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My radio in my 2015 ultra limited is beeping 3 times every 10 seconds. I had it to the dealer and they are telling me that they cannot flash
the software and they get a software corrupted message. My question is this, is the software part of the radio or is it stored in the ECM?
All the components on the radio work but the beeping is constantly heard thru the speakers. They told me I need to replace the radio
which to me sounds like they are only after more money. Anyone know if there is a software fix for this without replacing the radio?
The constant beeping either means the radio has REALLY old firmware loaded or has not yet had the region set. The first issue is well documented in other threads here if you search. The 2nd is only seen on a brand new radio on initial power up until the region is set using a flash tool.
Where did the radio come from? Has it worked in your bike in the past?
The radio is configured (not a different firmware load) using a flashing tool (In Harley's case it's the Digital Technician II). This is what is called "flashing". The configuration is stored on the radio (not the ECU) and the flashing tool accesses the radio using the CAN bus connector stored behind the left side panel on your bike. Having said that you do need to be able to communicate with the ECU in order to configure it. If the ECU is locked to something else I don't think you can set any radio parameters.
To load new firmware on the radio you load an ISO image on a USB drive and plug it into the radio USB port.
I've never heard of or seen a "software corrupted" error. Can you get them to show you where they see this?
You might want to find another dealer or an audio shop with a flash tool. I'm not comfortable with their assessment of the issue.
I'm curious too if you had this on the bike and it was working, then sometime later this issue developed, or if you just installed it and when you powered up this is the result.
If it is the latter, you don't have a "not compatible" message displaying on the screen do you, just the beeping?
I didn't think the 6.5 GTS was available in 2015. Thought it was just the GT. Either way, I find it hard to believe you need a new radio. Doesn't make sense that the software could not be replaced with the uncorrupted version or an update. I agree, find a shop with a techno research tool and have them give it a shot.
I'm curious too if you had this on the bike and it was working, then sometime later this issue developed, or if you just installed it and when you powered up this is the result.
If it is the latter, you don't have a "not compatible" message displaying on the screen do you, just the beeping?
Thanks for the info. The radio was always in this bike. I had a trike conversion kit put on my 2015 Ultra Limited and when I got it back, I had the 3 beeps on the radio. I took it to the dealer I bought
it from and they tried to flash it. Told me they couldn't do it, that I need new radio. Everything on the radio works except for the 3 beeps every 10 seconds. I took it to another dealer and they also
tried to flash it and couldn't. They said they were getting a software is corrupt message. I really can't believe the radio is shot as everything on it works fine except with the beeping. Short of buying
another radio, I am at a loss as to what to do.
This is what I refer to in my earlier post. The radio is not "coded" to the bike per se as Carlos says, rather it only needs the region set in order to stop the beeping. The rest of the stuff such as WHIM, speaker/amp configuration, intercom, CB etc etc is not relevant to the beeping.
It is interesting that this radio was on the bike when OP bought it and this issue was noticed after it returned from the shop. I've not seen a radio revert to this state before.
I agree that going to an audio shop that has a flash tool such as Technoresearch or Diag4bike is likely going to be a better option than trying another Harley dealer. It only takes a few minutes to flash and it's a lot cheaper (maybe free) than buying a new radio.
If a good shop with a flash tool also finds the same issue that these 2 dealers found then they might also have other suggestions to try.
These two guys are giving you solid advise... something weird has happened... HD dealers are sometimes quick to say things like you are being told, whereas an audio guy might be able to fix the issue for a simple programming fee.
BTW, that bike did not come with the Boom! GTS (like AkaReaper said), that head unit did not come out until on the 2019 bikes. That bike probably had the Boom! GT 6.5 from the factory. If it now has the Boom! GTS in it, then somebody has upgraded the head unit (I did it to my last bike, a 2016 RGU). Just for reference, for when/if you're talking to somebody local about looking at the head unit >>>
my understanding is 2014-2018 came with 4.3
6.5 GT was the optional 'special' extra up to 2018
and then in 2019 it was GTS only
*my 2017 came with 6.5GT because it was a special, there was NO black engine option in 2017...that doesn't come till 2018
you can retro fit GTS to older bikes and 'beeping' is common when its not been flashed/coded/retrofitted correctly
Correct, the GTS replaced the GT in 2019 on those models that had the GT as stock or as an upgrade. The 4.3 remains to this day as the Infotainment unit on the base Road and Street Glides. Harley later released a version of the GTS that was compatible as a plugin replacement for the GT on 2014-2018 bikes (this is what I used on my bike). Prior to that you had to have a specific minimum firmware version loaded (which required you to plug the GTS into a 2019 or newer bike to get access to the newer ECU and load the updated firmware) in order to stop the beeping.
I'm wondering if this trike conversion involved an ECU reprogramming or replacement that might be the root cause of this issue (particularly if the GTS is one of the earlier part number versions). If so maybe the ECU is of an earlier type and the GTS radio needs to be plugged into a 2019 or newer bike and the firmware updated to the latest version and the radio reset. The symptoms of this mismatch would be an "not compatible" message on the screen and no sound at all other than the beeping. The instructions for doing the update/hack are in the archives here somewhere. I believe Ssitruc did it back in the day and could point OP to the post(s) I'm referring to.
Fingers crossed as this would be a simple and inexpensive fix.
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6.5 GTS radio question
