Possible ECM failure?
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3rd Gear
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Wales
Possible ECM failure?
Hi,
I have a 2005 Fatboy 1550cc 15th anniversary edition. The bike would have the occasional miss fire, especially when accelerating quickly. Last week after a 300 mile run, my Sat Nav (which the low amp docking station is hard wired into the headlight) stopped charging. I stopped to re-fuel the bike without any starting up problems.
When I got home I switched off the bike to open gates etc, since then the bike wont start. The Sat Nav charging issue was the positive wire had rubbed inside the light housing and shorted out, this is now fixed. The bike will crank over but wont fire up, I have done the following test below:
1) I have tested the engine kill, when switched the engine wont crank over but will when in run.
2) The starter and control relay are working (open circuit until I introduce a 12v dc feed). I also tried swapping the two relays over, this made no difference.
3) I have 12v to the starter relay connection.
4) All fuses are ok.
5) I can hear the fuel pump clicking, when ignition is switched on.
6) I have sprayed easy start into the inlet, the bike makes no attempt to fire up.
7) I have no spark.
8) If I unplug the ECM it makes no difference, it behaves exactly the same as when its plugged in.
9) On the self diagnostic, it say "no rsp" when checking the ECM (regardless if the kill switch is on or off, or if the ECM is plugged in or not).
10) No obvious damage to any wiring.
11) Battery fully charged.
I can only think it must be the ECM but if anyone has any idea's please help, as I'm clean out of idea's myself.
Thank you in advance, I am at a loss without my bike
I have a 2005 Fatboy 1550cc 15th anniversary edition. The bike would have the occasional miss fire, especially when accelerating quickly. Last week after a 300 mile run, my Sat Nav (which the low amp docking station is hard wired into the headlight) stopped charging. I stopped to re-fuel the bike without any starting up problems.
When I got home I switched off the bike to open gates etc, since then the bike wont start. The Sat Nav charging issue was the positive wire had rubbed inside the light housing and shorted out, this is now fixed. The bike will crank over but wont fire up, I have done the following test below:
1) I have tested the engine kill, when switched the engine wont crank over but will when in run.
2) The starter and control relay are working (open circuit until I introduce a 12v dc feed). I also tried swapping the two relays over, this made no difference.
3) I have 12v to the starter relay connection.
4) All fuses are ok.
5) I can hear the fuel pump clicking, when ignition is switched on.
6) I have sprayed easy start into the inlet, the bike makes no attempt to fire up.
7) I have no spark.
8) If I unplug the ECM it makes no difference, it behaves exactly the same as when its plugged in.
9) On the self diagnostic, it say "no rsp" when checking the ECM (regardless if the kill switch is on or off, or if the ECM is plugged in or not).
10) No obvious damage to any wiring.
11) Battery fully charged.
I can only think it must be the ECM but if anyone has any idea's please help, as I'm clean out of idea's myself.
Thank you in advance, I am at a loss without my bike
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
Likes: 22,718
From: Farmington ,MS
Usually "no rsp" means you are trying to check the codes with the run switch in the off position...since that doesn't affect yours...I would disconnect the battery for five minutes...reconnect and try again.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 160
Likes: 24
From:
I had an 05 nightrain that had the ecm take a dump. Started the engine cold then started misfiring for a few minutes. It cleare dup so I figured it was just carbon on the plug gap. took it out and started missing again after a 1/4 mile. Turned around and got back out. Started throwing codes for the primary coil and the crank sensor. Everything checked out ok. then it wouldn't start at all. The fuel pump would go on and off on it's own. No check engine lite when turning on the key. No response from ECM. It's a pretty simple ECM because it's not a closed loop system. It's right under the seat. You should have one or two battery voltages to it, and a key on voltage. Make sure it has the proper clean grounds to the ecm. If you have all of that, and still have no response, it would be a bad ecm. I had to replace mine with and ecm with the same part number from a motorcycle salvage company. Had to go through the security procedure to get the tssm module to accept the new ecm. Fired right up after. If you have the electrical manual, that makes checking things much easier.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 190
From: Penticton BC Canada
The bike was running perfectly and then?
Did you restart the bike when you got home or did you just put it away? How did you shut it off- kill switch or ignition switch?
If you just put the bike away without restarting and then were into the headlight bucket to fix the wiring, then I would look in there for more rubbed wires or a connector issue.
Failing that,have another look at the ignition switch and kill switch, if in doubt replace them- they are cheaper and easier than an ECM.
When befuddled, it's easy to point to the "Black Box" but that's seldom the cause.
Did you restart the bike when you got home or did you just put it away? How did you shut it off- kill switch or ignition switch?
If you just put the bike away without restarting and then were into the headlight bucket to fix the wiring, then I would look in there for more rubbed wires or a connector issue.
Failing that,have another look at the ignition switch and kill switch, if in doubt replace them- they are cheaper and easier than an ECM.
When befuddled, it's easy to point to the "Black Box" but that's seldom the cause.
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3rd Gear
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Wales
Hi thanks for the replies,
The plugs are all tight, and the fuses are all good.
I’ve disconnected the battery and gave it a good 10 minutes, stil, the same after.
when I got home I switched the ignition off, only time I use the kill switch is if I’m on a steep hill. I’ve double checked all the wiring for damage, can’t see any. Both ignition and kill are working fine. I really have tried everything I can think of, I don’t want it to be the ECU.
The plugs are all tight, and the fuses are all good.
I’ve disconnected the battery and gave it a good 10 minutes, stil, the same after.
when I got home I switched the ignition off, only time I use the kill switch is if I’m on a steep hill. I’ve double checked all the wiring for damage, can’t see any. Both ignition and kill are working fine. I really have tried everything I can think of, I don’t want it to be the ECU.
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Thread Starter
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3rd Gear
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Wales
Just a thought, I’ve had issues with the alarm not deactivating from time to time. When I tried to disable the alarm for battery removel it goes into alarm, for code input error every time. The code is correct.
If the immobiliser was faulty, would the engine still crank over without firing?
eddited,
ive reprogrammed the alarm code, so all good. Got the battery on charge again. Going to then disable the alarm andy try the bike.
just need to find out if the bike would crank over if the immobiliser was still armed
If the immobiliser was faulty, would the engine still crank over without firing?
eddited,
ive reprogrammed the alarm code, so all good. Got the battery on charge again. Going to then disable the alarm andy try the bike.
just need to find out if the bike would crank over if the immobiliser was still armed
Last edited by woker_w; May 26, 2018 at 01:11 PM.
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