Help!Temp light (running crappy)

[mikeyger]

I could use some help! I went out this morning for a ride and went about a mile and noticed my temp kight was on.I pulled over and checked the resivor and it was cool and full.It sounds funny and does npt run right either What should I check? Thanks

[ringadingh]

Start by making sure the thermostat is working, it may be stuck shut, also check if the fluid isn't all gelled and blocking the rad core as it circulates. It may need a good thorough flush and new coolant.

[mikeyger]

I took cap off and when I turn the throttle it is swirling.I was checking everything and noticed a little water in both tail pipesI let it set about a hour and when key is on both oil and water light is on and after starting the oil light goes out but the temp remains on.It just sounds different when at idle which is higher now for some reason

[ringadingh]

It can also be just a dirty connection at the heat sensor,or a bad sensor. pull the wire and make sure you have a clean tight connection. If the light is on and you know the motor is cold, its probably one of those two scenarios.

[mikeyger]

Steve If I take the tank off shold I be able to get to it

[mikeyger]

Oh sorry! that is fi models Do you mean the sending unit on the bottom of the radiator?Would that make the light stay on?

[mikeyger]

Here is what I done after this started Went on and changed coolant (no oil in coolant),changed oil and filter(no water in oil) pulled wire off sending unit and wiped off.The engine was cold and when I started it the temp light stayed on.I rode it around the block a few times and let it idle.It has a dead miss .It ran fine last night and this morning it started right up.If it is the sending unit and i replace that what could be making it run crappy now.I did fill up last night and will go put some seafoam in to see if that helps Any suggestions would be appreciated It has ultimate baffles and is now quite while at idle until you give it some gas.Like the exhaust is blocked or something. Mike

[cnc]

The water temperature switch completes the ground for the temp light when the coolant gets too hot ( around 135-140F I would think). So to test with the bike off and engine cold, disconnect the lead from the switch, attach one lead of a test light to the positive side of the battery or some other always hot source and the other to the temp switch terminal. If the test light lights your switch is defective.

[mikeyger]

Thanks I did pull the wire off the switch and turned on the key and the light still came on and then I started it cold and it still stayed on.I will pull the tank and try to follow the wire looking for bare spots and such.Could this also maybe short out one of the coils causing it to run so bad?When the light came on only about 10 minutes after starting the motor is when it started running bad It has a dead miss and this all happened at the same time After test driving and letting it warm up good the fan came onOne suggested a burnt valve but it all started at the same time and did not really have time to get hot Thanks for any help you may be able to give..Mike

[ringadingh]

Check the wiring at the top of the rear cylinder on the LH side. It may have chaffed through there.

[schoeney]

Did you do any work on the bike shortly before the light came on?

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Something you said concerns me and that is the water in the tailpipes. I have never seen that with my bike. Unless the gas you last put in may have had water in it. I would keep an eye on that. Might want to put in some SeaFoam and see if that will help. When was the throttle body last cleaned. That could cause the problem with the idle.

[mikeyger]

It idles good bu runs on one cylinder it seems like.And did have tank and seat off last week.I will check for a bad wire today and get back Thanks guys! Wish me luck!

[AlabamaNomadRider]

You said it idles higher in one of your posts. The water in the tailpipes still concerns me. Possible bad gas. Use the SeaFoam or something else that will remove the water in the gas.

[mikeyger]

Nomad Rider I added some seafoam last night Thanks buddy I will keep in touch.Hopefully I can find a short that may also be shorting out a coil or something Mike