88FLHTC dying without cause

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Jul 15, 2019 | 10:25 PM

#21

Zerk

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Joined: Jul 2009

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From: Straight Jacket Memories and Sedative Highs

Bikes will crank, if starting system is good, and battery. Firing up is fuel and spark.

Jul 15, 2019 | 11:06 PM

#22

soulpatch

Tourer

Joined: Sep 2016

Posts: 368

Likes: 37

From: Montgomery, Alabama

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroWebb

Well. An update on this issue. I pulled the cover and started checking battery cable connections Main leads first and then everything else I could see or get too. Negative was lock down tight I did find a questionable connection coming off the positive post. Buttoned it up and checked it out. Running fine but it was cranking and running fine before I found that so time will tell.
Here’s my question. When the bike would not start it would never fail to crank over. Am I wrong in thinking if the positive were an issue it would not have spun over? As I said these electrical stuff is demonic to me.

Exactly, if the positive lead was an issue there would be nothing trying to start. Or at the least maybe a click because not enough amperage given a very small connection. I hear you about it being a demon. The more tech advances it doesn't always help. Having an ECU just makes it that much harder at times to even diagnose an issue. Sure it could spit out a code, but that doesn't mean it's always the right one. Sometimes the code that pops up is cause and effect. Or worse, the ecu craps out and you don't even realize it. or an injector stops firing correctly, delta p on the exhaust doesn't read right, 02 sensors, whatever the problem it always seems like the more crap advances, the worse it becomes diagnosing even a simple problem. I ran into that constantly in the automotive industry. Bikes aren't really any different now. Really do miss the days of coils and points lol Good luck in the search, keep narrowing it down and give us a heads up. Always helps to remember there's a huge amount of knowledge based in here as well. Use it whenever you can. I have lol

Last edited by soulpatch; Jul 15, 2019 at 11:08 PM.

Jul 16, 2019 | 07:30 AM

#23

Zerk

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From: Straight Jacket Memories and Sedative Highs

Its carbed, it has an ignition module, tssm, map, cpk, and coil. Cam sensors were taken out midyear 2000, I think. No ECU, though it has ignition module.

Intermittent is tough, no mater what.

CPK and map were $45 when I replaced mine around 2006.

Jul 17, 2019 | 07:41 PM

#24

TwiZted Biker

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Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 66,110

Likes: 51,396

From: Niles Canyon Ca.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zerk

Its carbed, it has an ignition module, tssm, map, cpk, and coil. Cam sensors were taken out midyear 2000, I think. No ECU, though it has ignition module.

Intermittent is tough, no mater what.

CPK and map were $45 when I replaced mine around 2006.

It's an 88 model so no it does not have those items, a coil, cam pick module & black box is it.

Jul 17, 2019 | 07:55 PM

#25

Zerk

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Joined: Jul 2009

Posts: 7,406

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From: Straight Jacket Memories and Sedative Highs

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwiZted Biker

It's an 88 model so no it does not have those items, a coil, cam pick module & black box is it.

No.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zerk

I have an 88"

Last edited by Zerk; Jul 17, 2019 at 07:57 PM.

Jul 17, 2019 | 09:29 PM

#26

TwiZted Biker

Club Member

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 66,110

Likes: 51,396

From: Niles Canyon Ca.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zerk

No.

I have an 88"

That's fine he has a 1988 80" what troubleshoots for yours isn't the same for the OP's .

Jul 17, 2019 | 09:45 PM

#27

Zerk

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Joined: Jul 2009

Posts: 7,406

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From: Straight Jacket Memories and Sedative Highs

My mistake. I thought he meant TC88, not 1988.

Jul 18, 2019 | 06:36 AM

#28

BroWebb

Thread Starter

Intermediate

Joined: Mar 2019

Posts: 33

Likes: 3

From: Crystal Springs MS.

Picked up a new 15 amp breaker and coil Will try to get them installed ASAP and check every wire connection I can in the process and see what happens. Figured it would not hurt to replace those 30 year old parts anyway. I’ll get back with an update afterwards.

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Jul 18, 2019 | 06:57 AM

#29

foxtrapper

HDF Community Team

Joined: Nov 2012

Posts: 6,189

Likes: 2,419

From: USA

More often then not, I've found this to be in the ignition pickup coil or hall sensor. On yours, that might be the same as the crank sensor. For whatever reason, they seem to fail more than almost any other ignition component. Sometimes you can get it to reveal itself by wiggling the wires with the engine running and hearing it stumble or shut down.