speedometer/electrical problem

forensicartist · 11-17-2009, 06:58 PM

I ride a 2006 1600 Nomad with 60,000 miles. Today, my battery died after 3 1/2 years (the original). Before it died, my speedometer was going crazy mostly registering over 100 mph. I replaced the battery, but the speedo is still acting up.. Also, since the battery replacement, the headlight quit working. I checked the fuses and bulb, both seem fine. Any suggestions

**Cajunrider** · 11-17-2009, 07:04 PM

Could be a loose connection or skinned wire. Just a guess.

forensicartist · 11-17-2009, 07:06 PM

Will check it tomorrow when the sun comes up.. Thanks

dantama · 11-17-2009, 08:37 PM

Is it still under warranty? If so, go drop it off and make it their problem.

**ringadingh** · 11-17-2009, 08:39 PM

It does sound like a skinned wire, but that may be a tough one to trace.

VulcanE · 11-17-2009, 09:08 PM

I had a problem with my speedo acting up ('05 1600). Sometimes it would work OK, and other times you could be riding along and either speed up or slow down and it would still register the same MPH that you had been traveling. Sometimes when you turned the ignition on, the needle wouldn't sweep. After a while, it just quit working all together (just the speedo part, all other features worked fine) I got out the service manual and followed the troubleshooting procedure, and found that the speedo was bad. I ended up replacing the whole unit. I would suggest getting a service manual, and in the back in the electrical section, there is all kinds of tests to preform on the speedo (they call it a "meter") for different type problems.

forensicartist · 11-17-2009, 09:28 PM

Well, the speedo may have been programmed to go out at 60,000 - Just went over yesterday. I may take a comp day off tomorrow and see what I can come up with. Thanks for the help..

huskers · 11-17-2009, 10:09 PM

A friend of mine had this exact same thing happen to him with his 1600 Classic. We were on a ride, and first the speedo started acting up, surging and such. When we stopped for fuel, his bike would not start, so we jumped it. Then it started stalling. We suspected a bad battery or short to ground. We also thought that maybe it was the charging system, because his bike is FI, and the computer didn't appear to be operating correctly. The bike was back firing and stalling, even with the idle set higher.
He rode home bitch, and we came back the next day to get the bike with a trailer. Once we got to looking around, we found that the plastic connector which connected the bikes wiring harness together was melted and fused together. He also replaced the battery as it was 5 years old. Instead of putting a new harness on ($350 + $300 labor), he opted to cut it out, solder the wires in each bundle together, and run a jumper between them. As of yet, the problem has not reappeared and the bike seems to be charging OK.
I don't know what caused the connector to melt. He never found the cause of the problem, only the result. IMHO the problem is still lurking there.
Hope yours is an easy and inexpensive fix.

forensicartist · 11-17-2009, 10:37 PM

Wow.. that sounds familiar.. and soldering the wires sounds do-able.. Looks like I have a full day ahead of me.

cactusjack · 11-17-2009, 11:15 PM

Since computer logic circuits use ground as a reference (0v) , a poor ground can cause erratic behavior. I think you're going to have to trace some wiring.

AlabamaNomadRider · 11-17-2009, 11:42 PM

Definitely sounds like something went haywire in the wiring harness. That is a tough one to figure out. If you can find a short you can splice or solder it. Hope you are successful in finding and solving your problem.

forensicartist · 11-17-2009, 11:44 PM

Thanks, you guys have been great!.. I've been needing to check the bike from front to rear anyway.. Will let you know what I find out. Have a great evening..

chuckster131 · 11-18-2009, 06:05 AM

Mine the speedo didn't fail, but the headlight did go out.

What I found was behind the left side cover (engine). Take the 4 bolts out of chrome cover this will ahve the inner black cover attached to it. You will need to remove the floorboard and heel/toe shifters to do so.
Once you have the cover off, check the stator and regulators plugs for damage/melt down. This was my problem, I just cut the plugs out and solder wire for wire.. Now good as new again.

Hope this helps ya.

