Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Harley Sportster Engine Temperature Sensor (ET Sensor)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 19, 2017 | 06:39 AM
  #1  
monishrpatel's Avatar
monishrpatel
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: India
Default Harley Sportster Engine Temperature Sensor (ET Sensor)

I own a HD superlow xl883l 2013 and have got an error code P0118. Upon contacting workshop they feel its an issue with ET sensor or the wire connecting from sensor to ECM.
I was wondering where to ET sensor is located and could'nt find it though. Workshop claims its between the two cylinders in Sportster models.
Can anyone help me locating it.
Also attaching photos of the throttle inbetween both cylinders from both sides.
Thanks
 
Attached Thumbnails Harley Sportster Engine Temperature Sensor (ET Sensor)-whatsapp-image-2017-09-19-at-5.07.38-pm.jpeg   Harley Sportster Engine Temperature Sensor (ET Sensor)-whatsapp-image-2017-09-19-at-5.07.38-pm-1-.jpeg  
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2017 | 07:09 AM
  #2  
cvaria's Avatar
cvaria
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 2,215
From: Tallahassee, Florida
Default

it's on the rear head. you will see a wire, on the riders right side of the bike, in front of the oil tank, running up to the rear cylinder head.




kinda hard to get out with the right tools. follow the wire and check for abrasion of it being disconnected on the from the bike's harness before trying to change it. may just be dirt in the connection. hit the connections on the bikes harness side if te wire with some electrical contact cleaner a tiny bit of dielectric grease. see if the code stop returning afte being cleared. i had that isse with my dyne temp sensor, fixed the random codes and rough idle.

if you need to change it then you can make a tool to get it out, buy the hd tool, or have the dealer do it.

i made one here. total P.I.T.A.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/sport...mp-sensor.html
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2017 | 07:24 AM
  #3  
monishrpatel's Avatar
monishrpatel
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: India
Default

is the et sensor inside the rear cylinder and connecting to ecm or the sensor is located inbetween two cylinders?
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2017 | 07:36 AM
  #4  
Ratwerke's Avatar
Ratwerke
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 691
Likes: 143
From: N.W. Arkansas
Default


It's the wire running down the center of the rear rocker cover.
Sensor is on top of rear cylinder.
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2017 | 07:52 AM
  #5  
monishrpatel's Avatar
monishrpatel
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: India
Default

Originally Posted by Ratwerke

It's the wire running down the center of the rear rocker cover.
Sensor is on top of rear cylinder.
thanks! will check it and get back.
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2017 | 10:44 AM
  #6  
lewk's Avatar
lewk
Road Warrior
Shutterbug
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,755
Likes: 253
From: Northern Los Angeles area.
Default

Originally Posted by Ratwerke

It's the wire running down the center of the rear rocker cover.
Sensor is on top of rear cylinder.
Ermmm.... maybe take the pic on the other side of the bike next time?
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2017 | 03:35 PM
  #7  
monishrpatel's Avatar
monishrpatel
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: India
Default

Originally Posted by cvaria
it's on the rear head. you will see a wire, on the riders right side of the bike, in front of the oil tank, running up to the rear cylinder head.




kinda hard to get out with the right tools. follow the wire and check for abrasion of it being disconnected on the from the bike's harness before trying to change it. may just be dirt in the connection. hit the connections on the bikes harness side if te wire with some electrical contact cleaner a tiny bit of dielectric grease. see if the code stop returning afte being cleared. i had that isse with my dyne temp sensor, fixed the random codes and rough idle.

if you need to change it then you can make a tool to get it out, buy the hd tool, or have the dealer do it.

i made one here. total P.I.T.A.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/sport...mp-sensor.html
Ordered for OEM replacement part.
Did you have to remove cylinder from the frame for changing the sensor or you could do it from above while the cylinder was in frame?
If you had to remove it out of the frame did you happen to change the gaskets of rocker or you just changed the sensor and it was done.
Thanks
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2017 | 04:18 PM
  #8  
cvaria's Avatar
cvaria
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 2,215
From: Tallahassee, Florida
Default

Originally Posted by monishrpatel
Ordered for OEM replacement part.
Did you have to remove cylinder from the frame for changing the sensor or you could do it from above while the cylinder was in frame?
If you had to remove it out of the frame did you happen to change the gaskets of rocker or you just changed the sensor and it was done.
Thanks
did you try cleaning the connectors and check the wire for damage first? i changed it while the heads were off.
 
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 19, 2017 | 04:31 PM
  #9  
monishrpatel's Avatar
monishrpatel
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: India
Default

Originally Posted by cvaria
did you try cleaning the connectors and check the wire for damage first? i changed it while the heads were off.
OEM part was costing me around $48 so considering to replace it directly.
For checking it probably i will have to get the cylinder down and if the part is faulty will have to place the order and wait for it so just considered to order it first and than take down cylinders.

You had to change the sensor or cleaning did the work?
 
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2017 | 06:11 PM
  #10  
cvaria's Avatar
cvaria
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 2,215
From: Tallahassee, Florida
Default

Originally Posted by monishrpatel
OEM part was costing me around $48 so considering to replace it directly.
For checking it probably i will have to get the cylinder down and if the part is faulty will have to place the order and wait for it so just considered to order it first and than take down cylinders.

You had to change the sensor or cleaning did the work?
there's conflation happening. i'm saying. follow the sensor wire, from the head, down to where i connects to the bike harness. check for damage to the wire along the way. disconnect the wire from the harness, clean it, and reconnect it. after that clear the code that it is throwing and take it for a long ride. no need to tear the bike apart. if the code shows up again, then consider replacing it.

my dyna et sensor was randomly throwing codes and causing rough idle. i cleaned the connection and it has behaved ever since [fixed].

A. problem- see #3 at the bottom: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...l#post16283313
B. fix- https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...l#post16292667

on my sporty, i just replaced my et sensor since i replaced my entire top end and it was pinched pretty bad [in bad shape]. that sensor i removed still worked and is now a spare in the bucket-o-parts.

see bottom of post:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/sport...l#post16142615

damaged

 

Last edited by cvaria; Sep 19, 2017 at 06:28 PM.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:24 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