This is getting irritating

Energy One

drbalazo

Member
I just installed a new thunder heart ignition control module and new cam sensor and my dog ran fine till today. I started it and as soon as it got warm, it shut off and wouldn't start again. It cranks but no start. I checked the ICM and the red light does not come on. There has always been a yellow light on the EHC.

Stupid question but, does it matter if my dog sat all day in 98 degree weather? It had a cover but the bike was very hot to the touch.

I'm getting ready to give up on this bike.

Sorry for the rant..any help is appreciated.
 

aspen874

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
go to the office, have a few, look at the women, it will be better in the morning
 

Little-Boo

Well-Known Member
Troop Supporter
I just installed a new thunder heart ignition control module and new cam sensor and my dog ran fine till today. I started it and as soon as it got warm, it shut off and wouldn't start again. It cranks but no start. I checked the ICM and the red light does not come on. There has always been a yellow light on the EHC.

Stupid question but, does it matter if my dog sat all day in 98 degree weather? It had a cover but the bike was very hot to the touch.

I'm getting ready to give up on this bike.

Sorry for the rant..any help is appreciated.
Did you turn to fuel petcock on and is there any fuel in the tank. You need to calm down have a beer, go for a walk wait till it cools off and try again.
I wish I knew more about the 04 ignition, but I don't. Be patient, don't wet your pant, someone will chime in and help you out. :2thumbs:

Carlos :whoop:
 

DRBarnhart

Insert title here...
I just installed a new thunder heart ignition control module and new cam sensor and my dog ran fine till today. I started it and as soon as it got warm, it shut off and wouldn't start again. It cranks but no start. I checked the ICM and the red light does not come on.
That's a bad thing. A good place to start is to double check the connections of the stuff you just replaced. (I know a gentleman that installed a WirePlus and in the process one of the wires from the ICM to the coil came out of the connector and got sucked into the harness.) If everything is good check to make sure you have power coming to the ICM and coil from pins 13 and 14 of the EHC when the key is ON and the RUN button is pushed. If all is well double check your cam sensor (NEVER assume a new part is not bad from stock!!!)...

1. Disconnect the cam sensor from the ignition module.
2. Take out your trusty multimeter and set it to the RX1 scale.
3. Now while touching the sensor backing plate with the negative meter lead touch the positive meter lead on each of the three wires of the sensor connector (red, black, & green). If you get continuity from the backing plate to any of them the sensor is bad.
If it passes the first test...
1. With your meter still at the same settings touch the positive meter lead to the green wire and the negative meter lead to the black wire. If you get an "open" it's good. (Any resistance is "bad)
2. Then take the positive meter lead and touch the black sensor wire while touching the negative meter lead to the green wire. In this case an "open" is bad. A reading somewhere around 300 - 750 Kohms is what you're looking for.

If you have power to the ICM and coil, the cam sensor checks good then the ICM would seem to be your problem.

There has always been a yellow light on the EHC.
That's a good thing!!!
Stupid question but, does it matter if my dog sat all day in 98 degree weather? It had a cover but the bike was very hot to the touch.
That shouldn't make any difference.
I'm getting ready to give up on this bike.
All machines will give you problems once in while so why not put your time into learning to fix something as cool as your Big Dog?
Sorry for the rant..any help is appreciated.
Rants are understandable and healthy to boot!!! :cheers:

Dennis
 

drbalazo

Member
Thane for the help. I will try those test hopefully today after work. Is this problem any sign of EHC failure by any chance?

I really do appreciate the help. It's just frustrating because I have had it for a it over a month and it's been at the shop for most of the time and every time i ride it, I'm worried it will leave me stranded on the side of the road like it did before. It is not a nice feeling.
 

DRBarnhart

Insert title here...
Is this problem any sign of EHC failure by any chance?
With the bike turned on and run button pushed pin 13 of the EHC supplies 12V to the coil and pin 14 supplies it to the ICM. If there's no power coming from the EHC, that would be a bad thing... :down:

Dennis
 

03BigPit

Member
Hey Danny, I just struggled with the exact same issue on my 03 Pitbull. I wanted to upgrade my ignition anyway so what I did was install an new crane ignition kit that came with upgraded coil and plug wires. Hooked up power directly to the battery and the key switch. This in turn bypassed the thunderheart ignition module and the EHC for power. This way as long as my battery is charged, the bike will get spark and run. Downside is the kill switch on the handlebars doesn't work. I have to tun the bike off with the key. Installation 2 weeks ago, put 140 miles on bike so far with no issue. I hooked it up this way so "when" my stock EHC craps out, I will loose my lights, signals, horn but bike will still get spark and get me home. Good luck as I know these electrical gremlins are VERY frustrating
 
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2004BC

FREEDOM!!!
With the bike turned on and run button pushed pin 13 of the EHC supplies 12V to the coil and pin 14 supplies it to the ICM. If there's no power coming from the EHC, that would be a bad thing... :down:

