| Author | Message | ||
     Cmgaviao |
So, I was sposed to hit the road on thursday for a trip to Mexico and points south. Mechanic finished changing the rocker box seals yesterday (friday) though. Picked up the bike, rode a few miles got stuck in some stop and go traffic (100+ degree temps) and bike backfired, lost power and died. I coasted into a gas station and let it cool down (it did this once before a couple of weeks ago but never repeated). It started after a bit, ran a bit rough for a while but after I rode it some (assume the airflow cooled it further) it seemed to be normal. Finished packing this morning (saturday), went to take care of some last minute farkles and got stuck in some more stop and go and it did the same thing. This time however, it seems like all power was lost (speedo and tach) froze in place. I pushed the beast to the side, popped the seat and started to go through all the fuses. They all looked good. Cursed a little, hit a few things, kicked the curb a little and after a bit of this, I look over and it looks like electric has come back on. I try to turn it over and nothing...So...I'm close to my favorite coffee shop with wifi so I start pushing thinking I'll ask you experts. just for shits and giggles I try the key again when I get to the parking lot and it cranks but seems like I may have run it down a bit trying earlier so no go yet again.... So...my theories so far: Bad ECM...In which case anyone in ATL got a spare to sell me? Bad starter or ignition fuse? (heat sensitive)? I did add an odie blanket maybe that is trapping the heat in the fuse area and exacerbating something that's gotten heat sensitive? Time is of the essence, I must be in Veracruz for a wedding on the 7th and I'd hate to have to buy a plane ticket (but the significant other is pushing that option hard now). Thanks all for any assistance! | ||
| Billy_bee |
If it were a bad ECM it would probably throw codes. Mine did. Does the check engine light come on? If not, check your grounds. Odd behavior is often caused by bad grounds. The PO of my bike added a ground from the rear subframe to the primary cover. While I don't know why he did that, I have had experiences like yours that were easy to fix with an additional ground strap or securing existing grounds. I'd start with the main negative ground under the seat. Mostly b/c that the only ground I have ever seen. I bet there are others. Maybe behind the fly screen? Good luck, amigo. bb | ||
| Cmgaviao |
thanks for the advice... good point. no check engine light although the ground does seem to be fairly well attached. | ||
| Djohnk |
I'm trying to think of what the mechanic may have done while working on the rocker box gaskets... he rotated the engine down so almost every electrical connection up top got disconnected and connected again. After checking grounds like Billy_bee suggested I would check to sure the coil wire, TPS, fuel pump, and fuel injectors connections are well seated. Here's a link to all the things he did when he was working on your rocker gaskets: http://bit.ly/N0XYcz (Message edited by djohnk on June 30, 2012) | ||
| Cmgaviao |
Thanks Djohnk, I dont think it was something he did since it did this once (but not as bad) about a week before I had him do the rocker gaskets. I'll take a look at the link though and see if I can find something else to check. | ||
| Pontlee77 |
battery conections loose? | ||
| Cmgaviao |
That was the first thing I checked Pontlee, I wish it was that simple....well it might be something as simple but Ill be damned if ive found it. the battery is gooodntite, the grounds that I know of are good and tight. The ECM WAS rattling around a bit (not sure what the bozo did when he installed the comfort kit, a year ago, but the spacer side of the ECM doesnt have anything to thread into (and Im not sure it has since it got done a year ago)....maybe Ill have to use some loctite on the good side of the ECM and some velcro on the no thread side or something...I suppose I could just relocate it all together to try to keep it cooler. | ||
| Buewulf |
I had other symptoms with mine (stumbling), but I would eventually always get a backfire followed by the engine dying. This only happened when the engine was hot enough for the fan to come on. It was the ECM. | ||
| Buewulf |
And it never threw any codes except for one ocasion. By then, it had gotten so that the bike was unrideable after it warmed up. FWIW, the codes were "TPS short to ground" and "BAS short to ground". | ||
| Billy_bee |
When my ECM finally died, it threw about 10 codes. Prior to that, it presented some ridability problems, like the ones you and Beuwulf describe. I had forgotten that little detail. When it stopped running, I could wiggle the ECM wires to get it to work properly. I also took some site ties and wrapped them around the ECM to hold the connection block to the ECM more firmly. that helped. I rode it that way for 6 months. Eventually I replaced the ECM with a used unit from eBay (that I got for less than $50) and moved it into the slot between the battery box and the fuse box. Requires a little modification, but that's a good place for it... bb |
