power commander troubles

borto1990 · 04-14-2011, 07:49 PM

I have the power commander.. never had an issue.. went to start for first ride of the season this year and it would just crank and crank.. hooked up my laptop and my map is still good.. lights are on the front of the PC but it won't fire.. I unhooked under the tank and reconnected it like stock and she fired up.... unplugged it and hooked PC back into it and she just rolls over.. doesn't even try to fire... what else should I check before I call PC tomorrow?

AlabamaNomadRider · 04-14-2011, 07:53 PM

If it starts without the PC sounds like something happened to the PC itself. I can't think of anything else it could be. How long have you had the PC? I would take it off and give it a good looking at. Make sure everything is set the way it should be.

borto1990 · 04-14-2011, 07:58 PM

yea, I bought the bike, an 08 new in 09, installed power commander sometime in that summer. so it's got 2 seasons on it is all.. hope I don't have to shell out coin for a new one.. yuck!

AlabamaNomadRider · 04-14-2011, 08:03 PM

I am sure no warranty on it. Most electronics don't carry a lot of warranty. I have the Cobra and it has been on the bike almost two years and no problems yet.

I sure hope you can get this thing figured out. Maybe someone may have experienced this problem and be able to help you more.

**ringadingh** · 04-14-2011, 08:12 PM

Its your ignition switch, the contacts are worn. when you turn it on listen for the fuel pump to whine for a couple seconds. If you here it it will start, if you don't, it will just crank.
Either take apart the switch and clean the contacts or better yet replace the switch.

borto1990 · 04-14-2011, 08:14 PM

steve.. it starts fine when I unhook the PC at the plug under the tank..

AlabamaNomadRider · 04-14-2011, 08:17 PM

Don't know if he read your complete statement or not. The switch wouldn't do that. I still say you are going to have to do something with the PC.

borto1990 · 04-14-2011, 08:30 PM

is there any kind of a "master reset" on these things? the PC website is screwy with their support links right now.. maybe I can "reset" it and load the map again. (which I did.. I uploaded a map just in case the one showing was tainted)

**ringadingh** · 04-14-2011, 08:43 PM

Not that Ive ever heard of. Im still not convinced its the PC.

borto1990 · 04-14-2011, 08:59 PM

you think it's the ignition still? how can this be? I don't know why it would be the PC.. ran fine. sat over winter and now it won't go.. unhook the PC.. she goes.. with the PC hooked up.. starting fluid gets it to fire

**ringadingh** · 04-14-2011, 09:01 PM

I don't think your pump is energized every time you turn the key. It will work sometimes but not every time.
Do you hear the pump hum for a couple seconds when you turn the key on? it should. every time not just sometimes.

borto1990 · 04-14-2011, 09:10 PM

ummm, the noise when the needle sweeps at the beginning? yes..

ve3hzz · 04-14-2011, 09:19 PM

I'm no PC owner, but it would seem to me if you disconnect it, and it fires up, then you connect it and it does not, then it is in the fuel management it is doing to the system (which is bypassing the ECU map) that is the problem.
There should be with your instructions how to change the MAP back to the default settings (like it was using the factory ECU). If that fires it up, then it is a corruption in the MAP that is the problem. Since you have the MAP stored on the PC, have you tried to restore it to the factory setting MAP? I would think it would have a BASE setting before the TUNE so you can get it running and then TWEAK it on a Dyno? So read the manual for the PC and see how to restore the base map (or load one) and go from there. Hang on to your custom MAP you have and once you get it running with the BASE map, reload that one if it fails then, it's a corrupted file, and you need to redo the MAP.

Hope that didn't sound too convoluted. ::)

Scott

**ringadingh** · 04-14-2011, 09:20 PM

If it hums the pump is working, next time it cranks but does not start, pull a plug and see if you have a spark.
You may have a broken wire.

borto1990 · 04-14-2011, 09:23 PM

I'll have to look in the morning to see if the hum you describe is the same as I"m thinking.. when I turn it on.. very audible "hum" as the needle sweeps right and left. if that's what your talking.. yes.. every time.. your thinking broken wire to the PC?

