My 2013 Has A Cruise lite blinking ---FIXED

[tyronewildman]

A while back the cruise lite would go out but I could click it back on right away. This happened once a ride but within a week got more frequent. The next week it would start blinking during a ride and I couldn't reset it till I turned the key off. Within 2 weeks it would just blink when I turned it on. After letting it sit for a week, battery was dead. Battery Tender Jr would only charge it up to 5v. 1.5A charged it up to 13v. next day it was dead. Installed a new battery (14+v running) and 1st & 2nd time I started it, it still blinked when I turned the cruise on. Just Damn! 3rd time I started it cruise worked perfectly and has no problems for 2 weeks riding & each time I did click cruise on, whether I used it or not. I guess it is a "Cruise/Bad Battery Lite". What say you? Later,,, De

Fixed, Thanks to RichDoyle!

Yep, battery was bad but that wasn't problem. Battery was probably bad from setting a week, maybe w/parking lite on-but not sure about parking lite being on. Am sure Tender Jr wouldn't charge it above 5v (yes you have to parallel a good battery with a dead battery to get a "Smart Charger" to start charging. 1.5v smart charger did charge it to 13v+ but it wouldn't hold charge.

Back to the fix---As Rich suggested, I removed the front brake switch and cleaned it out with CRC contact cleaner and a blast of air. Reinstalled switch, turned on key, pressed cruise button and no problem. After removing the 1 screw holding switch, there is barely enough slack in the 4 wires to pull switch down and you can blow cleaner/air into a 1/8" square hole in the side of switch.

Who would have thought. I would guess that the same problem could be caused by trash in any of the switches.

Thanks again, Rich...Later,,,De

 

[mcatrophy]

I presume you are referring to the cruise control "power" light. This will flash if ever the cruise control detects a malfunction with any of the bike's systems. This almost certainly includes the battery voltage, in which case your symptoms seem reasonable.

A battery going bad within two years seems unreasonable, unless severely mis-treated.

Maybe the new battery wasn't as fully charged as you thought when you first put it on and it took a little while for the bike to charge it, or maybe you have an underlying problem with the bike's electrics that caused the OEM battery to die in the first place.

 

[steveoreno]

I've had no problems with my 2013 autocruise light or battery issues. I have kept my battery tender on it religiously from day one and have had no issues like what you are describing.

 

[RichDoyle]

Keep us informed on this. I just had a lengthy battle with my '13s CC that turned out to be some sort of munge in the front brake switch assembly. It was intermittent, which made it a hassle to figure out. But there was no dead-battery scenario involved. I've not had any problems with a dead battery, though (disclosure: not running OEM battery. Got an EarthX LiFe battery in there for about the last year).

 

[tyronewildman]

Dang, cruise worked fine for 3 weeks & has started blinking again. I'll have to take it in (1st shop time for either FJR since I bought my '04 in Sept '03). I guess I'll get some use of my 4 year warranty. More to follow, De

 

[08FJR4ME]

Is it me or do the GenIII's seem to have a lot of issues.

1) soft paint

2)Tupperware clunking sounds

3) chrome gadgets falling off the bags

4) battery issues, early deaths

5) Cruise lights flashing

6) Bad displays

And the list goes on. Maybe I should stick with my GenII.

Happy Friday, Stirring the pot,

Dave

 

[Queensland Ken]

Some talk about an service bulletin for a 2013 cruise control fault on the other forum.

Might pay to drop your bike into a stealer and check.

 

[steveoreno]

Is it me or do the GenIII's seem to have a lot of issues.
1) soft paint

2)Tupperware clunking sounds

3) chrome gadgets falling off the bags

4) battery issues, early deaths

5) Cruise lights flashing

6) Bad displays

And the list goes on. Maybe I should stick with my GenII.

Happy Friday, Stirring the pot,

Dave

I agree with #1, thankfully have none of the other issues described.

 

[Valkmike]

I posted on the main forum a similar problem with my 2013, with the blinking cruise light, but I also had the check engine light come on intermittently as well.

I don't know how to post a link here but the original post is under my name "valkmike" in Oct. It also provides a dealer service notice that advises a re-flash of the ECU. I had this done at the dealer and so far no more issues.