| Author | Message | ||
     Woodreaux |
This is a sequence of events and outlines and seemingly validates there are issues with the ECM on the 08 Uly’s. Or at least with mine. Last Tuesday I took the 08 Uly-XT for the coughing, sputtering and wouldn’t idle from a cold start issue and cough ~3k RPM. On Saturday I picked the Uly up talked to the tech who does my work. He indicated that the ECM was reflashed and that the timing was looked at the Digital Technician. TPS reset was performed as a precaution and I had new spark plugs installed as a remedy of any plug fouling. We started the engine and perfection was observed. The ride home was fast, smooth and fun. On Sunday I rode the bike about 100 miles from Houston and stopped in Bellville for gas. The engine had performed effortlessly and I traveled my first gravel rode which is why I bought the motorcycle. After cruising about another 60+ miles and traveling down another gravel rode and hitting some twisties I stopped in Fayetteville for a drink of water and used the kill switch due to backing in a parking area on an incline. When I left the coughing and sputtering started…again. I went around the corner and to top off my fuel and the engine wouldn’t idle. Upon take off the engine will cough and sputter at ~3k RPM and once past this RPM it rums well. Rode for another 2 hours and headed to the house. After getting home and letting the engine cool I started the engine and the idle immediately began to hunt from 500-2000 RPM and then would drop down below 500 RPM and die. After the engine was started on the 4th attempt the idle was constant at ~1000-1050 RPM. This morning the engine would not idle on the first 3 starts. Holding the throttle open did not help. On the 4th or 5th start attempt the idle would hunt 500-2000RPM and die within 10 seconds regardless of RPM. At the 6th and 7th start attempts the engine would limp to 500 RPM and die after 5 seconds. The 9th attempt yielded the engine limping at 500 RPM and climbed to 1500 RPM and died. The 10th attempt the engine started climbing to 1050 RPM and hovered from ~950-1100 RPM and after 20 seconds the idle settled at 1050RPM. I let the engine idle after the 10th attempt for about 3 minutes putting helmet and gloves on. Dropped into 1st gear and released the clutch while rolling the throttle to about 2K Rpm and cough sputter-bucking and twisting the throttle past 3k the engine was smooth. At stop signs I was little nervous to see if the engine would idle. Commuting in Houston on motorcycles is extra points to drivers who hit the moving target. So having an idle that won’t idle is not what I like. Nor is the cough and stuttering. What to do: Obviously a return trip to the dealer. A call to BMC/HD customer care??? Posting here. Are there any instances where using the kill switch has an impact on the Buell ECM? I hardly ever use the kill switch and when I do; this. Unlikely coincidences? On the 08 Harley touring models had issues with the ECM with respect to throttle position when shutting down the engine as the ECM remembered the last throttle position when powered was removed from the ECM. The MOCO issued a fix. I have read posts where others have had similar issues of coughing and idle. Not feeling like the Lone Ranger I am annoyed and bit frustrated but not at the “It sucks to be me with this piece of equipment” yet. This is a seriously fun motorcycle and I want to learn more about Uly-XT off-roading and I want my Uly to run right or at least more predictably. What’s your thoughts? Thanks, Woodreaux | ||
| Ourdee |
Dealer fixed it, then it came back. Take it back to the dealer and let them keep working on it. Tell them what you told us. I'd hold off on BMC/HD "cussing care" till the dealer gives up or takes too long. The dealer seams to be caring so far. | ||
| Woodreaux |
I have sent basically this post in an email to the dealer....have known these guys for close to 20 years. Just hoping it's something that can be resolved quickly. Great motorcycle...loads of fun. Learning to ride on gravel roads is cool too. | ||
| Werewulf |
once again, could be a grounding issue... | ||
| Court |
>>>I have sent basically this post in an email to the dealer....have known these guys for close to 20 years. Should be zero problem. I'd suggest that they also call Tech Services and make certain they have, and get properly loaded, the proper ECM flash. Keep us posted. | ||
| F_skinner |