04-14-2011, 07:49 PM	#1
borto1990 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: grand rapids, mi Posts: 475	power commander troubles I have the power commander.. never had an issue.. went to start for first ride of the season this year and it would just crank and crank.. hooked up my laptop and my map is still good.. lights are on the front of the PC but it won't fire.. I unhooked under the tank and reconnected it like stock and she fired up.... unplugged it and hooked PC back into it and she just rolls over.. doesn't even try to fire... what else should I check before I call PC tomorrow? Login or Register to Remove Ads
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04-14-2011, 07:53 PM	#2
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	power commander troubles If it starts without the PC sounds like something happened to the PC itself. I can't think of anything else it could be. How long have you had the PC? I would take it off and give it a good looking at. Make sure everything is set the way it should be. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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04-14-2011, 07:58 PM	#3
borto1990 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: grand rapids, mi Posts: 475	power commander troubles yea, I bought the bike, an 08 new in 09, installed power commander sometime in that summer. so it's got 2 seasons on it is all.. hope I don't have to shell out coin for a new one.. yuck!
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04-14-2011, 08:03 PM	#4
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	power commander troubles I am sure no warranty on it. Most electronics don't carry a lot of warranty. I have the Cobra and it has been on the bike almost two years and no problems yet. I sure hope you can get this thing figured out. Maybe someone may have experienced this problem and be able to help you more. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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04-14-2011, 08:12 PM	#5
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	power commander troubles Its your ignition switch, the contacts are worn. when you turn it on listen for the fuel pump to whine for a couple seconds. If you here it it will start, if you don't, it will just crank. Either take apart the switch and clean the contacts or better yet replace the switch. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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04-14-2011, 08:14 PM	#6
borto1990 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: grand rapids, mi Posts: 475	power commander troubles steve.. it starts fine when I unhook the PC at the plug under the tank..
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04-14-2011, 08:17 PM	#7
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	power commander troubles Don't know if he read your complete statement or not. The switch wouldn't do that. I still say you are going to have to do something with the PC. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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04-14-2011, 08:30 PM	#8
borto1990 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: grand rapids, mi Posts: 475	power commander troubles is there any kind of a "master reset" on these things? the PC website is screwy with their support links right now.. maybe I can "reset" it and load the map again. (which I did.. I uploaded a map just in case the one showing was tainted)
	0

04-14-2011, 08:43 PM	#9
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	power commander troubles Not that Ive ever heard of. Im still not convinced its the PC. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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04-14-2011, 08:59 PM	#10
borto1990 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: grand rapids, mi Posts: 475	power commander troubles you think it's the ignition still? how can this be? I don't know why it would be the PC.. ran fine. sat over winter and now it won't go.. unhook the PC.. she goes.. with the PC hooked up.. starting fluid gets it to fire
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04-14-2011, 09:01 PM	#11
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	power commander troubles I don't think your pump is energized every time you turn the key. It will work sometimes but not every time. Do you hear the pump hum for a couple seconds when you turn the key on? it should. every time not just sometimes. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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04-14-2011, 09:10 PM	#12
borto1990 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: grand rapids, mi Posts: 475	power commander troubles ummm, the noise when the needle sweeps at the beginning? yes..
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04-14-2011, 09:19 PM	#13
ve3hzz Advanced Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Oshawa, Ontario Canada Posts: 564	power commander troubles I'm no PC owner, but it would seem to me if you disconnect it, and it fires up, then you connect it and it does not, then it is in the fuel management it is doing to the system (which is bypassing the ECU map) that is the problem. There should be with your instructions how to change the MAP back to the default settings (like it was using the factory ECU). If that fires it up, then it is a corruption in the MAP that is the problem. Since you have the MAP stored on the PC, have you tried to restore it to the factory setting MAP? I would think it would have a BASE setting before the TUNE so you can get it running and then TWEAK it on a Dyno? So read the manual for the PC and see how to restore the base map (or load one) and go from there. Hang on to your custom MAP you have and once you get it running with the BASE map, reload that one if it fails then, it's a corrupted file, and you need to redo the MAP. Hope that didn't sound too convoluted. ::) Scott __________________ http://vulcanbagger.com/forums/image...ine=1316810437
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04-14-2011, 09:20 PM	#14
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	power commander troubles If it hums the pump is working, next time it cranks but does not start, pull a plug and see if you have a spark. You may have a broken wire. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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04-14-2011, 09:23 PM	#15
borto1990 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: grand rapids, mi Posts: 475	power commander troubles I'll have to look in the morning to see if the hum you describe is the same as I"m thinking.. when I turn it on.. very audible "hum" as the needle sweeps right and left. if that's what your talking.. yes.. every time.. your thinking broken wire to the PC?
	0

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