| Author | Message | ||
     Fordrox |
Ok so here it goes, while at BTF4 some may remember i was having issues with the uly cutting out and restarting. the ride back to Maryland was quite exciting as the problem grew exponentially as the miles rolled by, at some points it was like riding a bucking bronco. we finally figured out that it was an ecm issue, if i sit on the rear seat the bike runs great and does not cut out, so i run the last few hundred miles on the rear seat. So I take it to Annapolis HD. Well after explaining what happened and what I believe the problem to be, they finally call me today, they have given up, they cannot figure out what is wrong, the tech has managed to duplicate the issue. he has changed some computer parameters and test rode, then complained that it didn't run right after. next he re-flashed the ecm, pulled the fan out after the flash complaining that the fan didn't run right, apparently not understanding that he just re-flashed it with the latest flash which changed the fan logic. so in ripping out the fan trying to figure it out he broke the fan shroud (comfort kit) and since re-ordered the broken piece. He has called tech support at the mother ship and they have him tracing the battery cables and checking the run/stop switch. after several calls to the dealer and repeatedly telling them it is the ecm, the parts manager refuses to order it because he doesn't want to have it on his shelf if it isn't the problem. then they tell me that even if it is the ecm, HD wont pay for it if they cannot pin the problem on the ecm. So when they called today, they tell me that they have reached an impass and are giving up and cannot fix it, after the fan shroud is replaced, they are giving it back, in unfixed condition, they made sure to tell me there was no charge since they did not fix the issue. did i mention that it is under warranty for another full year. so i ask the guy, so u cant fix it, what the hell am i suppose to do with it, he pauses for a moment and says umm i don't know. just had to vent a little, i love the bike and want to keep it, i might have to just fix it myself, but i will not let HD off the hook ill make them pay me back for the Erik Buell Racing ECM that i put in if they force me to fix it myself. | ||
| Sifo |
Time to check the lemon laws of your state. To me this has been the WORST part of Buell ownership. | ||
| Trbulnt |
I'm not familiar with that make of Buell but if the problem went away when you changed your seat position, it leads me to think the problem could be a pinched wire directly under the seat. Where is the ECM located on your bike? Is there any sort of wire harness that runs under the front seat? Is the problem only occurring when the bike is in motion or can it be duplicated at idle? | ||
| F_skinner |
Chris, first of all I am glad you made it home and thanks for the loan of the tools at BTF4. It sounds like, and this is just a guess, your dealer does not really know Buells. Try another dealer.... Don't give up on the XB. I would also check the Lemon Laws like Sifo said. Frank | ||
| Blk_uly |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/591381.html?1283387146 been their, done that. sorry to hear your troubles join the club and make them give you a new bike. Remind them it will cheaper than getting a lawyer they'll need to defend themselves against the lawyer your going to hire. | ||
| Fordrox |
Frank, no problem I'm glad I could help. Until this incident the bike has run perfectly and given me 7000+ happy miles, I also know that this experience is nothing to what some of you have been through. I want this bike back and running, I do NOT want to have to look for a replacement. The dealer is supposed to call me again today when the service manager is in to discuss the options left. I guess what gets me wound up over this issue, is the fact they gave up so easy and they are worried about a 300 dollar part on the shelf if that isn't it, now I'm no HD guy, buy i can bet they have chrome that costs more than the ECM, and that does nothing but make the bike look pretty. Well for now I will just wait and see. | ||
| Fast1075 |
Check the harness bundle where it goes around the negative terminal of the battery...it may be worn thru and intermittently shorting with weight on the front of the seat...my bike did that and it was not obvious until I looked closely and deliberately. | ||
| Dcc46 |
my ulys been in the shop for 9 weeks now for the same problem. see here http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/601990.html?1288795061 | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
These bikes are pretty easy to fix. For anyone but a Harley mechanic. At least you can take solace in the fact that they don't do much better fixing Harleys. Since you are under warranty, what ever that is worth, the best thing is to look under the sponsor section on this site, to find a Buell friendly dealer. There aren't too many of them left. Never were. Secondly order a shop manual and parts book while they are still available. Then fix it yourself: as I said it usually isn't very hard. Your problem is very common sounds like a chafed wire, one of the Buell's achilles' heels. Or take it to an independant shop with a good reputation, and have them fix it. Bring the manuals with you. Good luck. | ||
| Blake |
Swap ECM's with another bike and see if that solves the problem. If so, problem identified. That dealer is an idiot. | ||
| Balloyd66 |
Check the wiring bundle for chafing, but my bet goes on the ECM. Topeka HD has replaced 2 ECMs for me due to cracks in the potting (I call it epoxy filler goop) around the connections. Now I've relocated the new one, so no more of the seat pan cracking the connections. Seems to be a Uly issue. Search BB&D and Knowledge Vault threads. I know the feeling of riding the "bucking bronco" from a cracked ECM. Pull the ECM out and flex the connections. If you see any cracking at all, that should be all the dealer needs to replace it. Or bite the bullet and follow the trend by buying an Erik Buell Racing ECM. Most importantly, relocate the new ECM! http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/597784.html http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/568753.html | ||
| Fordrox |
Update... finally spoke with the service manager today. to make a long conversation short, he agreed to order an ECM. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Check the relays under the seat, I had the same problem, with the TT. It was a faulty relay which costs only a few dollars. Very simple to check, there's 3 relays, mark them all differently & swap them about to be sure which one is duff. | ||
| Fordrox |
Just an update, I still haven't gotten the uly back from the dealer yet. Maybe they are waiting for Thanksgiving. | ||
| Fordrox |
Update: The dealer delivered the Uly to my home tonight repaired. Amazingly what fixed it was what I told them the problem was when I dropped it off a month ago. | ||
| Whatever |
What a bunch of idiots. Glad you found the problem. Happy Trails to you!!! | ||
| Stirz007 |
I had an intermittent short in the harness - power on, power off, repeat as I was going down the road at 75. Lots of mystery ECM issues, throwing codes, loss of ignition at speed, etc. The original post looks like some similar issues. We found the problem by going through the harness and tugging and wiggling till the problem manifested itself for the dealer. Dealer replaced entire harness - no more problems. Hope you figure it out. JM |
