Electrical problems AGAIN!!

**Jared** · 03-27-2010, 06:21 PM

Today, while my wife and I were on our way home from a short ride, the bike just died. Completely. Nothing.

I coasted it around the corner and into a parking lot. I pulled the seat off and looked at everything. All looked good, but the ground was a little loose on the battery. I though that must be it, so I tightened it real tight, hit the started and it started!

But now it's idling extremely fast and if I give it any throttle, it starts to cut out and the FI light blinks on each time it hesitates. It also backfires really bad.

Any ideas guys? I parked the bike and put the cover on it and will be going back in a few hours to see if I can get it running well enough to bring it home. I HATE electrical stuff!

A few days ago I finished installing LED engine lights and I wonder if it could be something to do with that?

Any help would be great!!

**ringadingh** · 03-27-2010, 06:56 PM

I wonder if you pinched a wire somewhere while installing the led's, or maybe there is a sensor thats acting up such as the TPS. Did you check your wiring harness to see if its rubbed through on the valve cover of the rear cylinder LH side, where it runs along the frame tube, this is a known problem area.
Those are the hardest problems to diagnose on a vehicle, good luck, If I think of another suggestion I'll let you know.

**Jared** · 03-27-2010, 08:54 PM

Well I was able to ride it home, but man was that an adventure. It's idling like crap and jumping all over the place.

**cnc** · 03-27-2010, 09:00 PM

FI light going on, have you checked for fault codes? I would be suspicious of the ECU or a sensor acting up, or a connection to one.
In your case this is probably not the problem, but have you been into your headlight bucket lately?
I had mine open the other day to wire a 12v receptacle to the acc circuit. I had a no elect power / no start issue when I first tucked everything back in. I opened it back up and rearranged the position of the main harness plug and all has been fine since. I believe the back of the headlight was pushing sideways on the main connector causing a bad connection.

hammer · 03-27-2010, 09:59 PM

If you had the tank off or up you could also look at the fuel hose on the left above the "dog dish" to see that it is not kinked or squeezed. What did you hook up the LEDs to Jared?

cactusjack · 03-27-2010, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utah Motorcyclist

Well I was able to ride it home, but man was that an adventure. It's idling like crap and jumping all over the place.

Vacuum leak, maybe?

**Jared** · 03-27-2010, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactusjack

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utah Motorcyclist

Well I was able to ride it home, but man was that an adventure. It's idling like crap and jumping all over the place.

Vacuum leak, maybe?

I'm thinking it may be a vacuum leak. I'm too upset to work on it tonight, but I will see if I can figure it out tomorrow.

**Jared** · 03-27-2010, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnc

FI light going on, have you checked for fault codes? I would be suspicious of the ECU or a sensor acting up, or a connection to one.
In your case this is probably not the problem, but have you been into your headlight bucket lately?
I had mine open the other day to wire a 12v receptacle to the acc circuit. I had a no elect power / no start issue when I first tucked everything back in. I opened it back up and rearranged the position of the main harness plug and all has been fine since. I believe the back of the headlight was pushing sideways on the main connector causing a bad connection.

I haven't been into the headlight, but I do currently have left light-bar light unplugged. The bulb went out and i'm searching for a replacement.

**Jared** · 03-27-2010, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammer

If you had the tank off or up you could also look at the fuel hose on the left above the "dog dish" to see that it is not kinked or squeezed. What did you hook up the LEDs to Jared?

The LED are connected directly to the remote control box which is connected to the battery. :)

hammer · 03-28-2010, 12:01 AM

You have TV on your ride????

**Jared** · 03-28-2010, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammer

You have TV on your ride????

Yep! Don't they all come that way? It's right next to the espresso maker.

zoom45 · 03-28-2010, 01:06 AM

Worse case you could put everything back original and see if that solves the problem. Those issues are hard to find sometimes. Didn't your problems start after you painted the bike? Have you added any electrical items after the paint job?

**Jared** · 03-29-2010, 12:14 PM

Problem fixed. It was a vacuum leak.

hammer · 03-29-2010, 12:18 PM

Great news Jared. On the road again!!

**Cajunrider** · 03-29-2010, 12:45 PM

Great work Jared.

