Check Engine Light on start-up
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 30
Likes: 1
From: Western Kentucky
Check Engine Light on start-up
My girl is a 2007 Sofftail Standard FXST. For the past week her check engine light has come back on after start-up and stays lit for about 7 seconds before going off by itself. Bike seems to be running fine. Do you have any ideas what the problem might be?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 30
Likes: 1
From: Western Kentucky
jkinner -- thanks. No, I am not too savvy about the process of getting the codes to show. From what I have googled, it looks kind of complicated. Is there an easy way to see?
Cruiser
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 112
Likes: 13
From: Richmond, Va
Unfortunately the list of reasons why ur light could be coming on is quite extensive. It's any ones guess. But it would b just that, a guess. In order to truly know why it's happening is to check the codes. The process is actually very simple. It's just one button (if it's like my 2014). Just a matter of pressing it quickly or holding it down. Follow the process step by step n take ur time. Have pen n paper ready n write down any codes that come up, then check for the next code.
When ur done, Google search each code and u'll have ur answers. I'd love to help u further but honestly, with out the codes, no one knows.
When ur done, Google search each code and u'll have ur answers. I'd love to help u further but honestly, with out the codes, no one knows.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,075
Likes: 11,096
From: San Diego, CA
If I remember correctly... from a similar issue with my 2003 twin cam...
When the light comes back on after start-up, and stays on... you have a current code, a condition exists that needs to be fixed.... you need to get the code, and fix the issue, for the light to go off and stay off.
When the light comes back on after start-up, and then goes off... you have a historical code. A code was thrown, but the condition no longer exists. An historical code should eventually clear itself, when you complete enough drive cycles, without a fresh code being thrown. I always like to check for that code anyways, to keep an eye that issue... frequently, an intermittent code leads to a current code.
I always note the code(s) and then clear it/them... just to see if they come right back...
I don't have a set of '07 manuals so I can't check to see if this is the same for your bike... but I would suspect it's similar...
PS- without a reader or tuner, you need to jump through some hoops to bring up the codes in the odometer window... I have forgotten how to do that. If you have a friend with a Harley code reader, or a powervision tuner, they can hook up and read/clear your codes...
When the light comes back on after start-up, and stays on... you have a current code, a condition exists that needs to be fixed.... you need to get the code, and fix the issue, for the light to go off and stay off.
When the light comes back on after start-up, and then goes off... you have a historical code. A code was thrown, but the condition no longer exists. An historical code should eventually clear itself, when you complete enough drive cycles, without a fresh code being thrown. I always like to check for that code anyways, to keep an eye that issue... frequently, an intermittent code leads to a current code.
I always note the code(s) and then clear it/them... just to see if they come right back...
I don't have a set of '07 manuals so I can't check to see if this is the same for your bike... but I would suspect it's similar...
PS- without a reader or tuner, you need to jump through some hoops to bring up the codes in the odometer window... I have forgotten how to do that. If you have a friend with a Harley code reader, or a powervision tuner, they can hook up and read/clear your codes...
Last edited by hattitude; Feb 25, 2018 at 09:46 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 560
Likes: 88
From: Gila Bend AZ
Try good old You Tube, for a video on the code retrieval. As has been said, we would just be guessing at the cause, a waste of your time and money. I just found one, took about 1 min to find.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 809
Likes: 4
From: Oregon / AZ
It is some sort of Phantom code...my 03 deuce does it every once and awhile..dealer cant find it...they can clear it..mine doesn't even show up once they look for it when they plug it in....I don't worry about.
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Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 15,420
Likes: 7,118
From: Beyond Fucital
Is it the self diagnostics doing a self check, like your car does?
I don't have that fancy EFI stuff, so I'm just throwing it out there.
I don't have that fancy EFI stuff, so I'm just throwing it out there.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,075
Likes: 11,096
From: San Diego, CA
If it comes back on a few seconds after the engine starts, it will then either stay on, or go off... based on historical or current codes, as I outlined in my above response.
