Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

I think I have a bad BCM

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 18, 2021 | 11:28 AM
  #1  
kandkarma1964's Avatar
kandkarma1964
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 18
Likes: 2
From: Mandeville, LA
Default I think I have a bad BCM

I posted before about my 2013 Heritage not starting. O found that the BCM was only sending about 5 volts to the starter. I'm also experiencing issues with a brand new horn sounding anemic and if I start the bike with bright lights on then all the lights go off and won't come on until I shut the bike off and restart it with lights on low beam. To me, all this points to a bad BCM. Wondering if anyone else has experienced these issues and found it to be the BCM? Also wondering if anyone has replaced a BCM on their own and what kind of tool you used to do it? It is my understanding that you have to connect a diagnostic tool to tell the ECM to recognize the new BCM.
 
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2021 | 12:04 PM
  #2  
byersmtrco's Avatar
byersmtrco
Supporter
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,714
Likes: 650
From: San Ramon, Ca
Supporter
Default

In automotive, BCM stands for Body Control Module
(which a motorcycle wouldn't have)

An ECM (Eng Cntl Mdl) . . . Yes.
You would have to have someone plug in to it and do
a diag on it.

 
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2021 | 01:51 PM
  #3  
WKNDS's Avatar
WKNDS
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,997
Likes: 2,083
From: Newport,TN area
Default

There IS a Body Control Module - basically it's a solid-state suite of circuit breakers...

https://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche...UIT%20BREAKERS

See #15, HD part numbers
# 41000348F BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM), BASE LEVEL*
# 41000349F BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM), 434 MHZ, SECURITY


hth,

T.

 
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2021 | 09:46 PM
  #4  
byersmtrco's Avatar
byersmtrco
Supporter
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,714
Likes: 650
From: San Ramon, Ca
Supporter
Default

Wow !!
Another module?
I miss my carbureted 2000
more every day. No ECM,
No fuel pump. No remote
No Worries. Turn the key
and go.
 
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2021 | 06:40 AM
  #5  
greybeard122's Avatar
greybeard122
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 160
Likes: 24
From:
Default

See if you can get the electrical shop manual for your bike. A bcm has to be a few hundred bucks, plus the programming. I don't know if your bike has a starter relay or not. The manual will pay for itself.
 
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2021 | 06:48 AM
  #6  
WKNDS's Avatar
WKNDS
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,997
Likes: 2,083
From: Newport,TN area
Default

So back in 2013, I rode my FLS Slim to the dealer, then removed the rear struts/fender and splashguard in the parking lot.
I replaced the 'basic' BCM with the 'Security' BCM and then replaced the removed parts above.
I let the Service Advisor know I needed my BCM and key fobs programmed. I think they charged me like $50 to do that.
I then rode back to my house.

All that to say - yes, I do think you need to have a dealer 'program' or 'update' the ECM when a new BCM is installed.

good luck,

T.
 
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2021 | 08:50 AM
  #7  
hattitude's Avatar
hattitude
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,160
Likes: 11,249
From: San Diego, CA
Default

Originally Posted by kandkarma1964
I posted before about my 2013 Heritage not starting. O found that the BCM was only sending about 5 volts to the starter. I'm also experiencing issues with a brand new horn sounding anemic and if I start the bike with bright lights on then all the lights go off and won't come on until I shut the bike off and restart it with lights on low beam. To me, all this points to a bad BCM. Wondering if anyone else has experienced these issues and found it to be the BCM? Also wondering if anyone has replaced a BCM on their own and what kind of tool you used to do it? It is my understanding that you have to connect a diagnostic tool to tell the ECM to recognize the new BCM.


If you change the BCM, it will need to be "configured" via the dealers Digital Tech II. Several of the aftermarket diagnostic tools can also do it, like my Twin Scan IV or the TechnoResearch Centurion.
 
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2021 | 09:27 AM
  #8  
rigidthumper's Avatar
rigidthumper
Grand HDF Member
Veteran: Army
Veteran: Navy
15 Year Member
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,740
Likes: 8,537
From: Bates County MO
Default

I'd suspect the battery/connections. Time to break out the multi meter, and measure static battery voltage 4x, 1) key off ( looking for >12.6V) , 2) key on with low beam on( 12.4-12.5) , 3) key on with hi beam on(12.2-12.4) and 4) key on, lo beam on, attempt to start- has to be above 11.8 under load. The starter system will not activate if voltage is too low. System is designed to turn the headlight off while starter is engaged, so all the current is going to the starter. The BCM will check battery voltage while cranking, and current draw, and if it's parameters are exceeded, turn itself off.
Compare reading #4 to the voltage at the starter post while cranking- they should be very close- with in a tenth or two, if all connections are healthy.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 22, 2021 | 09:32 AM
  #9  
CoolBreeze3646's Avatar
CoolBreeze3646
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,534
Likes: 30,856
From: Pennsylvania
Default

Take your battery out and get it load tested at your nearest Automotive Parts Store, they will do it for free. Then go from there with your testing.
 
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2021 | 06:45 AM
  #10  
kandkarma1964's Avatar
kandkarma1964
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 18
Likes: 2
From: Mandeville, LA
Default

[
I bypassed the bcm by installing a momentary push button switch which supplies 12 volts directly to the solenoid. The bike starts and runs fine this way but, as I said, I'm having other electrical issues and the common denominator is the BCM. The horn, starter switch, lights are all tied to the BCM plus I used an ohm meter on the wire from the BCM to the solenoid and got very low resistance and checked the voltage right at the bcm and it was low there. That's why I'm thinking this is a BCM issue and not a wiring issue unless I'm missing something?





QUOTE=rigidthumper;20194341]I'd suspect the battery/connections. Time to break out the multi meter, and measure static battery voltage 4x, 1) key off ( looking for >12.6V) , 2) key on with low beam on( 12.4-12.5) , 3) key on with hi beam on(12.2-12.4) and 4) key on, lo beam on, attempt to start- has to be above 11.8 under load. The starter system will not activate if voltage is too low. System is designed to turn the headlight off while starter is engaged, so all the current is going to the starter. The BCM will check battery voltage while cranking, and current draw, and if it's parameters are exceeded, turn itself off.
Compare reading #4 to the voltage at the starter post while cranking- they should be very close- with in a tenth or two, if all connections are healthy.[/QUOTE]
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:14 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE