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Buell Forum » Big, Bad & Dirty (Buell XB12X Ulysses Adventure Board) » Archive through June 14, 2018 » Ignition fuse keeps blowing « Previous Next »

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Yan
Posted on Saturday, June 02, 2018 - 10:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Hello

Need help please.

Problem is intermittent.

Ignition fuse blown, but ONLY on initialisation, when I turn the kill switch on. If it doesn't get blown then, the bike will start and run just fine, and by run I mean run for 100 miles until I stop. Next time I start the bike it may or may not happen.

Happened a few times in the fall. Then this season I rode it some, including a 3 day long distance trip (during which the bike had gone through the start cycle at least half a dozen times each day) - no problem at all, until it happened again, out of the blue, this afternoon.

I realize there is a lot of stuff that gets powered by that fuse, but if it was a wire rubbing against the metal it would've inevitably be happening while I am riding. NEVER has it happened during a ride.

Can it be a bad relay? I am planning to order relays from the dealer and replace all four of them and see if that solves it.

What are you thoughts? Thank you!
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Etennuly
Posted on Sunday, June 03, 2018 - 08:37 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

That can be a lot of things. This is an '08 Uly?

Key switch, starter solenoid, relay, loose ground, fuse block, kill switch, shorted wire anywhere in that system. Close inspection and testing.
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Yan
Posted on Sunday, June 03, 2018 - 09:21 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Thank you!

Yes, it's an '08 XB12X

Key switch is protected by the key switch fuse, that seems to rule it out.

Starter solenoid appears to be on a different fuse (the lights one). Besides, the fuse blows before I even hit the starter button.

Kill switch - the 'hot' wire the goes into it is protected by the key switch fuse.

A shorted wire that is protected by the ignition fuse could cause that fuse to blow, but it doesn't explain why it only happens when you flip the kill switch on with the key in the ON position. Same goes for the 'fuse block' - if there was a short there why wouldn't shorten during those many hours when the bike was in motion or even running on idle and shaking as crazy?

Loose ground - why would loose ground cause a shortened fuse? Honest question. And even if it did - why wouldn't it do it while the bike is running and moving, and only when the kill switch is flipped.

That leaves a relay (ignition or maybe Aux because it feeds off the ignition relay) from your list of potential culprits. It's the only component where the electrical contacts move when you flip the kill switch.

Am I missing anything?

Thank you again.

(Message edited by Yan on June 03, 2018)
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Smorris
Posted on Sunday, June 03, 2018 - 11:41 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

IIRC, there are 1 or 2 diodes in the fuse bank. could it be that one is incorrectly installed and therefore allowing a back current? i am terrible electrician so this may be way off but an idea
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Yan
Posted on Sunday, June 03, 2018 - 11:53 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

diodes? I wasn't aware, thanks. Don't seem to be able to find them on the wiring diagram either, but I am not that good at this stuff.

If one of them was reversed though - wouldn't it blow the fuse reliably every time?
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Etennuly
Posted on Sunday, June 03, 2018 - 12:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

There is a ground wire on the front of the steering neck. It can break and still look good.

Anything you turn on in a load circuit has an initial power spike as it is turned on. A broken wire or bad grounding arc can cause the load spike to be reoccurring several times.

You can switch the relays around to rule that out, they are all the same.

Given what you have said you have found the standard of wiring repairs, the randomness and inconsistent times that it can happen. Usually when I am seeking out an intermittent problem I find multiple problems.

I don't have my SM handy. I was trying to remember if there was anything else on that relay load. I cannot find it in archives, I have read this exact problem before, but it has been years ago. Hang in here, one of the guys who had the problem will jump in.
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Yan
Posted on Sunday, June 03, 2018 - 12:21 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Thanks!

here is the wiring diagram BTW - page 231 - http://buellmods.com/content/downloads/manuals/200 8_xb_electrical_diagnostics_manual.pdf
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Bluex
Posted on Sunday, June 03, 2018 - 06:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

When the kill switch is turned on, the fuel pump and the IAC will run briefly. Could a short there blow the ignition fuse?
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Yan
Posted on Sunday, June 03, 2018 - 06:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

they do get activated, but they are on different fuses. When ignition is ON the ECM gets the signal and the ECM activates the pump and the rest. But the pump is protected by it's own fuse, not the ignition fuse. That was one my initial thoughts actually, but then I spent a few hours with the wiring diagram and ruled it out.
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Hootowl
Posted on Monday, June 04, 2018 - 10:19 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Disconnect the speedo sensor. Haven't heard of one causing an issue on an XB, but it's possible. Easy enough to do.
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