ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: Verichai on April 22, 2020, 05:27:10 AM
-
Hi everyone. Hoping I can get some help/insight. I have a 2018 FXS. Last fall, I took the bike to the dealer for the 600 mile service and to have an annoying squeak addressed. I asked them not to do the software update, as the bike was working fine and I didn't want to mess with it. They insisted that the software be updated, so I relented. Sure enough, after the update there was a CEL or error code they could not clear. They went back and forth with Zero and ended up replacing the BMS. This also did not clear the CEL and so was not even necessary. A Zero technician was eventually able to clear the CEL by "going into the lower levels of the software". This whole thing took three weeks and I was pretty frustrated. I didn't like the idea of my brand new bike being taken apart in the first place. When I picked it up, I noticed some of the wiring seemed sloppy (see pic) but when I asked the technician about it, he insisted that was normal and fine. He also stated that he rode it for 30 minutes and didn't notice any unusual squeaking or other sounds. I got 20 minutes away and the squeaking started again. >:( Fast forward to this past weekend, I get the bike out of storage, charge it for 24 hours and get it out on the road to discover that my hazards and turn signals are not working. Everything else works fine, taillights, headlights, etc. I have not checked the fuses but assume that if it was the fuse, the taillight would also be out as they are on the same circuit?
Any ideas? And can someone look at this photo and tell me if that is how that is supposed to look? I only a few more months of warrantee and want to get these issues addressed before it's up. Thanks!
-
Modular batteries? If so you can pop the front battery out and see the fuses from underneath. If not the plastics are easy to remove with a 3mm Allen and a couple snap rivets. Most likely the flasher relay is bad or sticking (little square black box). I replaced mine when I switched to LED signals. Three prong readily available at the auto parts store or wherever but the poles have to be oriented correctly. I’ll try and see if I still have the number when I go to the garage later.
-
I’ll try and see if I still have the number when I go to the garage later.
Thank you! And I have the single, 7.2 battery pack in mine, I'll see if I can pull the fuses.
-
Relevant unofficial manual articles:
- https://zeromanual.com/wiki/Turn_Signal_Flasher
- https://zeromanual.com/wiki/XMX_Platform/Electrical_Routing
Good luck! Sounds like a fuse, the relay, or the wiring into the relay.
-
Good luck! Sounds like a fuse, the relay, or the wiring into the relay.
Thank for the links! Yep, I agree. I checked the fuse which was good. So I pulled the relay, which I suspect is the issue. I'll see if I can track down a replacement...
-
Update: No luck finding a replacement for the flasher relay on my own. All the ones I found online were for LED bulbs. I contacted the dealer 2 miles from my house who informed me that, per Zero, they are not allowed to service bikes prior to model year 2019 when they became a dealer. If true, this is just an absolutely abysmal practice in terms of customer service. Next I reached out to Zero directly and after a very slow back and forth of emails, I was informed that my bike is no longer under warranty even though I bought it less than two years ago. When I questioned this, they informed me that I had actually purchased a demo bike and that the warranty on demos starts when they are delivered to the dealership. Selling dealer did not inform me that the bike was a demo and as such would have a shorter warranty period. Zero did offer to make an exception and replace the flasher relay but told me I would have to take it to a dealership. Since apparently I can't take it to my local dealer, the next nearest dealer is over 60 highway miles away, too far to ride the bike. I called that dealer, which is where I bought the bike and explained the situation. The owner offered to send me the relay in about a week and a half. So that's where I am. I have to say, this level of customer service is really disheartening. When you spend $10,000 on something, and when you're an advocate for the brand, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to be taken care of with a little urgency and professionalism. I'm disappointed. I constantly have people asking me about the bike, at stoplights and parking lots, and I've always espoused it's virtues. Now however, I think I also have to start mentioning to people the realities of owning something like this, thanks to Zero's policies and practices. Will update when I get the part. Thanks!
-
Did you ask Zero about the policy of dealers not servicing bikes they didn't sell?
That just seems wrong.
-Crissa
Also a blinker relay isn't a special component, it's just like changing it on any other bike. LED-okay relays should be fine with the older lamps.
-
An LED-compatible relay will work fine. Any off the shelf relay at a local auto parts store that has matching wiring will work.
