21 GP1800R Dead Battery - Any Draining Issues?

[MrElussive]

Hi Guys,

I took my ski for service few weeks ago. 2021 GP1800R w/Sound that was running fine, just brought it for first service at 20 hours. I asked (and paid) for them to replace the battery with a lithium battery as those tend to hold better charge. I picked it up about 2 weeks ago and put it in storage until today. Went to take it out and completely dead battery. I checked the connection and seemed to be fine, positive and negative lol. The new battery has a TEST button and I pushed that and it was a completely dead battery, no response at all.

Called the dealer and they said to bring it back in. They said some units with sound tend to be draining the battery for no reason. But I had the OEM battery before and I never had any problem with it starting up after sitting for few weeks.

Anybody have this similar issue as well?

Thanks,
Emile

[TXDroneRacer]

I have a 21 GP1800R SVHO with sound. I also have a 21 FX Cruiser SVHO - no sound.
There is no doubt in mind that the GP with sound is draining the battery faster than my FX.
I am thinking about putting a current meter inline with the sound connection to the battery. I bet it is pulling power all the time.

I just keep putting the GP on the charger.

[Mr. GP1800]

My guess would be the sound system is constantly looking for a Bluetooth source to connect to. Maybe install an on off switch for the audio system.

[moparguy]

My guess would be the sound system is constantly looking for a Bluetooth source to connect to. Maybe install an on off switch for the audio system.

Why not just install a time delay relay, inline with the hot feed to the audio.

[MrElussive]

There is a On/Off for the sound system. I have a feeling when they connected new battery, everything turned on and they didn't bother to manually shut off the speaker system. But this is not a fact on my end, I'm just speculating.
Took it back to them and they said the Positive terminal was not connected tightly, and once connected it fired right up. I don't think that is entirely true because as I said before. The battery was completely dead and the battery test button was reading nothing. When I picked it up after bringing it in again, I checked it right there at the dealership, started up no problem. Pressed test on the battery and lit up full bars.
They said it's a problem with new Yamahas with Sound, and they installed some kind of a cut-off switch or relay or something.

[K447]

- They said it's a problem with new Yamahas with Sound, and they installed some kind of a cut-off switch or relay or something.

Can you determine what exactly was installed?

Aftermarket device or something that Yamaha now specifies for models with the Yamaha sound system?

[SteveC]

I have a 2021 VX and GP both with sound. I left them for about three weeks without starting them thinking I would be able to take them out the next weekend and both batteries were dead when I checked them the day before a ride. When you have the Bluetooth speakers on and don't shut it off next time you ride it will link to your phone when you start the ski so I knew it would use a little power. I never thought of having to turn off the power to the speakers if you leave it a few weeks but I guess it does draw more current then I would have imagined. Maybe the amplifier is powered the entire time while it hunts for Bluetooth signal
. As a precaution I wired in a cheap battery maintainer disconnect lead to each ski to prevent it happening again and maybe add some longevity to the batteries as well. I thought about checking the current draw when the Speakers are left on and when turned off to see if that was the issue but adding an automatic battery maintainer did the job and they are so inexpensive.

[TimeBandit]

I asked (and paid) for them to replace the battery with a lithium battery as those tend to hold better charge.

Ambiguous phrase - can mean a lot depending on context. If by "better charge" you mean high running voltage - yes. If you mean holding a charge, even that is misleading with LiFEPO4 technology. You see, sitting on a shelf, they do indeed have way less internal discharge characteristics than traditional acid tech. However, they have very little capacity. Most of these packs have very high "C" rates, so they are for starting amps, thus give up substantially in capacity. See next :

I picked it up about 2 weeks ago and put it in storage until today. Went to take it out and completely dead battery.

So all crafts have a small parasitc-drain, and its been my experience (having run dual LiFePO4 packs now for many years) that as small as that is, the capacity is just not enough in those packs to survive even just 2 weeks. Considering you also have an amp, accessories, etc... even worst. Sad but it is what it is.

