electrical problems!

[Texcessive]

I noticed that my 2002 Pitbull suddenly developed turn signal issues about 2 weeks ago. The turn signals work, but they will not cancel on their own anymore. I also noticed that the hazard lights can no longer be activated and when I started inspecting it the brake lights are not working anymore.
I had it inspected about 2 months ago and everything was fine then. I have had a lot of battery issues over the last year or so in that it has a very difficult time starting at times as if the battery is low. The starter was replaced about a year ago as well and I had it checked and it and the battery were OK. It will crank too slow to start and then suddenly it cranks normal and starts. I have checked the posts and everything is tight there and all cables from the ignition are as well. I was thinking ECM, but the Big Dog dealer told me that the 2002 does not have one?

Any suggestions to figure this out without a complete and expensive tear down would be great.

 

[BadBrad]

Hmmmmmm! No ECH? No intro? No nothing? My wife's '03 Mastiff had all the same symptoms that your dog is having, which turned out to be her ECH slowly dying. But if you don't have an ECH or an ECM, then you're in good shape......I think

 

[TheDeadOne]

Hmmmmmm! No ECH? No intro? No nothing? My wife's '03 Mastiff had all the same symptoms that your dog is having, which turned out to be her ECH slowly dying. But if you don't have an ECH or an ECM, then you're in good shape......I think

The '02 and the '03 are the same. No EHC in either, but unless it been changed, they do have an ECM (electrical control module).
Give us an intro and "maybe" we'll give you some ideas of what to do with that bad dog. :2thumbs: .... :lol::lol::lol:

dead

 

[O-man]

 

[BadBrad]

The '02 and the '03 are the same. No EHC in either, but unless it been changed, they do have an electrical control module.
Give us an intro and "maybe" we'll give you some ideas of what to do with that bad dog. :2thumbs: .... :lol::lol::lol:

dead

Shit, I figured he had a well trained gerble in there pushing buttons and connecting wires on demand. I've trained a lot of dogs in my days but was hoping to get some GTT (gerble training tips) from a real pro. If it is your EHC/ECM, then you're best off to go with the Wire Plus. For your year bike, it's plug and play for the main wiring system. Then just a few connections to your dash lights. About the same price but without the headache of ECH/ECM. :bang:

 

[mobsta]

so we know all about what his bike is doing but nothing about him?another hit and run!:bang:

 

[Texcessive]

thanks, I feel like I am making some progress

I looked up the EHC and it appears to be a Thunder Heart Performance Corporation unit inseat of an Electronic Control Module. What is the "Wire Plus?
Sorry, you guys lost me on the intro part.
The Big Dog Dealer had quoted $300-400 and about $85 to install a new one. I have no problem with install as long as there is not too much of a re-wire needed for the Wire Plus if there is any anvantage there.

Thanks again to you all

 

[V]

Sorry, you guys lost me on the intro part.

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/introductions/


Welcome. Wire plus is a rewire that elimate the the EHC/ECM and gits rid of electrical gremlins.

 

[KnotSo]

Intro:
http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/introductions/

What is an Intro you ask?
http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/introductions/16532-all-important-first-post-intro.html

SEARCH:
use this feature to read all about the issues you are having.

Then we ride

 

[Texcessive]

Is the wire plus something that can be just added in between the tanks with the existing wiring or would I have to do any significant re-wire beyond that? Strokers (Dallas Big Dog) said that they did not find a EHC in stock with Big Dog and would check to see if they could put a 2001 version on it instead and I am waiting to hear back from them. They quoted about $270 with install if they can find one.
I just want to go whatever route is best so that I can ride without always having to plan in a way that there are going to be enough people around just in case it does not want to start! Has always ran great once started, just the issues I mentioned above and acts like the batter is low a lot when it is not - but can hook it to a car battery (was told not a running car) and it always starts right up.

 

[tatt22er]

Maybe the Voltage Regulator. I had simular issues and that was what my problem was, and the guys in the pound here just want you to introduce yourself, they are a great bunch and have more info to problems than you could ever imagine! By the way, welcome to the pound.

 

[RubWhore]

I would just call Thunderheart and order one and plug it in and go why rewire??? Aint nuthin wrong with the thunderheart stuff just the bigdog Ehc and only some of those are bad or if you want ,remove yours and send it to them as they repair their stuff cheap and pretty fast

 

[Texcessive]

Oh well, the tech support at Thunderheart said that it did not sound like that was the problem. (I don't know of a way to test the voltage regulator without it running) It suddenly got to where it would not start at all, would not even crank fast enough to start when hooked to a car battery. With that and the fact that I still would like to catch a day or 2 at the ROT in Austin coming up, I just called Strokers and had them come and get it. Considering that I have replaced the magneto, starter, 2 batteries, and had the 10,000 service done in the last 18 months - I just hope they can actually fix it this time!

 

[KaptinAmerika]

Wow thats alot of money to throw at an issue and still not have it resolved.
Do you have compression releases on your 02?
What make and model battery are you using?
Do you keep it on a tender?

 

[bdmridgeback]

I looked up the EHC and it appears to be a Thunder Heart Performance Corporation unit inseat of an Electronic Control Module. What is the "Wire Plus?
Sorry, you guys lost me on the intro part.
The Big Dog Dealer had quoted $300-400 and about $85 to install a new one. I have no problem with install as long as there is not too much of a re-wire needed for the Wire Plus if there is any anvantage there.

Thanks again to you all

You need the Wire-Plus WP-375. It is on my website. It is for the 2003 and older BDM bikes with the thunderheart control module in it. The WP-375 is a plug and play unlike the one for the new Big Dogs , NOT A REWIRE JOB at all! . The only wires you have to hook up are the 7-8 wires that go to the idiot lights under the dash and the module mounts under the dash too, and that is easy. You can install it yourself, and it is about $390 shipped with the BDB member discount.

 

[Texcessive]

too freakin much - they called me back and said that it was just the battery! I have a hard time thinking that is right considering that they load tested the battery a few weeks ago and said that it was fine. Like I said, I hooked it up to a car battery and it still would not crank fast enough to start before having it towed and this is the 3rd time in a year that they have put a new battery in it - guess I will ask the obvious "does the battery from 5 months ago have a warranty????
Has to be something else causing the thing to be almost dead one minute and fine the next then dead again. I constantly check to make sure the posts are tight adn use the "battery tender" all the time - Oh well . . .

 

[BadBrad]

Hey Tex, I can assure you that when the time comes to replace your ECM, that $390 for the Wire Plus is worth every penny. It's like the difference in buying 3 cheap batteries at $100 each or buying one damn good battery for $175. It may seem a little high at first, but in the long run, it'll save you money and the headache of breaking down and then having to get towed. Sometimes you do get what you pay for and WP is one of them. But, some prefer to take the cheap way and every now and then, they get away with it. Good luck Tex!

Oh, what battery did you buy this time? Just don't tell me it's the same kind you just went through previously. There's a lot of info on here about quality batteries. Braille and the Harley batteries seem to be the most popular.

 

[stiffy]

I know this is an old thread, but I had the same problem with my 01 Mastiff. It was the Thunderheart ECM/EHC. They're the same thing, different names. I sent mine in to be tested at Thunderheart and it tested out fine. I still replaced it and it fixed my turn signal problem. If you send it in for testing, they'll discount your price on the new one. I think I paid around $175 bucks or so for the new unit and they still sent my old one back as well. Pretty cheap for plug-n-play. No need to go with the Wire Plus on these earlier dogs. The Thunderheart is very reliable and simple. They've been using them in Harleys and Indians for years.