2014 FLSTFB Dashboard LEDs issue
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Stage IV
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Central Florida
2014 FLSTFB Dashboard LEDs issue
I'm curious to know if i"m the only one this happens to:
The left turn LED indicator on the dashboard has stopped working (blinker wors but not the light on the dashboard). Brought the bike to the dealer and as it was still under warranty, they replaced the whole harness (cause now there is no more bulbs to replace, gotta change the whole thing... progress I guess...). That was at the beginning of the year.
It happened a again last week, so I took it back to the dealer and they changed again. Mentioned that water may be getting in the dashboard. Got the bike back, worked great for a few days and now, not even a week later, the Neutral LED now is not working...
Am I the only one to have this issue? I was told there is no recall on this...
The left turn LED indicator on the dashboard has stopped working (blinker wors but not the light on the dashboard). Brought the bike to the dealer and as it was still under warranty, they replaced the whole harness (cause now there is no more bulbs to replace, gotta change the whole thing... progress I guess...). That was at the beginning of the year.
It happened a again last week, so I took it back to the dealer and they changed again. Mentioned that water may be getting in the dashboard. Got the bike back, worked great for a few days and now, not even a week later, the Neutral LED now is not working...
Am I the only one to have this issue? I was told there is no recall on this...
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 866
Likes: 248
From: N.Y.C
I'm curious to know if i"m the only one this happens to:
The left turn LED indicator on the dashboard has stopped working (blinker wors but not the light on the dashboard). Brought the bike to the dealer and as it was still under warranty, they replaced the whole harness (cause now there is no more bulbs to replace, gotta change the whole thing... progress I guess...). That was at the beginning of the year.
It happened a again last week, so I took it back to the dealer and they changed again. Mentioned that water may be getting in the dashboard. Got the bike back, worked great for a few days and now, not even a week later, the Neutral LED now is not working...
Am I the only one to have this issue? I was told there is no recall on this...
The left turn LED indicator on the dashboard has stopped working (blinker wors but not the light on the dashboard). Brought the bike to the dealer and as it was still under warranty, they replaced the whole harness (cause now there is no more bulbs to replace, gotta change the whole thing... progress I guess...). That was at the beginning of the year.
It happened a again last week, so I took it back to the dealer and they changed again. Mentioned that water may be getting in the dashboard. Got the bike back, worked great for a few days and now, not even a week later, the Neutral LED now is not working...
Am I the only one to have this issue? I was told there is no recall on this...
Thread Starter
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Stage IV
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Central Florida
Thanks Sparky357 for your answer.
So I live in Florida and in Summer, we get a lot of rain so water was my first though too. I took the dashboard apart and checked all connections and everything looked dry.
I just finished epoxying the board so hopefully this should fix it but I was curious to know if it was only me or other riders had the same issue.
So I live in Florida and in Summer, we get a lot of rain so water was my first though too. I took the dashboard apart and checked all connections and everything looked dry.
I just finished epoxying the board so hopefully this should fix it but I was curious to know if it was only me or other riders had the same issue.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 866
Likes: 248
From: N.Y.C
Thanks Sparky357 for your answer.
So I live in Florida and in Summer, we get a lot of rain so water was my first though too. I took the dashboard apart and checked all connections and everything looked dry.
I just finished epoxying the board so hopefully this should fix it but I was curious to know if it was only me or other riders had the same issue.
So I live in Florida and in Summer, we get a lot of rain so water was my first though too. I took the dashboard apart and checked all connections and everything looked dry.
I just finished epoxying the board so hopefully this should fix it but I was curious to know if it was only me or other riders had the same issue.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 152
Likes: 41
From: Surrey, UK.
Much as I like what digital dashboards and LEDs can do, I see this as being a major problem. A fix that used to involve changing a small and cheap bulb now requires the entire instrument/gauge assembly to be replaced. Not a big deal maybe when under warranty, but what then. I don't know about H-D prices for these, but other manufacturers seem to want mega and I mean MEGA bucks for what is in truth a cheap circuit board with a few cheap LEDs in a plastic surround.
I think there will be a backlash from owners about this, but I guess it needs a few more years until they start failing in quantity and the replacement is going to cost almost as much as the bike is worth.
I think there will be a backlash from owners about this, but I guess it needs a few more years until they start failing in quantity and the replacement is going to cost almost as much as the bike is worth.
Thread Starter
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Stage IV
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Central Florida
possible fix to the issue
I have done some research online on how to waterproof a circuit board. Epoxy is a non conductive material, cheap and easy to use so I did that and epoxyed the front of the circuit board (the side where the LEDs are) as the back seems to have no connections really or are already coated.
It hasn't damaged the board (my biggest fear as the new board is $150).
So far it's working great but the next wash or big rain will tell for sure...
Only pitfall is that epoxy must be applied in a thin coat and I may have made mine a little thick so the board wouldn't slide in its plastic housing as nicely as the untreated board. It's a bit tight in there and the board must have slid back a bit so I have to re-open the dashboard and straighten things up in there. Yesterday I got a big scare as I couldn't see the green LED for the Neutral but looking more into it, realized that the LED is working, the LED and the viewing hole are just a bit misaligned. Will fix this weekend.
It hasn't damaged the board (my biggest fear as the new board is $150).
So far it's working great but the next wash or big rain will tell for sure...
Only pitfall is that epoxy must be applied in a thin coat and I may have made mine a little thick so the board wouldn't slide in its plastic housing as nicely as the untreated board. It's a bit tight in there and the board must have slid back a bit so I have to re-open the dashboard and straighten things up in there. Yesterday I got a big scare as I couldn't see the green LED for the Neutral but looking more into it, realized that the LED is working, the LED and the viewing hole are just a bit misaligned. Will fix this weekend.
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Stage IV
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Central Florida
... Also, I spoke with the HD tech after they fixed it for the second time and he mentioned that they think it's water related (really?), that there is no recall (yet) and the more people complain, the more they (HD) will work on a fix. But I think they know as he also said that this issue has been fixed in later models... so I guess we're just stuck with a poor design...
Still love the bike though!!!
Still love the bike though!!!
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