Good day,
I am new to the forum. I own a 2018 Softail. I purchased it 2.5 years ago with 1000 miles on it. I put about 500 miles on it, its been garage kept and maintained. Its run flawlessly and never gave me ANY problems.

Now this is where things go off the rails. I shattered my disc in my lower back which crushed the nerves that run down both legs. Left leg is back and working but right leg is good for standing but that is for short periods of time (I am on a cane and walker so my riding days are long over. I was going to take the Bike for a ride as I want to prepare it for sale, fresh oil, filter, gas filter, state inspection, so I can sell it. Unfortunately when I went to start it the battery died during the bikes long rest collecting dust.

Battery has died before when I failed to put it on the trickly charger before. Purchased a brand new battery. installed as usual. Went to turn it on and hit ignition botton nothing happens. There is not even noise of the fuel pumps engaging when I turn it on. Nothing is working, no lights, horn etc... I then get a message on the speedometer that asks for code. Which of course I dont have as I never set it up or needed it. I have seen the code come up when The Key Fob was left in house. Soon as I get near bike - started with no issues in past.

I researched on web about a possible starter relay fault causing the issue. The video on You tube, the bike that was being used was doing the EXACT same thing as mine, until she got to the fuse "Box" replaced the starter relay and Wham - started with no issues. The fuse box, is not where she shows it on the video.

Hoping that someone on the Forum is a mechanic and tell me how stupid I am as the damn thing is sitting right in front of me.


Problem I have is I found the one big Fuse with the two little ones mounted on the left side (facing forward) under the black body cover. You can see it in bottom of 3rd) picture. However according to the web, , the You Tube video and the manual there is a second fuse box that has two relays and other fuses.

EVERY place I have googled, You Tubed etc... they all show the damn fuse box on the right side of the bike under the seat, in other posts they also say it is on the left side of the bike under the seat. I have literally stripped out the battery, and moved everything under the seat frame above footpegs and I cannot find the damn fuse box.

Any help or attempt to help would be greatly appreciated. If I cannot get this started is going to cost me stupid money as I cannot push the bike up a ramp (I cannot balance the bike any more because of my injury.

Thanks and hopefully someone can make a recommendation.

Kevvin

 

This might sound dumb but have you changed the battery in the FOB?

 

Hi not a stupid question. Since the bike battery died, I assumed the battery in the FOB died as well. So I replaced it with a brand new one. Same result. I even tried the second new one (had to buy in pairs) - and nothing.

So frustrating!

 

Is it completely dead, meaning no lights, no nothing?

If so:
Are you sure the battery is in correctly and that all cables to the posts are attached?
Are you sure the battery isn't reverse polarity, meaning the positive and negative posts are reversed?
Have you check voltage at the battery? Just because it's new doesn't mean it's good. Having it load tested is best.
Sure say you found the main fuse, but have you tested it with a meter? Just looking at it is not a good indication of being blown.
You mention changing the batteries in the FOB's. Are they in the right way? Have you triple checked them? Been there, done that!

 

Why are all those wiring connectors pull out with most looking like they are disconnected?

 

Hi guys thanks for feedback. Tested the battery - she is fully charged. Now the 40 amp I did not test, I looked at the filament and it looks good. I am going to try that. Galv Tex Guy, All those wires clip to wires and the cable mounts on these plastic inserts. I had to pull them off to remove the plastic inserts to look for the second fuse box.

If I dont get anyone on this forum that knows the bike, I am probably going to film the bike, move wires, film those areas, re-install the battery and record what happens when I try starting it. Then going to take a ride to Harley on Tuesday and see if they would mind if I show it to a mechanic. If they figure it out, I will promise them I will return the bike to their shop once it is running for full maintenance, oil change, inspection etc....

They other alternative is I find someone who has a proper vehicle that can pick up the bike and bring it to the shop with me. Imagine that is going to cost me some Benjamins.

Thanks for responding. I use the Dodge Challenger forum and get great advise from other owners. I did not realize HD had their own forum as well. So I signed up today.

 

This might sound dumb, but chech to see if the fob battery is installed correctly. Occasionaly people have installed the battery upside down, The positive side goes down.

 

There is no second fuse box on an M8 softail. The one fuse box there on the left side of the bike with the main fuse is the only fuse box on it.

Your bike has a starter relay, well solenoid. But it is mounted on the starter motor itself. They are known to fail, but you are not describing the symptoms of their failing. If it fails, everything works on the bike, it recognizes the fob, but there is only a "click" when you push the starter button. This is not what you are describing.

If the bike is giving you an "enter code" error and failing to respond, it is either not receiving the signal from the fob, or not recognizing the signal it is receiving.

Not receiving the signal from the fob is most likely, and most likely the fob battery, as others have mentioned. There are no special steps mating or pairing steps needed after replacing the fob's battery.

Beware that many fob batteries now days have a coating on them. It tastes horrible and stains things blue when it gets wet. It also tends to block electrical contact when installed. I have found I often need to wash new batteries in order to get them to work when installed in a fob because of this. So I would recommend you wash your new fob battery and try again.

The fob signal is received via the BCM, I believe. It is possible the BCM has failed, but I highly doubt it. It is also possible that the fob itself has failed, but I also highly doubt it.

Your bike is powering up from the battery, by your description. Namely the illumination of "enter code". You can further test powering up by shaking the bike, or standing it upright, tripping the security, which should start flashing the turn signals in indignation. If the bike has a siren, that too will then go off, but that is powered separately. If none of the security is responding, you do have something else going on. A weak ground or battery connection is often the culprit, but mouse damage happens to wires. As well, did you put the bike in transport mode or such when you put it away?

 

According to the Owner's Manual, the positive side goes up.

 

You guys have been helpful community. I will try all the recommendations. Right now I am unemployed and have to focus on finding a job. The bike will be my lunch breaks. I am going to try everything else today. Fox, Thank you for your service! How the hell does every website and manual I review show a second fuse box and my bike does not have one except the main (40 amp)? If a blinker or break light shorts - the whole bike shuts down? Does not like a smart engineer thought this one thru if that is the case.

By the way I tried using a tester on the 40 amp input - it gets full battery charge. I even took a rule out of an old play book and used a wire (no fuse) in the 40 amp and bike did same thing. So the power is getting to the main amp and is connecting. I get same result and wire I rigged never got hot (so there is no obvious short or it would have started heating up).

Thanks for the help.