When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Traveling at night the other night on my 2009 Heritage Softail. My high beams dim down. Check engine light comes on and dash light goes out. No loss of power. I think OH CRAP and then everything comes back on.
I pull over and check oil and it's ok. Jump on bike and while going home does same exact thing.
Next morning pulled seat. Checked all connections everything is tight. Checked for codes and sure enough P0563 = high voltage.
I double check all my grounds. Break out my multimeter and 12.6v on battery while bike is off.
14.04v when bike is running. Regulator is charging the battery!
Take battery out and take to auto store to check with a load. They say battery is fine. It is 2 1/2yrs old but I keep it on a trickle charger if not riding.
So I double check all connections. Battery is good. Tighten everything. Clear the code. Take it out for a test ride and 2 miles down the road SAME thing! Check engine light comes on. Couldn't see if lights dimmed but I assume it did.
Head home and check code and sure enough it's back again P0563
I take the regulator/rectifier off. Clean connections and install ... same thing.
I'm stumped. Codes say over charging but multimeter says steady charge when idling.
Of course the check engine light doesn't come on when I am testing and bike is idling.
Anybody got any idea what's going on? I don't wanna just buy a regulator if it don't need it.
thanks for any help anyone may have.
Ifs it's happening at about the same run time you might have a bad/corroded connection to or at the main switch. Next time it happens check for a warm switch. Other than that pull the switch and check the contacts and wire terminations. The same for your main fuse/breaker.
Perform the same test with your voltmeter with the bike warmed up , then run it at 2000 rpm , see what the voltage is then , it should not exceed 14.6 ish , not over 15v . Overcharging could be happening when idle is higher . I've seen voltage regulators act up after they heat up , but not at idle .
Tested battery while reving and voltage went up a bit but not much. Check engine light dis t come on no matter how many rooms.
Could it be voltage regulator is charging high intermittently? Throws the code and then goes back doback? Tested the rectifier for continuity and everytime checks out according to a YouTube video I found.
As far as I know , when a voltage regulator starts to act up when hot , it will not fix itself until it cools down . Before you replace the regulator , check all your ground points , I'm not familiar with the heritage but I expect it to similar to the flh . Check both ends of the battery cables and also along the jacket , then any other ground points there may be , should be close to the battery on the frame I believe . My RK has two threaded rods just ahead of the battery , under the rear of the fuel tank , have a look there .
When you clean the connections or connectors , it's a good idea to use an electrical contact cleaner , especially those connectors under the front of the frame , oil and debris have a habit of getting into those and causing issues .
Here are a couple posts that might help in further testing your charging system .
Thanks I will check the regular and stator in the morning. Every ground or connection cleaned and put back. Couldn't take it for a spin to see if it throws a number. Will test ride tomorrow.
thanks for the links they help.
Have you pulled all of the fuses and checked for corrosion and cleaned them? It is not unheard of to have a bad plate in the battery that shorts do to vibration etc then corrects itself, unlikely though. When you had the battery tested, did they provide you the CCA reading?
Pulled fuses all good. Took battery to friend who works at Auto Zone put a load on it said it was good. I always keep it on trickle charger at night.
I think the battery is good. It's only 1 1/2years old.
Check the voltage at the ECM fuse, that is where the ECM is reading the fault from. For P0563 most likely culprit is the VR. For a P0562 it could be connections, etc.
Last edited by Zanthamos; Apr 1, 2021 at 12:03 PM.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
Check engine light/code P0563
