Garmin Zumo 350 and DEAD BATTERY

[Mark]

Hi everyone,

I'm having a battle with a new Garmin Zumo 350 on my R1200R or more correctly the wiring harness between the bikes battery and the cradle the GPS mounts to.

The issue with this harness is that the power regulator (transformer) in the harness which converts the bikes 12 volt to 5 volt, under certain circumstances continues to drawer power from my bike’s battery and over a three day period will drain the bikes battery completely.

NOTE: Let me be very clear here – this only occurs when the GPS IS NOT ATTACHED and the motorcycles ignition is switched off.

So the circumstances are –
- GPS not fitted to cradle.
- Bike is run as usual.
- Bike ignition is switched off.
- Harness continues to drawer power from the bikes CANBUS system.

The wiring harness is attached as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

It is interesting to note that if the GPS is in the cradle and the motorcycle’s ignition is switched off after a ride and then the GPS is removed – the issue does not occur. It is only when the GPS is not attached.

I'm no electrical genius but I can't see how something not connected to a device can possibly suck the bike's battery dry. If the little black box which steps the power down from 12 to 5 volts is "still doing something" - where does the power go?

Anyone else had this issue or have any idea what may be going on?

[zackvis]

A 12 to 5volt regulator will still draw current even with no equipment attacted .It's like you TV on standby it is off but still uses a small amount of power that runs thru the circuits .Put a switch in the + wire going to the regulator and switch it off there .
Hope this helps.

[deilenberger]

The solution is to hook it to the GPS power outlet that is under the starboard front of the tank (tank removal isn't needed to access it - just real good eyes..) That outlet is powered in parallel with the bikes built in auxiliary outlet, and turns off 15 seconds after the bike is shut off.

There is a "repair connector" that can be used to plug and play the connection (and you no longer need a fuse for the GPS mount - the ZFE already provides that function.) I forget which wire is which on the repair connector, but a Google for "BMW GPS hookup" will probably turn up some detailed instructions.

BTW - wiring it directly to the battery as you apparently have now - has nothing at all to do with the "Canbus System" - you've effectively bypassed it. Doing it via the GPS outlet puts it under the control of the ZFE which is part of the canbus system (ZFE = electrical controller, think switching/fusebox). That's a much better way to do it than across the battery terminals - the outlet was made for this purpose.

[Clem]

http://www.motorcycleinfo.co.uk/index.c ... eId=167512
#1-Ground #3-Power
83300413585 REPAIR CONNECTOR-3 P S
Hope that helps.

[Mark]

Thanks for the replies - just to be clear I had the BMW mechanic connect this and it was indeed attached via the dedicated connector under the tank and not directly to the battery.
I understand that the step down transformer will continue to drawer power just like any other transformer or charger (Apple iPhone charger for example) even when the device is removed, but being connected to the dedicated GPS socket uner the tank, I would have thought that the CAN Bus system would kill power to the device after the ignition was turned off even if that little black box still demanded it.

Anyway - I've sent the cable back to Garmin just in case it is a fault with the harness and I'll get the mechanic to fit the new one when it gets here and hope that fixes it.

[mogu83]

While he's fitting the new cable maybe he could check to see if the plug he's attaching to has battery on it when the bike is turned off, it shouldn't..
The GPS cable (power source) is tucked up under the right side (throttle side) of the tank and is sometimes hard to find. Is their a remote chance he attached to the wrong cable (plug). If your up to it, take a quick look to see where the Garmin cable goes. I know it's hard to believe but the mechanic might have taken the 'easy way out' and run the cable directly to a battery source.

I have a Garmin in my van that I plug in the cigarette lighter (powered all the time), if I leave it plugged in and don't use the van for a week or so that little Garmin will suck that 1000cca battery dry.

[deilenberger]

Thanks for the replies - just to be clear I had the BMW mechanic connect this and it was indeed attached via the dedicated connector under the tank and not directly to the battery.
I understand that the step down transformer will continue to drawer power just like any other transformer or charger (Apple iPhone charger for example) even when the device is removed, but being connected to the dedicated GPS socket uner the tank, I would have thought that the CAN Bus system would kill power to the device after the ignition was turned off even if that little black box still demanded it.

Without a "keep alive" signal on the GPS outlet - it should shut down after 15 seconds after the ignition is turned off. There is nothing in a GPS adaptor that would provide the keep-alive signal.

