Throttle by wire issues
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Novice
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 18
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From: Canada
Throttle by wire issues
I keep getting shut down? The check engine light comes on and it goes into limp mode...happened 5 or 6 times on the way home the other day? I have tried to check the harness behind the air filter but it looks ok to me?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 28,476
Likes: 3,950
From: Vermont
Looks ok and is ok could be two different things. Was happening to my 08 and I changed the pins to the ones listed in the bulletin and it worked for me. Also check wiring for kinks, breaks, chafes, etc. I’ve seen where the throttle body had to be changed out as a last resort too.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 10,833
Likes: 6,485
From: Canada Flats
Check your bike for error codes and report back , could lead you / us in the right direction . At this point it could be anything from the coil to the injectors .
How old is the battery , have it load tested , check the battery cables ( clean and tight ) , both ends and along the jacket . Check the connectors under the front of the frame , just under the oil filter . When doing oil changes , oil drips down onto those connectors , crank sensor and voltage regulator , clean them up with electrical contact cleaner and add a little dielectric grease . Just a guess here .
Check the connectors on both front / rear injectors , wires could have rubbed through on the frame or tank causing a no combustion error , again another guess .
Any recent work done , new bars , fairing etc ?
How old is the battery , have it load tested , check the battery cables ( clean and tight ) , both ends and along the jacket . Check the connectors under the front of the frame , just under the oil filter . When doing oil changes , oil drips down onto those connectors , crank sensor and voltage regulator , clean them up with electrical contact cleaner and add a little dielectric grease . Just a guess here .
Check the connectors on both front / rear injectors , wires could have rubbed through on the frame or tank causing a no combustion error , again another guess .
Any recent work done , new bars , fairing etc ?
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Jun 2015
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From: Canada
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 10,833
Likes: 6,485
From: Canada Flats
Have you had the fairing off recently ? might want to check the connectors inside , make sure there's no corrosion / damage / broken pins etc . If new bars were installed , it could be a break / pinched wire inside the bars or possibly a pinched wire in the switch housing , right side .
Another thing , it could be a broken wire on the neck going up into the fairing , the jacket may look good , but with turning right / left , a wire could have broke inside , may be hard to see without really getting a close look at each wire .
There is also a little connector inside the bars ( twist grip sensor ) that could be causing the issue , those pins in that connector have been known to cause issues and some will simply cut it off and solder those wires . I just did that recently with a new bar install .
Check the connector going to the ecm , make sure there is no corrosion built up on it , a good cleaning with electrical contact cleaner would help . I use contact cleaner on my fuses , relays , connectors etc , apply a little dielectric grease .
Google those error codes , you'll find a lot of info on those 2 errors , it may help narrow your search .
Hopefully it's an easy find / fix , good luck !
Another thing , it could be a broken wire on the neck going up into the fairing , the jacket may look good , but with turning right / left , a wire could have broke inside , may be hard to see without really getting a close look at each wire .
There is also a little connector inside the bars ( twist grip sensor ) that could be causing the issue , those pins in that connector have been known to cause issues and some will simply cut it off and solder those wires . I just did that recently with a new bar install .
Check the connector going to the ecm , make sure there is no corrosion built up on it , a good cleaning with electrical contact cleaner would help . I use contact cleaner on my fuses , relays , connectors etc , apply a little dielectric grease .
Google those error codes , you'll find a lot of info on those 2 errors , it may help narrow your search .
Hopefully it's an easy find / fix , good luck !
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 307
From: Houston, Texas
Below is a cut and paste from the bulletin Dawg mentioned. My Indy did this for me on my 08 before I had any problems. Cool thing was I didn't even know the problem existed and he did it without asking and didn't charge me for it. When I learned about the fretting here, I asked him about it a few visits later and he laughed. That's when he told me he had already done it. He'd seen it a lot and just started doing it to every bike that came in. Of course your problem might be something else but it's a good idea to look at this regardless.
Note: Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) circuit DTC's P0120, P0220, P0122, P0123, P0222 and P223 should take diagnostic priority over a P2135 code. If any of these TPS codes exist concurrently with the P2135, they should be investigated first using the diagnostic manual.
