine will do that from time to time, but it's never not wanted to start. I think it's the nature of the beast! As long as it starts, and you don't get codes popping your good to go!

It did throw a VSS Error code, briefly, when I turned on the key and tried to start. It did start though, pretty quickly, just turned over a bit slow. I have sent an email question to NOCO to see what they have to say about it. Sounds like (hopefully) it isn't that big of a deal, especially if I keep it on the charger. It is getting warm enough now though that I will be riding much more often.

If it only took an hour on the charger to get back to full charge it doesn’t sound like it was deeply discharged.

Was it particularly cold?
LiOn batteries works best when warm and simply putting a load across them for a minute or so (such as switching your lights on) will warm them sufficiently to get them cranking over properly.

Andres

Not cold at all. I was starting it so I could take a ride - probably in the upper 70's F.

 

[Outtomunch]

The NOCO Genius 2 that he has is like mine and they will charge a lithium faster than a normal charger. Noco states that the Genius 2 will charge the NLP20 to a full charge in a little over 2 hours. When I got mine from Lamonster, it only took about an hour and a half to fully charge it with the Genius 2.

'Every day's a school day' as they say, not something I was aware of

It did throw a VSS Error code, briefly, when I turned on the key and tried to start. It did start though, pretty quickly, just turned over a bit slow. I have sent an email question to NOCO to see what they have to say about it. Sounds like (hopefully) it isn't that big of a deal, especially if I keep it on the charger. It is getting warm enough now though that I will be riding much more often.


Not cold at all. I was starting it so I could take a ride - probably in the upper 70's F.

Ah, ok, that rules that out then Hope you get to the bottom of it

Andres

 

[BajaRon]

It did throw a VSS Error code...

Not surprised at the VSS code. If voltage falls anywhere near 11v or less, the computer has a stroke and will start throwing random, meaningless codes. The Spyder being very voltage sensitive. Fortunately, as soon as the voltage returns to where it should be, the ECM recovers fully and the code will usually disappear.

 

[dlwilliams48]

Not surprised at the VSS code. If voltage falls anywhere near 11v or less, the computer has a stroke and will start throwing random, meaningless codes. The Spyder being very voltage sensitive. Fortunately, as soon as the voltage returns to where it should be, the ECM recovers fully and the code will usually disappear.

Yep, once it got charged, I started it right up, no messages, quick start, and completed a nice little ride. Rainy now and getting cooler, but I should be able to take a longer ride tomorrow.

 

[Mikey]

Just a thought, I was thinking about your bike and the Noco battery, then I remembered the one time I had an issue with my setup!! I do not have a lot of stuff plugged into my bike for the most part, but one time I had one of those chargers that you plug into the cigarette lighter that is in the back trunk which I was using to charge my phone, it has a little light on it, and I had Sena receiver which was also still on while it was sitting for a week or more - I went to start it and it was dead. I put the charger on it for a few minutes and got it going, went for a good ride and by the time I got home it was good! Needless to say, I haven't done that ever again, Yet!! By chance do you have anything like that plugged in that's not on keyed power?

 

[jcthorne]

The NOCO Lithium has a significantly smaller storage capacity than the AGM that is specified for the bike. The bike will drain it flat faster than with the correct battery. Anytime the bike is not being ridden it will need to be on a battery maintainer if you want to use a Lithium battery.