| Author | Message | ||
     Okc99 |
I'm frustrated and need help from a Buell-PhD. Facts: 1) Production Date: May 2008 2) Exhaust Actuator faulty at 1000k miles 3) Drummer installed at 1100k miles (wanted to get one anyway and thought why fix the actuator when I'm gonna get a new muffler anyway? I didn't think about the fact that warranty would cover it anyway) 4) Installed Drummer at 1.1k mile. From then to 8k miles....near flawless riding. Although the check engine light remained on because the actuator was still faulty, was connected, and still sent a faulty signal. Only remedy was to order a new one. Thought this was stupid because it's not doing anything anyway except fooling the ECM computer! 5) 8k miles: After 8k flawless mile, idle speed hunts and jumps at stop lights every 3rd ride or so. First stop light it holds at 1100 rpms. Next stop light it hunts from 600 to 900 rpms. Wild oscillations. Spits and sputters from take off very badly. THEN...the next day, runs flawless! 6) Just had 10k service and the only error code was that it was running rich. They thought that this was due to the actuator code. But how could it be if it's not physically doing anything? Solutions: 1) Just go to the dealer and buy one of those performance-enhancing flashes for $150 (there is not stock update for my model). 2) First buy a new actuator motor to get the check engine light to go off. (Am I still under warranty???) Then see if that help the fuel mgmt system. If not, then get a performance enhancing flash. Please Buell-Jedi...help me. You're my only hope. True for False: Would a carburetor not be better on this bike with all the stories to go around?????? | ||
| Andrejs2112 |
J-E-T-T-I-N-G. That's why.  Get ECMSpy and you can adjust what ever you want. | ||
| Dio |
Doesn't ECM Spy only work with pre '08 ? | ||
| Okc99 |
Where is a Buell Jedi when you need one? | ||
| Froggy |
I believe that Buell had a bad batch, Ive seen a handful of 08's that have this issue. They have changed the actuator part number like a dozen times. I would do the check and clean your grounds thing first, as a bad ground could cause the actuator to not work.
Also its stupid to run around with a engine light on for 7k miles.
Interesting, not sure what to say off hand without poking it in ECMspy. AFV getting skewed then coming back?
Running rich? Again I would like to check it out with ECMspy and see for myself the exact cause. Could be a faulty sensor confusing the computer. The actuator has nothing to do with any of this as far as I know.
Huh? No stock upgrade for your model? Horseshit.
I would either get the servo emulator from American Sport Bike or just turn it off with ECMspy.
What stories? A couple dozen people out of a estimated 20K 08+ XB bikes that have an issue? Only difference is with the carb, you would have an issue and not even know it. Don't get me started on those pieces of crap again, trying to help my friend fix his damn 3 year old John Deer, even they are stuck in the 18th century. | ||
| Froggy |
Kinda. His bike is one of the early builds, and would be the most likely to work without much fuss. | ||
| Chas1969 |
Carbs: fuel all over everything after changing jets, needle levels, float levels ... Bleeping pain. The problems you are having are easly fixable and much easier than blipping around jets. My advice is ECMspy, turn off valve thingy (with ecmspy) and see with ECMspy if you are running rich and if so track down the air-leak or bad sensor ... Good Luck  CC | ||
| Dio |
Isn't May 08 near the tail end of the production year? | ||
| Froggy |
Err, your right. I'm retarded. In that case, he most likely has the latest flash, and ECMspy won't be a good option. | ||
| Jont |
Check for intake seal leaks. | ||
| Okc99 |
So all in all.....I'm still screwed right? Given it came off the production line exactly a year ago. | ||
| Nobuell |
I had the idle issue on my 08XT. They ended up replacing the intake seals, IAC o-rings, fixed all of the grounds, replaced the wiring harness then ended up replacing the ECM. My be a bad ECM. | ||
| Okc99 |
Anyone know the part number for the stock ECM? Wonder how much a new one would cost. And is it a quick swap or do you need to get into the bike guts to change it? | ||
| Ratbuell |
Sounds like the trouble code for thousands of miles is making the ECM make bad decisions. Get an actuator or an emulator, have the dealer put the latest flash in the bike, clear the code(s), and see how it does. Riding with an engine light WILL cause trouble, whether the code is for a component that's being bypassed or not. They are all factors used for the ECM to decide how to make things run. That's why there's a light on the dash. | ||
| Okc99 |
Is that true or speculation. Computers dont slowly react to things usually. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
On the other hand, a suitable downdraft carb is very interesting to some. Me included. I've dug around some and so far all I can come up with is del orto or a couple of others sourced from old brittish cars. Not an exciting option for me. Now if say, Carl's Speed Shop would whip up a downdraft version of that Thunder Monster CV (or whatever they call it, it works good) I would be all over it like a starvin dog on a fresh bone. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Computers don't react slowly, no. But, DDFI is a 'learning' system and if it keeps seeing a trouble code, it will keep trying to work around it. Granted, the learning curve only applies to certain items in the programming (AFV, for example) - but the computer will factor any data (like the trouble code) into it's projected output "goal", and keep trying to make things work. With the light on, it obviously can't make things work correctly...but it's a computer, so it doesn't know that. It just keeps trying. And failing. So, it tries something else. And fails. And tries something else... | ||
| Werewulf |
iconverted my S-3 to a carb and stand alone daytona ignition... it was a lot of work, but turned out well... doing that to an xb model, would rquire fabrication thats out of my league.. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
What about an automotive two barrel? like a carter from an old dodge? | ||
| Hooper |
You're smart, Rat. David...I can tell how frustrated you are. Have you cross-posted your question on the XB Board or other sites? Hope my "washers on the battery terminals" advice was useful. Let me know if your bike is up and running for "Buellfest" in Frederick next Saturday. Also, if you haven't done Rolling Thunder (May 24), that would be a must-do in your life. I ran along MD Rt. 99 and Old Frederick Road today, which was just a little slice of heaven. Today might have been the best riding weather I've seen in a year. (Message edited by hooper on May 10, 2009) | ||
| Mnrider |
I think you should put two fours and a super charger on it.  Really though maybe you should put the stock pipe back on and bring your bike to the dealer and have them fix the check engine light then see how it runs,your bike is still under warranty. You can always put the Drummer back on. (Message edited by mnrider on May 10, 2009) | ||
| Wademan |
Ratbuell - That is crap. The ECM would not try to compensate for a 'exaust servo failure' code at all. My 06 had the servo unplugged for a few thousand miles and the engine ran no different. You describe the ECM as some kind of artifical inteligence that is trying to figure out a way to compensate for an error code. This is not star trek. The ecm was programmed by humans to compensate for a known number of factors, an exaust servo failure not being one of them in my experience. The guy has issues else where. IMO. (Message edited by wademan on May 11, 2009) | ||
| Thunderbox |
I think you are looking in the wrong direction. I agree with Jont. Look at the intake seals. Check out the mechanicals first. If it were ECM related why would it work perfect for that many miles and then bingo the programming changes?????? I doubt it. You should check for intake leaks. Use a propane cylinder as described in the repair manual. It won't cost you a penny to check this stuff out first. ECM spy is a great tool but I don't think it is best used here at this point. If you do get it running better by adjusting something you will just be compounding a problem or temporarily masking it. |
