No Power after attempting to start
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 6
Likes: 5
From: Florida
No Power after attempting to start
Tried to crank up my 2008 Ultra today after it has been sitting for a couple months. Its been on trickle charge. Turned over with starter, but starter disengaged and bike didt start. Tried again with same results, but this time a bit of smoke (electrical). Now, no lights on dash, no headlights, nuthin - when ignition switch is turned. Main fuze looks ok at fuse panel. Any suggestions on troubleshooting path? Thanks!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,185
Likes: 2,134
From: W. Texas
Pull the seat and start by cking battery and terminals and cables.
Any idea where the smoke started from ?
Ck the battery voltage
Ck fuses for power coming from Ing switch
First try to see something obviously burnt or melted
WP
Any idea where the smoke started from ?
Ck the battery voltage
Ck fuses for power coming from Ing switch
First try to see something obviously burnt or melted
WP
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 822
Likes: 488
From: LA Ca.
Like WP50 wrote. Check your cables at the battery. One may have been loose and now is not making good contact. Had a truck that you would hit the key and crank for a second. Hit key again, nothing. Twist the cables on the battery terminals to clean then a bit and it would crank and start. Fix was a thorough cleaning and making sure they were tight.
Good luck!
Tom
Good luck!
Tom
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,526
Likes: 30,840
From: Pennsylvania
1. Welcome to the forum.
2. How old is the battery?
3. If not new, have it load tested at a local automotive store.
4. As stated above, check all connections.
5. Also pull each fuse and check for corrosion.
NOTE:
The above information, while credible, is worth what you paid for it and should not be considered gospel.
Do due diligence, research and have a H-D Field Service Manual before working on your bike.
You will probably have many opinions and suggestions presented; make sure you research the person providing the helpful information as there are some who provide good information that is useful and some who speak out of other orifices with gibberish. You will figure out this quickly.
2. How old is the battery?
3. If not new, have it load tested at a local automotive store.
4. As stated above, check all connections.
5. Also pull each fuse and check for corrosion.
NOTE:
The above information, while credible, is worth what you paid for it and should not be considered gospel.
Do due diligence, research and have a H-D Field Service Manual before working on your bike.
You will probably have many opinions and suggestions presented; make sure you research the person providing the helpful information as there are some who provide good information that is useful and some who speak out of other orifices with gibberish. You will figure out this quickly.
Thread Starter
|
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 6
Likes: 5
From: Florida
Ok, thanks for the replies. So, terminals on fairly newish (12 mos) Diehard Gold battery were melted. Still connected but loose. Battery still has 12.61 volts. Bottom of ECM edges are black. Looks like that got fried. I should be able to replace the ECM with a like part, install a new battery and then try again. Thoughts?
Did the ECM touch the battery terminals? If so, it's probably OK as the cast aluminum case would have taken the voltage. Tighten the cables (or replace the battery as needed) and try it again. If the ECM is fried, there is an underlying reason, but i'm betting the engine was cranked for an extended period, the terminals got hot due to being loose and the screws or wires touched the metal ECM case and let some magic smoke fly.
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 822
Likes: 488
From: LA Ca.
Depending on the condition of the battery terminals and the battery cables. I would clean them or replace the battery and maybe the cables. Then I would try to start it and see what happens before replacing the ECM.
Just a thought,
Tom
Just a thought,
Tom
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