Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection Need advice on ignition issues? Questions about a tuner? Have questions about a EFI calibration or Fuel Injection? Tips on Engine Diagnostics, how to get codes, and what they mean. Find your answers here.

driving me nuts

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 3, 2022 | 06:40 PM
  #1  
Second Street Cycles's Avatar
Second Street Cycles
Thread Starter
|
Stage I
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: NYC
Default driving me nuts

got a 2008 heritage we just redid the engine on, wont start.... no spark.
crank sensor is new, injectors squirt, has power to the coil, coil is good, but no spark?
we OHM'd the wires from coil harness to the ECM harness and they check out
anyone got any ideas?
 
Reply
Old Feb 4, 2022 | 07:10 AM
  #2  
hrdtail78's Avatar
hrdtail78
Road Warrior
Veteran: Marine Corps
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,923
Likes: 587
From: Alorton, Illinois
Default

Are you checking your spark with plugs installed and using a third plug or a spark checker?
 
Reply
Old Feb 4, 2022 | 08:33 AM
  #3  
burntoutbill's Avatar
burntoutbill
Stage I
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: NYC
Default

Checking with plugs out, grounded to jugs
 
Reply
Old Feb 4, 2022 | 08:43 AM
  #4  
jbarr1's Avatar
jbarr1
Road Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,237
Likes: 387
From: georgia
Default

You will not get spark using that method. Must have a plug in the cylinder for spark to occur.
 
Reply
Old Feb 4, 2022 | 11:41 AM
  #5  
nevil's Avatar
nevil
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 9,282
Likes: 1,139
From: southeast PA
Default

Get an inline spark tester at your favorite auto parts store, around $10. You need to have compression for the ECU to send a spark signal.
Should also check for codes.
 

Last edited by nevil; Feb 4, 2022 at 11:47 AM.
Reply
Old Feb 4, 2022 | 06:01 PM
  #6  
Ed Ramberger's Avatar
Ed Ramberger
Grand HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 3,584
Likes: 1,213
From: Then Wisconsin, now North Carolina
Default

Plug wires reversed
 
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2022 | 07:18 PM
  #7  
Ed Ramberger's Avatar
Ed Ramberger
Grand HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 3,584
Likes: 1,213
From: Then Wisconsin, now North Carolina
Default

One and done anyway
 
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2022 | 08:07 PM
  #8  
chopper_man's Avatar
chopper_man
Stellar HDF Member
Veteran: Army
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 2,114
From: Masshole
Default

Originally Posted by nevil
Get an inline spark tester at your favorite auto parts store, around $10. You need to have compression for the ECU to send a spark signal.
Should also check for codes.
Educate me please, how is the compression sensed? Only sensors I knew of in the heads were temp sensors and acr's on newer bikes.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 5, 2022 | 08:27 PM
  #9  
Ed Ramberger's Avatar
Ed Ramberger
Grand HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 3,584
Likes: 1,213
From: Then Wisconsin, now North Carolina
Default

Originally Posted by chopper_man
Educate me please, how is the compression sensed? Only sensors I knew of in the heads were temp sensors and acr's on newer bikes.
ECM senses flywheel deceleration via crank sensor on compression strokes and cross references with MAP sensor and missing flywheel reluctor tooth to know phase. When you crank with no plugs it doesn't see the deceleration and will not throw spark.
 

Last edited by Ed Ramberger; Feb 5, 2022 at 09:03 PM.
Reply
Old Feb 7, 2022 | 07:42 AM
  #10  
roussfam's Avatar
roussfam
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,689
Likes: 8,295
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Default

Originally Posted by chopper_man
Educate me please, how is the compression sensed? Only sensors I knew of in the heads were temp sensors and acr's on newer bikes.
Originally Posted by Ed Ramberger
ECM senses flywheel deceleration via crank sensor on compression strokes and cross references with MAP sensor and missing flywheel reluctor tooth to know phase. When you crank with no plugs it doesn't see the deceleration and will not throw spark.
Class dismissed

FWIW, I had no idea, lol
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:34 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE