Belgian Greetings & my first Ully '06 issues.

[FeliXB12X]

Hello fellow Buell'ers!

Brand new to this forum, completely new to V-Twin bikes as well, so I might have a lot of (dumb?) questions in the near future, haha!
Untill now I've always had smooth in line 4's. Honda, Kawi, Suz & Yam. So I had to learn how to drive between 3K and 5K rpm, lolz. I had to learn how to manage a hypersport-frame, with a 'lazy' VTwin underneath, and SuperMoto handling. Lucky for me, I'm 1m90, so getting on it is quiet easy. I even 'need' the tall seat to get realy comfy and have my knees wel clamped just behind the pucks. Fits like a glove.

Bought this sweet Orange Ully from my dad last year. He tought he might like the bike's 'sporty' touch. Condidering he always rode Road-Kings en Heritages...he wanted something different for his mid-life crisis. Drove about 6k in 6years...a real shame. So I took it! He's gone back to some CVO Super Touring Electra bimbambom.

Annywayz, my issue...
Last night I came home, took the freeway. All runs well, like a dream. Stopped at the gas-station for my coffee & smoke. Odd thing...the fan didn't came on like it always does... It was a bit fresh, bit moist, and I drove real slowly.
Getting back on the bike. Ignition, lights come & go as usual...but just a few seconds later the V-Twin light comes on (check engine).
I started to pannic. Pulled over, killed the engine. Waited for 5"...
Repeated the operation...but stil...check-engine comes on.
I drove home really slowly, making sure not to rev up. Trying to listen to any 'weird' noise but nothing. Arai + eardplugs + 1200cc vibrating and ratteling... couldn't really notice anything unusual.

I've read that when this light comes on and stays on, it indicates a malfuntcion somewere and reduces poweroutput to avoid excessive heat & further damage. That's a nice feature.

I do know my way around a wrench or screwdriver, but I'm not a full technician either. (specially on US-bikes)
Can a 'simple' malfunction of the fan (or its fuse) cause a check-engine signal?
Can I test if my fan is stil functionning? (forcing it to come on in some way?)
Is the bike dead and wil some good soul come and get if of my hands for 50bucks? ;p

For its specs:
First Gen: '05 (sold 06) Ully
FULL stock, 21k km (about 14k miles),
never skipped a beat, never touched the ground.
Fitted EBC brake pads, ContiRoad2 tires, new lightbulds (ones with whom I can actually see something ^^) and that's about it.
Was thinking of getting her a K&N, Torquhammer or Jardine exhaust & ECM but...first I want this light to come of. ;p

Many thankx in advance for your time, and don't hesitate if y'all need more information.
'd be glad to help you out as wel.

Greetings!

FeliXB12X - Stéphane - Belgium

 

[user_deleted]

these are very simple bikes stephane. the CEL check engine light does sometimes momentarily activate on our bikes for overly rich exhaust, slight glitch, things of that nature but then will go out upon restart and stay out. check your bike's ECM for any stored codes related to the CEL going on. a faulty fan will turn on the light but keep in mind the fan only activates when the ECM computer tells it to and it needs sufficient heat to do that. you might not have had the motor warm enough to even turn on fan.

 

[FeliXB12X]

Come to think of it...a few days ago, the fan DID made a horrible noise. Like some leafs or branches (maybe a mouse? ) was stuck between the blades...
Could be a bearing issue, or even 'something' blocking it? Aterworths it didn't made this anymore, tough.
And when I ride the bike, the fan always comes on. When riding in traffic almost systematically, rarely on freeways, sometimes on B-roads. The 'loud-mode' never stays on very long. Max 10seconds. But the 'silent-mode' runs for a minute orso.
That's why I'm a bit scared. It wasn't verry warm, and we did have a mild rain, but still having 25°C.
Put the ignition on this afternoon, CEL came on after a few seconds. [sad]
Two days ago I DID came home with heavy storm. 70km on the freeway, drenched with 5cm of water. Many thankx to them ContiAttacks ^^! Hope this couldn't have drenched any of the electrics?
Are Ully's (or any Buell) sensible to 'heavy' rain.
(heavy, like in: my waterproof boots have been drying for 48hours ^^, the INSIDE of my Arai was wet, cars where aquaplanning all over the place at 60km/h...I was perfectly stable at 90 though! )

Kinda worrying me. I'll check the fuses and wiring for any damage or moiste, tomorow. If the weather clears up. [smirk]

In a meanhwile, thankx for your reply. If I can't fix it, I will have to find a Buell-expert around here.
Almost no H-D dealer is willing to maintain Buells in Belgium.
And 'my' mecanic doesn't know H-D engines either, so he wont perform to much on it. Altough he does magic with my Japs.

