Speedometer and odometer intermittently quit working

[snrusnak]

Like the title says, the speedo and odometer will intermittently stop working while I'm riding. I have a 2005 xb9r. It just started happening a couple weeks ago while I was riding in AR. My bike has had very little run time in the past 3 years, probably less than 1000 miles. I also noticed after pulling over to see what the issue was that when I tried to restart the bike it was like the kill switch was off. I then tapped the black wire connector (4 wires) under the fairing and suddenly the fuel pump kicked on and the gauges did their full sweep. It'd then run fine. I haven't been able to consistently repeat the wire connector jiggle fix, but I'm thinking it's that connector. I pulled that connector apart and cleaned the pins as best I could but it still happens intermittently.

I'm thinking of trying to replace the connector with weatherproof connector. Any other thoughts?

 

[d_adams]

Weak ground or one that's on the verge of failing.

 

[Cooter]

If the speedo stops working while the tach is still reading correctly, it's going to be a bad speed sensor (or wiring). The speed sensor is the black thing with an Allen bolt bolted to the top of the engine case right at the front belt pulley.

 

[snrusnak]

Ok thanks, gives me some options to look at. Yes the tach still works. I appreciate the help!

 

[user_deleted]

sean: re-remove the 4 wire ground cluster and check it closely again. sometimes the wires aren't crimped correctly in the attachment ring....or only held in the ring crimp by a thread or 2. what i do is snip off that factory crappy attachment ring and install a better one. just don't snip too far upstream or you'll have wires that are too short to make the return trip to the threaded hole where all attaches.

 

[snrusnak]

lunatic, exactly what ground are you referring to? The one at the steering neck? Or that 4 pin connector (black) under the fairing on the "passenger side" (hehe)

 

[user_deleted]

lunatic, exactly what ground are you referring to? The one at the steering neck? Or that 4 pin connector (black) under the fairing on the "passenger side" (hehe)

sean: i've only ever had 1 bolt and don't have the fresh recollection of all the fairing area wiring but the steering neck cluster was the one i was referring to. not familiar with the 4-pin connector.

 

[Cooter]

snrusnak: Lunatic is referring to the ground bolt with 4 (i think) wires with ring terminals on them that are bolted down. He's saying those ring terminals can be junk, check them for corrosion and connection.

Lunatic: snrusnak is talking about a 4-pin connector under the fairing on the right side. He could either be talking about the big one from the key switch, or the small one from the right handlebar controls (kill switch), but probably not the tiny white one for the headlights. Either way, cleaner is better.

You're welcome guys haha

If it was a electrical supply or ground issue to the cluster, the tach would fail at the same time the speedo does. Since the tach still works when the speedo quits, its a speed signal input issue. It could be internal in the cluster, or in the wiring from the sensor, but I'll bet a good beer it's the speed sensor itself. Maybe just dirty? It's magnetic, so take it out and wipe it off, put it back and see.

 

[snrusnak]

10-4 mr. translator

I haven't had time to mess with it, hopefully this weekend. That ground bolt at the steering neck on my bolt has 2 ring terminals, plus the additional headlight ground I added with the hella lights. I did strip the dang bolt head though as it was severely corroded, and ended up having to drill it out and retap it. I tapped it to a 1/4-20 bolt and stuck another corroded one in I had laying around. I need to replace with a good bolt. I suspect that MIGHT be the issue, but if it were I'd think my headlights would lose ground among the other things like you said Cooter (tach, etc).

I'll check the sensor. Why would the kill switch be part of this issue? The fuel pump will suddenly turn on if I just barely touch that little 4 pin black connector (not sure right now but I think it leads from the killswitch). It's not the white one to the headlights, I actually completely cut that one off with the hella headlight upgrade.

 

[Cooter]

Ya the little 4 pin black one goes to the kill switch, so if it loses continuity, the ignition and fuel pump are shut off:eagerness:

You've got 2 problems, but I think we've found them both:up: make sure that 4 pin connector is perfectly good, and replace the speed sensor and I think you'll be ok

 

[racepro716]

I've had this exact same problem for over a year now (08 XB12R) but I've just never gotten around to posting about it. Mine happens now and then, usually when the bike is hot after I've stopped for gas or whatever. The speedo doesn't come back on, the odometer doesn't work and sometimes the check engine light comes on. Shutting the bike off and restarting while rolling doesn't help but if I bump start it while rolling everything is good. Sorry to throw in extra complications, lol. Any ideas?

Wayne

 

[snrusnak]

I'll let you know what I find. I have been spending most of my time prepping for a job interview that I have on Wednesday, but after that is over I'll have more time and will tackle it this weekend.

 

[608xb12r]

I had that issue on another bike and it turned out to be that electrical connectors were corroded. I cleaned them out with a tooth pick and electrical parts cleaner and add some dielectric grease and the problem was solved. Maybe it's just a bad/loose connection.

 

[snrusnak]

Thanks. I need to replace the ground bolt under the steering head (which I have purchased), and replace that one 4 pin connector under the fairing as I know the pins are corroded. I think I'm going to replace with a waterproof connector instead of cleaning the pins, but could use some guidance on where to buy good connectors. The connectors I bought for my hella headlights are OK but definitely not the same quality as the ones like you'd see on you brand new car.

Due to the recent issues that have come up in my family I haven't had any time to deal with this issue. I don't know when I'll get back to the bike, but I still feel like riding. Not sure my wife will feel the same but we'll see. I'd hate to have her lose the two closest people in her life due to motorcycle wrecks.

 

[CrashBurnFly]

The speedo on my XB9 2002 stopped working and the connector was full of oil and the cables frayed. Fitted a new as I had one to hand.