Intermittent Check Engine Light
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 28
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Intermittent Check Engine Light
I been having a intermittent check engine light illuminating for the past couple months on my 2011 Road Glide Ultra. Researched a lot a of threads but can't seem to find an answer. The light only comes on occasionally for no known reason. No performance degradation at all, except for the one time my cruise control would not engage but the control light was on. Rode it the next day and the cruise control worked fine. My voltage meter consistently reads 14+ volts, even when the light comes on. Last weekend, I took my battery to auto parts store to have it checked (was considering buying a new one since it's 5 yrs old) but the guy said nothing is wrong with it. It's showed full CCAs and voltage. No battery light ever came on. I've read about the voltage regulator issue, so I'm thinking, maybe mine is on it's way out. I believe that recall was 2012 models. Maybe it's the stator but I'm not sure how I would know that. I'm doing a process of elimination. Do I just replace the voltage regulator with a better brand than the OEM, just for peace of mind? I should probably replace the battery anyway, but it seems to be holding a charge just fine. I do keep it on a tender in the garage. Anyone have/had a similar problem? Any input would be much appreciated.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,996
Likes: 417
From: Cranbourne, VIC Australia
I've had a few newer harleys do that, and every time it was a loose electrical contact, one ground, and three times a loose connection on a turn signal and or brake light bulb. Check your light sockets for tight contact on your bulbs, and if they were all tight then break out your OLM meter unless you are getting a code to work off of
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 35
From: Southern Maryland
i agree that you need to find out what the codes are. if its a regulator, a new battery won't fix it and over time, it will just be drained too. my voltage regulator went on my 2013. i would have an occasional check engine light for no apparent reason, then the engine light and battery light, then both lights and the voltage guage would indicate about 10.5 or so volts. at first, it would right itself after a couple of minutes and might be a day or two before it did it again. eventually, it started doing it almost every time i took it out then i finally took it to the stealer. get the codes checked and get it fixed....takes the worry out of the ride.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,476
Likes: 3,003
From: Charleston, SC
+1
Doesn't sound like a charging issue at all since you get 14 volts consistently.
Better to check for fault codes than start throwing parts at it. Your VR/Stator may be fine...
http://www.fuelmotousa.com/p-29661-h...ble-codes.html
Doesn't sound like a charging issue at all since you get 14 volts consistently.
Better to check for fault codes than start throwing parts at it. Your VR/Stator may be fine...
http://www.fuelmotousa.com/p-29661-h...ble-codes.html
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,157
Likes: 2,564
From: CT/FL
I recall when my regulator went two idiot lights lit up on the dash - the check engine and another one... you probably have a bad ground, good luck
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,988
Likes: 17
From: Between Fort Worth and Wichita Falls Texas
My voltage meter was reading 16 volts. Way too much. I checked it with my cheap hand held meter and it was 14 volts. The meter was bad. You better check yours just to be sure. Don't trust the bike meter. It gets beat up pretty bad on some roads. Who knows, maybe the meter is throwing the codes. Mine did not but it would have been possible.
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Jul 9, 2013 09:25 PM