Bad ECM Tester
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 26
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts
Bad ECM Tester
Hey guys,
Im a tech at Harley and Ive come across a ton of problems so far bad one that baffles me still is the ECM being bad. You end up following the tests in the electrical book and it seems like half the time the book just guesses that you need a new ECM even if you have a gut feeling its not. Luckily for me its been right most of the time just because I triple check every connection before telling a customer they need a new ECM, but its just really surprising they dont have a tester you can plug in the ECM, hook up 12.6 volt connection and have it cycle through each connection to see if it actually is bad. There is nothing like it on the market and wondering if thats an idea that would be worth it to try and figure out. Or if someone here knows a little more to the reason why theres no way to test them. If its just not worth it or maybe some of you that are more experienced have a good test you came up with. Basically just kinda opening up conversation about it, would love to hear some input.
Im a tech at Harley and Ive come across a ton of problems so far bad one that baffles me still is the ECM being bad. You end up following the tests in the electrical book and it seems like half the time the book just guesses that you need a new ECM even if you have a gut feeling its not. Luckily for me its been right most of the time just because I triple check every connection before telling a customer they need a new ECM, but its just really surprising they dont have a tester you can plug in the ECM, hook up 12.6 volt connection and have it cycle through each connection to see if it actually is bad. There is nothing like it on the market and wondering if thats an idea that would be worth it to try and figure out. Or if someone here knows a little more to the reason why theres no way to test them. If its just not worth it or maybe some of you that are more experienced have a good test you came up with. Basically just kinda opening up conversation about it, would love to hear some input.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 117
Likes: 105
From: USA
Hey guys,
Im a tech at Harley and Ive come across a ton of problems so far bad one that baffles me still is the ECM being bad. You end up following the tests in the electrical book and it seems like half the time the book just guesses that you need a new ECM even if you have a gut feeling its not. Luckily for me its been right most of the time just because I triple check every connection before telling a customer they need a new ECM, but its just really surprising they dont have a tester you can plug in the ECM, hook up 12.6 volt connection and have it cycle through each connection to see if it actually is bad. There is nothing like it on the market and wondering if thats an idea that would be worth it to try and figure out. Or if someone here knows a little more to the reason why theres no way to test them. If its just not worth it or maybe some of you that are more experienced have a good test you came up with. Basically just kinda opening up conversation about it, would love to hear some input.
Im a tech at Harley and Ive come across a ton of problems so far bad one that baffles me still is the ECM being bad. You end up following the tests in the electrical book and it seems like half the time the book just guesses that you need a new ECM even if you have a gut feeling its not. Luckily for me its been right most of the time just because I triple check every connection before telling a customer they need a new ECM, but its just really surprising they dont have a tester you can plug in the ECM, hook up 12.6 volt connection and have it cycle through each connection to see if it actually is bad. There is nothing like it on the market and wondering if thats an idea that would be worth it to try and figure out. Or if someone here knows a little more to the reason why theres no way to test them. If its just not worth it or maybe some of you that are more experienced have a good test you came up with. Basically just kinda opening up conversation about it, would love to hear some input.
Get a SST ECM for your department. Regular ECM, known good, just for testing.
Plug the special service tool ECM into suspect bike.
Same issue? No issue?
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 26
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts
To a point, it will give you idea where to test, like today I had a customer come in with a code throwing rear coil high/open the wire from the coil goes directly to the ECM so all I could do was test the continuity of the wire from coil to ECM, which was good, but didnt give me 12v to coil when ignition was pressed. I used a coil from a different bike to test coil just as a second test but it did the same thing. Which means the ECM was bad. Put a new one in and his bike ran great no codes and fixed the open. So its bitter sweet with DT cause it could be bad ECM or a short in the wire somewhere, luckily coil wires are short so its easy to trace. But on other problems its a pain to trace
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 26
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts
Good thinking, but the only problem with that is ECMs marry the VIN to the ECM. So once it is tested on another bike, thats it, cant use it anymore other than that bike. Thats why its scary to diag cause if the ECM isnt bad, the customer spent 3-400 dollars for no reason. Thats why Im surprised they havent made a diag tool specifically for ecms lmao. But its also the same for hydraulic lifters, they collapse on themselves but there is no way to test them, you just have to be sure by sound they are bad
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 10,057
Likes: 5,316
Good thinking, but the only problem with that is ECM’s marry the VIN to the ECM. So once it is “tested” on another bike, that’s it, can’t use it anymore other than that bike. That’s why it’s scary to diag cause if the ECM isn’t bad, the customer spent 3-400 dollars for no reason. That’s why I’m surprised they haven’t made a diag tool specifically for ecms lmao. But it’s also the same for hydraulic lifters, they collapse on themselves but there is no way to test them, you just have to be sure by sound they are bad
If it is, I’m glad I work on my own bikes. At least if I’m changing parts hoping I changed the right part, that’s on me. I’d have a fit if a technician told me I bought an expensive part I didn’t need because he couldn’t diagnose the problem.
Last edited by GalvTexGuy; Aug 28, 2021 at 08:39 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 11,216
Likes: 3,044
From: St.Louis Mo.
If HD is selling and making a profit on ECM's there is no way they will be of any help diagnosing the problem. The auto industry has the same problem. Once you marry the new ecm to the car or truck, it's over.
Trending Topics
Pretty sure if you followed the diagnostic trees properly this wouldn't be an issue. Book doesn't "guess" that you need an ECM if the tests are performed correctly.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
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
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 196
Likes: 91
From: Hamburg
Nearly 30 years old stuff - but I bet it's the same thing still today.
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 26
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts
Nooo you misunderstood a little, I do make sure 100% that it is the problem, I just go about it my own way and do tests that I think work better than some in the manual. I would never want to make a customer pay for something they dont need.
Surely thats not something you tell your customers! If it is, Im glad I work on my own bikes. At least if Im changing parts hoping I changed the right part, thats on me. Id have a fit if a technician told me I bought an expensive part I didnt need because he couldnt diagnose the problem.
If it is, Im glad I work on my own bikes. At least if Im changing parts hoping I changed the right part, thats on me. Id have a fit if a technician told me I bought an expensive part I didnt need because he couldnt diagnose the problem.