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Author Topic: SR/F CHARGER FAILURE?  (Read 1994 times)

siai47

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Re: SR/F CHARGER FAILURE?
« Reply #15 on: October 22, 2019, 05:22:56 AM »

Update--   I forgot to mention that after I pulled the charge cable out (inserting it turned off the flashers) the turn signals refused to work at all.  The dash display was still on when the dealer came to pick up the bike.  I called them later in the day and they had the bike connected online with Zero but still were unable to get the thing to fully shut down.  I still think corrupt firmware is at the bottom of this piece of the puzzle.  I wonder what else will go wrong.
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1979 Honda CBX
2009 Aprilia Cube 250 Scooter
2016 Victory Empulse TT
2019 Can-Am Spyder
2020 SR/F (retired)

Crissa

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Re: SR/F CHARGER FAILURE?
« Reply #16 on: October 22, 2019, 06:32:33 AM »

There's always 'that one'.

Hopefully they'll get you happy again.

I on the other hand have annoyingly misplaced my metric toolkit I use for the car... Glad no one is waiting on me.  The turkey-vultures calling over my head is just salt on the wound.  (they sound kinda like sea gulls, actually)

-Crissa
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2014 Zero S ZF8.5

Crilly

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Re: SR/F CHARGER FAILURE?
« Reply #17 on: October 22, 2019, 06:58:15 AM »

The four ways are a trigger switch on left handle bar.
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siai47

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Re: SR/F CHARGER FAILURE?
« Reply #18 on: October 23, 2019, 11:07:12 PM »

Going further down the rabbit hole.  I called the dealer about how they are doing on the repair of my motorcycle.  Did they get it running?  The lady that answered the phone told me she would have the service manager call me back.  When he did, I was surprised how the conversation went.  They have had it since Monday afternoon and I hadn't heard anything about progress.  I asked him if they got it running and his response was "the tech said he thinks he got it running".  He then went on about how the tech was on the phone with Zero for several hours and that the bike was connected online with Zero to run diagnostics.  Then came the shocker.  He said Zero wants the motorcycle shipped back to California for inspection and repair.  At their option they may repair or replace the bike.  They needed my permission to ship it.  I was stunned.  What could they have found during the diagnostics that would require shipping the bike all the way across the country and back (or just replacing it)?  This started with the failure of both chargers and replacement.  It was followed by the bike acting totally wacked out after I drove it home and couldn't shut it off.  I asked what the alternative to shipping it back was and he said there is no alternative.  So I told them to go ahead and do it as I didn't want to be without the bike much longer.  A this point, since I originally paid my cash and drove the bike home, it has been at the dealership longer then in my garage.  Who knows how long this will take.

I really, really like the motorcycle.  It is everything I have ever wanted in a motorcycle particularly in an electric.  I loved my Empluse TT but this bike is so much quieter in operation and has tons of power.  The extra range is a plus.  However, I am on the verge of not being able to trust this bike.  Fortunately, my bike appears to be an outlier as (at least on this forum) nobody else has seemed to have these problems.   Therefore I will give it another chance.  I am really interested in finding out what they saw in the diagnostics that spooked Zero into wanted the bike returned to them rather then having the local shop repair it.   
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1979 Honda CBX
2009 Aprilia Cube 250 Scooter
2016 Victory Empulse TT
2019 Can-Am Spyder
2020 SR/F (retired)

vinceherman

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Re: SR/F CHARGER FAILURE?
« Reply #19 on: October 23, 2019, 11:13:59 PM »

In your shoes, I would be hoping for a replacement, one that has not already been the victim of gremlins.
Either way, I hope they resolve it quickly.
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Crissa

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Re: SR/F CHARGER FAILURE?
« Reply #20 on: October 23, 2019, 11:35:15 PM »

When you get a super-headscratcher, you want to see it in person!  Please let them ship it!  Crazy failures are really rare to be able to get back to the factory (for any product) and when you can, you can learn all sorts of failure modes you didn't expect in your design.

I'd have asked the dealer if Zero was going to front me a different bike in the meanwhile.

Sounds like you did get the jackpot of lemons and they want to know how it was possible that this happened.

-Crissa
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2014 Zero S ZF8.5

xawen

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Re: SR/F CHARGER FAILURE?
« Reply #21 on: October 25, 2019, 04:28:34 AM »

Like I said on earlier posts, mine had the same problem than yours (not charging at all). After sending it to Holland for repair where is Europe Zero Headquarters, they changed the whole charger and after a month of waiting, I have it back and running fine again. Sorry to hear yours is not solved yet. You are right, these  problems make it difficult to trust the brand again. Now, every time I plug the bike I think it won't charge again..It's a shame
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siai47

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Re: SR/F CHARGER FAILURE?
« Reply #22 on: October 25, 2019, 04:31:06 AM »

Update---  I visited the dealer today to discuss things about returning the bike for repair or replacement.  I had made three modifications to the bike.  I added a Zero DC power plug, a pair of spools on the swingarm and replaced the stock handlebars with a set of Protaper Adventure high bars.  The dealer asked me where the stock bar was and I told him it was in the trunk of the car.  I gave him the bar and dealer said Zero wanted it put back to stock and remove all my mods.  I asked why they wanted to go through this if they were just going to inspect or repair the bike.  He said that was their request.  I asked who would put my high bar back on when the bike is returned and he stated they would do it and return whatever I ended with with to the configuration of my bike when I dropped it off.  Sounds to me like I might be getting a replacement as they gave me a bag with my parts in it along with my license plate.  Which ever way it goes, (repair or replacement) I will be satisfied if the bike just runs like it did for the first 400 miles.  Time will tell.