Woodreaux, sounds like a fouled plug or grounding issue to me but let your dealer take care of it. I am interested in your cold start issue. Mine has done that from day one. On cold mornings (that is every morning in Colorado) the bike seems to have trouble with the idle. It moves between 1000 rpm to 1500 rpm many times before it settles. Yesterday I reset the TPS after I rode home and today it seemed to do a little better. I could tell no difference in the ride. I was told that it would do that for the first 1K miles but it has done it for 2K miles so far. Next time I am close to my dealer I will talk to them about it. They are Buellers so I trust them but they are 110 miles North of me so it is an all day event. I guess the point is to let us know what you and your dealer find. Frank | ||
| Woodreaux |
I will post what the service department reports | ||
| Woodreaux |
Today I stopped at the dealership where I took the Uly in for service- Mancuso Crossroads. I was told by the service writer that that they had contacted Buell to help with the cough and idle issue and they were waiting for Buell to give them direction for the solution. As indicated previously I have known these guys for close to 20 years and today they were distant and obviously standoff. We are in a waiting position and will update when Buell/Mancuso Crossroads respond. I hope it's soon as I miss riding the Uly. | ||
| Okc99 |
Do 09's have this issue too? Or just 08's? | ||
| Woodreaux |
Not sure if this issue is exclusive to the 08's or just this one. Looking forward to riding it-soon. | ||
| Glen |
my 08 hunts for an idle when i first start it too, between 800-1500. its done it from day 1 on it and ive chalked it up to normal. | ||
| Hmartin |
Sounds like it's too early to pull the "Lemon Law" card yet, but be aware that Title 14, Subtitle A, Sec. 2301.604(a) of Texas law, dealing with vehicle warranties, states: A manufacturer, converter, or distributor that is unable to conform a motor vehicle to an applicable express warranty by repairing or correcting a defect or condition that creates a serious safety hazard or substantially impairs the use or market value of the motor vehicle after a reasonable number of attempts shall reimburse the owner for reasonable incidental costs resulting from loss of use of the motor vehicle because of the nonconformity or defect and: The kicker here is what is defined as a "reasonable number" of attempts. Continue to work with the dealer, but do not accept anything less than a motorcycle that runs like it's supposed to. | ||
| Okc99 |
My dealer is replacing the IAC...idle air control motor. I have the 08 with a serious coughing and quitting issue. Hopefully in a day or two I'll have results to share. | ||
| Woodreaux |
All, As promised; the following is what I was told is the issue regarding the 08 Uly idle and coughing issue. Will report back when I pick it up and test ride it. "After a week of head scratching etc. we think we have solved your problem and ordered the parts. Fuel pump pressure was extremely high, about 10lbs over. The bike was trying to lean itself out to compensate and giving poor running. We had another one do this about a year ago and we just remembered the issue. The fuel pressure regulator is part of the fuel pump assembly so it gets replaced together as a unit." I hope this solves the issue - Woodreaux | ||
| Okc99 |
My dealer ordered 3 parts for my issues. I'll have an update on Sat. | ||
| Woodreaux |
The dealer called this afternoon and reported that they replaced the fuel pump/regulator assembly on the Uly and test rode it. All was fine and sent the bike to the wash bay where it wouldn't start. And when it did start it wouldn't run - just like when it was with me. It is beginning to bother me that the issue is occuring in the first place but I am glad it failed to run at the dealer. Shared with them so of the notes that I have made from reading similar issues that others have posted. Will post what happens next. Glad I have the S3T...that wasn't meant to be mean. Woodreaux | ||
| Helga |
I am worried that I have similar problem and will see when I get open pipe with K&N.... but still bothers me if there is chance to switch 08 EFI(EMC) with any other vital electronic parts/sensor to old one 06/07. one of the advantages is that you can use any aftermarket EFI controllers which is for 08 not a case... any thoughts guys??? | ||
| Froggy |
Helga it would not be cheap to switch over to the old fuel injection, you would need to replace just about everything electrical including the gauge cluster. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
... Not to mention that the timing is taken off of the crank directly now. No "points cover" any more. | ||
| Luftkoph |
