THUNDERMAX AUTOTUNE PROBLEMS
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
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THUNDERMAX AUTOTUNE PROBLEMS
Hi guys and gals,
Just installed a ThunderMax with Autotune on my friends 2008 883 Sportster \\; and all Works fine\\; actually the bike runs great and the decel popping is completely gone. He has V&\\;H 2 into 2 and SE stg 1 filter. \\; He wanted the idle to be slightly lower so I left it at 850 when warm.
The only problem is that riding the bike on open roads, the engine orange light comes on after a while, as if the 334ºF that the TMAX is set-up as default is reached. The thing is that I have one of those professional Laser temperature readers and the hottest place I’ve found in the whole engine is right were the spark plugs are placed on the cylinder heads and it reads about 260ºF.
I let the engine idle till the temperature on my laptop plugged to the ECM reached 334 and sure enough the orange light came on. The thing is the bike now runs like a treat and does not have any symptoms of overheating.
I just wonder if the TMax is reading \\; the engine temp correctly….
This is the third TMAX I’ve installed and the first time I have this problem.
Any clues on what to do?
BR,
Spanish Flyer
Just installed a ThunderMax with Autotune on my friends 2008 883 Sportster \\; and all Works fine\\; actually the bike runs great and the decel popping is completely gone. He has V&\\;H 2 into 2 and SE stg 1 filter. \\; He wanted the idle to be slightly lower so I left it at 850 when warm.
The only problem is that riding the bike on open roads, the engine orange light comes on after a while, as if the 334ºF that the TMAX is set-up as default is reached. The thing is that I have one of those professional Laser temperature readers and the hottest place I’ve found in the whole engine is right were the spark plugs are placed on the cylinder heads and it reads about 260ºF.
I let the engine idle till the temperature on my laptop plugged to the ECM reached 334 and sure enough the orange light came on. The thing is the bike now runs like a treat and does not have any symptoms of overheating.
I just wonder if the TMax is reading \\; the engine temp correctly….
This is the third TMAX I’ve installed and the first time I have this problem.
Any clues on what to do?
BR,
Spanish Flyer
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 324
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio TX
RE: THUNDERMAX AUTOTUNE PROBLEMS
SF,
 \\;
Personally, the first thing I'd do is verify the installation. Are all your connectors secure, are the 02 sensors torqued, is there anything crimping a cable? \\; Second, I'd reload the map and check my basic settings.
 \\;
Rick
 \\;
Personally, the first thing I'd do is verify the installation. Are all your connectors secure, are the 02 sensors torqued, is there anything crimping a cable? \\; Second, I'd reload the map and check my basic settings.
 \\;
Rick
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Tourer
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RE: THUNDERMAX AUTOTUNE PROBLEMS
Thanks Koppster,
 \\;
As \\;you might have guessed, I have rechecked the installation several times, including the wide range new O2 sensors, have tried the two maps available for the 883, installed the update for the SmartLink and the ECM, I have also \\;cleared the learned stuff from the TMAX \\;ECM, but whatever I do, I get the same problem, which seems to be that the TMAX is not calibrated properly for the Temp. sensor\\; I say this because according to the owner the orange engine light never came on previous to the installation of the TMax and I must believe him. Other than that the bike runs sweet and has totally erradicated the annoying popping on decel that used to drive nuts the owner (and neighbours). Runs perfect from idle to top gear\\; I have no idea about the improvement in power, since mine is a CVO 08 Springer and \\;can clearly feel \\;the difference between both bikes.... but he is assuring me that he has never riden his bike with such power.
 \\;
Only problem of course is the engine light comming on even on the highway with plenty of cooling air [&o]
 \\;
Spanish Flyer \\;
 \\;
As \\;you might have guessed, I have rechecked the installation several times, including the wide range new O2 sensors, have tried the two maps available for the 883, installed the update for the SmartLink and the ECM, I have also \\;cleared the learned stuff from the TMAX \\;ECM, but whatever I do, I get the same problem, which seems to be that the TMAX is not calibrated properly for the Temp. sensor\\; I say this because according to the owner the orange engine light never came on previous to the installation of the TMax and I must believe him. Other than that the bike runs sweet and has totally erradicated the annoying popping on decel that used to drive nuts the owner (and neighbours). Runs perfect from idle to top gear\\; I have no idea about the improvement in power, since mine is a CVO 08 Springer and \\;can clearly feel \\;the difference between both bikes.... but he is assuring me that he has never riden his bike with such power.
