'02 FLHT won't start sometimes
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
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From: North Florida
If it was the ignition switch he would not have 12v at the start and kill switch.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 30
From: North Florida
Harley's very seldom have ground issues because all acc are not grounded where they are mounted, but have a ground wire that runs back to under the seat by the battery, much the same as a fiberglass car/boat.
So most ground issues are not ground issued but bad connection problems in the wires or most often connections.
This is why we check terminal 85 in the starter relay to see if is getting grounded through the tsm.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
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From: North Florida
Let me add it is not a short, a short is when a hot wire is touching a ground, what we have is an open circuit , or bad connection or bad switch, relay.
We systematically follow the circuit to see where the problem is.
It is important to note what acc are doing and not doing to decide where the interruption is.
We systematically follow the circuit to see where the problem is.
It is important to note what acc are doing and not doing to decide where the interruption is.
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From:
So you have 2 Intermittent issues sometime wont crank and sometime cranks but no spark. I think Harley Cruiser has sent you in the correct direction and the relay is where you need to start, that is as long as you are sure your battery and cables are all good.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 243
Likes: 9
From: NC
Doesn't the fact that he switched the relays and it still does the same thing rule out the relay?
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: peoria, az
I made some progress last night. I determined which rely was start and which one was ignition. I pulled the one on the right out and it still cranked over so the left one has to be for the starter.
With the relay removed, I tested the socket for pole 30 and got power. Then I stuck the probe on the socket for 86 and turned the ignition on. The test light didn't light up. I wasn't getting power to the ignition relay. I checked the ignition fuse and it was good. Then I went back to the relay socket and tested 86 again with the ignition on. This time the test light lit up. I plugged the relay partially back in and tested pole 87 on the relay with the ignition on and it lit up. I could also hear the relay click when turning the ignition switch on. Then I fired the bike up. After that I cut the cover off the harness from the fuse box to the relay. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything wrong with the wiring.
That's where I left it but at least I am zeroing in on it. So if I had to I could jumper socket 30 to 87 and have power to the ignition. It doesn't explain the problem where it doesn't crank at all but it's progress.
With the relay removed, I tested the socket for pole 30 and got power. Then I stuck the probe on the socket for 86 and turned the ignition on. The test light didn't light up. I wasn't getting power to the ignition relay. I checked the ignition fuse and it was good. Then I went back to the relay socket and tested 86 again with the ignition on. This time the test light lit up. I plugged the relay partially back in and tested pole 87 on the relay with the ignition on and it lit up. I could also hear the relay click when turning the ignition switch on. Then I fired the bike up. After that I cut the cover off the harness from the fuse box to the relay. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything wrong with the wiring.
That's where I left it but at least I am zeroing in on it. So if I had to I could jumper socket 30 to 87 and have power to the ignition. It doesn't explain the problem where it doesn't crank at all but it's progress.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 30
From: North Florida
I made some progress last night. I determined which rely was start and which one was ignition. I pulled the one on the right out and it still cranked over so the left one has to be for the starter.
With the relay removed, I tested the socket for pole 30 and got power. Then I stuck the probe on the socket for 86 and turned the ignition on. The test light didn't light up. I wasn't getting power to the ignition relay. I checked the ignition fuse and it was good. Then I went back to the relay socket and tested 86 again with the ignition on. This time the test light lit up. I plugged the relay partially back in and tested pole 87 on the relay with the ignition on and it lit up. I could also hear the relay click when turning the ignition switch on. Then I fired the bike up. After that I cut the cover off the harness from the fuse box to the relay. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything wrong with the wiring.
That's where I left it but at least I am zeroing in on it. So if I had to I could jumper socket 30 to 87 and have power to the ignition. It doesn't explain the problem where it doesn't crank at all but it's progress.
With the relay removed, I tested the socket for pole 30 and got power. Then I stuck the probe on the socket for 86 and turned the ignition on. The test light didn't light up. I wasn't getting power to the ignition relay. I checked the ignition fuse and it was good. Then I went back to the relay socket and tested 86 again with the ignition on. This time the test light lit up. I plugged the relay partially back in and tested pole 87 on the relay with the ignition on and it lit up. I could also hear the relay click when turning the ignition switch on. Then I fired the bike up. After that I cut the cover off the harness from the fuse box to the relay. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything wrong with the wiring.
That's where I left it but at least I am zeroing in on it. So if I had to I could jumper socket 30 to 87 and have power to the ignition. It doesn't explain the problem where it doesn't crank at all but it's progress.
Also to find the problem the bike needs to be acting up.
Last edited by Harleycruiser; Mar 20, 2015 at 08:26 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
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From: North Florida
Yes, but we are testing the wires up to the relay.