| Author | Message | ||
     Debueller |
Yesterday while riding my '08 Uly on I-90, I looked down at my speedo and noticed it was not working. I thought to myself, oh well, it's under warranty and it probably is a loose plug, broken wire, or maybe even a faulty speedo head. I also realized that I didn't remember actually watching the speedo and tach needles do their sweep immediatly after I turned on the iginition. Furthermore I wasn't even positive I even waited for the check engine light to go off before I pressed the starter button. About 4 miles later the check engine light lit up. The bike continued to run fine, but now I'm getting concerned because I don't need to be stranded next to the road with a dead bike, in the dark, with cars and semis roaring past me during rush hour on a 70mph interstate. I rode directly toward home (about 15 miles) and the bike ran fine except for that damn light shining in my face and the non-functional speedo. About a half a mile from home I stopped the bike and shut off the ignition. I waited about 15 seconds or so, then turned the ignition on, and and watched as both needles did their sweep, and a few seconds later the check engine light went out. I started the engine rode toward home and everything was fine.........no check engine light and the speedo worked fine!!! Has anyone here in the collective experenced this? I've got a combined 60,000 miles on two different Ulys, (47K on a '06, and 14K on my '08) and have never had this happen. Luckily it's winter time and I have no plans to go very far from home, but being stranded anywhere is no fun. | ||
| Jphish |
Jerry - Had it 'flicker' on me once on a bad strech of road - but didn't stay off. Was adding Palmer brackets that weekend so while I had the flyscreen off anyway I pushed in on the module connector to make sure it was tight. Hasn't happened since, but likely culprit. Cant see any other suspects unless it IS the module assembly itself. Even so, don't know how it could otherwise incapacitate the bike. But I'm no EE. I'll Find my Shop manual and take a look at the wiring schematic. Owe you a call anyway. j | ||
| Bartimus |
I had the same problem on my '08 XT. Mine was intermittant for about a month before I brought it to the shop. It was a loose connection in the harness. The shop found it quickly, and repaired it under warranty. I wish I could say the same about the surging issue I'm having with the bike ever since it was new... | ||
| Jphish |
Bartimus - In the main harness, or the 39 module connector ? | ||
| Jphish |
Jerry - Looked at the schematic. Don't see any obvious way a faulty instrument module assy or 39 connector could cause the Uly not to run. However, IF the CAUSE of the fault is somewhere in the main Harness, or it's connectors... thats another story. But you already knew that. If you check 39 for tightness & it's ok, and it ever does it again - time to drop it off @ Issaquah. | ||
| Bushido |
I have had the same symptoms with my 08. In my case I believe it was caused by metal particles building up on the speedo sensor in the transmission. This problem came and went a few times until I took the sensor out, cleaned it and replaced the trans fluid. The metal particles affect the sensor then the sensor quits sending signals leading to the speedo problems and eventually the check engine warning. Mine would happen more often after quick Right hand turns causing the trans fluid to splash up onto the sensor more than normal? Pull the sensor and clean it, you will be surprised how many metal particles build up on the sensor. | ||
| Jphish |
Who woulda thunk it ? Yet another potentially new and curious puzzle to solve. Let us know what you find Jerry. j | ||
| Mnrider |
On my old 06 Uly (my new one has only 500 miles,long story)if the gauges did not sweep the speedo would not work but would come on later.I suspect it was the speedo head.Never did affect how it ran. | ||
| Allthegoodonesrtkn |
My 08 xt also has had the speedo stop working when riding it. I was just riding along when I looked down and the needle was not moving, then a few miles later the check engine light came on. Road home, killed the bike for 30 mins or so, then fired her up and everything was working fine, and the light was gone. Havent taken it to the dealership yet because there all so far away. | ||
| Bartimus |
my problem was in the main harness | ||
| Ratbuell |
I doubt the light indicates a "gonna die" situation. I'd bet it's attached to the incomplete data stream somewhere between the speed sensor, gauge cluster, and ECM. No key-on sweep makes me think cluster, or cluster power...but that's just a guess. | ||
| Dio |
How much of this can be traced to the main ground issue near the battery that is addressed in a service bulletin, where one is instructed to remove and clean paint from the ground location? Doesn't the "main harness" ground here? Bad grounds can cause all sorts of weird stuff to happen! | ||
| Id073897 |
Check VSS and harness also. ECM throws an error with VSS signal missing. Speedo is fed by ECM now, not directly as before. | ||
| Debueller |
Thanks for the great suggestion everyone!! The bike has been sitting all weekend. This afternoon, I'll re-torque the battery connections, and ground cables, (thanks Dio) and do a quick visual of as many wire connectors as I can. Tomorrow I'll ride it to work hoping this issue was just a glitch. If not, I'll do a little more digging, like maybe the speedo sensor (thanks Bushido) and also the #39 connector, (thanks Jphish) Is the #39 connector the one behind the countershaft cover? The bike is still under warranty, so I do not want to do *too much* digging. I'll report here tomorrow and check in to let everyone know what happens after I ride it to work. Thanks again, all!! | ||
| Jjg0324 |
I had a similar experience with my Road King. It turned out to be water in the connector between the wiring harness and the ECM. The dealer said there wasn't any dielectric grease in the connector like there should have been. Given our weather lately, this may be something to check. Jim | ||
| Etennuly |
My '06 has done that a couple of times. Both times the battery cables needed tightening. | ||
| Jphish |
39 connector is behind fly screen. The one that plugs into the back of speedo assy module. I think Dio's (and others) idea of making sure grounding cable is clean and tight is a good thing to do anyway since it can cause so many other problems. I'm going to check mine now that Ive been reminded about it...again. j | ||
| Mayerhd |
I had the same symptoms in May of 08, (08 Uly), turned out to be a problem in the main harness, fixed under warranty, (no trouble since, happened with about 700 miles on the odo, put about 6300 on after the fix). Just my personal observation but it seems that this is more common in the 08's. | ||
| Debueller |
Update: I checked the battery cables, and the negetive terminal was a *little* loose. It didn't seem like it was loose enough to cause any issues, but I know the battery connections on the XB's are critical so I retorqued both of the battery cable bolts. I rode the bike to work this morning, (26 miles) the speedo worked fine and the check engine light worked normally.......it lit up when I turned on the key, it went out after a few seconds, I started the bike, and I never seen it again. This afternoon and tomorrow I will be riding it about 150 miles. If there are no issues, I will consider it a glitch, or maybe there was an issue with the battery cables. However, I will continue to be vigilant about paying attention to things like allowing the light to go out before cranking the engine. I will also keep an eye on any wiring for rubbing, contact with hot surfaces, hanging untied connectors, and the like. Thanks for the suggestions, and if this problem arises again, I'll keep everyone up to date........ | ||
| Joenuclear |
Resurrecting this thread because my 08 XT has started doing the same thing. The speedo won't start and a few minutes later the check engine light comes on. If I don't have a safe place to pull over the check engine light goes out after about 10 minutes. I'm pretty sure it happens because I don't wait for the cluster to cycle. I just turn the key and start the bike. (hence the term "turn key")  |
