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Buell Motorcycle Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through September 23, 2007 » False Engine overheating indicator « Previous Next »

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Jaimec
Posted on Sunday, September 16, 2007 - 03:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I searched the Knowledge vault and couldn't find anything specific. I JUST got my XB12Ss back from the dealer where they replaced my cooling fan under warranty (the bearing was going and it sounded like crushing gravel whenever it ran).

The new fan runs just fine... however today (a rather chilly morning on Long Island) after I did a 15 mile highway jaunt, I parked the bike and the fan came on as usual.

After roughly a half an hour, I was ready to go, but when I turned on the ignition, the check engine light came on, and started blinking rapidly. According to the owner's manual and the shop manual, that indicates a possible overheating condition, but here's the problem: The engine was cool to the touch! I hadn't even run it yet!

I rode it back home with the light flashing frantically all the way and switched over to ol' reliable (my K1200LT). After I finished the morning ride with my friends, I decided to tackle the Buell. I figure the dealership didn't seat something properly when they reinstalled the fan. Unfortunately, now it's behaving itself again!!

Any ideas where I should look before calling the service technician and screaming bloody murder?
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Jaimec
Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 - 07:13 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

bump
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Glitch
Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 - 07:32 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

When I replaced my fan, it was a no brainer.
Can't think of anything they would have had to touch, that would cause that.
If you have the manual, read the steps it takes to do the replacement.
Check behind their work that way.
That's really all I can think of right now.
I don't know of all the electronic differences between an 03 XB9S and an 06 XB12SS.
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Jaimec
Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 - 08:53 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Yeah, it looked like it was just one connector according to the shop manual... unless they didn't seat it properly (or knocked something loose). Unfortunately I don't have the tools or equipment to pull the shock out of the way so I can check it myself.

Rode the bike to work today. The light never came on. Weird.
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Glitch
Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 - 11:28 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Ghosts in the machine?
Maybe the ECM just needed to purge?
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G4string
Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 - 01:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Once you fix a problem that used to trigger the CEL to come on, it will still come on after the problem is fixed. I had a kickstand switch that was causing the bike to stall out. It would throw the CEL every time. Once I fixed the problem the CEL will come on right after start up and blink eight times, it will then go away. It will do this for 50 cycles. This phenomenon is explained in the shop manual. Read up on it........maybe your bike is fixed and this is what it's doing.
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Etennuly
Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 - 01:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

That is weird! I had my fan replaced on my Uly a couple of weeks ago and it did EXACTLY the same thing. I was riding home with no indication of any run illness and the light went to flashing like crazy! I was a couple miles from home so I slowed down to 45mph and limped it in.

I called the dealer to set up an appointment to take it back in. I decided to ride it a little and it didn't happen again. It did get much hotter than normal the first few times the fan should have been on and didn't come on. It did come on at every shut down though.

I have now done about 250 miles with it acting as a normal fan. Maybe the computer has to "learn" again after the battery was unhooked and the fan has been replaced or something. Can you say; QUIRK!
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Jaimec
Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 - 01:43 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Ah! Maybe that's it then. It's strange... it DIDN'T do that the day I picked it up. It was also fine yesterday morning when I met my friends for breakfast, and then afterwards when we rode out to the sign up site for the day's ride. It was only AFTER we were ready to go out on the ride itself that it went nuts.

So far today, it's been behaving itself. I guess I'll keep an eye on it and see what happens.
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Sparky
Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 - 04:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I would check current or history error codes for a built-in feedback on the ECM and the various sensors' conditions.

Jumper pins 1 and 2 in the data connector and turn on ignition. If there are any codes, a repeating sequence of flashing CEL lights will result.
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Jaimec
Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 - 05:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Error codes are clear. Not surprising, as the shop manual indicates that an overheat condition will not store any code.
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Etennuly
Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 - 07:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Mine is clear too!
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Davo
Posted on Monday, September 17, 2007 - 10:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Check the wire going to the ET (engine temp sensor). If it shorts to ground then you will go into skip spark because the ECM thinks the engine is really hot! It is located on the head on the rear cylinder. I bet the wire got crushed during the fan installation.
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Rootintootin
Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 05:33 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I had that happen to mine once when I misrouted the thick harness over the battery negative terminal rather than beside it. When I sat on the seat it would push down and obviously got a short in there somehow. VDSTS showed no codes, but if I remember, it would blink like 10 or 11 times, over and over. After rewrapping and moving the harness, no more blinking. Check for something else out of position, no telling what exactly was done at the dealer.
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Jaimec
Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 07:10 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thanks. Actually, like Etennuly, this hasn't happened again. Weird.
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Davo
Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 05:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Rootintootin,
In your situation you crossed wires going to pin 1 and 2 on the data link connector. It will continue to flash until the connection or short between both wires is terminated and the ignition is turned off on then back on again. If you had any trouble codes the engine light would have cycled them with a series of flashes and pauses. The eleven flash repeat indicates no codes.
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