2003 FLHRC check engine light allways on
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 1,076
From: SE SC
How about an old style fix...
Completely remove power from the bike. Disconnect battery and remove the main fuse. Obviously, remove from any trickle charger.
Wait a minute or two while you check connections under the speedo, under the seat, and all fuses. Unplug connections and look for any corrosion or issues with the pins.
Add power back to the bike and see if it got rid of the "gremlin".
The ECM is just another computer, and might just need a reboot, so to speak
just a shot in the dark......
Completely remove power from the bike. Disconnect battery and remove the main fuse. Obviously, remove from any trickle charger.
Wait a minute or two while you check connections under the speedo, under the seat, and all fuses. Unplug connections and look for any corrosion or issues with the pins.
Add power back to the bike and see if it got rid of the "gremlin".
The ECM is just another computer, and might just need a reboot, so to speak
just a shot in the dark......
Last edited by DeeRoe; Feb 6, 2025 at 04:00 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,143
Likes: 11,211
From: San Diego, CA
DeeRoe has a good suggestion, about the ECM reboot, but I believe you have already accomplished that by disconnecting your ECM..
As much as we all would like to help, we are not there, putting our own eyes and hands on the bike. We only know what information you share. Without looking it over ourselves, it can be hard to spot something you may be missing...
Sometimes it's good to get a fresh set of eyes on an issue.
It might be worth letting the dealer do a diagnostic. Their Digital Tech II computer can do more with the old ECMs than yours does...
Worst case scenario is they confirm the ECM is bad..
Best case scenario is that they discover just a reprogram of the current computer, or an adjustment to the software may solve the issue.
Good luck and keep us posted...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,143
Likes: 11,211
From: San Diego, CA
Ahhh, it was obvious he was a competent wrench, but I didn't realize/missed that he was a shop owner.
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 39
Likes: 16
From: Germany
When my knowledge ends and I have no idears left I come to this forum because I have got many good informations in the past out of it.
But I have a good relation to the official dealer few miles away from my home and I do clearly not see them as a competition.
I have been there long before them and hopefully I am there for many more years.
I see more a type of coexistence and sometimes when I get stuck I move to their shop.
Especially in case of bikes under warranty where I am not paid when changing parts or I am not allowed to change anything.
However, I have been to the dealer today and we hooked up the bike.
On their bike report there was no mileage shown. Back in my shop I looked at my report and I do not have mileage too on my report.
Moreover we have seen that DT brings up missing password and module configuration is "00 00 00 00 00 00".
Back at home I did the on-off-on-off-run and reasigned the fob but this did change nothing except stealing my time.
Bike is running perfect, engine-check-light still on all the time.
Dealreship told me that first of all they need to try to write correct software to the ECM. They may not be able to change to correct FIN but I don´t care for this.
If it is not possible to write correct software to the ECM they need to put in new ECM and speedo.
You can guess that this is the last thing I want to do on a bike that had an accident and wrong ECM/speedo.
I need to talk to the customer if we should try to write correct software because he needs to pay for it.
Sorry for the long post.
Last edited by sepperl; Feb 6, 2025 at 10:15 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,143
Likes: 11,211
From: San Diego, CA
Your feeling is right as far as the Indy shop. About competence you better ask my customers. ;-)
When my knowledge ends and I have no idears left I come to this forum because I have got many good informations in the past out of it.
But I have a good relation to the official dealer few miles away from my home and I do clearly not see them as a competition.
I have been there long before them and hopefully I am there for many more years.
I see more a type of coexistence and sometimes when I get stuck I move to their shop.
Especially in case of bikes under warranty where I am not paid when changing parts or I am not allowed to change anything.
However, I have been to the dealer today and we hooked up the bike.
On their bike report there was no mileage shown. Back in my shop I looked at my report and I do not have mileage too on my report.
Moreover we have seen that DT brings up missing password and module configuration is "00 00 00 00 00 00".
Back at home I did the on-off-on-off-run and reasigned the fob but this did change nothing except stealing my time.
Bike is running perfect, engine-check-light still on all the time.
Dealreship told me that first of all they need to try to write correct software to the ECM. They may not be able to change to correct FIN but I don´t care for this.
If it is not possible to write correct software to the ECM they need to put in new ECM and speedo.
You can guess that this is the last thing I want to do on a bike that had an accident and wrong ECM/speedo.
I need to talk to the customer if we should try to write correct software because he needs to pay for it.
Sorry for the long post.
Thanks for filling us in...
I am curious about this issue, please post up the final remedy..
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 39
Likes: 16
From: Germany
Just to bring things to an end:
Customer took back the bike without solution. He did not want to spend more money.
He told me he may do the quick and dirty way by pinning out the led for engine check light.
I told him that may come unhandy in the future but he did not care so I am good with this.
Customer took back the bike without solution. He did not want to spend more money.
He told me he may do the quick and dirty way by pinning out the led for engine check light.
I told him that may come unhandy in the future but he did not care so I am good with this.
Tourer
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 385
Likes: 324
From: Coastal Carolina
I may would get a 2nd opinion form a local shop as I would like to know myself however, you do have a inexpensive option! Like when my old 1990 Mercedes got hit by lightning, lightning hit the roof right after I exited the car ( a few seconds later and would have hit my head and was a clear day, not a cloud in the sky, its said lightning can travel 30 miles? After hitting my roof driver side lightning came back out the muffler and blew a 3' crater in my driveway! No it would not start and after replacing the computer I still had all kinda dash lights still on.
Nothing little squares cut black electrical tape could not fix!
Nothing little squares cut black electrical tape could not fix!
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 39
Likes: 16
From: Germany
Just to make it clear:
It was not my idear to go this way.
Even if it would have been the expensive way I would have done the only right way to try and write correct software and if necessary change the ECM and speedo.
But I think the owner tries to go to the seller and tell him about the problems and see what comes out. Maybe he is only trying to get some cash back.
Not my problem anymore.
It was not my idear to go this way.
Even if it would have been the expensive way I would have done the only right way to try and write correct software and if necessary change the ECM and speedo.
But I think the owner tries to go to the seller and tell him about the problems and see what comes out. Maybe he is only trying to get some cash back.
Not my problem anymore.