Wires Plus?

[bullydog]

I have a 2007 EFI Bulldog that has had issues recently with flashing hazard lights coming on when I turn the key. I posted a thread a couple weeks ago about possible battery issues...?? I was told that I should load test my battery and make sure my connections were all good.... Ok. I did that because it's always easy fixes first right? Found out my battery wasn't quite up to snuff so I replaced it and have since then kept a tender on it. One day I come out to the garage and I turn the key and everything lights up as it should and I can start the bike. Next day I try it I will get flashing hazards again and nothing else. I have been able to reset it (sometimes) by key on 30 sec. off 30 sec. and repeat 3 times. After 3rd cycle flashers do a double flash and I know it's gonna work. Next time I have the issue nothing works... even trying to reset fails. I've taken the ehc out and cleaned the old dielectric grease and replaced with new and checked all the connectors I could find and cleaned and greased them too. Still have the same issue. One day the dog wants to power up, the next day it won't. I have what I believe to be an upgraded ehc...at least from articles I've read here. Mine has a usb port cable on it, and black potting material. I think this means it's been replaced from a factory recall but I could be mistaken. I'm trying to read as much as I can about this issue but I'm in way over my head... Can anyone give me some insight? I've got a mechanic that has read some of the threads here and he's hesitant to even look at the bike because there's so many different problems that stem from this damned ehc and the EFI issues that go along with the wires plus system that he's become somewhat gunshy... Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Nukeranger]

IMHO, I would install WP if you are good with wiring electrical and have a couple of days to do it OR install PDM which is supposed to be plug and play.

I am assuming you checked your battery connections to be clean and tight. I had a lot of patience with my EHC prior to going WP. After I installed WP, I sent my EHC to Curtis our sponsor at Wild Steed Worx & Services, When the road is your trail and it passed all tests. I still don't trust it and it is in a spare parts box.

My EHC problems started with my entire bike turning off when riding slow, fast, parking, going over bumps, etc and I would just reach down turn the ignition switch off and back on to get her powered up again. This wasn't so bad. Then it became more common and it also became automatic for me to cycle the ignition switch, hit start, and keep riding. Other riders didn't even notice my bike shutdown while riding even though all my lights went out. Then, it got worse with different symptoms. I had to get a ride home from work 3 times in a month and a half because in the end when I turned the ignition switch on all I got was flashing lights everywhere. Each time I brought my trailer to work it would start right up so I could drive it onto the trailer. Finally, when I thought it was ok, I would go cycle the ignition switch several times the night before work and it would be fine. Come time to go to work the next day and it just flashed at me like it was fu%%ing with me. So, out it came last winter and in went WP.

I haven't covered everything I did to give the EHC the benefit of the doubt but that's what I basically went through.

I haven't had any issues with WP

Hope this helps.

 

[pknowles]

I have an 07 Bulldog and switched to the wire plus and haven't had any trouble in the last two years. My bike would shut off for no apparent reason. I don't know if my ehc was bad or just some connection somewhere, I do know that I haven't had any trouble since. As far as the wire plus and fuel injection, they have the issues worked out with some inline resistors.

 

[bullydog]

I have checked battery connections and made sure they are tight. I even used dielectric grease on all the connectors stacked on each post. I sorted the cables, putting the heavy guage wires closest to the terminals, too. I've checked my ground wires. I checked my connection to the starter....just about anything I could think of. I don't (unfortunately) feel comfortable with doing any wiring, especially to that extent. I'm not sure what a PDM is...can you explain it to me a little? Is this a possible option for me? If it's plug and play, I can handle that.... Sorry for the simple questions, I am not much of a mechanic. I can do simple stuff like change oils, and simple maintenance but that's about it.

 

[Rex Winters]

The PDM is not quite a plug and play. It involves taking off the tank, electrical panels, etc, but it a pretty simple replacement for the average mechanic. The parts are all plug and play, but you replace quite a bit of backbone wiring under the tank. Follow the instructions, look at the wiring diagram, take a weekend, and bring a bottle of your favorite booze, and you shouldnt have trouble doing it yourself.
Also, many of us discovered other problems during the rewire that we fixed in the process of replacing the EHC

 

[Nukeranger]

And I thought PDM was plug and play!

