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Buell Motorcycle Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through October 08, 2008 » Blinking engine light - run switch off. « Previous Next »

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Iamarchangel
Posted on Sunday, September 28, 2008 - 05:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Just had this happen.

Took a short ride, shut it off and engine light started blinking. Put it on run position and no blinky.

After about 15 minutes go for an hour and a half ride. No blinky all ride.

Shut it off, blinky.

Key on, run off = blinky
Key on, run on = no blinky

Noticed that engine cooling fan did not come on first time, and after long run, it only ran for a few moments. It's not that cool outside right now.

Can't find this exact sequence in the manual. It's not with the other blinky code info.
Any ideas?
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Froggy
Posted on Sunday, September 28, 2008 - 06:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Count the blinks, we can figure out the code. Also if you have ECMspy hook it up. Sounds like the fan code to me.
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Iamarchangel
Posted on Sunday, September 28, 2008 - 08:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Should have mentioned that. It wasn't code, just blinky.

If I have this right, I should look for 6 fast then some pattern. It was just steady blinking.

It's a few hours later and the symptoms are still there. It's dark so I can see that the headlights are not on steady but are blinking as well.
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Iamarchangel
Posted on Monday, September 29, 2008 - 04:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Just got home and get to try some stuff in daylight.

Seems to be tied to the high beam. I usually ride with the high beam on.

key on, run off, High on = flashing
key on, run off, high off = no flashing
key on, run on, high on = cycle through, no flash
key on, run off, low on = no flashing
key on, run on, low off = no flashing
key on, run off, high off, then high on = no flashing then flashing

Sometimes when the key is turned off, light indicator stays on.

Doesn't seem to be a high beam except when flashing, not too sure of that.

(Message edited by iamarchangel on September 30, 2008)
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Akbuell
Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - 11:16 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

As Mr. Spock would say "Fascinating". Browsing my '08 electrical service manual, the points of commonality seem to be the instrument cluster, the ECM, and the wiring harness. Given the symptoms, I suspect a chaffed/pinched area in the wiring harness to the instrument cluster. Pay special attention to the area around the steering stem. Will be interesting to know what you find.
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Iamarchangel
Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - 04:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Oh yeah, fascinating.

So, lights only work when engine light is flashing in the "run off" position.

This will be a sitting down with the wiring diagram before picking up a tool exercise.

Oh and look, the sun just came out. Ratsbreath.
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Jos51700
Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2008 - 04:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Sounds like an ECM failure, to me.
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Brumbear
Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2008 - 04:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

That sounds like a crapload of fun let us know what ya find could be anything at this point
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Iamarchangel
Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2008 - 05:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Actually, weird as it is, I fixed it. Don't really know what I did. Wouldn't mind some explanation.

So, first, figuring there was some kind of switch problem, I opened up the #24 connector, the left hand switch wires. Nothing too bad obvious, a little bit of green in a corner. Gave it a shot of WD40, closed it and checked results. No diff.

Looked around underneath for anything off. Not really seeing anything. I moved a couple of small connectors and gave them a squeeze. At that point I heard a kind of electrical click. Checked results and everything was go. No flashing, and headlights on.

One was a white connector, white wires and a black.

The other had maybe 3-4 wires, a black connector.

Somebody has been into these wires previously and I'm figuring a winter project of tidying them up. Some of the connectors look like they have push buttons and grooves like they were supposed to fit into something. Any comments on that?
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Brumbear
Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2008 - 07:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

great to hear loose connections can be a ghost in the machine
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Jos51700
Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2008 - 08:11 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

The groove you mention is for a T-pin adapter, which some use, and most don't. It's for if you want to clip the connector to something solid.

White and black connectors are usually turnsignals, sidestand switches, and license plate lights. Where were they, specifically?
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Iamarchangel
Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2008 - 04:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I guess the button thing is called a tree. Do the tree and the groove thing fit anywhere specific?

All the wires are under the fairing and it's a bit of a mess under there. I anticipate this kind of problem occurring again.

I think the white one (white connected to a black and white, the most likely culprit) was the headlight, the other one might have been the turn signals.
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Iamarchangel
Posted on Sunday, October 05, 2008 - 05:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thought I had it but it's back. Got to track it in daylight this time.

It's the ground in the headlight connecter, the one on the headlight side of the wiring. If I wiggle that wire, I can make the light stop flashing.

So, two questions.

1. Can that wiring assembly be bought whole (connector, headlight wires and grounds) or just the connector and I complete the connection?

2. The flashing interferes with the cooling cycle when I shut off the bike. With temps in the mid-teens (under 60 for the US), how critical is the lack of shutdown cooling cycle until I can get this fixed?
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Akbuell
Posted on Monday, October 06, 2008 - 11:34 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

2. With ambient temps that low there shouldn't be any problems w/cooling at shutdown.

1. Good on ya for finding the problem. Since you know which wire it is, wouldn't it be easier to fix it. Should be a simple repair.
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Iamarchangel
Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2008 - 07:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thanks for the input. My first consideration is to try and fix it as new. The second consideration is that's what broke. So I just cut the wires at the connector and reconnected them with some heat shrink connectors. Several zip ties to connect and everything and away we go.

I went for a ride with a couple of stops and there was no problem. The engine off cooling cycle worked and my headlights stayed on.

For the R models, this particular connector should be attached to the inside headlight wall. There's a hole for the tree to fit in up inside there. As I said, somebody has previously been into the wiring before I bought the bike. Don't know where it is on other models.
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