| Author | Message | ||
     Whippetlovr |
I have an appointment in early July to have my bike fixed (hopefully) for the clutch weep, as well as for whatever is wrong that is making my battery light come on at stops and at low RPMs and makes my bike not want to start. I installed a Jardine pipe and ECM a few weeks back. I won't bother with the pipe, but should I pull the ECM? Will it void my warranty? If I put the stock ECM back in, will they be able to tell somethings up? Thanks in advance | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
well the battery light at low rpms would likely be why it doesn't want to start and yes they likely would blow off the questions of running conditions once they realize/see the Erik Buell Racing ECM installed. or worse yet they may try and reflash it and toast it or put the crappy factory flash back on it. HD could void the engine portion of warranty due to ECM change out and it being listed as a race only part. | ||
| Whippetlovr |
The battery light thing is getting progressively worse, it started sporadically last summer, and would come on say, if I was at a really long red light. Then it started coming on when I was stopped for shorter periods... now it comes on when when I'm slowing down to approach a stop, and the bike is hard to start. Sometimes it starts, and the display is completely dark, then lights up a few seconds later. I'm now afraid to ride anywhere that I may end up having to stop and turn it off, because I might end up stranded. I dont know if its a sign of kissing my stator goodbye, or something else... So, if I switch ECMs, will the tech be able to tell? | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
year? no if the OE ecm is in bike he has no way of knowing the race ECM was in there. the lack of charging if it started pre race ecm then it's likely a bad ground, v/r or stator or all three... | ||
| Zac4mac |
Sarah Sounds like your battery is dying, stator could be contributing. Techs won't know anything if you swap your race ECM for the OEM one prior to taking it to the shop. Best, if you're unsure of the shop's protocol, to return the bike to mech/elec stock form for any warranty visits. Zack | ||
| Rob_l |
They shouldn't take off the side pod for clutch weep or stator. I would put stock ECM on. | ||
| Whippetlovr |
It's an 09. And yes, the battery light issue started pre-race ECM, it started at the end of last year's riding season (so, like 4 months after I bought it from new). I'll put the stock ECM back in | ||
| J_copeland |
I told my dealer the race ECM was in it when I took mine in for the clutch weep repair. I asked them to write it on the repair order and to put "Do not flash the ECM. They actually like upgrades at my dealer . | ||
| Froggy |
It shouldn't make a difference, I've always left mine on for warranty work. It takes only 10 minutes to swap it back though. | ||
| Bartimus |
I would remove it, and reinstall the stock ECM. Some banana brained tech will hook it up and reflash it with the latest upgrade thinking he is doing you a favor... don't take a chance on ruining a great upgrade, if you still have the stock ECM, install it!!! | ||
| Xnoahx |
Aftermarket fuel management systems have potential to void warranty | ||
| Buelldyno_guy |
When there still was a BMC my experience at the dealer I worked for was that if the warranty repair was something new or major and needed to be call it in, it would depend upon who picked up the phone on the HD-Buell end. The Buell folks would normally be OK with minor mods, but way too many times one of the HD guys would start asking questions about mods to the bike that had no impact of the issue with the bike. Also there were Buell Dealers and dealers that sold Buells. The real Buell Dealers understood both the bikes, their owners and how they rode their bikes, I worked for one of those and we almost always went out of our way to cover a warranty issue. As it stands now with the remaining Buell dealer support, if Jimmy and I have a customer come in to our shop with an issue, that's still under warranty we assist the customer at little or no charge to help convert his bike back to stock so he will not have an issue at the dealer. Then we do the re-mod after the dealer is done. We feel it comes back to us ten fold if we are the go to shop for any Buell rider that might be in our area. My suggestion would always be to remove anything that might make it easer for someone who does not want to cover your claim to do that. The ECM swap is easy, doing something like swapping out a chain conversion or rear sets is another issue, but if the warranty is major it still makes sense. Terry - www.jtsperformance.com (Message edited by buelldyno_guy on June 25, 2011) | ||
