recently the engine light came on after riding for about 10 miles. at start up the light comes on for a few seconds, then goes out for a few seconds, then comes back on for a few seconds, then goes out and stays out until i ride a 5-10 mile distance. then it stays on until shut down. if same routine as start up is performed right after a ride the light does not come back on until about 30 seconds has passed and then it stays on. from a cold start as the above routine occurs of on-off-on-off, the light stays after until ridden again 5-10 miles, then it comes on again and stays on until shutdown. bike runs fine and starts fine, and i can't find a good way to checks codes other than d01 to d011 on the speedometer and they all show clear. is a scanalyzer at the dealer my only option on an 03?

 

No, the HD Scanalyzer is NOT the only option to check engine codes on a 2003 Harley....


I have a 2003 Heritage softail and the 2003 Softail HD Factory Electrical Diagnostic Manual. I don't know if the 2003 Softails ECMs work the exact same as the 2003 Touring models....

First off, it sounds like when you start the bike, the engine light is telling you that you have a Historical code. Then, after riding about 10 miles, it throws an active code that stays active until you shut down the bike.

Per the 2003 Softail HD Factory Electrical Diagnostic Manual, there are two ways to get the engine diagnostic codes.

One is with the HD Scanalyzer. It will read and clear codes.

The other is by putting the ECM in diagnostic mode, by using a jump wire between two pins in the diagnostic port connector. This procedure is in the Electrical Diagnostic Manual. It will cause engine light flashes that you can count to get the DTC #. You then look up the number in a chart in the manual. There is no way to clear a code with this technique. You must fix the issue, then after so many "engine cycles" without throwing the same code, the historical code will be cleared.

On my 2003 EFI Softail, I can also use a Harley accessory called the Code Master. It will read engine diagnostic codes and clear the codes. I don't remember if it will work on carbed bikes too, or only EFI bikes. They stopped making/selling these Code Master code reader, as the ECMs got more sophisticated and you could read DTCs right from the speedo, along with the speedo codes and TSSM codes.

Harley Code Master:





Then there are the high power diagnostic tools that do almost as much as the current HD Shop computer, the Digital Tech II. Some independent shops and individuals will have a TechnoResearch Centurion Pro. I have one for my bikes. It will handle the reading and clearing of engine diagnostic codes on early EFI Twin Cams, again, I just don't know how much it does with the carbed bikes..

 

thanks hattidtude,
the jumper wire procedure seems simple enough but i don't know what the diagnostic port connector looks like or where it is located. i assume behind the right side panel behind the saddle bag. other threads say pins 1 and 2 to jump

 

I am guessing here, but it may be under the left side cover. Should be a square 4 pin connector.

 

located the connector by visiting the dynojet website! under right side panel cover on 2003 road king. thanks

 

You are correct, it's under the right side panel behind the saddle bag. It's a male, 4-pin, grey colored, Deutsch connector with a black rubber plug in the end.



The PowerVision video jogged my memory. On a 2003 EFI bike you can also read/clear DTCs with a PowerVision tuner


Your title says 2003 FLHRC. Since you didn't put an "I" at the end, I'll assume you have a carbed model. Here are the pages from the 2003 Electrical Diagnostic Manual for a 2003 carbed Softail. I believe the ECMs work the same between Softail & Touring models.




















I hope this info helps...

 

[QUOTE=hattitude;22162529]You are correct, it's under the right side panel behind the saddle bag. It's a male, 4-pin, grey colored, Deutsch connector with a black rubber plug in the end.



The PowerVision video jogged my memory. On a 2003 EFI bike you can also read/clear DTCs with a PowerVision tuner


Your title says 2003 FLHRC. Since you didn't put an "I" at the end, I'll assume you have a carbed model. Here are the pages from the 2003 Electrical Diagnostic Manual for a 2003 carbed Softail. I believe the ECMs work the same between Softail & Touring models.




















I hope this info helps...[/QUOTE

thanks hattitude,
that's a lot of good info but i am not having any luck with the data connector/jump wire procedure. i jumped pins 1 and 2 (which are not marked but apparently i picked the right ones) with a female spade connector. however, when the engine light should have been displaying flashes for the codes i got only a single flash and then the light stayed on until i turned the ignition switch off.
initialy when the ignition switch was turned on the engine light came on briefly, then turned off, then came back on for a bit longer period, the turned off, and with a short pause it was followed by a single flash, followed by the light turning off, then coming back on and staying on until the ignition switch was turned off. there was no flashing light before the codes were to be displayed and no first or second digit flashes to follow as described in the manual and numerous threads. disappointing as i figured this to be simple which it never is!!

 

I wish I could help more, but I have been using diagnostic tools and/or my tuner for many years..

I only did this procedure once, like 20 years ago and it was a pain. It took me a few tries to either get it right, or understand the flashes... I don't have any practical experience to share, as it is all just a bad memory at this point...

That's why I went out and bought the HD Code Master reader.

Bottom line, even without codes, it all boils down to spark, compression, air, and fuel.... You may have to do an old school diagnostic

Good luck.. keep us posted

 

Do you have the handlebar switch on also when trying to retrieve the codes? The wires are color coded - there should be no guessing here - should be zero error you got the correct wires.

 

yes switch is on.
not sure what you are referring to regarding color-coded wires.