11-17-2009, 06:58 PM	#1
forensicartist Jr. Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6	speedometer/electrical problem I ride a 2006 1600 Nomad with 60,000 miles. Today, my battery died after 3 1/2 years (the original). Before it died, my speedometer was going crazy mostly registering over 100 mph. I replaced the battery, but the speedo is still acting up.. Also, since the battery replacement, the headlight quit working. I checked the fuses and bulb, both seem fine. Any suggestions Login or Register to Remove Ads
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11-17-2009, 07:04 PM	#2
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	speedometer/electrical problem Could be a loose connection or skinned wire. Just a guess. __________________ 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
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11-17-2009, 07:06 PM	#3
forensicartist Jr. Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6	speedometer/electrical problem Will check it tomorrow when the sun comes up.. Thanks
	0

11-17-2009, 08:37 PM	#4
dantama Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 0	speedometer/electrical problem Is it still under warranty? If so, go drop it off and make it their problem.
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11-17-2009, 08:39 PM	#5
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	speedometer/electrical problem It does sound like a skinned wire, but that may be a tough one to trace. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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11-17-2009, 09:08 PM	#6
VulcanE Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cartersville, Georgia Posts: 4,838	speedometer/electrical problem I had a problem with my speedo acting up ('05 1600). Sometimes it would work OK, and other times you could be riding along and either speed up or slow down and it would still register the same MPH that you had been traveling. Sometimes when you turned the ignition on, the needle wouldn't sweep. After a while, it just quit working all together (just the speedo part, all other features worked fine) I got out the service manual and followed the troubleshooting procedure, and found that the speedo was bad. I ended up replacing the whole unit. I would suggest getting a service manual, and in the back in the electrical section, there is all kinds of tests to preform on the speedo (they call it a "meter") for different type problems. __________________ Cliff "VulcanE" Evans 2005 Blue & Silver 1600 Nomad VBA # 320 VROC # 20381
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11-17-2009, 09:28 PM	#7
forensicartist Jr. Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6	speedometer/electrical problem Well, the speedo may have been programmed to go out at 60,000 - Just went over yesterday. I may take a comp day off tomorrow and see what I can come up with. Thanks for the help..
	0

11-17-2009, 10:09 PM	#8
huskers Jr. Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dracut, Massachusetts Posts: 20	speedometer/electrical problem A friend of mine had this exact same thing happen to him with his 1600 Classic. We were on a ride, and first the speedo started acting up, surging and such. When we stopped for fuel, his bike would not start, so we jumped it. Then it started stalling. We suspected a bad battery or short to ground. We also thought that maybe it was the charging system, because his bike is FI, and the computer didn't appear to be operating correctly. The bike was back firing and stalling, even with the idle set higher. He rode home bitch, and we came back the next day to get the bike with a trailer. Once we got to looking around, we found that the plastic connector which connected the bikes wiring harness together was melted and fused together. He also replaced the battery as it was 5 years old. Instead of putting a new harness on ($350 + $300 labor), he opted to cut it out, solder the wires in each bundle together, and run a jumper between them. As of yet, the problem has not reappeared and the bike seems to be charging OK. I don't know what caused the connector to melt. He never found the cause of the problem, only the result. IMHO the problem is still lurking there. Hope yours is an easy and inexpensive fix.
	0

11-17-2009, 10:37 PM	#9
forensicartist Jr. Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6	speedometer/electrical problem Wow.. that sounds familiar.. and soldering the wires sounds do-able.. Looks like I have a full day ahead of me.
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11-17-2009, 11:15 PM	#10
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	speedometer/electrical problem Since computer logic circuits use ground as a reference (0v) , a poor ground can cause erratic behavior. I think you're going to have to trace some wiring. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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11-17-2009, 11:42 PM	#11
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	speedometer/electrical problem Definitely sounds like something went haywire in the wiring harness. That is a tough one to figure out. If you can find a short you can splice or solder it. Hope you are successful in finding and solving your problem. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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11-17-2009, 11:44 PM	#12
forensicartist Jr. Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6	speedometer/electrical problem Thanks, you guys have been great!.. I've been needing to check the bike from front to rear anyway.. Will let you know what I find out. Have a great evening..
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11-18-2009, 06:05 AM	#13
chuckster131 Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Jackson, Michigan Posts: 1,367	speedometer/electrical problem Mine the speedo didn't fail, but the headlight did go out. What I found was behind the left side cover (engine). Take the 4 bolts out of chrome cover this will ahve the inner black cover attached to it. You will need to remove the floorboard and heel/toe shifters to do so. Once you have the cover off, check the stator and regulators plugs for damage/melt down. This was my problem, I just cut the plugs out and solder wire for wire.. Now good as new again. Hope this helps ya. __________________ Joe (Chuckster) Norris Jackson, Michigan 2007 Goldwing 2010 Voyager (Blue/Silver)sold 2001 Nomad (gone, but not forgotten) www.chucksterscustoms.com
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