woodreaux,I just got my 06 back from an extended stay at the dealer for problems just like you discribed,when they hooked it up to there diagnostic equipment it would stay in (not sure might have these terms. mixed up)closed loop they tested another bike and it would go out of closed loop in like 35 seconds,mine would not until rpm,s reached over 4000 everything on the bike was in spec no trouble codes all sensors were operating as suppose to at least appeared to be.one of the tech's thought it was a tps.problem even tho it was in spec,well a tps reset is what did it seems to be ok now. it appears these bikes have some real gremlins lurking in the electronics also the factory was not much if any help resolving this problem. | ||
| Woodreaux |
Luftkoph - you are right about the gremlins gone wild on Uly's. Hope that your 06 is running well and you're out there having fun. | ||
| Woodreaux |
Talked to the dealer today to see if there had been any developments in fixing my Uly. He said by chance they saw the IAC operating out of the normal range . While still an intermittent issue they had observed it acting out of the normal range several times. They were waiting for BMC to call them back. So hopefully a solution is near. | ||
| Rwven |
Woodreaux, In this thread: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/463994.html?1243950187 Okc had many of the same problems and the IAC was the solution. My bike is acting up in the same manner and I've ordered an IAC from Chicago HD and will replace it myself (it's more hassle for me to deal with a dealer and the warranty run around than it is to spend the $140.00 for the part. Not to mention the hours spent in trailering the bike back and forth) . (Message edited by rwven on June 04, 2009) | ||
| Signal4 |
Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but I noticed something about my bike today that I *think* is normal but I'm not sure... never had a bike that I remember doing this but then again my last 3 bikes were all in-line four cylinders. Sitting at idle in neutral at a redlight, I gunned the throttle *very* fast and the engine bogged out like it was going to die until I let it go. I didn't give it full go around, I was wanting to see the throttle response time on a twist as fast as I could. I'm guessing the V-twin just got more gas than it could take too quickly... it seems normal. Is that right? | ||
| Woodreaux |
Rwven, I thought it was timely and I am grateful that Okc had posted his results. When I talked to the service manager I told him I was ready to cut a deal with him on installing a new IAC to see if this was the problem based on what Okc had posted. I am glad that the tech saw the IAC go out of range. Maybe Buell has an issue with the IAC vendor. Like yourself I am ready to move past this issue. Good luck with replacing the IAC. | ||
| Werewulf |
that bog you speak of, is what drove me crazy on my 08 scg... they do the exact same thing that a carb bike does that is jetted too lean...in fact all the problems the 08 has are typical of a carb bike thats too lean... once again, i cant understand why buell has decided to lock us out of the ecm, when harley doesnt have us locked out of the sportster...what is the difference? | ||
| Okc99 |
Just an update. It's now been 1200 miles with the new IAC and she's still hasn't missed a beat. WARNING: Miles tend to pile on very fast when Uly's have no coughing and bucking issues. Be prepared! A weird thing happens when you get these issues solved. The first few days are HEAVEN. Then by the end of the week it's hard to remember the days when it didn't run perfectly. | ||
| Froggy |
The 39,000 problem free miles tend to make up for the 1,000 miles of no head lights, rubbed spark plug wires, clutch cable snapping, belt snapping, windshield detaching, rotor pulsing, wheel bearing failures, kickstand failing, fan grinding, rim bending, Micron denting, GPS failing, heated suit that won't heat, and occasional endeavor involving the bike ending up with both wheels off the ground  | ||
| Signal4 |
So today I rode to a local park and had to drive from one side of it to the other. The speed limit is 15 mph and I noticed that while my bike was in 1st gear around 2k-2.5k RPMs that she sputtered quite a bit. Got to the point that I was riding the clutch a bit to get her up to about 3k where I couldn't notice it anymore. Sounds like the problems you guys were/are having. I have an '09 with 320 miles on it. Doh!  Guess I should take it back by the dealer and tell them about the IAC problems? Anyone else having these issues on an '09? | ||
| Okc99 |
FYI mine is a May 08 production date, which if you think about it is probably outfitted with the same "batch" of internal components that were stuck into early 09s. It's unlikely that they cleared all the parts bins in June and ordered all "new" parts for the June 09 models. |