03-27-2010, 06:21 PM	#1
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Electrical problems AGAIN!! Today, while my wife and I were on our way home from a short ride, the bike just died. Completely. Nothing. I coasted it around the corner and into a parking lot. I pulled the seat off and looked at everything. All looked good, but the ground was a little loose on the battery. I though that must be it, so I tightened it real tight, hit the started and it started! But now it's idling extremely fast and if I give it any throttle, it starts to cut out and the FI light blinks on each time it hesitates. It also backfires really bad. Any ideas guys? I parked the bike and put the cover on it and will be going back in a few hours to see if I can get it running well enough to bring it home. I HATE electrical stuff! A few days ago I finished installing LED engine lights and I wonder if it could be something to do with that? Any help would be great!! __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President) Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-27-2010, 06:56 PM	#2
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Electrical problems AGAIN!! I wonder if you pinched a wire somewhere while installing the led's, or maybe there is a sensor thats acting up such as the TPS. Did you check your wiring harness to see if its rubbed through on the valve cover of the rear cylinder LH side, where it runs along the frame tube, this is a known problem area. Those are the hardest problems to diagnose on a vehicle, good luck, If I think of another suggestion I'll let you know. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

03-27-2010, 08:54 PM	#3
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Electrical problems AGAIN!! Well I was able to ride it home, but man was that an adventure. It's idling like crap and jumping all over the place. __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
	0

03-27-2010, 09:00 PM	#4
cnc Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal QC Posts: 12,034	Electrical problems AGAIN!! FI light going on, have you checked for fault codes? I would be suspicious of the ECU or a sensor acting up, or a connection to one. In your case this is probably not the problem, but have you been into your headlight bucket lately? I had mine open the other day to wire a 12v receptacle to the acc circuit. I had a no elect power / no start issue when I first tucked everything back in. I opened it back up and rearranged the position of the main harness plug and all has been fine since. I believe the back of the headlight was pushing sideways on the main connector causing a bad connection. __________________ Norm Ward 2008 blue / silver nomad kawanow / VBA #01136
	0

03-27-2010, 09:59 PM	#5
hammer Sr. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,329	Electrical problems AGAIN!! If you had the tank off or up you could also look at the fuel hose on the left above the "dog dish" to see that it is not kinked or squeezed. What did you hook up the LEDs to Jared? __________________ Hammer aka CrocHammer KawaNow#00988, VROC#26389, VR#2202 Abbotsford, BC, Canada 2006 Black Nomad Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-28-2010, 12:01 AM	#10
hammer Sr. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,329	Electrical problems AGAIN!! You have TV on your ride???? __________________ Hammer aka CrocHammer KawaNow#00988, VROC#26389, VR#2202 Abbotsford, BC, Canada 2006 Black Nomad
	0

03-28-2010, 01:06 AM	#12
zoom45 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Terry, Mississippi Posts: 1,434	Electrical problems AGAIN!! Worse case you could put everything back original and see if that solves the problem. Those issues are hard to find sometimes. Didn't your problems start after you painted the bike? Have you added any electrical items after the paint job? __________________ Bobby Risher Terry, MS Kawanow member # 124 South Central Group 2000 Nomad 1500 (carbed) 128,000 miles
	0

03-29-2010, 12:14 PM	#13
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Electrical problems AGAIN!! Problem fixed. It was a vacuum leak. __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
	0

03-29-2010, 12:18 PM	#14
hammer Sr. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,329	Electrical problems AGAIN!! Great news Jared. On the road again!! __________________ Hammer aka CrocHammer KawaNow#00988, VROC#26389, VR#2202 Abbotsford, BC, Canada 2006 Black Nomad
	0

03-29-2010, 12:45 PM	#15
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	Electrical problems AGAIN!! Great work Jared. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
	0

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Electrical problems with rear wire harness	Jared	1500 & 1600 Nomad	11	06-28-2011 08:50 AM
Electrical problem	Jared	1500 & 1600 Nomad	26	05-12-2011 06:21 PM
I need some electrical HELP!!	kennypatterson	1500 & 1600 Nomad	6	04-16-2011 07:47 AM
Diagnosing Electrical Problems	ringadingh	Electrical	0	04-26-2010 07:56 AM
Electrical faq...	csguru	1500 & 1600 Nomad	2	05-25-2008 10:24 PM