2000 FLHTPI, fuel injected, 22000 miles. Load testing the battery (installed Jan '03) showed it to be fine.

This started yesterday, after about 110 miles of continuous riding. I don't know if this has anything at all to do with the malfunction, but I was riding through heavy fog, light drizzle when the glitch emerged. It was subtle at first and only occurred when either turn signal was activated. The speedo needle would drop in concert with the turn signal flashing. Then return to normal function when the turn signal was cancelled. Then within a few miles, the speedo became erratic continuously. Then the speedo simply stopped, the needle resting on zero. Occasionally it would register something momentarily, then drop back down. Next several miles, pretty much staying on zero. I got to my destination, parked, and when I retuned to the bike a couple of hours later, the speedo initially worked fine, but within a couple of miles, stopped functioning again. Same thing later on that day. After a few miles of riding, it gets very erratic, then drops out. I also noticed that the spots would intermittently turn off along with the little green indicator light on the dash rocker switch. That seems to be a simple matter of loose switch contacts, since I can wiggle the switch a little and the lights can be made to go out or come on again.

But any ideas about the speedo? Other than that, the bike was and does start, idle, and run fine, no running problems at all. Maybe a bad ground somewhere? Or perhaps when the bike was being decomissioned, and all the police lights, etc were removed, some connector behind the dash was not tightened up good? The bike did not come with an owners manual, but I have it and a service manual (and the police supplement) on order with a dealer. Not in yet. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

BTW, I am correct to assume the spots are not supposed to turn on when the high beam is on? Cause they don't. Thanks again.

 

I had that happen on my BIL's bike... It was the speedo head unit....

But do this, remove the VSS (Vehicle Speed Sensor) on the back Rt of the Trans Case, and clean off the metallic afro.....

Then check the Accessory fuse in the fuse block, as well as the wires and connectors there......

All of your connections that are of great importance are located behind the headlamp, and are easy to inspect....

 

Thanks, Shovelhead Bob, for the advice and the really fast reply!

I'll look for the speed sensor in the morning light and do as you suggested. Regarding the electrical connections behind the headlamp: I remove the outer fairing to access the area behind there? Or do I remove the headlamp itself? Is the accessory fuse block behind the headlamp? Not yet owning the manual, what is involved to get to those connections you mentioned, or if I have to get the fairing off, how involved is that? Being as I have race bikes I have a good selection of tools. Thanks again.

 

Well, that seems to have done the trick. Amazing how much metal shaving build-up was there. Thanks again for the help.