| Buellrain |
Took my bike in for a stator change under warranty, after they installed the stator incorrectly, they found the Erik Buell Racing ECM and blamed that and tried to void the warranty, it caused a load of hassle and grief, to avoid the above remove the ecm before having any warranty work done. | ||
| D_adams |
Incompetence will ALWAYS try to find something to blame the problem on instead of actually manning up and fixing the damn problem. The race ecm changes nothing for the charging system. It has NO control over what the stator output is, nor does it alter the regulator and it's function. Been over this several times, specific link from the previous go around. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?tpc=290431&post=2018010#POST2018010 They (HD) CANNOT void your warranty based on the race ecm being installed and then having your stator fail. The ecm didn't cause the failure, neither did the aftermarket exhaust you put on the bike. I'd leave it as is and (hate to even say this) sue the crap out of them for it if they fight you. You will end up winning in court since they would NOT be able to prove that the ecm caused the stator failure. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I am not convinced the Erik Buell Racing ECM acts exactly as the stock ECM in regards to the electrical. The battery light seems to be triggered more often with the Erik Buell Racing ECM...however my recent experience with the stock ECM is very limited (run the stock ECM to and from the service dept a couple times.) It's like 99% Erik Buell Racing ECM and 1% stock ECM, but i do notice a differnce between the two after switching. | ||
| Ezblast |
I also! - The Erik Buell Racing ecm is way better! EZ | ||
| Zac4mac |
I suppose there are times when it's a good idea to piss into a fan. This doesn't appear to me to be one however. Absolutely put the OEM ECM in before taking a warranty job to a NEW dealer. Not a bad idea to put the OEM exhaust back on too. I have said... cultivate a level of trust between you and the shop doing your warranty work. You will come out ahead every time. Then you can leave your cool stuff on.  Z | ||
| Pwillikers |
Absolutely, ABSOLUTELY, return it to stock. My dealer blamed a charging system failure on a 194 LED bulb I replaced which was total BS. Huge grief. | ||
| Court |
>>>>I suppose there are times when it's a good idea to piss into a fan. There is also wisdom in reading and understanding the terms and conditions of the limited product liability contained in the owners manual. I am fully aware of the provisions of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and The Uniform Commercial Code. I am also aware that many chip "modifiers" include information like:
I do not disagree with any of this. But all this "prove the air bad light and the ECM are unrelated is a time consuming and expensive process. In addition, be mindful that, should you decide to "teach them a lesson" that you are taking on folks who, in the case of Harley-Davidson, have a large legal staff, do this daily as an occupation, and are familiar with all the nuances. You, as a casual consumer, are at a marked disadvantage. You could, in theory, pick up a golf club for the first time and beat Tiger Woods. The odds, however, are not with you. My point is . . . is you or your dealer have to agree using a wink and a nod or the dealer has to "slant" what they tell Harley-Davidson, you may have an uphill battle. Best practice is to be as honest and forthright with them as you expect them to be with you. My personal experience is that they tend to want to tip the scales in the favor of the consumer. You can find amazing stories on each side with a 30 second search. Be smart. | ||
| Ohsoslow |
i will be putting the stock ecm back on for warranty work but i will be leaving the exhaust on, my dealer has been putting jardine and FMF pipes on the brand new 1125s they still have in stock. | ||
| Pyrogen |
so along the same lines, I have been having close to the same problem since swapping to the race ecm. I have the harness and a stator was replaced last august. The system is still charging so I believe its not the stator. After checking grounds and doing a little troubleshooting, I think I am going to find that my battery is giving out. What is the easiest way to remove the battery? | ||
| Whippetlovr |