I hope that they get to the bottom of what sequence of events allowed the bike to get into the condition it is now in.  I think they are trying their best to make me happy.  So now it is waiting time.  I'll keep you guys updated when I get any progress or decision reports.  BTW--the dealer thinks my "power pack" might arrive before the bike comes back.  Oh lucky me, the bike comes back and straight into the shop  8)
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1979 Honda CBX
2009 Aprilia Cube 250 Scooter
2016 Victory Empulse TT
2019 Can-Am Spyder
2020 SR/F (retired)

siai47

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Re: SR/F CHARGER FAILURE?
« Reply #23 on: November 19, 2019, 07:40:43 PM »

Another update on the repair/replacement of my SR/F.  The motorcycle is on the move.  It was picked up at the dealer last week and I guess is heading back to the factory.  I can ping the bike with the app and it shows the bike's location which is now on the New Mexico border headed West.  Not a word from Zero about what they are going to do with the bike and if they are going to return it or replace it.  It's been a long time since the breakdown and I hope this can be resolved soon.  Maybe I can get it back by Christmas.  Already cost me the fall riding season which is really nice here in central Florida.  This is strictly Zero's fault as my dealer has been tearing his hair out about the delays and trying to help but runs into dead ends.
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1979 Honda CBX
2009 Aprilia Cube 250 Scooter
2016 Victory Empulse TT
2019 Can-Am Spyder
2020 SR/F (retired)

GaryArt1

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Re: SR/F CHARGER FAILURE?
« Reply #24 on: November 19, 2019, 07:57:33 PM »

I may end up being in the same position.  MY SRF crapped out on me when I turned it off at a charging station.  It wouldn’t start and came back with a 12v failure.  I needed to truck it home and then to the dealer.  It is in the dealer now.  He told me that he is going to run a diagnostic program and send results to zero.  I told him the bike will no longer stay on for more than a few seconds.  He thought it was an easy solution to order a new 12v battery from Zero until I told him I fully charged the battery and still the bike will not stay on.  He then looked lost what to do and just said he will have to talk to Zero.  I am not sure if they can power up the computer another way but if not, I do not know if it will require a round trip to California.  The only saving point is it happened at the end of peak riding season in NY so it would not have really been on the road much until spring.  Seeing some of the complaints of bad chargers and DC/DC converters, it is not looking good for Zero’s 4 month old $20K flagship bike.  I hope it gets better from here.
« Last Edit: November 19, 2019, 07:59:31 PM by GaryArt1 »
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Currently own: 
2020 Blue Zero SR/F Premium
2005 Suzuki Boulevard C50T

Richard230

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Re: SR/F CHARGER FAILURE?
« Reply #25 on: November 19, 2019, 08:41:57 PM »

Unfortunately, none of these sort of problems are going to give Zero retail dealers a warm and fuzzy feeling about the brand and electric motorcycles in general.  :(  And the word does get around from dealer to dealer very quickly.  It took my BMW dealer about 8 years to get over their one and only experience with Brammo electric bikes, before they were finally willing to take a chance on Energica.
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Richard's motorcycle collection:  2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.

GaryArt1

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Re: SR/F CHARGER FAILURE?
« Reply #26 on: November 19, 2019, 10:40:21 PM »

As a consumer it is really making me second guess my decision to go with the SR/F.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the bike.  If they would fix this issue and it would be good from then on, I would still be positive about the bike.  The problem is normally I would not have bought a first year model just for these reasons.  I went for it because the timing was right and I bought into their many years of development and rigorous testing claims.   I always said, I am willing to accept the bugs with a first year model (poor cellular communication, poor app, OTA update issues) but not any major issues.  Well I had my first and hopefully last major issue.
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2020 Blue Zero SR/F Premium
2005 Suzuki Boulevard C50T

siai47

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Re: SR/F CHARGER FAILURE?
« Reply #27 on: December 13, 2019, 09:04:29 PM »

Bump---and final post.  The SR/F finally arrived a Zero motorcycles in Scotts Valley.  We have come to a mutual agreement on what to do next.  The motorcycle will stay with Zero and will be replaced.  At this point, I have options of what to replace it with.  Finally after all this time Zero has stepped up to the plate and resolved my issues in a proper and professional manner.  At first, I thought Zero had dropped the ball on this but it appears more likely that an unfortunate series of events, missteps and timing dragged out this process.  I need to thank Zero and my dealer, Sky Powersports in Sanford, Florida, for resolving this.  I hope the forensic analysis of my old bike well help Zero prevent whatever happened to my bike from ever happening again.

I really liked the SR/F.  It pushed all the right buttons and did everything I expected of it.  It's just this one particular bike had a flaw in its build or assembly that lead to it becoming undrivable and not repairable.  I am going to look around at what is available to replace it with.  I still have my Empulse TT and it is still running just fine.  I might even consider another SR/F after they build a bunch more of them.  I liked it that much.
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1979 Honda CBX
2009 Aprilia Cube 250 Scooter
2016 Victory Empulse TT
2019 Can-Am Spyder
2020 SR/F (retired)
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