Cheers to all!

 

[c818919]

I would buy a cable and download ecmspy and check the codes.....

 

[twobuells]

If the fan has oil on it the rear rocker box gasket is leaking oil. When the fan gets oil on it they usually fail.

 

[Petrus]

Take a long ride to IJsselstein to the guys of Twin Motorcycles. As said in a different thread here, they are considered as very knowledgable at anything Buell.
Bike Hospital in NL also a very good address to go to.

 

[anrkizm95]

how to pull codes

Code No. Fault Condition
11 Throttle position sensor
13 Oxygen sensor
14 Engine temperature sensor
15 Intake air temperature sensor
16 Battery voltage
21 inter active muffler control
23 Front fuel injector
24 Front ignition coil
25 Rear ignition coil
26,27 clutch and neutral switch
32 Rear fuel injector
33 Fuel pump
34 iac
35 Tachometer
36 fan voltage
37,43 speed sensor
44 Bank angle sensor
45 side stand sensor
46 start relay
47 aux power outlets
52, 53, 54, 55 ECM failure
56 Cam sync failure

welcome to the forum

 

[FeliXB12X]

Well, went to check on the fuses: All OK.
Checked the fan: turns easily, bonedry so the head cover gasket seems to be out of cause [up])

Could it be a temp-sensor somewhere? I suppose that would be the one on the rear cylinder...stil having me to unmount the whole engine to get there...? [sad]

Downloaded ECMSpy...but I'm affraid it wont be much of a use. Not having a laptop...can't see miself installing my case on the sidewalk .
I'll see if my mecanic knows the software, if he has Deuth-cables etc.
I'll give him some links to ur useful DYI's, I'm sure he'll get the hang of it.
Once we get the error codes, we'll know where to look.
Otherwise I will have to plan a trip to TwinMotorcycles. It's 'only' 100miles away from Brussels. Lucky daddy has a bike-trailer.

Many thankx for all your replys and usefull tips!

Greetings!

 

[FeliXB12X]

Ok, some updates.
Broke up a 4PIN connector I had laying around, managed to build some 'loop tool' and got the Error-code(s).
36: Cooling fan. As suspected (and hoped for ^^)

If I read the manual correctly I could have 3 issues:
- Dead fan, easy to test. will hook up a battery and see what happens.
- Wiring issue. I'll get a geek (and good mecanic as wel) to follow the wiring-diagram and look for any flaws.
- Dead or disfunctional Temp.sensor. Read it's a mess to get there, but we'll manage somehow.
The troubleshoot goes to a dead ECM...but I'm hoping not to go down that line. ^^
Does this more or less sum up what I'm expected to do?

If you got any tips, I'm more than glad to hear from your experiences.

Greetings! Stephane

 

[FeliXB12X]

Small update on the simptoms:

Turn ingition on: CEL comes on for 2seconds. Shuts of...and remains off, now.
Start engine. CEL remains of. After having ridden for a minute or 2, CEL is back on. [mad]
(Fan still doesn't turn on while riding nor shutting her down when warm.)

Could this confirm or exclude any specific element?

Cheers to all!!

 

[user_deleted]

felix: the fan has positive current going to it at all times thru the factory connector plug. the ECM completes the ground or negative circuit in USA speak. it gets its signal to do that from the temp switch located on top of rear cylinder...if that helps.

 

[FeliXB12X]

That is a nice tip, Lunatic!
Thankx for that.
Since the fan has only 1 connector (guessing for the power & ground), the Temp.Sensor should command his info to the ECM, sending a 'spin-around-order' to the fan. Im I right, here?
So...(assuming all the electric connections & signals are OK)
Step 1: Hook up the fan to a battery -> check if running
If not running
Step 2: Replace Eng.Temp.Sensor
If STILL not OK, I would be having ECM issues.
Still good? [confused]

I took her for a spin yesterday...got back to the 'initail' symptoms. ECL comes on after 2sec off-period when ignition is turned on.

