2003 FLHR- Troubleshooting a phantom short
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Stage III
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, OH
2003 FLHR- Troubleshooting a phantom short
All,
I have an exasperating issue. I have a short that blows the 15A accessory fuse repeatedly, AFTER I ride for anywhere from a half mile to 2 miles.
When this happens, I lose the speedometer readout, the turn signals, and all the rear lights - at least. There might be more. It always runs fine, and can turn it off and restart fine.
The odd thing is, all I have to do is replace the fuse and its fine. Until I ride again. Then after 1/2 to 2 miles, it blows again and I ride back home.
So its a phantom short that resets itself, maybe caused by flexing the wire harness by road bumps, increase in engine temperature, oil fouling connections? All I know is, if I replace the fuse, its good to go - until I ride again.
Some further info: the onset of this problem concurred with a dumb mistake I made; I was accelerating away from a fuel stop, and I accidentally hit the off / on switch when I was grabbing for the front brake to avoid a car pulling out. The bike jerked, the engine died, and I think it restarted on its on (like a kick start). This was probably @45mph. I noticed this electrical issue within a mile after.
Bike is a 2003 FLHR Road King standard, upgrades include Edelbrock Carb, Crane ignition, Hooker headers, Road Rumble speaker system, other cosmetics.
Troubleshooting steps; i checked voltage regulator connection and the plug actually had oil inside the plug set. I cleaned that out. That may have come from an oil filter change.
my next step will be to disconnect the speakers; there is a noise filter (capacitor) that may have shorted, although Im not sure why that isnt a live short constantly.
I also plan to look at the speed sensor, thinking the sudden decel may have hurt the sensor or wiring.
thanks for any help or advice, any experiences with similar situations. .
I have an exasperating issue. I have a short that blows the 15A accessory fuse repeatedly, AFTER I ride for anywhere from a half mile to 2 miles.
When this happens, I lose the speedometer readout, the turn signals, and all the rear lights - at least. There might be more. It always runs fine, and can turn it off and restart fine.
The odd thing is, all I have to do is replace the fuse and its fine. Until I ride again. Then after 1/2 to 2 miles, it blows again and I ride back home.
So its a phantom short that resets itself, maybe caused by flexing the wire harness by road bumps, increase in engine temperature, oil fouling connections? All I know is, if I replace the fuse, its good to go - until I ride again.
Some further info: the onset of this problem concurred with a dumb mistake I made; I was accelerating away from a fuel stop, and I accidentally hit the off / on switch when I was grabbing for the front brake to avoid a car pulling out. The bike jerked, the engine died, and I think it restarted on its on (like a kick start). This was probably @45mph. I noticed this electrical issue within a mile after.
Bike is a 2003 FLHR Road King standard, upgrades include Edelbrock Carb, Crane ignition, Hooker headers, Road Rumble speaker system, other cosmetics.
Troubleshooting steps; i checked voltage regulator connection and the plug actually had oil inside the plug set. I cleaned that out. That may have come from an oil filter change.
my next step will be to disconnect the speakers; there is a noise filter (capacitor) that may have shorted, although Im not sure why that isnt a live short constantly.
I also plan to look at the speed sensor, thinking the sudden decel may have hurt the sensor or wiring.
thanks for any help or advice, any experiences with similar situations. .
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,201
Likes: 12,786
From: South Carolina
A common fault that occurs with the accessory circuit is damage to the rear lighting harness that runs underneath the rear fender.
Try unplugging the connector for that harness and see if the fuse still blows, keep in mind you will have no rear lights.
Try unplugging the connector for that harness and see if the fuse still blows, keep in mind you will have no rear lights.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Sep 3, 2022 at 06:08 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,999
Likes: 917
From: Madisonville, La
You'll have to figure out is the blown fuse issue from a high resistance causing a higher amp draw, a hot wire touching ground or a ground wire. Which action is causing it, brake light use, turn signal use, rotation of the handlebars, or just the amount of time the bike is running?
First check the wiring harness under the rear fender for damage, next clean all of the fuse block and relay sockets with electrical contact cleaner and a small copper brush, start disconnecting circuits until you find the offender. Then go over it inch by inch.
First check the wiring harness under the rear fender for damage, next clean all of the fuse block and relay sockets with electrical contact cleaner and a small copper brush, start disconnecting circuits until you find the offender. Then go over it inch by inch.
Thread Starter
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Stage III
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, OH
thanks, One strange thing that happened this last time was that I used the right hand turn signal, and that stayed locked on; I couldn't hit it again to turn it off. And neither the left or right one worked after that. Does that point me to that RH TS Switch, and the wiring back from that area?
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