Thanks everyone. So I took the ECM out, the guy at the shop said the pipe itself technically voided the warranty but he'll pretend he doesn't see it. He even told me to GET an EB-R ECM once the bike is fixed... so maybe I could have left it in. Turns out I have a fried stator (he said its reading only 3 volts), I may need a new rotor, and I have the cleep. 2-3 weeks for parts. Thank god I have my husband's R1 to get me through the summer, though I miss MY bike already. | ||
| Ohsoslow |
technically the guy that told you that is wrong, in this specific incident. | ||
| Wbrisett |
Turns out I have a fried stator (he said its reading only 3 volts), I may need a new rotor, and I have the cleep. 2-3 weeks for parts. Welcome to the stator repair club... I'm on #3 right now. On that one, they replaced everything! new wiring harness, rotor, stator, regulator, darn near everything related to electrical. The good news is, so far, so good. But it has only been a week. (Although stator #2 failed within 25 miles!). Wayne | ||
| 1125rcya |
Well my battery light at low rpms was solved I believe with a new battery! | ||
| Buellitup |
Going back to what the original question was, I have not heard of this happening. I called my dealer and asked about it a few months ago. They said that depending on what the issue was, they may or may not blame after market parts, and that they'd be reasonable about it. They also said that you would be expected to remap the fuel if you change the exhaust system. That being said, I had the clutch drip, brought it in with the flashed ECM and new pipe, and they didn't say a word. | ||
| 1125rcya |
I LIED "I LIED" "I LIED" "I LIED" Batt light is coming back on after long ride through the city...stop and go! I caught the volts at 11.3 but it was saying 11.8 on the screen until I shut it down and restarted then looked it was at 11.3 started 2x then would not start no more. | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
I don't know if the EB R ECM modifies the the charging routine compared to stock, but it runs the fans at lower temps than stock which means they are on almost constantly once the bike is warmed up, therefore putting a higher load on the charging system. A properly functioning charging system should have no problem keeping up with the additional load, though. | ||
| Ottobotz |
I too must join the club. Happened to me today. Was out riding around paying some bills and at a light the bike just died. Would not start. It kept flashing LOW VOLTAGE. Called HD and they told me to leave the bike someone would be there tonight to pick it up. This happened at noon. Of course I had someone else tow it to the shop, then they were all talking about trading it in for a Harley. They wanted to give me $4000 for the bike and the rest carry over to the new bike. I still owe $7000 on it. What nerve!!!! I told them they wouldn't even give me a tow, and I would never buy anything else from them. F@#K HD!!!!! -Why doesn't the "lemon law" apply to our situation? -The only MOD I have on it is a Keda-RT-3 on it. It better not be a problem, I am ready for a fight..... -Bike is a 2009 CR, 1800 miles on it. | ||
| Froggy |
Where did you read that it doesn't? Look up your local laws, you may be eligible to file a lemon claim. | ||
| Court |
Arizona DOES (many states don't cover motorcycles) a Lemon Law for motorcycle. It requires 4 repair attempts or 30 calendar days out of service. Key for you is to keep very good and detailed records. I'd not make a big deal out of mentioning to the dealer that you are counting the 30 days they have your bike. | ||
| Wbrisett |
In TX it's: (A) the vehicle is out of service for repair for a cumulative total of 30 or more days in the 24 months or 24,000 miles, whichever occurs first, following the date of original delivery to the owner; and (B) at least two repair attempts were made in the 12 months or 12,000 miles following the date of original delivery to an owner. (b) A period or a number of days or miles described by Subsection (a) is extended for any period that repair services are not available to the owner because of: (1) a war, invasion, or strike; or (2) a fire, flood, or other natural disaster. (c) The 30 days described by Subsection (a)(3)(A) do not include any period during which the manufacturer or distributor lends the owner a comparable motor vehicle while the owner's vehicle is being repaired by a franchised dealer. I.E. it's much harder to claim lemon law in TX. But, it does cover Motorcycles. and while my CR has been out of service for six weeks total for the same issue, I am trying not to use it because other than the stator issues, the CR is an awesome bike. | ||
| Ottobotz |
Thanks Froggy and Court for the info. |
