Intermittent engine failure

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Jul 13, 2011 | 12:10 PM

elrock72

Thread Starter

Stage III

Joined: Nov 2010

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Intermittent engine failure

This problem involves a '99 FLHTCI with approx 80,000 miles on it, one owner. This bike has developed a problem that comes and goes. At times, if it doesn't fire on the first Rev (cold crank) it may not start at all for an hour or a day or longer. It has spark at the plugs and doesn't emit gas odor as if it is flooded. Beginning a ride to the Midwest from Phoenix two weeks ago it died on an off-ramp south of Flagstaff. It fired back up and after filling with premium fuel (as always) it ran fine. Between Flagstaff and Albuequerque it died again in traffic. After sitting for an hour it fired again, ran for 10 miles and died on an off-ramp. Two hours later it fired and ran.
This bike is serviced regularly. Approx 2000 miles ago, after one of these episodes, the coil, plugs and plug wires were changed. There was no problem until the recent failures. It appears as if something is being drawn over the fuel inlet and preventing fuel from reaching the fuel pump. The fuel pump can be heard priming upon turning the ignition on. Is there a screen somewhere in the fuel system that could be plugged? I know of no filter in the fuel system.

Jul 13, 2011 | 12:18 PM

nevil

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2008

Posts: 9,281

Likes: 1,139

From: southeast PA

I'm not familiar with your fuel system but it's common for a fuel pump in the gas tank to get a hole in one of the hoses. Usually from rubbing against the inside of the tank.
That's my guess but I'm sure someone who knows your bike a little better will chime in with some ideas.

Jul 13, 2011 | 01:09 PM

dope_man_21

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 6,799

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From: Carrollton, Georgia

Not 100% sure, but being an injected model it most likely has a filter inside the tank, or at least that is where mine was on the 2007 I had.

Jul 13, 2011 | 01:24 PM

carpetride

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 4,128

Likes: 27

From: florida swamp

You have magnetti morelli fuel injection which is a different animal than delphi. TPS may be getting bad. Do you give it a little throttle when you start it or just crank it after it primes and wait for it to fire?

Jul 13, 2011 | 02:21 PM

kkiley

Road Master

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 1,114

Likes: 28

From: Kokomo, IN

Well, according to this, you have a fuel filter in your tank. If you have never changed it, I would start there.

http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche....=13&A=144&B=42

Jul 13, 2011 | 02:53 PM

casique

Road Warrior

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 1,416

Likes: 11

From: Lorton, VA

Check the battery cables!

Jul 13, 2011 | 03:02 PM

trafficjams

Road Warrior

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 1,412

Likes: 2

From: Ma

Quote:

Originally Posted by kkiley

Well, according to this, you have a fuel filter in your tank. If you have never changed it, I would start there.

http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche....=13&A=144&B=42

That would be where I would start also. If you are the "one owner" then you know it has not been changed since it was new in 99. That's a long time IMO. Time to change it.