Canbus issues after long day of riding in Rain

[jorgebri60]

Good morning, evening, afternoon, whatever the case may be in your neck of the world. This weekend I had to make a quick trip over to Dallas, TX from El Paso TX. I Covered 1200 miles, 600 each way. The return trip was unfortunately gloomy and rainy for most of it. Some of it was heavy downpour for a couple of hours. By the time I made my last stop, after the rainiest part of the trip, I shut the bike off to gas up and just after the the sleep countdown when the lights shutdown, I noticed my ABS light would kick back on and then the entire screen would go into a reboot mode but there was no functionality on the bike whatsoever, just the screen with several indicators lighting up and none of them made sense. I could push the power button and everything would go back to normal. The bike would start and everything was operational so I finished filling up and headed out on the final leg of my trip. When I got home that evening, I pulled into my shop and sure enough, she started with the same nonsense and I couldn't turn it off. I ended up having to disconnect the battery and figured I'd deal with it in the morning. I was pretty sure something got some water in it and it was pulling enough amperage to reboot the canbus. My initial thought was the switches and controls on the right side got wet somehow because of all the heavy rain. Before I disconnected the battery I tried blowing the switch off with some air, but it still did the same thing so I just left the bike with seat off and a fan blowing on it overnight. The next morning, I plugged the battery back in and gave it a try...problem gone! Not solved, mind you, just gone. UGH! I wish I knew what got wet enough to cause the issue.
Has anyone ever experienced something like this?
Thank you for reading my rant, but these electrical gremlins bother me.

 

[emgarciax]

That's some decent mileage. Sorry but no idea of what may be going on.

 

[Star-Lord]

Is the bike a TC or a Model B with a 3rd case and such added to the bike; perhaps, check the after market wiring as a starting point?

I've been caught in only a handful of wet days; however, I do recall an absolute deluge which wiped out my buddy's HD Road Glide's electronics, dash dials completely fogged up, etc...

Long story short.. my Model B had zero issues from being completely soaked..

 

[bdalameda]

I agree the switchgear is most suspect as far as water intrusion. I use Corrosion X on any electronics and electrical connections that may get wet. The great thing about this stuff is that it not only protects from corrosion it creates a thin film layer over the surface of connections and electronics that repels water so issues will not come up after using it if you are again in wet conditions. It will also lubricate the switch mechanisms.

https://www.corrosionx.com/collecti...ol/products/corrosionx?variant=45808527704309

 

[jorgebri60]

Is the bike a TC or a Model B with a 3rd case and such added to the bike; perhaps, check the after market wiring as a starting point?

I've been caught in only a handful of wet days; however, I do recall an absolute deluge which wiped out my buddy's HD Road Glide's electronics, dash dials completely fogged up, etc...

Long story short.. my Model B had zero issues from being completely soaked..

It's a B with all the stuff added to it.
All the added wiring was where I was going to start, but since I don't have anything to look for now...

 

[Larry77]

I had an issue after I washed it, wouldn't stay started, everything powered up but it shut off after just a few seconds. After I let it dry out for a day, everything was back to normal. Makes me nervous to even ride in the rain at all, no idea what got wet that shouldn't have. Mine is a '23 TC

 

[jorgebri60]

I had an issue after I washed it, wouldn't stay started, everything powered up but it shut off after just a few seconds. After I let it dry out for a day, everything was back to normal. Makes me nervous to even ride in the rain at all, no idea what got wet that shouldn't have. Mine is a '23 TC

Luckily mine behaves normally once I powered it back up. I was able to finish the last 90 miles of my trip, but like you mentioned, I’m nervous about riding in rain now. At least heavy rain.

 

[Manhattan Matte]

Great looking bike, jorgebri60. On a long cross-country trip to the eastern Canadian provinces from Texas last summer on my 2023 Pure, I encountered days and days of rain and fog. One day, after a stop for gas, the bike failed to start. I checked everything electrical, and finally discovered the battery connections were loose and the battery was not charging. I tightened both the positive and negative connections, and jump started the bike with a battery pack to get going again. But the battery would not hold a charge, so I ended up replacing the battery when I finally reached a dealership in Ontario. I hope that letting your bike dry out solves the problem, but definitely check your battery cables for tightness. Did you know there's a negative terminal for jump-starting that's directly beneath the right-hand cylinder?

 

[jorgebri60]

Did you know there's a negative terminal for jump-starting that's directly beneath the right-hand cylinder?

I did not know that. Good to know .

 

[Petrus]

I did not know that. Good to know .

Have a look in the owners manual for jump start terminals.
Very handy for a generic battery charger indeed.

As to the wet problem it seems most logical that the add on connections are the first to look at.

As you now cannot chase any problem anymore, make sure it dries out completely and then use WD40.

Also, there is a topic on here about shielding the electrics/connectors/relays under the front of the seat from spray by simply putting a plastic sheet over them.

 

[Star-Lord]

Maybe check the fuses behind the Right Hand Side panel; the fuses are exposed, without any covers.

I have covered the wiring and such on both sides, behind each of the side panels on my Model B with a black colored garden mesh in order to keep road debris and pouring rain off of fuses and the overall wiring.

I pull the mesh out once a year and shake it out, and re-install it.

 

[Petrus]

Maybe check the fuses behind the Right Hand Side panel; the fuses are exposed, without any covers.

I have covered the wiring and such on both sides, behind each of the side panels on my Model B with a black colored garden mesh in order to keep road debris and pouring rain off of fuses and the overall wiring.

Exactly what I mean. I had pond plastic over them but I have since faffed with HEX EZcan and don´t ride in the rain so left it as BMW thinks it ok.

 

[jorgebri60]

Have a look in the owners manual for jump start terminals.
Very handy for a generic battery charger indeed.

As to the wet problem it seems most logical that the add on connections are the first to look at.

As you now cannot chase any problem anymore, make sure it dries out completely and then use WD40.

Also, there is a topic on here about shielding the electrics/connectors/relays under the front of the seat from spray by simply putting a plastic sheet over them.

Thank you, I know about the charging terminals, I actually have a battery tender cable that is attached there. My thoughts for the weekend were to wrap all the wires under the seat with a plastic somehow. I have a Corbin seat and it seems to let more water in than the stock bagger seat. We'll see what I come up with this weekend to protect all of that. My worry is all of the electronics (stock) that are under the frame between the seat and tank. That stuff took a beating. Not sure I can do anything there.
Thanks for the info.

 

[jorgebri60]

Maybe check the fuses behind the Right Hand Side panel; the fuses are exposed, without any covers.

I have covered the wiring and such on both sides, behind each of the side panels on my Model B with a black colored garden mesh in order to keep road debris and pouring rain off of fuses and the overall wiring.

I pull the mesh out once a year and shake it out, and re-install it.

View attachment 20832

Good idea.. I'll try covering some of that up. It's pretty exposed down there and like I mentioned in the previous post, that entire section took a beating during the hard rain.
Thanks

 

[Petrus]

To set your mind maybe a bit at ease, water is not a very good conductor at the voltage of a vehicle battery. I have had it all working (on an eighties Motor Guzzi so go figure), main beam and all, completely submerged (don´t ask).
Just minimal splash water protection under the seat front behind the side panel is effective.
Before covering it up, use WD40 or such for good measure.

About the switchgear I would not worry. It is the ´same´ as on the adventure bikes.

All in all double check the install of the accessories.

Fingers crossed it does not recur.