Electrical Issue
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 17
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From: The US
Electrical Issue
Hey friends, lurked for awhile but finally making my first poster. I think I have the right spot lol.
I've got a 2003 883 that's never really given me any issues until I had it out one night when it was about 20 degrees. It would just randomly cut off and the speedo would drop to 0 and the odometer would turn off, every time it did the motor would cut off (it felt like it would immediately push start itself since at the time it was only doing it while rolling down the road). I just kind of set it aside since it was cold as hell, but it's nice out now and here I am. I took it for a ride for the first time since then today and it actually rode fine, but the speedo is still doing the thing. I'm no electric guy and those diagrams frighten me lol. If you guys had any suggestions at what I could check out that would be great. Figured I'd at least ask here before I sucked it up and just took it to a shop. I'm not gonna just start digging up wires at random and make it worse.
I have my suspicions that it has something to do with the ignition, though. Sometimes when I turn the key nothing happens and it felt like it was just hitting a kill switch when it was shutting off originally, that's the best way I could explain it. Also, now and then when I hit the starter there's a single click and the speedo/odometer just turn off until I turn the key off and on again.
Anyway, here's a video of it doing the thing for reference. https://streamable.com/xbpiv
It doesn't always do it either, in fact after that video as soon as I popped it into first to pull it back into the garage the speedo was fine.
Either way, thanks for reading and any help!
I've got a 2003 883 that's never really given me any issues until I had it out one night when it was about 20 degrees. It would just randomly cut off and the speedo would drop to 0 and the odometer would turn off, every time it did the motor would cut off (it felt like it would immediately push start itself since at the time it was only doing it while rolling down the road). I just kind of set it aside since it was cold as hell, but it's nice out now and here I am. I took it for a ride for the first time since then today and it actually rode fine, but the speedo is still doing the thing. I'm no electric guy and those diagrams frighten me lol. If you guys had any suggestions at what I could check out that would be great. Figured I'd at least ask here before I sucked it up and just took it to a shop. I'm not gonna just start digging up wires at random and make it worse.
I have my suspicions that it has something to do with the ignition, though. Sometimes when I turn the key nothing happens and it felt like it was just hitting a kill switch when it was shutting off originally, that's the best way I could explain it. Also, now and then when I hit the starter there's a single click and the speedo/odometer just turn off until I turn the key off and on again.
Anyway, here's a video of it doing the thing for reference. https://streamable.com/xbpiv
It doesn't always do it either, in fact after that video as soon as I popped it into first to pull it back into the garage the speedo was fine.
Either way, thanks for reading and any help!
Tourer
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 381
Likes: 122
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Welcome to the forum, there's a section for welcome threads here somewhere.
Let's start with the easiest thing possible and go from there. This sounds like it's either an intermittent electrical problem, or a weak battery. It's pretty cold right now in most of 'The US', so if your battery has been sitting for a while it might not be fully charged. What's the voltage on it as it sits? How old is it? Do you have a real charger and not just a tender?
"Sometimes when I turn the key nothing happens and it felt like it was just hitting a kill switch when it was shutting off originally, that's the best way I could explain it." Can you explain this a bit further, please? When is the key turning happening? When the bike is off and you walk up to it and turn the key, this happens? If it's running, why are you turning the key? This part doesn't make sense somehow.
Let's start with the easiest thing possible and go from there. This sounds like it's either an intermittent electrical problem, or a weak battery. It's pretty cold right now in most of 'The US', so if your battery has been sitting for a while it might not be fully charged. What's the voltage on it as it sits? How old is it? Do you have a real charger and not just a tender?
"Sometimes when I turn the key nothing happens and it felt like it was just hitting a kill switch when it was shutting off originally, that's the best way I could explain it." Can you explain this a bit further, please? When is the key turning happening? When the bike is off and you walk up to it and turn the key, this happens? If it's running, why are you turning the key? This part doesn't make sense somehow.
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Novice
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From: The US
The battery is old as dirt and the bike had been sitting for awhile (I think they said 2 years?). I didn't know batteries could cause issues like that. Figured if it fired up it was good lol, so no I'm pretty sure it hasn't been fully charged. I don't really have anything handy to check voltage, but if that's a point of failure for this kind of thing then I'm gonna hustle and grab a new battery before I try anything else.
As far as the key turning goes, I just mean when I head out to fire it up, sometimes I'll turn the key and nothing will light up, no controls will work and literally nothing will happen. I can just turn the key back to the off position then back on and it is fine. Well, "fine". Sorry, context is pretty important there lol. I'm just talking about initially turning the key before hitting the starter. I should note that it did not do this today where it is about 60 degrees. It only did it when it was super cold, about 20. The same goes for cutting off. It did not cut off at all on my ride today. It only did what you see in the video. I don't even care if the speedo works or not honestly, I just don't want it to suddenly shut off on me one day and leave me stranded.
You can tell I'm pretty new to this stuff, I'm sure. Thanks for the reply. I'll try it out with a new battery in the next few days and see if that fixes the problem.
