Please help low idle today
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
+1 on the issue. My '07 FXDL has been exhibiting the same symptoms for the last 9 months intermittently. Sometimes its merely the low idle and sometimes it all together stalls at stops. My commute to work is 15 street miles. The bike usually never starts acting up during the work commute. Its when I take the bike to the highway and then return to city riding that its usually starts acting up . Tried the carb cleaner trick, checking PCV connections for any trace of water....but still at a lost. Like already stated....if anyone finds the fix to this issue, please post.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 23
From: Seattle, WA
Hate to be the one to break it to you fellas, but the EFI don't have a throttle set screw like a carb ... the ECM sets the idle speed ....
I would be concerned about some input to the ECM, possibly the head temp sensor, the manifold absolute pressure sensor, the crank position sensor, or maybe the throttle position sensor (less likely that one IMO) ... could have something to do with the IAC getting a little gummed up ... would probably be a good idea to use some volatile cleaning spray to try to clear it out (carb/choke cleaner or maybe even brake cleaner) ....
Hopefully it isn't a fault in your ECM ....
You might also do a check for an intake leak ... there are two ways to check that out ... (i) at idle, put your fingertip over the IAC hole at the top of the throttle body ... if it dies immediately, that is a strong indicator you don't have a leak ... (ii) requires (according to the service manual) a small propane bottle and valve with a tube to direct the propane gas flow around the manifold joints where the gaskets may have failed ... (another method is to just spray a little carb cleaner around the same areas) ... the two areas to concentrate the gas/spray are around the area where the manifold adjoins the heads and where the throttle body and manifold adjoin ....
R/
'Chop
I would be concerned about some input to the ECM, possibly the head temp sensor, the manifold absolute pressure sensor, the crank position sensor, or maybe the throttle position sensor (less likely that one IMO) ... could have something to do with the IAC getting a little gummed up ... would probably be a good idea to use some volatile cleaning spray to try to clear it out (carb/choke cleaner or maybe even brake cleaner) ....
Hopefully it isn't a fault in your ECM ....
You might also do a check for an intake leak ... there are two ways to check that out ... (i) at idle, put your fingertip over the IAC hole at the top of the throttle body ... if it dies immediately, that is a strong indicator you don't have a leak ... (ii) requires (according to the service manual) a small propane bottle and valve with a tube to direct the propane gas flow around the manifold joints where the gaskets may have failed ... (another method is to just spray a little carb cleaner around the same areas) ... the two areas to concentrate the gas/spray are around the area where the manifold adjoins the heads and where the throttle body and manifold adjoin ....
R/
'Chop
Last edited by SURFOR Chop; Aug 30, 2010 at 12:08 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,717
Likes: 1
From: Connecticut / Amsterdam
I took it out last night and it seems to be fine , when i filled it up that day of the low idle problem i had a half tank to start so now it is under again and i'm going to let the gas run very very low and fill up at a different gas station and also add some fuel injector cleaner this will be the cheapest way beside 15,500 miles it would not hurt , i still say it was bad gas but then i was also thinking about that day i was riding in a 9/11 tribute and we had over 2500 bikes and we were all following pretty close at times and just maybe all the angles of all the exhausts were directed at my motor making the thermo kick in to low idle but that just a wild guess , also according to my service manual it states IDLE SPEED can only be set using a computer based diagnostic package called DIGITAL TECHNICIAN part # HD44750 I'm waiting for a price from Zanotti's just in case 
Great article on fuel injection:
http://www.harley-performance.com/ha...injection.html
Great article on fuel injection:
http://www.harley-performance.com/ha...injection.html
Last edited by Wonkaboy; Aug 31, 2010 at 03:02 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
I went for a ride today and in the middle of the ride my motor had a low idle but did not stall rode fine but low idle at stop lights, etc then it came back for five minutes and was low again for a total of 60 miles , i stop to get something to eat for about 2 hours started it back up and it seem fine for the last 15 miles till i parked it in my garage , no check engine light came on , etc my friend said maybe i should buy some fuel injector cleaner i always use the same gas station and never had any problems with the idle , I hate to have to bring it to the dealer and spend ALOT money for nothing !!!!!! Has anybody had this situation ?
Thanks , Wonka !!
Thanks , Wonka !!
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 4
You can also use something like the TTS tuning kit or SERT to set idle. You can use the TTS kit to log sensors data as you ride and perhaps pick up on the issue.
I didn't read the entire thread, but if someone hasn't mentioned it, clean the IAC, they have a tendency to gunk up and cause inconsistent idle..
Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 7
From: Southwest Florida
If it's a sensor, wouldn't it throw a code? It sounds like a TPS, IAC or -- Does the TC have an EGR valve? Hell if I know. But I think I'd look for a code before I started spraying it with snake oil. Brake Kleen or (shudder) carb blaster might help the symptom but not cure the actual problem.
Not crazy about carb cleaner. Some throttle bodies are specially coated with something. Not sure what. But I think so. Some carb cleaner melts stuff, too. Like plastic, which is what some sensors have in their body.
Sounds to me like it's electronic.
Not crazy about carb cleaner. Some throttle bodies are specially coated with something. Not sure what. But I think so. Some carb cleaner melts stuff, too. Like plastic, which is what some sensors have in their body.
Sounds to me like it's electronic.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 23
From: Seattle, WA
may well be electronic ... in addition to TTS and SERT, ThunderMax can also set idle speed ....
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,717
Likes: 1
From: Connecticut / Amsterdam
After riding it twice since it happen and another 70 miles with no problems I made my conclusion it was running hot because of the weather and the heavy line traffic which consisted of 2500 motorcycles , there was alot of heat coming from all the exhausts flowing onto my motor causing the thermo to kick in which supposed to be at 300 degrees which then lowers the idle for protection , i did smell my motor that day so it must have been very hot but all is fine now, i guess i won't go on to many runs like that when were all crammed together creating a gigantic heat wave !