Speedo out; check engine light on

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Oct 28, 2008 | 09:08 PM

#11

ChayHay8

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From: TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by cHarley

If your check engine light came on then there should be one or more diagnostic codes stored in the speedo. The error codes should point you in the right direction. See the DIY heading at the top of this section if you don't know how to retrieve the codes.

Thanks cHarley. I did check the codes and it came up with a P0501 VSS Low Carb.

However, after reading the posts here, I do believe I need to richen that sucker up a bit anyways. Thanks for the reply!

Oct 28, 2008 | 09:14 PM

#12

ChayHay8

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From: TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by SportyPig

Sounds like how a friend of mine's Dyna starting having problems. It went on for over a year. Finally.....it was a bad speed sensor switch...

Causes several problems before I finally read the codes and found the problem.

Read your codes and see what the bike tells you is wrong. There is a sticky at the top of this forum on reading codes.

Thanks for the reply SportyPig! Mine was a P0501, VSS Low Carb. Like I replied to cHarley, I'm thinking that it's prolly runnin' too lean anyways and I'm gonna' richen that sucker up a bit. I'm new to this and thinking that runnin' lean ain't the issue and I'm leanin' towards a loose connection somewhere's. If I'm wrong, please correct me and I'll humbly stand (or sit depending on whether or not I'm talkin' to someone or replying to the forum) corrected. Thanks for all of the help guys!!

Oct 28, 2008 | 09:15 PM

#13

cHarley

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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChayHay8

Thanks cHarley. I did check the codes and it came up with a P0501 VSS Low Carb.

However, after reading the posts here, I do believe I need to richen that sucker up a bit anyways. Thanks for the reply!

Ignore the word "carb." The code is indicating a problem with the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS). The VSS generates the electrical pulses that drive the speedo.

Oct 28, 2008 | 09:22 PM

#14

ChayHay8

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From: TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by cHarley

Ignore the word "carb." The code is indicating a problem with the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS). That's what generates the electrical pulses that drive the speedo.

Will do cHarley. My bad!

When I say "carb", I mean carburetor. When they say VSS Low Carb, they mean Vehicle Speed Sensor....blah blah blah Carb. They're frickin' killin' me!! I appreciate your help cHarley.

Last edited by ChayHay8; Oct 28, 2008 at 09:25 PM.

Oct 28, 2008 | 09:29 PM

#15

cHarley

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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChayHay8

Will do cHarley. My bad!

When I say "carb", I mean carburetor. They're frickin' killin' me!! I appreciate your help cHarley.

No Prob. If you look at a master code list you will see it lists a:
P0501 VSS Low Carb and a P0501 VSS Low EFI. All that is telling you is that the "P0501 VSS Low" code applies to both carb'ed and EFI bikes and that the VSS signal is either weak or missing.

Oct 28, 2008 | 09:35 PM

#16

ChayHay8

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From: TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by JosephGarcia

"performing minor percussive maintainance" I love that, if it dont work, whack it till it does! hahaha

Hasn't failed me yet!! Wait....I still gotta' fix this thing though. Uh, I'll get back to you on that one!

Jun 19, 2012 | 11:35 PM

#17

sac45

6th Gear

Joined: Jun 2012

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From: Sacramento

Speedometer on my 2006 Harley XL stopped working.

I am having the same problem.I just washed my bike,and now the speedometer won't work. I don't know where the sensor is located. i am new to the Harley Bike and i have never really worked on a bike. But I don't want to take it to the shop for something small. Can someone Help me? The bike seems to be running well, just the needle won't move at all. And i don't know how to check for codes.