[:@]Hello everyone, I am a first time poster here on the forum and recently bought a Softail deluxe and have a question for any one who can help. My Deluxe is a 2005 with EFI my question is when I tun the bike on and wait for the fuel pump to stop before I start, the engine light is also on but goes out after I start. Is this normal or is my starting procedure wrong.? I usually turn the main switch on the tank console on first, wait for the security light to go out then I turn on the switch on the handlebars, wait for the fuel pump to stop and then start.

Any help or comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

I turn the bike off with the kill switch, then put it in neutral, when the neutral light comes on the dash I turn off the ignition.
WhenI start the engine I make sure the kill switch is in the run position, than turn the ignition switch on.
I never notice the engine light being on. I will have to pay more attention. My SE has the tach a lot closer to my line of vision than the speedometer, soI pay more attention to the tach than the dash instruments.
I glance at my dash to see if my turn signals are on or make sure they have canceled. I would think if my engine light and or my low fuel light came on it would take awhile before I noticed it.
Tom

 

yes it's normal for the engine light to stay on until you start the engine.

 

On my 05 the owners manual says, turn on ignition switch and wait for the security light to go out (runs system diagnostics) turn handle bar switch to run and wait for the check engine light to go out (primes fuel pump and runs sys diag) then start engine. I do it this way all the time and haven't had a problem. If you don't have a problem with it, then it should be ok.

 

I have a 2005 Fat Boy SE. On page 29 of the owner's manual it states:
1. Put the engine off/run switch in the RUN position and the transmission in neutral. Neutral (green) indicator lamp should be illuminated.
My observation: (this is incorrect, since the dash indicator lights will not operate until the ignition switch is turned on.)
2. Turn ignition/headlamp key switch to ON and push the START switch to operate starter motor.

My manual is for the 2005 FLSTFSE model. Another reason for the conflicting start instructions may be because my bike is a different color than yours.
Tom

 

I park in 1st gear..(parking brake)
To start my bike I..

1. Get on , put the bike in neutral...rock it some to see if it is.
2. Pull the clutch in..in case I forget #1
3.Turn on ignition...green neutral light, and red oil lights on now. (clutch still pulled)
4. Switch Run /Stop switch to Run...now engine light comes on.
5. After engine light goes out...hit the start button and,,,, putt putt putt...

 

That engine light should go out, wheather you wait for it or not is up to you. The manual states to wait for fuel pump only.

 

Thanks for everyone's input. It sounds as if from reading all your replies that this engine light thing is not something I should be overly concerned with.

Thanks again,
DW