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Marelli FI issue- see description

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Old Jul 25, 2025 | 05:13 PM
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Default Marelli FI issue- see description

Hello guys. Glad to be here. Here’s my issue:

2000 RKC TC88 with Marelli. Dead stock mechanicals. Just got the bike. Ran well until I cleaned the throttle body, which was pretty dirty. Since then- running like dog’s posterior.

Here’s the symptoms:

Low idle all the time

Miss/Chirping through the throttle body at idle and part throttle (1/3 or less)

Running rich- some soot on plugs and exhaust is strong

Above 1/3 throttle it pulls well and strong. Feels great.

I’m going to check and adjust the TPS settings as needed. But this was sudden. Something seems to be telling the ECM to go rich all the time. But I don’t know what. There were no pops or any issues when I cleaned the TB so I don’t think I blew a seal at all- plus it runs great under heavier throttle. I think I might have somehow killed the TPS or IAT sensor.

Thoughts?


 

Last edited by DinoBob; Jul 25, 2025 at 05:38 PM.
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Old Jul 25, 2025 | 05:36 PM
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Consider review of throttle body seals
 
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Old Jul 25, 2025 | 05:39 PM
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Originally Posted by im
Consider review of throttle body seals
I’ll sniff around it with propane. But it’s running really rich. I have a full Marelli seal and o-ring kit. But I’ve learned never to take anything apart until I’m certain I have to. So I’m going slow.
 
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Old Jul 25, 2025 | 07:01 PM
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Throttle body to cylinders
 
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Old Jul 27, 2025 | 07:20 AM
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I spent some time going through this yesterday and actually have the bike running fairly well and accelerating with no hesitation or stumbling, and have a pretty good idle. But this required setting the TPS wayyy out of whack- the initial voltage was on the order of about 1 volt.

The TPS doesn’t seem to hold its initial setting as well as I’d expect- so I did order a new one just because I thought that might be a good idea.

I’m going to use a small propane torch to just sniff around the intake and see whether it’s sucking wind somewhere, but I just don’t feel that’s the issue.

A question is this; how long does it take for the ECM to re-learn my settings after I move the TPS?
 
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Old Jul 27, 2025 | 07:33 AM
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A bad engine temp sensor will cause those issues, but will not throw any codes- just extra fuel.
 
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Old Jul 27, 2025 | 07:58 AM
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Originally Posted by rigidthumper
A bad engine temp sensor will cause those issues, but will not throw any codes- just extra fuel.
Those are pretty cheap and dead easy to change so I’ve also got one on order.
 
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Old Jul 27, 2025 | 08:09 AM
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I had one for years no trouble 58000 miles when I sold the 99RK. But if I ever had trouble I would have changed it over to a carb.
 
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Old Jul 27, 2025 | 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by touchdown
I had one for years no trouble 58000 miles when I sold the 99RK. But if I ever had trouble I would have changed it over to a carb.
In truth this system is infinitely simpler than a carburetor.

Since I adjusted the value of the TPS to this crazy value I have it at now, zero hesitation and chuffing through the throttle body. Pulls perfectly.
 
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Old Jul 28, 2025 | 11:12 AM
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The TPS is obsolete, the aftermarket ones that fit are not correct . Maybe that's what you have and or getting . The only way to get one is on ebay buying the whole throttle body that has one. When setting the tps did it have a smooth flow from idle to wide open?
 
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