Kawasaki Zephyr 400 engine stopped while driving, JAF compliant
The vehicle stopped in temperatures approaching 30°C!
On the way to work, the engine suddenly stopped! (sweat)
Suspecting a dead battery, I called JAF road service!
It's especially hot at this time of year, so if your motorcycle breaks down while commuting or out and about, it can be quite a mental blow!
Being careful to avoid heatstroke, I waited in the shade for the JAF to arrive, and when they arrived I told the person in charge that I suspected the battery might be dead.The first thing I did was measure the current battery voltage, which showed 11.4 V!
After confirming that the battery was unlikely to be dead, we predicted that the most likely cause was a faulty generator, so we connected the battery to a jump starter and turned the starter, and the engine started!
So I turned the accelerator and measured the battery voltage, and found that the voltage had not increased at all, and was 12.0V, only 0.6V different from before starting !
The cause was clearly identified as either the regulator or generator part of the vehicle!!
Since it turned out that the cause was not a dead battery but the alternator, it was difficult to drive the bike in its current state, so I got a JAF truck to load it and take it to my favorite motorcycle repair shop near my home.
I usually power the Kaedear KDR-M23A wireless charging smartphone holder and KDR-D702 dashcam from the vehicle's power source (optional parts). However, since I didn't have a voltmeter attached, I wasn't aware of the voltage readings while driving, which led to the engine suddenly stopping while I was driving.
When installing electrical equipment, I realized once again that it is necessary to have optional parts such as the Kaedear KDR-M2 series with voltage function, which has a voltmeter function and allows you to keep track of the vehicle's voltage status at all times! (laughs)
If there had been an optional part with a voltage meter function, it would have been possible to notice the voltage abnormality in advance and request repairs earlier, before the engine suddenly stopped.
It is essential to check the vehicle voltage with a voltmeter, not only for bikes that do not have electrical equipment installed, but also for bikes that do have electrical equipment installed!!
By keeping track of the voltage status of your car on a daily basis, you may be able to detect malfunctions before they occur, so why not consider installing a voltmeter or an electrical device with a voltmeter display, such as the KDR-M2 series products?
Kaedear stores also sell KDR-M2 series products and accept installation requests.
If you are interested, please contact us in store or by phone.
Our knowledgeable staff will provide you with courteous service.
