ECM issues caused by power commander ?
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Stage IV
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Rochester
ECM issues caused by power commander ?
I just recently installed v&h short shots , big sucker stage II , and a power commander V onto my 2010 iron 883. I had the power commander mapped out to the mods I installed. Bike ride great for about 2 months then literally over night ran like crap. I took it to the local dealership and service shop and they told me my ECM was fried . They told me it was because of the power commander and that I needed to buy Harley davidsons fuel injection pack along with a new ECM. Do you think the dealership is just trying to stick one to me? Would it be a bad idea to buy the ECM, put it on myself and Install the power commander ? Just trying to save me some cash
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Something is not quite right. I have never heard or seen a legitimate case of the PC frying the ECM. The ECM sends a signal to the PC and the PC sends it on. The PC does not back communicate with the ECM.
Now there is a possibility that your PC or the map got fried and the first thing I would do is reload the map into the PV and see what happens. I also had a similar situation where I put on new spark plug wires on my wife's bike and over time those wires started to arc against the engine. I went to the shop - same story as yours - they replaced ECM and put a new PC on the bike and had the same issue. We took the bike home and for grins I put the old spark plug wires back on and the problem went away. That lesson cost me a new PC. The ECM was covered under warranty.
Now there is a possibility that your PC or the map got fried and the first thing I would do is reload the map into the PV and see what happens. I also had a similar situation where I put on new spark plug wires on my wife's bike and over time those wires started to arc against the engine. I went to the shop - same story as yours - they replaced ECM and put a new PC on the bike and had the same issue. We took the bike home and for grins I put the old spark plug wires back on and the problem went away. That lesson cost me a new PC. The ECM was covered under warranty.
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Stage IV
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Rochester
That's exactly what I was thinking . And before I brought it to the shop I down loaded the map again , tried new spark plugs , tried new spark plug wires , and I still had the same issue . The issue I was having was the bike was idling real off. And when I was riding I couldn't keep a steady speed without it puttering ( almost as if I was running out of gas) I've tried new gas etc.... But the bike like to run with the throttle wide open
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: southeast PA
Remove the PC and see how it runs. It won't be the perfect tune but if it does the same thing it could be the ECM. If it runs fine then the issue is with the PC somewhere, either the mapping or a connection.
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Stage IV
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Rochester
I've takin off the PC and same issue occurred . Also I didn't have a check engine light on when I had the issue. After I got my bike back from the shop it was on and the bike was running worse .
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Stage IV
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Rochester
I'm just scared to get a new ECM and put my pc back on and I "fry" the ECM again. Harley was telling me it fried cause I don't have the right fuel injection on there and I need to buy Harley's. Which is a bunch of crap cause everyone I know has a pc. And has never had the problem I am having
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Joe Kucinski
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Well the ECM should be covered under a 5 year warranty, so have them replace it. My understanding is that this is separate from the factory warranty and is mandated by a different set of laws. When they replace it, go through the experiment Nevil suggested.
I still doubt the ECM is bad. Did they have a diagnostic test they could perform on the ECM? At a minimum, I would think they could simply try and reflash the ECM with the factory calibration. If the ECM took the reflash then that would pretty much indicate that the ECM is working as it should. They should also be able to initiate a read from the ECM to get information such as VIN and calibration notes/number. I guess I am just wondering how they made the determination that was the problem.
I had a friend who's Sportster was having issues where it would run like crap. It ended up being the battery. Sounds dumb and unlikely but it is a simply thing to check (along with the grounds).
Finally - give DynoJet a call and tell them what you were told. I suspect that they have heard this before and probably have some good things for you to check as they don't want their product being blamed for buring up ECMs.
I still doubt the ECM is bad. Did they have a diagnostic test they could perform on the ECM? At a minimum, I would think they could simply try and reflash the ECM with the factory calibration. If the ECM took the reflash then that would pretty much indicate that the ECM is working as it should. They should also be able to initiate a read from the ECM to get information such as VIN and calibration notes/number. I guess I am just wondering how they made the determination that was the problem.
I had a friend who's Sportster was having issues where it would run like crap. It ended up being the battery. Sounds dumb and unlikely but it is a simply thing to check (along with the grounds).
Finally - give DynoJet a call and tell them what you were told. I suspect that they have heard this before and probably have some good things for you to check as they don't want their product being blamed for buring up ECMs.
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michla
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
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Jun 8, 2011 01:01 AM