Ok heres the deal I had a previous post related to this issue and had some feedback responses, and followed the recommendations, but still having the problem. After going for a ride on my 04 Bulldog, I stopped for gas before I garaged the bike so it is ready for the next ride, and turned the key, hit the start button and nothing happened. During all this I noticed all my lights were lit including the spedo, except for the headlight. I turned the key off and on again and same issue. I also tried turning on the turn signals but nothing happens when I hit any switches on my bars, but parking lights, tail lights and license plate all light up. I checked all wires and ground under the seat and all look good. I had my battery tested and tested bad even though it cranked bike fine, so I bought a new battery, installed it and still have same issue. Could a bad EHC cause this? It seems like a lot of posts on her that related to EHC issues caused bike to shut down while running and not issue like mine. FYI there are no fault lights lit on my EHC. PLease help, before I invest in the WP kit I would like to know if it really is the EHC.
Please help wierd electrical issue!
- Thread starter serg92
- Start date
Nukeranger
Nukeranger
I thought the headlight should be on when the ignition switch was turned on. This could be a problem. Do you have a service manual?
No I don't have a service manual. Yes, the headlight usually always came on when the key was turned on. It seems that what ever is causing head light to not work is also effecting the ability of the controls on the bars to not function as well. As an example if I hit the start button nothing happens as if bike has no power, but all other lights work. Its like all buttons on bars are deactive.
Nukeranger
Nukeranger
Sounds like you need to replace the headlight bulb and/or find the ground to the headlight first.
Simple shit first...make sure the bulb is good like Nuke said but that shouldn't keep bike from not starting...
1. Clean/Di-Electric grease the main power connection to the EHC & reconnect.
2. Check the Headlight boot for damage, as some have been known to melt. Replace if need be. Check to see if you getting power to the headlight.
3. Check all your grounds, clean & tighten.
Just as an FYI - you should have zero lights on you EHC lit when you turn key. (Looks like you are getting that). When you hit RUN the ignition light should light up though. Doesn't sound like you are getting that light.
If you are not getting that ignition light, and you already did the top 3 items. You might have a pinched or bare wire somewhere, might have to chase it from the bars down to the EHC thru the backbone.
Here are some documents that should help you track this down....
1. Clean/Di-Electric grease the main power connection to the EHC & reconnect.
2. Check the Headlight boot for damage, as some have been known to melt. Replace if need be. Check to see if you getting power to the headlight.
3. Check all your grounds, clean & tighten.
Just as an FYI - you should have zero lights on you EHC lit when you turn key. (Looks like you are getting that). When you hit RUN the ignition light should light up though. Doesn't sound like you are getting that light.
If you are not getting that ignition light, and you already did the top 3 items. You might have a pinched or bare wire somewhere, might have to chase it from the bars down to the EHC thru the backbone.
Here are some documents that should help you track this down....
Kiwirider
Active Member
I had a similar problem on the weekend. I was riding fine. Stopped and got off, chatted with some people. Went to start up, turned key, hit run and nothing. All lights were fine on mine though, but no response from the hand controls. Was told sometimes the wires in the hand controls can get pinched, especially with internal wiring. I loosened the controls and wiggled it and then it worked. I pulled them off just incase and found the 2 wires that go to the brake sensor looked like they were (or could have been) touching and weren't very secure. I re soldered them (in a Lowes car park) and all seems good.
If it happens again or is still a problem, loosen the hand controls and see if it changes anything. Its a free and easy check.:up:
If it happens again or is still a problem, loosen the hand controls and see if it changes anything. Its a free and easy check.:up:
Looking at the diagram that was posted as a reply to my thread made me think I forgot to mention that the yellow light is lit during all this issue on my EHC. According to another member on here that is not a good thing Yellow light means I have an open circuit (Short) somewhere. Please help what should I do next? I am new to bigDogs only been a year in July that I have owned my bike and new to V-twins in generally
BigDogBro1
Made in the USA
"According to another member on here that is not a good thing Yellow light means I have an open circuit"
Yea....maybe the headlight bulb wire or filiment. Melted connector? If it's bad the EHC may not let the bike start or cause it to shut down.
