Does Power Commander = Junk?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4,904
Likes: 9
From: Streetsboro, Oh
I have been running my PC III for a year and a half now and it's been great! I know a guy that has a 2007 Low Rider and his PC went bad after about 2 years, but that's only one I know of in person that went bad. What I don't get it the OP said if the PC is unpluged the bike will not start or run at all-that seems to me there is a deeper issue then the PC.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
Thinking back, if what the tech said is correct that concerns me as well. Makes me wonder if they're may be a deeper lieing electrical issue. In fact, I forgot to mention that the same shop installed my bars and internally wired them several months back. A couple days after picking the bike up a bur left on the hole that was drilled into the bars shorted out some wiring and made the headlight and tail lights go out. It was returned and repaired however the exact same thing happened about 2 weeks before the PC went out. So I wonder if the short in the bars could have had some ill effect on the PC or perhaps even the ECM. From what I gather the new PC arrived yesterday so I guess we'll see what they find out.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
Update....new PC came in and was installed on the bike and it did the exact same thing. Still wouldn't run when the PC was unplugged. They're going to try a Super Tuner and see if it does the same, which I'd say it likely will. Perhaps the issue lies with a sensor of some sort or the entire ECM is shot.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 11
From: Colonial Beach, Virginia
This is the first I've heard of a PCIII problrem and now this sounds like a non PCIII issue. And, how could the engine start with the PCIII unplugged, there would be nothing to trigger the starter solenoid or energize the ignition system nor power the stock ECM?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
If Im not mistaken I've got a PCV on this bike. It's my understanding that since the PC is a piggyback system that once it's unplugged the ECM will resort back to the stock tune. This is so that in the event the PC fails you can still disconnect the PC and ride the bike to a safe location, it'll likely run lean but will still run. This one won't even start with the PC disconnected. Or atleast that's how I've been told it works.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 11
From: Colonial Beach, Virginia
OK Ad, I'm assuming that by disconnecting the PC you are then reconnecting the stock ECM, you made it sound like you were disconnecting the PC and leaving the connector hang free. Sorry if I misunderstood. My beckground is in electronics also having a FCC license with a ship radra endorsement. I see no reason for the piggyback to effect the stock ECM, they only trade information.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
OK Ad, I'm assuming that by disconnecting the PC you are then reconnecting the stock ECM, you made it sound like you were disconnecting the PC and leaving the connector hang free. Sorry if I misunderstood. My beckground is in electronics also having a FCC license with a ship radra endorsement. I see no reason for the piggyback to effect the stock ECM, they only trade information.
I have to agree with that last statement. Apparently the second Power Commander didn't work as well. So they used a Screamin Eagle Super Tuner to retune the ECM and from what they say is now running fine. I just find it really odd that the new PC wouldnt work.