Cooling fan trouble...

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Dellinger

Dellinger

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 4, 2014
Messages
413
Location
El Dorado County CA
I have no idea where to start. The other day I noticed my fan was turning on at low speed when it reached operating temp from start up. Normally high speed. Started it today and the fan never came on. Shut off the bike, will not ride it till i figure out whats wrong.

I checked the fuse, it's OK. I need to check the fan by putting voltage to it for a run test. Besides this I have no idea what could be wrong...

I'm looking for trouble shooting options please.

My bike, 2008 XB12, 7K on a rebuild. I just installed a Dean Adams exhaust but still have the EBR race ECM programed for a Jardine in the bike. Yes it runs like $h!t at the moment. I'm working on it...

I need to get a download for the stock ECM I have laying around. The PO must have done some messing with it because the CEL never came on about the exhaust valve and it had a Jardine. I'm in the process of figuring out what I need to get started with tuning the stock ECM I have.
 
No, I'm seeing the importance of the computer related stuff right now. I need a dongle or a cord. I've been planing on getting into the tuning side of Buell ownership, I've been emailing M Cobb to better understand what I need. I've read his site a few times and still have no idea what I need to download the damn map for the new pipe. It's a new language I need to learn.
 
I have a cord.
I won't be needing it for a while. Heck, I plan on going blue tooth. It's yours if you want it.
I feel your pain. I've been through two rebuilds myself. One for the crank and one for the trans.
I know how much it sucks when "something else" goes wrong.
I'll send you my cable. I may also have a copy of spy on CD from when I got the cable. However, my bike is a 2007 and I'm not sure if the version of ECMspy on the CD is compatible with your ECM.
That stuff is over my head too.
PM me your address if you want the cable.
 
For any diagnostics (and even downloading new programs that match an exhaust change), I would highly recommend using ECMDroid (needs an Android device and a Bluetooth dongle). It's foolproof and easy to learn. Oh, and it's free.

For building your own customized tuning program specifically for your custom engine work, I'd have a legitimate tuner work on the bike itself.
 
As far as your cooling fan issue...I'd start by looking at the cylinder head temperature sensor. It is what tells the ECM how hot the engine is, and the ECM uses that info to decide when to turn on the fan ( as well as other things). I'd start out by just measuring its voltage at ambient temperature on the single wire to the sensor to the engine as ground. Use the chart below for reference. For example if the outside temperature is between 50° - 70°F the voltage should read between 4.63 - 4.83 v with the key on, run switch on, engine off, connector plugged together. If good then let the bike run and see if the voltage drops as it warms up.

Keep in mind the sensor uses the engine as a ground. So if any of your ground connections are questionable you might get a bad reading at the sensor. If you do repeat test with your volt meter negative lead on a know good ground like the negative battery terminal.



Good luck with it. If you need any more help just ask.

IMG_20160425_230446002.jpg
 
Last edited:
Did you ever put voltage on the fan? I found the troubleshooting steps quite easy to follow in my manual for my 06 Uly. It sounds like you have voltage on your fan if it has worked in the past, but it could be intermittent. I applied voltage to my fan and it did not come on. I removed and replaced the fan and all worked like it's supposed to. Here's the twist. When I applied voltage to the removed fan it came on, but was rather intermittent and sounded like it had a bunch of grit in the fan. I had bought the Uly from an owner in Arizona and I suspect the bike sat idle for a long time, hence the grit. I think the grit had prevented the fan from coming on while it was still in the bike. This might not be your issue, but bottom line is you can easily apply voltage to see if it works. Hope this helps.
 
Actually what you'd be doing is applying a ground by grounding a pin in one of your disconnected ECM connectors. On my bike it was pin 6 on the gray connector. This is much easier than trying to get at your fan connector. Do you have the service manual?
 
I have a manual. I can fix anything, I just need a nudge in the right direction from someone who might remember how he fixed his. This bike has had every part removed or replaced by me since I bought it 2 years ago. I put in a new temp sensor as well as every other sensor, NIB when I rebuilt my engine last year . Rod bearing failure. Cases, heads and rocker boxes were all I kept. The rest was replaced with all NIB factory internals.

The fan **** the bed. I pulled it just a min ago and put voltage to it. I could feel the electricity try to move the fan but I got it to spin for a minute only after hitting the blade with my finger, had to get it started for it to turn on its own. Scared the crap out of me when it did. Started at half speed then tapered off then stopped. Need a new fan...
 
Check out fleabay.
I figure as long as you find a seller that has a guarantee on their items they sell you really have nothing to lose.
Also $65 bucks sounds a lot better than $147
 

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