As a test of what's happening - set it up so you feel the circuit is still live (GPS out of the cradle?) and see if the auxilary socket is alive by plugging something into it.

As other's mentioned - given your symptoms I find it difficult to accept that it's connected to the GPS outlet.

Anyway - I've sent the cable back to Garmin just in case it is a fault with the harness and I'll get the mechanic to fit the new one when it gets here and hope that fixes it.

Let us know how it works out. When you disconnected it to send it back - where did the cable terminate?

[Mark]

Thanks to everyone who is responding.
This is one of those issues that gets into your head and just keeps bouncing around.

When the harness was removed it was definitely connected to the dedicated socket under the tank that is there for just such a connection (GPS etc.).
It's exactly how I had my previous Zumo 660 connected (previous R1200R) and had no problem with it.

The thing that keeps bouncing around in my head is how can this problem be happening?

Even with this new harness (Zumo 350) which has a power regulator inline (12v to 5v) rather than this being handled in the GPS, the bikes power system is not supposed to stay on after a predetermined period of time when the ignition is turned off.
I thought that was the whole idea of this connection?

If I had had it wired directly to the battery - different situation. Nothing to tell the battery to stop supplying power to the little regulator. But this is to a socket that should switch off irrespective of some device wanting to continue to drawer power.

I'm thinking more and more that I have a CAN bus problem and power is not being controlled correctly to that socket.

So, that's going to be a tough one to argue with BMW - they don't like taking a hit if the issue is the result of a non-OEM component or device.
If I can convince my dealer to do it, I suspect connecting to another point in the bike's wiring where the power is directly switched off with the ignition may be an option but that would be a non-standard hack and may bring on warranty issues.

Anyway - the harness if off to Garmin for replacement as the mechanic is convinced it is the culprit - I guess I'll see what happens when I get the replacement part.

[mogu83]

It's hard working like this because we don't know each others expertise working on motorcycles, please don't take that wrong.
That said. How about taking the wire that used to go to your Garmin and connecting it to a small light bulb. With the ignition on the light should be on, after a short while with the ignition turned off the bulb should go out. If it doesn't go out, you show that to your dealer and ask why. If it does go out the problem is toward the GPS unit.

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

Can I ask a couple of questions? Do I remember that the can bus keeps the accessory socket open if it senses a current flow? This to allow for long term charging via the BMW smart charger. If yes. And if the gps plug is wired with the same circuit. Could that be the issue? The computer thinks there is active stuff going on so doesn't shut the power down?

[Mark]

Harry, No offence taken - I'm no electrician and am past the days where I even bother touching any service stuff on my bike.
More to the point - this is still under warranty and i'm nervous to touch even basic stuff if it may upset the dealer/mechanics.

I'll do a test to see if power stays on to the cradle/socket after ignition is switched off.

Let's hope it's just the cradle and not the CAN Bus.

[bmwR]

Hi Mark,
This is a similar series of events that I went through moving from a K1300S+Zumo 550 to an R1200R+Zumo 350LM in September 2013. It took 5 days to flat my battery which I then tried to trickle charge with the approved BMW charger...it did not work. The trickle charger could not charge the battery, keep up with the Zumo drain and after 48 hours I had a hot charger. I f you do a google search there are several threads dealing with this issue, some have measured the drain current and are backed up with numbers. Bottom line there is no list of recommended GPS units that play nicely with the Canbus/ZFE setup on BMWs. From my personal experience BMW's Navigator GPS series and the Zumo 550, when connected to the GPS socket, are plug 'n play without issues. A direct, always on, battery connection gives a lower drain current but is not a fix. My 350 was purchased on Amazon, I returned it and tried a 660. Some improvement i.e. no external step down unit, but not a fix.

One reply in this thread was to put a switch between the bike - GPS unit and that or a variation is the way to go. I had a new bike so wanted a clean fix:
1. If you want to stay with the Zumo 350LM then use a switched isolating circuit off an accessories fuse panel. OR
2. Spend the money, use the wiring harness GPS socket and fit BMW's Navigator GPS.

I don't use additional lights or heated clothing so installed a Navigator IV. Literally plug 'n play and the job will take about an hour fitting the handlebar carrier, removing and refitting the petrol tank plastic weather shield etc but at a significant cost for the GPS unit. My trickle charger works and the battery can go a month then start from cold. There is always a small drain current from the immobilizer etc. which you can live with. Hope that helps and yes, after years on non canbus/ZFE bikes the fact that drain current can be so significant came as a bit of a surprise.