Dennis
I love your "Good Thing" "Bad Thing" qualifications on various electronic anomalies. Cuts right to the chase and leaves no gray area of interpretation for the person your helping out and that is a GOOD THING!!!! Thanks for all of your highly skilled help. It's appreciated by all who read your posts!
:cheers:
 

DRBarnhart

Insert title here...
I wanted to upgrade my ignition anyway so what I did was install an new crane ignition kit that came with upgraded coil and plug wires. Hooked up power directly to the battery and the key switch. This in turn bypassed the thunderheart ignition module and the EHC for power. This way as long as my battery is charged, the bike will get spark and run.
Having a more reliable source of power than the EHC sounds like a good idea. :up:
Downside is the kill switch on the handlebars doesn't work. I have to tun the bike off with the key.
I think that's a bad idea. The first time your throttle sticks, you lay it on its left side, or any other time you want to turn off the engine without letting go of the handlebars (it happens!) you'll agree with me. A kill switch may even be a legal requirement but I'm not sure...

Dennis
 

DRBarnhart

Insert title here...
I love your "Good Thing" "Bad Thing" qualifications on various electronic anomalies. Cuts right to the chase and leaves no gray area of interpretation for the person your helping out and that is a GOOD THING!!!! Thanks for all of your highly skilled help. It's appreciated by all who read your posts!
:cheers:
Thanks for your vote of confidence 2004BC! "Gray" areas are a troubleshooters worst nightmare so I try shed a little light on them if at all possible. :D

Dennis
 

03BigPit

Member
Yeah Dennis I agree with the Kill switch comment. I wasn't to happy about losing this function either. But just like Danny, I was struggling with this electrical issue and the summer weather in Syracuse is short enough. I was loosing way to much riding time. When I save up some $$, my intent is to install the Wire Plus and wire the kill switch bak up. Oh and by the way, I will be purchasing the wire plus from 'Low Down Chop Shop" (plug, plug)
 

DRBarnhart

Insert title here...
How do i check pin 13 & 14?
The power coming from pin 13 turns in to the red wire that hooks up to your coil. The power from pin 14 turns in to the red wire of the 4 pin connector at the ICM so disconnect that connector and check the red wire there (bike side, not ICM side). Using your meter with the black lead touching the negative on your battery touch the red lead to each of those places I've mentioned... you should have 12V both places. Remember to turn on the key and hit the RUN button when you're ready to do the checks! :D

Dennis
 

drbalazo

Member
Ok. I have gotta go out today and buy a multimeter so that i can perform the checks DRBarnhart suggested me to do. Meanwhile , yesterday, i started the dog up and it starts fine. I took it out to test it and for about a half mile there was no problem. As soon as i got to the gate of my house , the dog died and started leaking a lot of fuel through a clear small hose that come down from what it looks like the tank and goes all the way to the bottom of the motor. Maybe a breather hose? It stopped after leakin about half a liter of fuel. I checked the EHC and ICM while pressing the run button and here was no red light on neither. After a few tries, the red light on both the ICM and EHC went on and bike started right up. I rode it a few feet and it died again. The red lights wouldn't come on for a few tries and then they did and bike started back up and rolled it to my house. What does the yellow light on the EHC mean?

Any ideas?

Thanx for the help
 

aspen874

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Danny, the fuel that was coming out of the clear line is most likely from your carb, the float is just stuck from some dirt, that is not a huge deal, it may or may not happen again. the fact that it died could be the fuel is contaminated.
 

Ray

Well-Known Member
When my EHC died I would have been thrilled if it had cranked. All I got a was a barely a heart beat.

Agrees with everyone else,,, walk away , get a beer,,,maybe two,,,.

I am just now gettin to where I feel safe riding any distance away from home. But I fumed as well when the scooter wasn't running , well in my case at all.

Ray ,,,
 

Mojo

Member
"It cranks but no start. I checked the ICM and the red light does not come on."
If it has the original EHC, the 4th LED (red) should light when the run button is pushed. Since the starter still cranks, it is most likely the EHC. The starter will not function until after the run button is pushed, so the EHC is getting the command to power the ignition. Disconnect the 4 wire connecter at the ignition module. With key on and run button pushed, check for power on the red wire on the EHC side of the connecter (12+ volts dc), and ground on the black wire. If there is no power, replace the EHC with a Wires Plus system...
 

DRBarnhart

Insert title here...
If it has the original EHC, the 4th LED (red) should light when the run button is pushed.
Since his bike is an '04 so it would be the third LED (right next to the yellow "POWER" LED) that should light, true?
Since the starter still cranks, it is most likely the EHC.
Possibly... if the cam sensor AND its wiring are good.
Disconnect the 4 wire connecter at the ignition module. With key on and run button pushed, check for power on the red wire on the EHC side of the connecter (12+ volts dc), and ground on the black wire. If there is no power, replace the EHC with a Wires Plus system...
:iagree:

Dennis
 
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