As a precaution I wired in a cheap battery maintainer disconnect lead to each ski to prevent it happening again and maybe add some longevity to the batteries as well. I thought about checking the current draw when the Speakers are left on and when turned off to see if that was the issue but adding an automatic battery maintainer did the job and they are so inexpensive.

Good job. Exactly what I do. Keep a maintainer on the pack (or totally disconnect) when laid-up.

[K447]

- 2021 VX and GP both with sound. -

- I thought about checking the current draw when the Speakers are left on and when turned off. -

It might be helpful to measure the current flows and let us know. The info could prove useful to others.

[tinez]

Yep, my 2021 GP SVHO with audio did the same thing. Left it sitting for a few weeks, went to try to start it and it didn't respond at all, totally dead. Wouldn't even charge with a battery tender, I had to bring the battery to the dealer and have them check it with their equipment. They ended up calling it a faulty battery and giving me a new one, but I'm pretty sure something is draining it. I've been putting it on the charger every couple weeks since then and no issues yet. Not super convenient, but I guess if I'm gonna be away from it for more than 2 or 3 weeks I'll need to disconnect the battery.

[WyoVXR]

I have the same issue with my 2021 GP1800R. Even though I charged the battery about 3 weeks ago it was dead and the display wouldn’t even come on. The voltage was 6.8 volts.
I checked the current draw for the audio system and even with it ‘off’ it drew 0.011 of an amp or 11 milliamperes. It doesn’t seem like much but times 24 hours a day and 21 days it comes to about 6 amp hours. The factory battery is rated at 18 amp hours.
Plus there is some small about of losses with rest of the ski.
I’m going to install a post mounted disconnect switch on battery to prevent the drain issue in the future.
I hope this might help someone else having the same problem.

[K447]

- 11 milliamperes.
It doesn't seem like much but times 24 hours a day and 21 days it comes to about 6 amp hours.
The factory battery is rated at 18 amp hours.

Plus there is some small about of losses with rest of the ski.
I'm going to install a post mounted disconnect switch on battery ...

If installing a heavy amp battery disconnect, my suggestion is to install it in the battery negative cable connection, not to the battery positive. If somehow the switch connections or a tool were to 'short circuit' from the switch to engine ground, there will be no sparks or damage, if it is wired into battery negative.

If the switch is only used to isolate the audio sound system load, that can be better for PWC reliability when on the water.

A failed switch (corrosion, vibration, etc) or added wire connection(s) that corrodes or loosens while riding can affect or even prevent engine start, if the shut-off switch is installed such that it isolates the primary electrical connections between engine and battery.

[WyoVXR]

All good suggestions.

[Reaper9789]

If installing a heavy amp battery disconnect, my suggestion is to install it in the battery negative cable connection, not to the battery positive. If somehow the switch connections or a tool were to ‘short circuit’ from the switch to engine ground, there will be no sparks or damage, if it is wired into battery negative.

If the switch is only used to isolate the audio sound system load, that can be better for PWC reliability when on the water.

A failed switch (corrosion, vibration, etc) or added wire connection(s) that corrodes or loosens while riding can affect or even prevent engine start, if the shut-off switch is installed such that it isolates the primary electrical connections between engine and battery.

Yup. It should always be wired to the negative terminal.

[Reaper9789]

Hi Guys,

I took my ski for service few weeks ago. 2021 GP1800R w/Sound that was running fine, just brought it for first service at 20 hours. I asked (and paid) for them to replace the battery with a lithium battery as those tend to hold better charge. I picked it up about 2 weeks ago and put it in storage until today. Went to take it out and completely dead battery. I checked the connection and seemed to be fine, positive and negative lol. The new battery has a TEST button and I pushed that and it was a completely dead battery, no response at all.

Called the dealer and they said to bring it back in. They said some units with sound tend to be draining the battery for no reason. But I had the OEM battery before and I never had any problem with it starting up after sitting for few weeks.

Anybody have this similar issue as well?

Thanks,
Emile

What "lithium" battery did they install? Lithium batteries arent suited for the duty cycle of the charging system on most engines. The voltages arent quite the same. Either way, you paid for it and it should be covered.