Author Topic: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!  (Read 43853 times)

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Offline Fatbelly

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A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« on: February 02, 2013, 18:11:00 »
Design Fault on Glee?

I have been putting off this report until everything is certain and fixed. But now, all Glee owners should be aware of a fault on my Glee. It is possible that my Glee was not assembled correctly but the Suzuki mechanics who are repairing it under warranty have described the problem as “A design Fault” and are expecting it to occur on other Glees.

THE FAULT
Where the wiring loom is routed under the rear of the tank at the left side, just in front of the battery, fusebox etc., the wires pass over a slighty sharp corner of the frame and have been chafing against it. This has resulted in five small wires having the insulation rubbed off at the underside until they are bare and shorting out. (this happened at about 13,000 miles)

THE SOLUTION
Suzuki has agreed to replace the entire wiring loom (and battery in this case). The dealer has already decided to add a small plastic guard on the sharp corner at the PDI of any new Glees to prevent the chafing from happening – I don’t know if there are any plans to do this at any other dealers or to any other Glees which are already in service. Suzuki took a bloody long time to supply the new loom, it is being fitted today.

THE SYMPTOMS
I will describe the symptoms my Glee suffered, but it occurs to me that the symptoms could be completely different depending on which wires short out and to where they short out.

My problem first occurred when I washed the bike, took it for a five minute “blow dry” ride then put it away. I went back the next morning and it’s battery was completely dead – not just a little bit flat – completely dead. I took the battery out and fully recharged it, during this time the faulty part had obviously dried out and the bike started but misfired and showed an FI for the oil pressure sensor. The dealer collected it to repair under warranty.

The dealer checked all the connector blocks and sprayed all the connectors, but by this time the bike was running perfectly so they returned it to me.

About a week later I took the bike out and it immediately started to rain heavily, within a few hundred yards of riding in the rain the Glee started to misfire really badly and I just managed to ride it home and put it away again. Next morning a completely dead battery once more.

The dealer then started tearing the thing down to find the fault and eventually discovered the bared wires. To see them you have to take the little black side panel off the left side, put your head on the footpeg and look up with a torch.

THE GOOD NEWS
The fault is very easily and cheaply prevented by protecting the wires where they run over the edge of the frame. A little bit of tape or plastic or maybe a well placed wire tie will sort it out.  


Offline Locky

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2013, 18:14:54 »
I don't have a Glee , but good post  :thumb:  . Could save some folk a lot of time and trouble .

Offline skinny5216

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2013, 18:40:39 »
Thanks for the post, will be taking a look tomorrow. glad you got it sorted. :thumb:

Offline greywolf

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2013, 18:44:47 »
There was a similar problem, I believe in 2004 and 2005, when factory assemblers mis-routed the harness. I've had the cover off before and don't remember a problem but I'll look again. A bit of plastic conduit may be called for. Thanks for posting the information.
Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A outlasted me.
Nicknames I use to lessen typing, Vee = 2002-2012 (K2-L2) DL1000s. Veek=2014+ (L4+) DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 (K4-L1) DL650s. Glee = 2012+ (L2+) DL650s

Offline Ptarmigan

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2013, 18:54:13 »
:text-goodpost:
I Go Down any Road There is, To see what's Around The Bend - Joe Bonamassa

http://www.bestbikingroads.com/motorcyc ... 161e9.html

Offline gilly

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2013, 20:53:14 »
Thanks for the heads up will check mine this week  :ty:
A SHIN BONE IS A DEVICE  FOR FINDING FURNITURE IN A DARK ROOM

Offline stibbs

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2013, 21:05:19 »
Quality info, thank you :ty:

Offline UK_Vstrom650

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2013, 21:58:26 »
I wonder if this has anything to do with the warranty letters Suzuki has been posting out...?? (got one today)

Offline Jacko

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2013, 22:49:16 »
Many thanks for posting this in such detail.. I'm having my tank up before it's back on the road to fit a Scottoiler, I'll check and prevent at the same time..

This is exactly why we join owners forums.. :)

Offline Oop North John

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #9 on: February 03, 2013, 11:41:43 »
Had a look / feel on my bike and there seems to be clearance between the loom and the frame  :)

Offline loggamatt

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #10 on: February 03, 2013, 20:14:52 »
Whoa... great post! Sorry to hear you had all that hassle, but thanks for letting the rest of us know so we can sort it out. Will check mine out tomorrow... thanks!

Offline Gassoon

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #11 on: February 04, 2013, 09:12:18 »
:handgestures-thumbup:  :text-goodpost:
"I am a dignified citizen of the area, not a fox-faced vagabond in an over-fancy hat!"

Work Experience Stasi


Offline Petrust

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #12 on: February 04, 2013, 17:07:31 »
:thumb:  Thanks for the warning. I intend to have a look at mine this weekend and see about applying some shielding to the wiring

Offline stromboy

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #13 on: February 04, 2013, 21:58:36 »
Hello Fatbelly, I have posted some close up pictures from my own bike because I haven't been able to find where the wiring loom may be rubbing. Can you direct me to where the problem is using my pictures below? Thank you!




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Offline Fatbelly

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #14 on: February 04, 2013, 23:03:01 »
I still don't have mine back yet, it should be ready tomorrow but I will be at work all week so it will probably be Saturday before I see it again. It's snowing heavily here right now, too.

I don't want to go by memory and get it wrong. When I get it back I will take some pictures. I will also notice if it has been routed in a different way.

Offline TOMOLFC61

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #15 on: February 05, 2013, 12:28:13 »
:ty:
"Tutte le strade portano a Roma"
"Never argue with an idiot you will only bring yourself down to their level"
I could be that idiot!!!

Offline Fatbelly

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #16 on: February 05, 2013, 15:41:50 »
I asked the dealer to send me the pics they took for the warrantly claim. Hope this is helpful - you can see what a mess it is.



Offline Jacko

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #17 on: February 05, 2013, 15:48:16 »
That's nasty..

Offline mjc506

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #18 on: February 05, 2013, 16:34:25 »
farrrrk. :shock:  Doesn't look too far from that burnt out wee being flogged on ebay
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Offline greywolf

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Re: A warning to all Glee owners please read!!!
« Reply #19 on: February 05, 2013, 16:48:19 »
That's a different place from where I expected. It appears the sand cast aluminum frame acted like a file rather than a steel frame upright acting like a knife on the mis-routed looms from years ago.
Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A outlasted me.
Nicknames I use to lessen typing, Vee = 2002-2012 (K2-L2) DL1000s. Veek=2014+ (L4+) DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 (K4-L1) DL650s. Glee = 2012+ (L2+) DL650s