Your interpretation of your treatment seems unrealistic. Nearly every Zero owner has the same experience answering questions. You're not special.
That said, the idea that the dealer isn't allowed to service earlier (than 2019) bikes is something I've never heard of and doesn't make sense.
I would also like to remind you that you've not directly shown proof that the relay is at fault, so be aware that a new relay may not fix your problem, and I do not want anger directed at me or Zero because your troubleshooting was too hasty.
-
My dealer's troubleshooting process was 'put in a new relay and see if it works'.
So I'm not sure Verichai's diagnosis is so hasty. Still, it could be the switch as well, but that would just be a pain to attempt to diagnose.
-Crissa
-
I'm not sure, either. I'm cautioning because the post is aggrieved and there seems to be more going on here than they're admitting.
-
I'd find it more likely the dealer's liability didn't want to take on earlier model years... but the prior dealer might have put in a no-compete clause Zero was bound by, too. It's hard to say without getting a response.
Demo models usually don't get their full warrantee, tho. That's pretty normal.
But being turned away for a blinker relay? That's just not cool, period.
-Crissa
-
there seems to be more going on here than they're admitting.
Like what? I'm just navigating this experience and sharing the process here for the reference of anyone who may have a similar issue in the future...
I did forget to mention that the dealer I bought the bike from never told me I was buying a demo model, so I was not aware of that until I learned it from Zero yesterday. I thought the bike was 'new' and assumed it had a full warrantee. I think I've conveyed my experience so far with complete transparency...
And I'm not mad at anyone...just disappointed in some of the aspects of this experience.
-
Did you ask Zero about the policy of dealers not servicing bikes they didn't sell? That just seems wrong.
Right? I did ask but they have not gotten back to me yet.
-
How many miles did it have when you purchased it? Dealers can absolutely screw up and either not know about or not tell owners they're demo models. Demo models are supposed to be discounted, due to their use as a demo.
-
How many miles did it have when you purchased it? Dealers can absolutely screw up and either not know about or not tell owners they're demo models. Demo models are supposed to be discounted, due to their use as a demo.
I don't remember exactly what the odometer said when I bought it, I want to say it was around 50-80 miles. The title lists the odometer reading as 36. I did negotiate the price down a bit. When I spoke to the owner of the dealership yesterday he said the same thing, there had been some confusion around bikes they received from Zero and didn't realize they were supposed to be demos.
-
Nearly every Zero owner has the same experience answering questions. You're not special.
Not sure what you mean. The same experience answering questions? Do you mean every owner has the same experience trying to get answers from Zero? If so, that's a shame.
Yes, I realize I'm not special, but I think I should be able to have my bike serviced at any Zero dealership I like. Especially considering the unique limitations of a vehicle with a limited range.
-
Nearly every Zero owner has the same experience answering questions. You're not special.
Not sure what you mean. The same experience answering questions? Do you mean every owner has the same experience trying to get answers from Zero? If so, that's a shame.
Yes, I realize I'm not special, but I think I should be able to have my bike serviced at any Zero dealership I like. Especially considering the unique limitations of a vehicle with a limited range.
Yes, many owners wind up answering questions from onlookers.
The dealership experience is very uneven, unfortunately. Your point about the relationship to bike range is a good one.
there seems to be more going on here than they're admitting.
Like what? I'm just navigating this experience and sharing the process here for the reference of anyone who may have a similar issue in the future...
I did forget to mention that the dealer I bought the bike from never told me I was buying a demo model, so I was not aware of that until I learned it from Zero yesterday. I thought the bike was 'new' and assumed it had a full warrantee. I think I've conveyed my experience so far with complete transparency...
And I'm not mad at anyone...just disappointed in some of the aspects of this experience.
Alright. But that wasn't clear to the forum thread commenters, and it's still not clear that your relay is the culprit, or why you couldn't get a generic relay.
You can test your own relay with a 12V power supply and some wires. And any auto parts store will have CF13 or CF14 relays for very cheap.
If it comes to testing the wiring, any multimeter can help you perform continuity tests.
All I'm saying is that the dealer doesn't have to be so critical to the operation of your bike for cases like this.
-
Since Zero made a dealer visit difficult and because it turns out the bike is actually out of warranty, I tracked down a relay (Novita EP36) and swapped it in. Everything is working fine now.
Thanks everyone for the help!