 \\;
Only problem of course is the engine light comming on even on the highway with plenty of cooling air [&o]
 \\;
Spanish Flyer \\;
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,009
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From: South Jersey
RE: THUNDERMAX AUTOTUNE PROBLEMS
Before you call tech, I doubt the sensor is bad but Check it at both the motor and ECM hot, worm, and cold. Record your findings and TMAT will be happy to supply you with a flash or new box.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 1
From: Indy area
RE: THUNDERMAX AUTOTUNE PROBLEMS
If all the connections are secure and the wires are sound I would suspect a faulty temperature sensor.
Not taking the trouble to even look it up, I would guess the temperature sensor is a resistor that loses resistance as the heat increases and gains it back again as it cools. It sounds to me like the resistor is intermittently opening internally for all the world looking like a low resistance indicating high heat. They cannot be more than a few coins and it would be the easiest thing to do to swap in a fresh one after all the other connections/wires have been thoroughly checked.
Not taking the trouble to even look it up, I would guess the temperature sensor is a resistor that loses resistance as the heat increases and gains it back again as it cools. It sounds to me like the resistor is intermittently opening internally for all the world looking like a low resistance indicating high heat. They cannot be more than a few coins and it would be the easiest thing to do to swap in a fresh one after all the other connections/wires have been thoroughly checked.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,706
Likes: 7
From: Woodstock, Ont , Can
RE: THUNDERMAX AUTOTUNE PROBLEMS
If you havn't already done so, upgrade to latest firmware. This was a common issue with Sportsters and version 3.5. Later versions sovled the temp issues.
Ron
Ron
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 704
Likes: 23
From: on the mud flats on the edge of slum city
RE: THUNDERMAX AUTOTUNE PROBLEMS
Actually just went through all this with a sportster for a friend and talked to Zippers and due to where the head temp sensor is on a sportster they are now reccomending to set the temperature to 425F
Also they have a new firmware v4.8 only for the sportster though.
If you want it you can get it from here http://www.box.net/shared/w3m58pxus8
Scotty
Also they have a new firmware v4.8 only for the sportster though.
If you want it you can get it from here http://www.box.net/shared/w3m58pxus8
Scotty
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Tourer
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RE: THUNDERMAX AUTOTUNE PROBLEMS
Thanks to all replies,
It is rather disturbing when you don't get \\; any reply from the manufacturer. Anyway, Thanks a million to Scotty3\\; I will install the upgrade for the Sportster first and if the problem continues I will tell my friend to go slowly increasing the warning temperature till he doesn't get the light again\\; If it takes the 425 F to stop from coming on, then that will be what he sets it up to. Nevertheless, I am rather pi$$ed off with the fact that TMAX has not replied to my request for help.[:@]
 \\;
Thank you all,
Spanish Flyer
 \\;
It is rather disturbing when you don't get \\; any reply from the manufacturer. Anyway, Thanks a million to Scotty3\\; I will install the upgrade for the Sportster first and if the problem continues I will tell my friend to go slowly increasing the warning temperature till he doesn't get the light again\\; If it takes the 425 F to stop from coming on, then that will be what he sets it up to. Nevertheless, I am rather pi$$ed off with the fact that TMAX has not replied to my request for help.[:@]
 \\;
Thank you all,
Spanish Flyer
 \\;
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 774
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From: here
RE: THUNDERMAX AUTOTUNE PROBLEMS
I have a 1200 Sporty and have set the engine temp threshold at 375* and the only time it comes on is in heavy traffic after a few minutes of idling.
What map are you running? \\; \\; There are new maps (#415 and #416) and you need v4.7+ of the firmware to run them. \\; \\;
I've worked extensively with Zippers on these maps and head temp issues. \\; \\; \\; All '07 and '08 Sportsters run around 350* normally. \\; \\; If you point your laser just to the right of the spark plug on the rear cylinder you should match pretty close to what the Tmax says...
What map are you running? \\; \\; There are new maps (#415 and #416) and you need v4.7+ of the firmware to run them. \\; \\;
I've worked extensively with Zippers on these maps and head temp issues. \\; \\; \\; All '07 and '08 Sportsters run around 350* normally. \\; \\; If you point your laser just to the right of the spark plug on the rear cylinder you should match pretty close to what the Tmax says...
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