Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

03 FXSTI won't start

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 03-21-2008, 10:17 PM
eric91379's Avatar
eric91379
eric91379 is offline
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default 03 FXSTI won't start

Tried to start my 03 FXSTI today for the first time, NO-GO! First off, I was dumb and didn't put any fuel treatment in the tank and there was probably only a half gallon in there. So the battery was completely dead, charged it up, added 2 gallons of 93 octane, pulled the plugs and cleaned them, and tried to start it. It turned over, but didn't fire up. I didn't a meter with me, so I don't know the output of the battery. Both plugs have spark. It back fired a few times but I know if that was from compression ignition. The fuel pump fires up when I turn it on. I even tried some starting fluid, and still NO-GO. Any advice. I have it on a battery tender and will leave it overnight, just wanna some direction to go tomorrow.

Eric
 
  #2  
Old 03-21-2008, 11:53 PM
duke_dallas's Avatar
duke_dallas
duke_dallas is offline
Novice
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: 03 FXSTI won't start

Does the bike have an alarm system on it? Do you know what the average draw off your battery with nothing on? How did the terminals look, was there any corrosion on it?
 
  #3  
Old 03-22-2008, 09:40 AM
eric91379's Avatar
eric91379
eric91379 is offline
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: 03 FXSTI won't start

There is an alarm on it, but it is not activated. I don't have a meter (yet) to measure anything from the battery. The battery is only a year old and everythinglooks fine. I let it with a trickle charger overnight and it indicates that it is fully charged.
 
  #4  
Old 03-22-2008, 10:29 AM
eric91379's Avatar
eric91379
eric91379 is offline
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: 03 FXSTI won't start

Tried to start her again, turned over really good and back fired a few times. No luck though. I am wondering if there might be a problem with the computer. It has a Power Commander, would reloading the map make a difference maybe? It still has good spark. This is also the first time it has been in the cold weather. I bought it in San Diego in '03 and rode it all year round. I moved to Maine this December, so this first time it has sat for that long. It is really frustrating since it is the first time anything has gone wrong except for a dead battery over a year ago (left the ignition on for a couple of days, wouldn't charge anymore). It worked perfectly before I put it up for the winter. PLEASE HELP! I don't want to pay the ridulous prices at the HD shop. [:@]
 
  #5  
Old 03-22-2008, 11:35 AM
duke_dallas's Avatar
duke_dallas
duke_dallas is offline
Novice
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: 03 FXSTI won't start

The reason I mentioned about the Alarm is because even if the alarm isn't set it is still drawing off the battery...and can kill your battery very quickly...mine killed the battery and then for some reason activated the security system so the bike wouldn't start once the battery was charged...I had to pull the CB's for the alarm system to be able to start mine...once I had driven it for awhile I reset them..and it died....so after pulling it again a friend of mine told me to check a cannon plug under the tank...a huge cannon plug and mine had started coming apart from the move awhile ago from Maine to Texas...yes I am a Mainer as well...I used to work in Brunswick but I lived in Portland
 
  #6  
Old 03-22-2008, 08:44 PM
eric91379's Avatar
eric91379
eric91379 is offline
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: 03 FXSTI won't start

I found the problem, my power commander seems to have crapped out on me. I unplugged and put it back to stock, it started right up. It is kinda wierd, I have an email in with Dynojet telling them of my issue. Hopefully they can point me in the right direction. I reloaded my fuel map and it didn't fix the problem either. I don't want to have to buy a new one since those things aren't cheap. I was lucky and picked mine up on ebay about 4 years ago for $75. It is the older version (PC IIIr) that uses a serial cable and not the USB cable, but it has always worked like a champ. I have never had a problem with it till now. If you have some pointers, please share.
 
  #7  
Old 03-22-2008, 10:14 PM
FXSTI Guy's Avatar
FXSTI Guy
FXSTI Guy is offline
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Denver Colorado
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: 03 FXSTI won't start

You got your money's worth out of that one...it's probably not what you want to hear but it's time to coin up for a NEW PCIII
ORIGINAL: eric91379

I was lucky and picked mine up on ebay about 4 years ago for $75.
 
  #8  
Old 03-23-2008, 03:53 PM
eric91379's Avatar
eric91379
eric91379 is offline
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: 03 FXSTI won't start

But I'm a cheap SOB and need new tires, too. The LED's work and I can upload a fuel map from my computer, which leads me to believe that there might be just a software issue. Any suggestions?
 
  #9  
Old 03-25-2008, 10:59 AM
eric91379's Avatar
eric91379
eric91379 is offline
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: 03 FXSTI won't start

Fixed the problem...I loaded the zero map, then loaded stock config, then loaded the one for my mods. Works fine now.
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
PwnedNoob
Touring Models
86
10-22-2017 08:19 AM
Titan307
General Harley Davidson Chat
6
10-17-2013 09:30 PM
racmas
Dyna Glide Models
10
03-30-2011 02:31 PM
Hardly Dangerous
Touring Models
2
03-09-2010 07:21 PM
basarabz
General Harley Davidson Chat
7
12-15-2007 06:21 PM



Quick Reply: 03 FXSTI won't start



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:20 PM.