TheNeonGuy here. Same problem still happening. I own EIGHT motorcycles. So I've just been riding them instead, including my 2002 Electra-Glide.
The problem is the same one I and others have been trying to solve for about three years!
She's a 2003 Road King with a stock Twin Cam 88 motor.
After a ride, I shut off the bike and the motor won't re-start. It happens whenever it wants to. Short ride, long ride, short interval after riding or overnight. No pattern to it. Happens in any weather, Summer or Fall or Winter. It happened two days ago. Waited 8 hours and then she started!
There is no voltage from the relay to the fuel pump. The motor will run on starting fluid. There is spark. After waiting usually 8 hours, sometimes for days, the bike will start and she runs great. Buy it's a crap shoot whether she'll start again after going somewhere.
I've read about several other guys having the SAME PROBLEM, on this Forum and on others, since I originally posted about it, a couple YEARS ago or so.
It's frustrating to see the SAME ISSUE plaguing other Harley owners, with nobody having a clue and no answers.
Don't tell me about a weak battery, bad wiring connections, holes in the fuel lines, bad relays or circuit breakers, bad battery ground connection, blah blah blah.
Been there, DONE THAT! All that and more have been checked, over and over again. All those things check out FINE!
This Road King is a garage queen, never been outdoors overnight! No rust anywhere, no corrosion, never even been in the rain, not even taken to a car wash!
The problem seems to be that there is no voltage to the relay that sends volts to the fuel pump because apparently the ECM is not sending the voltage or not grounding the circuit which allows volts to flow to the fuel pump, whatever the case.
I need REAL HELP here, and the damned stealership won't even talk to me. Dallas Harley-Davidson does NOT work on older bikes no matter how much money I offer them!
I'll NEVER buy a motorcycle from that place.
Anyway, please see if you gentlemen can advise me what to do/check/replace next.
This Road King is beautiful. She's the 100 Year Anniversary Model with Mustang seat, Vance & Hines pipes, black & silver paint, 1000 watt, four speaker stereo, silver pinstripes, and a newer, matching Harley trunk. She looks fantastic and rides GREAT.
I want to keep her and ride her til I drop dead.
I'd hate to sell her with this problem.
Maybe the ECU is bad? Maybe the crank position sensor is intermittent? Might be the variable speed sensor? I understand the CPS sends a signal to the ECU to let it know the engine is running, which triggers the ECU to activate the plunger in the relay, closing the circuit inside, sending voltage to the fuel pump.
Again, there's no voltage TO that side of the relay, no volts from the ECU. I've paid three Harley mechanics over the last two years, hauled the bike to two shops, and NO ONE can fix it! Unbelievable!
Am I on the right track here with maybe checking the wiring from the ECU to the relay? Is there ANOTHER relay between the two? Maybe a bad ignition or kill switch? But how does she run on starting fluid?
What's the next step to correct it? I'm freaking out.
PLEASE ADVISE: what's the procedure to display a trouble code? I did it a long time ago but there was no code at that time. Can't remember how to do it now. It isn't easy like on layer models.
THANKS to all you guys, my Harley-Davidson-loving friends, here on Harley-Davidson Forums!
God bless you and ride SAFE!

 

Please inform me of the procedure for pulling trouble codes on my 2003 Road King.
Thanks!

 

I'm considering throwing about fifty bucks at the RK. Probably going to replace the bank angle sensor, since there's not much better advice.
I need a procedure for pulling trouble codes. Maybe something has turned up there.
Also thinking of running a hot wire to a simple toggle switch, from there to the fuel pump.
Please let me know if that's advisable. It's a crap shoot.
I'm frustrated as hell. Can't find the problem, it's intermittent. Stealership just says "Get LOST!"
Problem could be this, could be that, at least a dozen different things.
Nothing checks out as failed, corroded, dead, disconnected, broken, cracked, burned, out of whack, whatever
"Safety *****" to blame, I guess, deciding I need a hundred gizmos on my Harley to shut off my fuel pump in case the bike falls over.
Oh well, WTF!

 

pull out the fuel pump and see what's going on inside there. the fuel pump relay gets power from the same source and the coil. so what you can do is jump the fuel relay and see if it goes away

 

Replace the crank sensor. It needs almost a 360 turn of engine to know were pistons are to relay to ECM to turn on fuelpump full time and fire coil for spark.

However, there so many variables in your first post. If its fireing spark and will run on starter fluid, it's probably not the crank sensor.

Is your bank angle kill in the signal light module on the Roadking? Does bike have security?

https://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche...avidsonmc/445#

 

It was the FUEL PUMP!
I replaced it and my 2003 Road King started right up.
I have a collection of EIGHT motorcycles, including a 2002 Harley Electra-Glide. So don't ask why I let this issue go on for YEARS!
I was riding my other motorcycles.
So, here's the rest of the story...
Immediately, the O-rings blew on the fuel line and the RK went dead. That's right, she won't start again, and fuel is leaking onto the engine from bad O-rings at the throttle body. I'm lucky the damned thing didn't catch fire!
Here's the bottom line:
Thanks a NOT, Harley-Davidson POS, for your 100 Year Anniversary goddam betrayal of LOYAL AMERICAN customers! You ******* bastards!
I'm talking to YOU, the sunzabeeatches who started putting CHINESE parts, like inferior crank bearings, the traitorous plastic cam tensioner shoes, poor quality final drive belts, and NOW, bullshit O-rings in the fuel lines and God knows how many other FAIL-lack-of-quality parts from CHINA into 2003 and later models.
This Road King has only 14K miles and I've put less than 500 on her since buying this POS years ago.
She's in MINT (?!) condition, with $thousands$ in upgrades, accessories, a 1000 watt stereo, Vance & Hines exhaust, Mustang seat, etc.
I gotta sell her and fuggedaboudit!
What dumshit problem is next? I'll have to pass it on to the unfortunate buyer. I'll be taking a loss! For sure!
F*ck YOU, Harley-Davidson! Bastidz! You're going DOWN to bankruptcy soon and I for one do not give a DAMN! I'll keep riding my Venture, my GoldWing, my Cavalcade, and my Vulcan.
You Harley muthafukkas can KISS MY ***!

 

You’re complaining that a bike that’s 22 years old and rarely driven has a couple issues?? That’s damned sure not Harleys fault. Rubber parts fail with time much more than fail from mileage. Your comment about rear drive belts also unfounded- one of the most reliable pieces on the bike.
Try riding the bike on a regular basis.
OR, some people are much better off owning foreign made vehicles- sounds like you’re one of those to me.

 

Hopefully the door won't hit him where the Good Lord split him on the way out...

 

Haha, I'm gonna remember that one.

 

LMFAO! It is what it IS!
2003s and up are full of Chinese parts. Harleys from '03 on aren't completely American any more.
Harleys aren't reliable, never have been, and they only got worse after that year. Everybody knows it, and having your fun with me can't change the Truth.
So yeah let's all have a laugh, hahaha!
Then we'll all have a serious moment when The Motor Company closes its doors for good. I'm not going to celebrate. I don't hate Harley-Davidson. I think my 2002 Electra-Glide is the best motorcycle in my collection. She's my favorite.
My REAL favorite is my wife, though, pictured as my avatar. Ain't she SOMETHIN' !!!
Don't forget that one, Wolfie!
Eat your hearts out, guys! LMFAO!