After my bike threw the code for the throttle position sensor I parked and pulled the air cleaner to check and make sure the sensor was plugged in. It seemed to be but I unplugged it and plugged it back in just to be sure. The weather was so bad that I couldn't test ride it so I ordered a new sensor anyways.

I noticed that the gasket for my air cleaner back plate was pretty bad so went to the dealer and picked up a new one. I was going to leave it apart until I got the new sensor but I wanted to test ride the new brake pads I put on so I put the air cleaner back on with the new gasket and went for a ride. It rode perfect. The idle sounded better, it didn't surge once, throttle response was back, and the decel popping reduced significantly. I was shocked and thought it was a fluke but

I've ridden it three more time since then and purposely rode in ways that triggered the surging before and it hasn't acted up once. It feels like a new bike. So either the plug for the sensor wasn't seated fully or what I am thinking is that the gasket for the air cleaner back plate was bad and was causing an intake leak. I did get the new sensor in the mail, but I'm not going to touch anything unless it starts acting up again but so far so good.

 

hhhhmmmm. I might have to take a gander at mine. I have all but given up on fixing my surging problems. Been like that for about 3 years and I have replaced everything I can think of but not the gasket for the intake.

I tell you what, if it is this simple I will owe you a pint when I am in your part of the world.

 

I doubt that the air cleaner backing plate could be the cause because you could take the air cleaner off completely and the bike should run fine, of course you wouldn't have clean air, I think the plug was probably the culprit in this case and I'm happy for you that you got her fixed. A good running engine is soooo nice. Now if it was the intake gasket at the throttle body mount then yes, that could cause the problem but you said air cleaner backing plate which is before the throttle body and should not affect the running, other than let in dirty air, just my .02 and I've been wrong plenty of times before. Anyway, I'm glad you got her fixed.

 

A leaky a/c gasket will not cause an intake leak or cause the trouble you described.

 

I guess it was the throttle position sensor plug then. It didn't seem loose but I must have fully seated it when I unplugged it and plugged it back in. Either way it's running like a champ now.

 

I might have the same problem ( low idle today ) NO CODES/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON , what do you mean by surging ?
Where is the throttle position sensor plug located ? HOW MUCH ?

Thanks, Wonka

 

What was the part number for the plug? Hell, I already spent $4k to bump it up to a 95ci so what is another $37.

 

Thank you nkauf21!!!

A few days ago I unplugged my TPS and then just plugged it back in. I am not sure if I wasn't getting a good connection or what but the bike is running a million times better than it did before.

I finally got to take it out today for a good ride and I would say that 90% of my surging is GONE!! I have had the bike for over 4 years and I can't remember it ever running this good, it wasn't even this smooth when I took it off the showroom floor.

I definately owe you a beer!!

Whoops - forgot to mention that I went ahead and bought a new Throttle Position Sensor and will see if that gets rid of the last little bit of surging that is still there.