The thing is that I'm not equiped nor do I have a closed garage to jack up the bike and unmount the rear shock. Since this IS required to even acces the fan's connectors...I'll just have to be patient an wait for my mecanic to free up some time.
(he's kinda busy prepping my ZRX with an engine swap, St.3 Carb-tuning, ZZR-Cams and hyperpro shocks )

'Ll keep y'all posted! [up]

 

[Hollowman]

Hello there,
I'm also a ulysses-owner from Belgium and i've had the same problem with the ecl-light previous summer.
The light always came on when it was hot (over 25°c)but the bike never lost power. After a check-up i had a problem with the wires of the fuel-pump. Since then i haven't seen the ecl-light come on, but the weather has not been very good here in Belgium so maybe it's the fan... i'll check it out when it's hot
greetz

 

[FeliXB12X]

Hmmm, it's been a while since I've been here, as it seems. ^^
Quiet busy periods over here but finaly found time whit wy meccanic to get under the Buell.
Ordered a fan at TM's, new wheel-bearings as well...the stock ones, at least at the rears, seemt to have their best times ^^.
Since we where there: oiliflter, airfilter, oil change, tranny-tension-check + oil change, plugs

She runs like a dream again! Since I did mount the RH-side Scoop the fan doesn't come on (at least not at full speed), only when shutting her of.
Me is happy!

Does anybody what them stock rear brake-pads are made of? 25K km (about 15K miles) and they had more than half of the material left. [confused]
Even the front ones weren't worn out completely.
Anywayz, I feel like here stoppie-abilities have come back.

Next steps for this summer: SS front & rear suspension...and I WANT one of those GasMask-mods done as well.

Greetings from Belgium!

 

[djohnk]

[up]

 

[FeliXB12X]

Hy fellow Bueller's!

It's been a while since I've come around here, shame on me.
Got my Kawi back running, new engine etc...so the Ully was kinda left in the garage for a moment.

Anywayz, had some issues with it just before the winter, and things won't stop going wrong now. Makes me want to cry.

Had to replace both front- and rear- wheel bearings. Not a big deal. Also a know flaw on these bikes.
I can live with that.
I've ordered new stearinghead-bearings as well, since I was gonna replace them along with the suspension springs & oil. Got myself the -25mm Progressive kit. Should do the trick.

Last week, the drivebelt snapped right of. 30K km (+/- 20K miles), so yeah...it was bound to happen at one point.
Got it right away from TM in Holland. Great guys.
I mounted in without any issues what so ever and wanted to take te bike for a ride.

Started the engine. After 30seconds or so, it started to stutter, give some big black pufs from the exhaust and then just started dying. Just like fuell wasn't arriving properly. /
Went to check te error codes:
15: AIT-Senor
21: Active Exhaust Valve

Can either of these make the ECU avoid an engine from starting?
Odd thing: when I turn on the ignition, killswitch 'On', gass full open...the actuator on top of the airbox doesn't move.
However, when unplugging and replugging the battery, turn on the ignition, killswitch 'On'...the Valve-Actuator DOES go 'up & down', but nothing more after that.

When I follow the manuals...it could be a faulty wire somewhere, the ECM, the exhaust...or anything in between, lol.

I don't have a laptop equiped with ECM-spy, cannot perform a TPS-reset...wont help, I'm affraid.
Do you guys have any options? Ideas? Know a H-D/Buell that is trustworthy in Belgium?
I'm STRONGLY thinking about taking the bike up to TwinMotorcycles for a complete check-up, but would be happy to find an option that's not so far away. (altough it's only 100miles from where I live...it's not an easy roadtrip )

Thankx in advance for your help & advice on this one, lads!

FeliXB12X - Stephane

 

[BuellyBagger]

the AIT sensor could cause bad startup. its the little sensor in the bottom of the inner airbox that reads the temp of the air going into the intake. U can test it easily with ecmspy by holding it between your fingers and watching the readout to see if the temp. rises accordingly. Or im sure theres a way to test it with a ohm meter.
The exhaust Valve will throw a CEL, but I've never had it cause poor running. My uly would throw that code everytime I started it until I got rid of the actuator, both physically and in the ECM. (was running D&D exhaust with the stock ECM)

 

[FeliXB12X]

Update:

Got some 'online' advice from Twin-Motorcycles.
Seemt like it was running on 1cyl...retaing-ring-thingy on the rear spark cable was broken...no contact...bam...
Front spark was black as hell and wet, had only 50miles on it. No good.
Cleaned it all up, mended the cable, fired her up, at the first crank.
Ran a little unstable for a minute or so, gave some big puff-backfire-like here en there.
Couldn't really 'test' it, it's pooring with rain, drove for about 5miles to home. The engine didn't even warm up propperly. I'll let y'all know tomorow after some riding to work.
But she HAS to end up in Holland (TwinMotorcycles) for a complete check-up. And soon!

Greetings!