2018+ Softail Models Breakout

P1608 code

Old May 14, 2025 | 06:36 PM
  #1  
Nobra81's Avatar
Nobra81
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 32
Likes: 7
From: Mississippi
Default P1608 code

I have a 22 fatboy. Getting a p1608 low battery code. Just replaced battery a week ago. I checked cables they are nice and tight. Any thoughts

steve
 
Reply
Old May 14, 2025 | 07:07 PM
  #2  
702's Avatar
702
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 7,142
From: Las Vegas
Default

Did the code appear before or after you replaced the battery? Also, is that a c or an h code?
 

Last edited by 702; May 14, 2025 at 07:28 PM.
Reply
Old May 14, 2025 | 08:58 PM
  #3  
Nobra81's Avatar
Nobra81
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 32
Likes: 7
From: Mississippi
Default

I replaced the battery a couple of weeks ago . Everything seemed fine . I rode it today and after about 30 miles the speedometer quit working. the battery light came on. I made it home and checked the battery connections all fine . The battery died so I put it on trickle charger for a bit. The bike started right up I turned it off and it won’t start now. Strange
 
Reply
Old May 15, 2025 | 04:30 AM
  #4  
702's Avatar
702
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 7,142
From: Las Vegas
Default

If you want some help, it makes it a lot easier for people if you answer their questions.
 
Reply
Old May 15, 2025 | 06:26 AM
  #5  
Jackie Paper's Avatar
Jackie Paper
Seasoned HDF Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,293
Likes: 6,322
From: Honah Lee
Default

Sounds like you got unlucky and got a bad replacement battery. Take it out and return it.
 
Reply
Old May 15, 2025 | 06:30 AM
  #6  
702's Avatar
702
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 7,142
From: Las Vegas
Default

Originally Posted by Jackie Paper
Sounds like you got unlucky and got a bad replacement battery. Take it out and return it.
How many CAN bus M8 bikes with battery troubles have you personally diagnosed and repaired?
 
Reply
Old May 15, 2025 | 07:02 AM
  #7  
CoolBreeze3646's Avatar
CoolBreeze3646
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,419
Likes: 30,640
From: Pennsylvania
Default

1. Did you fully charge the new battery before installing it?
2. Using a Volt Ohm Meter (VOM), what is the voltage reading of the battery installed at rest without the ignition turned on.
3. Using a VOM, what is the voltage reading with the ignition turned on and the bike not running.
4. Using a VOM, what is the voltage reading while the bike is running.
5. Using a VOM, what is the voltage reading when starting the bike with a fully charged battery.

Answer these questions and report back.


NOTE:
The above information, while credible, is worth what you paid for it and should not be considered gospel.
Do due diligence, research and have a H-D Field Service Manual before working on your bike.
You will probably have many opinions and suggestions presented; make sure you research the person providing the helpful information as there are some who provide good information that is useful and some who speak out of other orifices with gibberish. You will figure out this quickly.
 
Reply
Old May 15, 2025 | 09:24 AM
  #8  
Jackie Paper's Avatar
Jackie Paper
Seasoned HDF Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,293
Likes: 6,322
From: Honah Lee
Default

Originally Posted by 702
How many CAN bus M8 bikes with battery troubles have you personally diagnosed and repaired?
Focus on the OP. I start simple at the logical choice especially since it doesn't appear he has a volt/ohm meter. He checked the wires for being tight. And he didn't bother to answer your question.
  • Potential Causes of a P1608.
    This can be due to a faulty battery current sensor, a wiring issue (open or short circuit), a loose connector, or a failing battery.
Now if the dealer who sold him the battery charges it more then a few minutes and puts it on a good test machine that can test these small bike batteries and the dealer says it's good, my suggestion then to the OP is take the bike to a Harley dealership.

A BCM (Body Control Module) replacement is generally not a "plug and play" swap in modern Harleys. BCMs are typically programmed to the specific bike and require specialized tools and procedures for installation
 

Last edited by Jackie Paper; May 15, 2025 at 09:33 AM.
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 15, 2025 | 09:29 AM
  #9  
702's Avatar
702
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 7,142
From: Las Vegas
Default

Originally Posted by Jackie Paper
Focus on the OP. I start simple at the logical choice especially since it doesn't appear he has a volt/ohm meter. He checked the wires for being tight. And he didn't bother to answer your question.
  • Potential Causes of a P1608.
    This can be due to a faulty battery current sensor, a wiring issue (open or short circuit), a loose connector, or a failing battery.
Focus on facts. Don't guess.

Actual experience will beat a Google/AI search every time.
 
Reply
Old May 15, 2025 | 09:41 AM
  #10  
Jackie Paper's Avatar
Jackie Paper
Seasoned HDF Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,293
Likes: 6,322
From: Honah Lee
Default

Originally Posted by Jackie Paper
Focus on the OP. I start simple at the logical choice especially since it doesn't appear he has a volt/ohm meter. He checked the wires for being tight. And he didn't bother to answer your question.
  • Potential Causes of a P1608.
    This can be due to a faulty battery current sensor, a wiring issue (open or short circuit), a loose connector, or a failing battery.
Now if the dealer who sold him the battery charges it more then a few minutes and puts it on a good test machine that can test these small bike batteries and the dealer says it's good, my suggestion then to the OP is take the bike to a Harley dealership.

A BCM (Body Control Module) replacement is generally not a "plug and play" swap in modern Harleys. BCMs are typically programmed to the specific bike and require specialized tools and procedures for installation
Originally Posted by 702
Focus on facts. Don't guess. Actual experience will beat a Google/AI search every time.
Sorry, I wasn't finished, so it was necessary to quote myself. The BCM for his FatBoy is $400. I'm still listening for you to walk him thru this repair.

I am always willing to learn from an expert.
 

Last edited by Jackie Paper; May 15, 2025 at 09:43 AM.
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:33 AM.

story-0
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-3
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-4
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-8
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

Slideshow: A clear-eyed look at what actually worked for Harley this year, and what quietly undermined its progress.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-29 17:10:48


VIEW MORE