| Author | Message | ||
     Matchanu |
I just did a 500+ mile loop from ABQ to Reserve NM. The uly ran like a champ, untill it started pouring rain. I've had a problem with this before, feels like it suddenly runs out of fuel or is only running on one cylinder. Sure enough, about 10 minutes into the down pour and "Brrrr rr rrr rrr rrr rrr" I was riding at 20 mph in the break down lane. I could get it up to around 3K then it would bog out, at some points felt like it was going to die completely. It would surge up every once in a while then die out again. This went on for a good 10-14 miles, then it would sputter and run like nothing happend. The engine light came on a one point, then off again. The rest of the ride was uneventfull (no more heavy rain). When I got it home, I plugged it into the ecmspy and looked up the trouble code. It showed a "O2 sensor open or disconected". I tore into the bike and the O2 sensor looked good, checked the wireing, the engine heat sensor connector was not connected well so I fixed that, the O2 connector looked good, but I RTV'd the red and white wires at the connector to be certain. Plug wires are on good, as are the conncetions to the coil. I need some ideas here, this only happens when it rains, and I'd rather not have to duck for cover every time I see dark clouds. | ||
| Froggy |
Replace the plug wires, might as well do the plugs while you are in there. | ||
| Etennuly |
I had a very similar problem a couple of years ago. I would ride about five minutes into rain and it would quit dead. I would pull off the road and hit the starter, it would fire right back up and run normally.....for another five miles. Then it would start to sputter, quitting again in a few minutes. Drift off to the berm, hit the starter, fire up, go about two miles and repeat. After searching the BadWeB and over and over things on my bike, I found the harness going to the cam sensor had rubbed through on the chin spoiler. It was just enough to make two wires bare. Being they were rubbing on plastic, they only made electrical contact with each other when wet. I pulled them back, re-taped them and re-routed them a bit and the problem has been fixed for a long time now. This was on the right side just below the housing for the timing cover. I would also recommend pulling the cover for the front drive belt pulley. There is a large group of wires in there where in anyone of them could be compromised, only showing failure when wet.  | ||
| Mnrider |
Also remove your left side scoop and spray the plugs,plug wires and coil with a spray bottle of water with the engine running to check for misses. | ||
| Matchanu |
I'll try all of the above, thanks. I did take off the right side pully cover to look for anything obvious. The cam sensor wire are crimped from the fairing, but I didn't pull back the sleave to see if there was anything amiss. I had this problem before I changed the plugs. I'll look again but I just don't think it's the plug wires. | ||
| Skifastbadly |
I had that exact problem. I discovered, after my voltage regulator crapped out on me, that the 77 connector was melted. I cut it off and hard wired the connections with submersible pump waterproof connectors. I never had the problem again. Coincidence? Perhaps, but it gave me problems EVERY time it got wet before that, and NEVER since, and I've since moved to Seattle. The 77 connector, by the way, is the two pronged red one in the photo below. http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w191/SkiFastBadly/77connector.jpg (Message edited by skifastbadly on August 11, 2010) | ||
| Matchanu |
Okay, took a super soaker to the bike today (running), it's definitely in the spark plug area, more probably to front cylinder. I'll pull the plug wires and have a look, may as well just change them while they are out. Anything else it could be while I'm in the area? | ||
| Etennuly |
Look for the front plug wire to be worn through by the idle adjuster cable. | ||
| Matchanu |
Ahhhh! Bike did the clickity click this morning, then started, figured I drained the battery a bit while testing it. Got gas, had to push start it, 15 miles to work no problem, then it dies at the gate. Now I'm worried, possibly just the battery, but I'm thinking I just shorted something. #77 connector? | ||
| Etennuly |
I just fixed one yesterday with these problems; Cam sensor wire nearly shorted.  This is where mine was rubbed all of the way through and causing the 'when wet' cut out on the cam sensor wires.  This was causing a dead short to the muffler bracket for the VR that popped the main fuse killing the bike along the road.  All of these are found under the front sprocket cover and right side of the chin spoiler. This bike has about 11,000 miles on it. | ||
| Mattmcc00 |
Great thread loads of info here. I have the same intermittant rain problems. I will pull of the pulley cover tonight. I am leaving on my big trip across Labrador on tuesday and the thought of beeing stranded in the rain scared me. | ||
| Bobmcc |
Had exact same symptoms as Matchanu in a downpour last week. '06 Uly with 26K miles. No trouble codes. All wires under pulley cover were OK. Found the problem under the airbox. O2 sensor wire and cylinder temperature wire had rubbed bare where they cross the fuel line behind the throttle body. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction! |