As far as the key turning goes, I just mean when I head out to fire it up, sometimes I'll turn the key and nothing will light up, no controls will work and literally nothing will happen. I can just turn the key back to the off position then back on and it is fine. Well, "fine". Sorry, context is pretty important there lol. I'm just talking about initially turning the key before hitting the starter. I should note that it did not do this today where it is about 60 degrees. It only did it when it was super cold, about 20. The same goes for cutting off. It did not cut off at all on my ride today. It only did what you see in the video. I don't even care if the speedo works or not honestly, I just don't want it to suddenly shut off on me one day and leave me stranded.
You can tell I'm pretty new to this stuff, I'm sure. Thanks for the reply. I'll try it out with a new battery in the next few days and see if that fixes the problem.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,495
Likes: 30,781
From: Pennsylvania
Check your battery as stated above, if it is more than 5 years old consider replacing it. Check all your battery connections on both ends of the positive and negative cables. Check your fuses to make sure they are not corroded. Your ignition switch may have an issue so that is an area to look at also.
Here is a reference guide for you, there is good information to be found. http://sportsterpedia.com/doku.php/t...cal_categories
Oh and welcome to the forum.
Here is a reference guide for you, there is good information to be found. http://sportsterpedia.com/doku.php/t...cal_categories
Oh and welcome to the forum.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Mar 2020
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From: The US
Thanks for the welcome! Yea, I wasn't sure what to look for but I went out rooting around and checked for anything that seemed odd or bad to me and I noticed that the negative wire had melted some, and part of the battery had melted too where it was connected. I also found this nasty looking thing little box, but I have no idea what it even is haha
For some reason, the pictures aren't uploading so I'll just link them to you https://i.gyazo.com/5455d0a0ac5674f5...8cac105da5.jpg https://i.gyazo.com/d5411d9427d2015b...85d3a5d848.jpg https://i.gyazo.com/6335fd17103f49b6...473a198903.jpg
The connectors were also pretty gnarly looking, in particular the negative, so it may not have been making the best connection. Hit both with a bit of sandpaper to make em sparkle again but I really don't think that's the issue. Since I don't have the tools, I'm probably gonna head down to the auto store tomorrow and have em test the battery and see what they say. It's from 3/18 so it's not super old, but it also didn't get used more than 3 or 4 times since it had been installed before I bought it. I'm no expert, but the regulator would a regulator cause that? It was the negative so I was under the impression there wasn't even any voltage over it but I'm also clueless. Also, my headlight basically doesn't exist. It was hard to notice in the day time, but then it got darker lol
I'll let you know how it goes.
For some reason, the pictures aren't uploading so I'll just link them to you https://i.gyazo.com/5455d0a0ac5674f5...8cac105da5.jpg https://i.gyazo.com/d5411d9427d2015b...85d3a5d848.jpg https://i.gyazo.com/6335fd17103f49b6...473a198903.jpg
The connectors were also pretty gnarly looking, in particular the negative, so it may not have been making the best connection. Hit both with a bit of sandpaper to make em sparkle again but I really don't think that's the issue. Since I don't have the tools, I'm probably gonna head down to the auto store tomorrow and have em test the battery and see what they say. It's from 3/18 so it's not super old, but it also didn't get used more than 3 or 4 times since it had been installed before I bought it. I'm no expert, but the regulator would a regulator cause that? It was the negative so I was under the impression there wasn't even any voltage over it but I'm also clueless. Also, my headlight basically doesn't exist. It was hard to notice in the day time, but then it got darker lol
I'll let you know how it goes.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,495
Likes: 30,781
From: Pennsylvania
Get a new negative cable, even though the outside looks good, the inside could be corroded. Loose connection will make resistance and heat to melt stuff. Looks like you have some maintenance to accomplish. Good Luck!
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Novice
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From: The US
Thanks guys. For now I dug around and cleaned up the contact points with some sandpaper til it was nice and shiny and covered the exposed wire. Actually, when I started it up it started so strong it actually startled me. Previously it was kind of like a bear coming out of hibernation. I haven't noticed the issue since then, but I haven't gotten a chance to put much time on it yet. I figure it's probably good now, though. The only issues I can see at this point is the headlight is really dim and the hi-beam indicator doesn't come on, but I don't care too much about that right now as long as it's running good. I'm probably gonna order me a new ground to put on the battery just to be safe. I'll pop back in if I run into more issues. For now, I really appreciate the help guys. Y'all are awesome.
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Tourer
Joined: May 2018
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From: Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Thread Starter
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Novice
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From: The US
Thanks for the link, I'll probably grab it. Yeah, the battery is fine. I started it after it sat for a day or two without charging it at all when it started slowly previously, so obviously there was a big difference haha. That box thingy is stuck right on the back of that little triangle side cover that just pops off. Found it while looking for the fuse box. I tried to check the diagram reading that thing was hopeless for me haha
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,495
Likes: 30,781
From: Pennsylvania
The box thing is a relay, just a little oxidation on the outside. Once you get the new ground cable, clean everything up again a use a small amount of dielectric grease on all the contact points and exposed metal contact points. Not gobs just a little wiped on while wearing some rubber gloves, it will help at keeping the corrosion down. Good that it is working for you.
On your headlight, look inside at the wiring, you may have corrosion in there also or a short.
On your headlight, look inside at the wiring, you may have corrosion in there also or a short.