Hey bud, you should still do the steps I described get back to us after you completed the three steps below.
minermark
Active Member
When this happened to my dog , i pulled the two connectors on the EHC unit, one looked fine with yellow grease, the other connector however, had three pin's that had black fuzz around them,idicating arcing on the pins. even greased, i could see this does not look like the other connector.
I used contact cleaner and a small brush to get the grease out and then 100 psi to blast this crap out.
put them back on and for two weeks no problems.......
I used contact cleaner and a small brush to get the grease out and then 100 psi to blast this crap out.
put them back on and for two weeks no problems.......
Ok did everything that member TH3INfamousI recommended: cleaned connection of main harness going to EHC and also applied dielectric grease, checked all connections including all going to hand controls, removed tank and checked all connections there all look good, removed headlight all connections and plug look brand new, changed headlight because looked like a filament in the bulb was broke. I am just puzzled volt meter shows current going to head light, but headlight won't light and like before nothing happens when you push buttons on hand controls. Parking lights, tail lights, and license plate light still work. Once again the yellow light is lit on the EHC, which I am told is not suppose to light normally, but I am confused beause when I look at the schematic for the EHC is states that this is the main power indicator, which to me would mean that would signify that the EHC is getting power, which would be normal. Please help!!! This is over my head, and I am wondering if this is a bad EHC!!
Hm, you say you are getting power to the headlight but it doesn't light even with the new bulb? There is no reason for it not to work unless ground is not connected. (Which Explains your Power Light on the EHC being lit)
I still think you have a grounding issue from the EHC to the negative terminal on your battery.
Remember the EHC are "fault lights" They are not supposed to be lit unless there is a fault. The only 1 Exception is the Igntion Red Light.
Also, what size battery did you buy? Fish around under the seat and make sure you didn't miss a ground wire when you installed your new battery. Did you take note that if the Power light on your EHC was light prior to the change of batteries?
I am still not convinced its an EHC issue at this point, yet.
Okay, well its not a new symptom.
Since we have done the basics cleaning the connections,etc.
Take a peak under your rear fender. On the 04's the wire ran under the fendor and its been known to come off and rubbed bare by your tire. Generally you will see it where the wire goes into the banjo bolt in the fender to the tail lights. If you don't see it rubbed off there just see if you can shine a flashlight in there. If you don't see anything unplug the tail light harness under the seat. There is a Duetche Connector right before it runs into the fender. Turn the key and see if the power light goes off. You should get the fault light for the tail lights but if the power light goes off then you know the short is in your rear end :lol:
If nothing there than I would suggest you take apart your hand controls, as the previous members have suggested. You may have gotten water into one of the boards, have you ridden in the rain? Washed it?
Somewhere, somehow you have a wire shorting out your system. You just need to find it. If handlebar control's/connections are good take the tank off and check/di-electric grease the connections under there. As your going check for any bare wires/bad splices. If you see any electrical tape remove it and inspect whatever crap work someone else may have done before you.
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BigDogBro1
Made in the USA
Seems the EHC has sensed there is a FAULT condition somewhere and won't allow the bike to start.
F.Y.I. Make sure your CRIMPED wire connections are CRIMPED tight. You know...all the wires on the +/- battery terminals. I had a problem where the EHC or something couldn't get good battery voltage due to poor GROUND or +12v supply wire crimps.
F.Y.I. Make sure your CRIMPED wire connections are CRIMPED tight. You know...all the wires on the +/- battery terminals. I had a problem where the EHC or something couldn't get good battery voltage due to poor GROUND or +12v supply wire crimps.
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Kiwirider
Active Member
Mine was doing weird shit like that and then my VR blew up. Once I replaced it all my electrical problems dissappeared. I had put in a new battery as well. Give that a test while its running if you can start it. Also try disconnecting the battery for a half hour or so. Then connect it again. I did that a few times and it fixed it short term. Once the new VR was in I was good to go. Worth a try.