bike died today, electrical problems
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Joined: Sep 2016
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From: San Diego CA
bike died today, electrical problems
So I bought this 03 fxdx 3 weeks ago. Rode it everyday since, today while riding i lost all power and the bike had no power, no lights on the speedo, nothing. I figured either the stator wasnt charging the battery or i had a loose connection.
2 hours of sitting on the side of the road my buddy picks me up with his truck, we get the bike home i turn the key and it has power and starts right up.
i decide to take the battery out and the fuse cover and check all connections, make sure everything is tight and it was. I checked the ignition switch and it was getting currency through all the terminals so that wasnt an issue.
I put it all back together and now the speedo light and odometer turn on in accessory but turn the key to run and everything shuts off. I have no idea what is going on. Gotta be a short somewhere but i can find anything. i pulled fuses 1 by 1 to see if i could rule out a part of the electrical system and nothing changed
And by getting super frustrated i broke the damn frame ground under the seat. So if anyone has a good idea on a solution for that it would be greatly appreciated
2 hours of sitting on the side of the road my buddy picks me up with his truck, we get the bike home i turn the key and it has power and starts right up.
i decide to take the battery out and the fuse cover and check all connections, make sure everything is tight and it was. I checked the ignition switch and it was getting currency through all the terminals so that wasnt an issue.
I put it all back together and now the speedo light and odometer turn on in accessory but turn the key to run and everything shuts off. I have no idea what is going on. Gotta be a short somewhere but i can find anything. i pulled fuses 1 by 1 to see if i could rule out a part of the electrical system and nothing changed
And by getting super frustrated i broke the damn frame ground under the seat. So if anyone has a good idea on a solution for that it would be greatly appreciated
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 4,384
Likes: 8,742
From: Texas
Start at the bttry.., with a VOM and wiring schematic (or at least a diagram of the wiring harness)
Start tracing it out - clean / tighten all connections - verify voltages
Find all grounds - clean / tighten / verify
Verify all relays - clean their contacts or replace if necessary
Could be a shorted wire..., could also be a hundred other things
Ghost
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Joined: Sep 2016
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From: San Diego CA
Not going to like it
Start at the bttry.., with a VOM and wiring schematic (or at least a diagram of the wiring harness)
Start tracing it out - clean / tighten all connections - verify voltages
Find all grounds - clean / tighten / verify
Verify all relays - clean their contacts or replace if necessary
Could be a shorted wire..., could also be a hundred other things
Ghost
Start at the bttry.., with a VOM and wiring schematic (or at least a diagram of the wiring harness)
Start tracing it out - clean / tighten all connections - verify voltages
Find all grounds - clean / tighten / verify
Verify all relays - clean their contacts or replace if necessary
Could be a shorted wire..., could also be a hundred other things
Ghost
guess ill be chasing wires for while, just weird that it shut down mid ride. The battery was at 12.8v when i got home so i know the charging system is working. ugh
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 78
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From: San Diego CA
nothing, I bought this bike running, everything worked. All ive done is change the fluids the day I bought it and have been riding it everyday since
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 133
From: TEXAS
more than likely it is your ignition switch
same thing happened to my 06
when they start to go bad they can act funny, like work and then not work
i know it is just a trial and error but i would replace the switch first after i did all the standard electrical tests
same thing happened to my 06
when they start to go bad they can act funny, like work and then not work
i know it is just a trial and error but i would replace the switch first after i did all the standard electrical tests
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What was the outside temperature? If it was a hot day and your bike was running hot, then it may be a solenoid issue that is temp related. Purely a stab in the dark but having it fail mid-ride and re-start leads me to believe it is temp that is causing the electrical failure.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 78
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From: San Diego CA
What was the outside temperature? If it was a hot day and your bike was running hot, then it may be a solenoid issue that is temp related. Purely a stab in the dark but having it fail mid-ride and re-start leads me to believe it is temp that is causing the electrical failure.
In accessory the speedo lights up but if I try the horn it shuts off and the horn doesn't work