The TCA has two potentiometers (designated as TPS1 & TPS2) and a electric DC motor for controlling the actuation of the throttle. The two TPS sensors work opposite of each other. As the throttle plate opens , TPS1 voltage ranges from 0.0-5.0 Volts, while TPS2 voltage ranges from 5.0-0.0 volts. The sum of the two TPS voltages should always measure approximately 5.0 volts. These wire are: TPS1, pin # 37 (BN/V wire) of the ECM, and TPS2 pin #36 (BN/R wire) of the ECM
The TPS1 and TPS2 sensors should never add to more than 5.13 Volts Direct Current (VDC) or less than 4.87 VDC . A sum of voltages out of this range should register a current P2135 code.
Troubleshooting:
It is believed that FRETTING CORROSION is a major contributor of this code. A poor connection at the Throttle Control Actuator (TCA) can affect the sensor voltages reported to the ECM and this will set this DTC. As you can see from the General Information section, the sensor voltage only need to be altered by 0.13 VDC to possibly set the code.
The most common vehicles to have these symptoms are those with more than 8,000 miles (12875 Kilometers) or 103 cubic inch and larger engines. Vibration is believed to contribute to the FRETTING CONDITION.
Repair Procedure:
1. While monitoring the TPS1 and TPS2 voltages on Digital Technician 2 (DT 2), wiggle the TCA [211] and the ECM [78] connectors.
2. If the voltage changes while wiggling the ECM connector , replace the affected ECM terminals (part # 72605-08). These wires are: TPS1, pin #37 brown/violet wire of the ECM, and TPS2, pin #36 brown/red wire of the ECM.
3. If no voltage change is noted while moving the ECM connector , the connection issue could be in the TCA. Replace all socket terminals with NEW terminals (part # 72663-11, used in current production) at the TCA connector[211B].
4. BEFORE CONNECTING the TCA CONNECTOR, clean the male TCA pin terminals with a swab and alcohol, and ASSEMBLE WITH DIELECTRIC GREASE.
Note: Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) circuit DTC's P0120, P0220, P0122, P0123, P0222 and P223 should take diagnostic priority over a P2135 code. If any of these TPS codes exist concurrently with the P2135, they should be investigated first using the diagnostic manual.
The TCA has two potentiometers (designated as TPS1 & TPS2) and a electric DC motor for controlling the actuation of the throttle. The two TPS sensors work opposite of each other. As the throttle plate opens , TPS1 voltage ranges from 0.0-5.0 Volts, while TPS2 voltage ranges from 5.0-0.0 volts. The sum of the two TPS voltages should always measure approximately 5.0 volts. These wire are: TPS1, pin # 37 (BN/V wire) of the ECM, and TPS2 pin #36 (BN/R wire) of the ECM
The TPS1 and TPS2 sensors should never add to more than 5.13 Volts Direct Current (VDC) or less than 4.87 VDC . A sum of voltages out of this range should register a current P2135 code.
Troubleshooting:
It is believed that FRETTING CORROSION is a major contributor of this code. A poor connection at the Throttle Control Actuator (TCA) can affect the sensor voltages reported to the ECM and this will set this DTC. As you can see from the General Information section, the sensor voltage only need to be altered by 0.13 VDC to possibly set the code.
The most common vehicles to have these symptoms are those with more than 8,000 miles (12875 Kilometers) or 103 cubic inch and larger engines. Vibration is believed to contribute to the FRETTING CONDITION.
Repair Procedure:
1. While monitoring the TPS1 and TPS2 voltages on Digital Technician 2 (DT 2), wiggle the TCA [211] and the ECM [78] connectors.
2. If the voltage changes while wiggling the ECM connector , replace the affected ECM terminals (part # 72605-08). These wires are: TPS1, pin #37 brown/violet wire of the ECM, and TPS2, pin #36 brown/red wire of the ECM.
3. If no voltage change is noted while moving the ECM connector , the connection issue could be in the TCA. Replace all socket terminals with NEW terminals (part # 72663-11, used in current production) at the TCA connector[211B].
4. BEFORE CONNECTING the TCA CONNECTOR, clean the male TCA pin terminals with a swab and alcohol, and ASSEMBLE WITH DIELECTRIC GREASE.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 263
From: Fresno Ca
If you are riding and it goes into limp mode here is the first thing to try. With gloves on, squeeze the clip on the back of the plug going into the left side of the throttle body. Right behind the air cleaner at 9 o'clock. Pull it off and put it back but not all the way so it clicks. Now slide it out and back in several times and then all the way in until it clicks the last time. This wipes off the pins and may fix connection issues. This works on my '09 every time.