Shorted Battery
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2010
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Shorted Battery
Ive got a 2003 wide glide. As I was changing the battery I managed to Jam the positive agains.t the frame. By the time I managed to move it away it fried the battery. Now when I put another battery in the bike will not run. The speedo seems to bounce a bit , but it will not turn over. What have I damaged by doing this, Is there a computer on these bikes
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Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Northwest
Is the red light in the shape of a key perhaps?... that may be your security system ( if you have one) still working.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Southlake Texas
Funny (interesting, not haha), that I was looking at the positive post on my bike and was puzzled at how close to the frame it sits...like maybe 1/8", even when installed correctly. So I feel your pain, it's a terrible design. They should have notched the frame to give some clearance.
But, on to your problem. When you shorted the positive post, all the current was rammed through the ground wires. Pull the battery and look over all the ground wires. I would bet you will find some seriously overheated insulation, and likely a couple that need to be replaced.
If nothing was turned on when this happened (i.e. key off) then there is no way any equipment was damaged by the battery grounding. It is some overheat in a ground wire that is always connected to the battery.
But, on to your problem. When you shorted the positive post, all the current was rammed through the ground wires. Pull the battery and look over all the ground wires. I would bet you will find some seriously overheated insulation, and likely a couple that need to be replaced.
If nothing was turned on when this happened (i.e. key off) then there is no way any equipment was damaged by the battery grounding. It is some overheat in a ground wire that is always connected to the battery.
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Intermediate
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I guess Ill go through the harness and see if there are any areas that look burn't. Something is definitely shorted though. I can't remember if the switch was on or off when I shorted the battery. More fun and games. Anyone know if theres a computer on this bike?
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Southlake Texas
There is an ignition computer...and it feeds the tach...but not the speedo.
Then...there is the turn signal computer...that does feed the speedo.
And, if it is fuel injected there is the ECM (computer).
All of these would not be damaged with the key off, and still highly unlikely if the key was on.
I'd start with the large gage ground wire that goes from the negative post to the starter/frame. It took the main hit. If it is totally burned through, then it would continue to cause other damage. If the large ground it still intact, then it is likely the only wire damaged.
Then...there is the turn signal computer...that does feed the speedo.
And, if it is fuel injected there is the ECM (computer).
All of these would not be damaged with the key off, and still highly unlikely if the key was on.
I'd start with the large gage ground wire that goes from the negative post to the starter/frame. It took the main hit. If it is totally burned through, then it would continue to cause other damage. If the large ground it still intact, then it is likely the only wire damaged.
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Okay I,ve gone over everything and do not see any burn't wires or broken wires. When you connect the battery even with the switch off the small red light flashes constantly. If I use the fob and turn the switch on the speedo mileage jumps around and the flashers go back and forth. If you bump the bike the flashers go back and forth. I've tried removing the TSSM and the flashers still flash and the speedo mileage still jumps. The motor will not turn over. I'm thinking this has something todo with the anti theft. Anyone have any ideas? also when I was looking on line for a TSSM I noticed they all look similar but the numbers are different. Are these interchangeable or do you need the exact number. Mine is 68924-00B. Is there a way to check these? Thanks