I am thinking you may need a friend to help you but the easier kit should still be PDM at
PDM Electrical System Retrofit Kits | BDM

 

[bullydog]

I've read a few posts where you guys had the bike quit running. I haven't experienced that. If it powers up the speedo and headlight, I'm good to go. It hasn't stalled alongside the highway or anything like that. I just don't know if it will power up when I turn the key. Pretty frustrating, especially when it's intermittant like it has been. I wonder which is the better fix, the PDM or the Wires Plus? Do my issues sound like an EHC problem? I keep wondering if I should not look at the EHC as the problem and perhaps try finding a fault/short somwhere else on the bike? Wouldn't I get the same problems if I had a short somewhere in the system?

 

[pknowles]

I have checked battery connections and made sure they are tight. I even used dielectric grease on all the connectors stacked on each post. I sorted the cables, putting the heavy guage wires closest to the terminals, too. I've checked my ground wires. I checked my connection to the starter....just about anything I could think of. I don't (unfortunately) feel comfortable with doing any wiring, especially to that extent. I'm not sure what a PDM is...can you explain it to me a little? Is this a possible option for me? If it's plug and play, I can handle that.... Sorry for the simple questions, I am not much of a mechanic. I can do simple stuff like change oils, and simple maintenance but that's about it.

I did my wire plus myself with the help of a couple forum members and got it right. I am not a mechanic, you just have to take you time and do "ONE WIRE AT A TIME'.I can't speak for the PDM unit as I have no experience with it.

 

[bullydog]

I know it's not rocket science but since I've been reading about it the more I read the more nervous I get about it... LOL! If anyone here knows that either the wp or pdm will fix my bike that's what I will do. If I should leave that sleeping dog lie (ehc) and look elsewhere I want to know that too.

 

[pknowles]

it could be as simple as a bad key switch. If so, I have the one that came off my bike. It's yours if you need it.

 

[bullydog]

it could be as simple as a bad key switch. If so, I have the one that came off my bike. It's yours if you need it.

See, now that's what I'm saying... If it's something as simple as that I'd be pissed that I spent the money for a pdm or wp fix and didn't need to. I know that it's almost like chasing shadows and I don't expect you guys to diagnose my bike on this forum for me. I do appreciate all your comments and suggestions...more than you know. I have a mechanic that's saying he doesn't care to dive into this thing so all the help you guys give me is awesome! I guess I'm fishing for ideas, whether they be as simple as a new switch or if I have to go deeper.... That's where I'm at....

pknowles, if you think I should try your switch first I will take it. Just pm me and I'll give you my address. Thanks for the offer!!

Any other suggestions will be appreciated!!!! Keep em comin guys!

 

[STRYKER]

I had a buddy help me out with my WP. And I would like to give a shout out to OLD MAN (John). thanks for all your help Guys. WP is the way to go.

 

[Jwooky]

I have a WP on my bike and I would not recommend it.

Have had several problems and they are difficult to contact and deal with.

It is very unfriendly to install, butchers up the wiring and requires a lot of cut splicing and soldering.

PDM is a much better solution.

 

[pknowles]

I have a WP on my bike and I would not recommend it.

Have had several problems and they are difficult to contact and deal with.

It is very unfriendly to install, butchers up the wiring and requires a lot of cut splicing and soldering.

PDM is a much better solution.

There's a thread on here by bdmridgeback that shows a lot of wire plus installs that look very clean. Might want to check it out.
You are right about the cutting. Every wire on both harnesses has to be cut and reused somewhere.

 

[Nukeranger]

You're not going to need that ignition switch to diagnose a switch issue.

The ignition switch grounds the EHC which turns it on. There is a JST connector under the ignition switch chrome cover and another in the back bone. I would encourage you to check this out if you can. I replaced my JST connector with a Deutsche Plug and still had the issue. I also soldered the wires together under the gas tank so I absolutely knew this could not be the issue. I tested the actual ignition switch a thousand times and a hundred different ways. I could never prove it was the ignition switch. Of course, in the end, I couldn't prove it was the EHC. But, my WP install fixed something each little wire one at a time!

If you jumper your ignition switch and your EHC turns on properly, then you may have found your problem.

 

[Rex Winters]

The PDM really is pretty painless. I replaced mine before I needed too. I had a few minor probs, but was worried about being dead on the side of the road. I believe someone with basic mechanical skills can do the PDM. I am happy with mine.

 

[bullydog]

You're not going to need that ignition switch to diagnose a switch issue.

The ignition switch grounds the EHC which turns it on. There is a JST connector under the ignition switch chrome cover and another in the back bone. I would encourage you to check this out if you can. I replaced my JST connector with a Deutsche Plug and still had the issue. I also soldered the wires together under the gas tank so I absolutely knew this could not be the issue. I tested the actual ignition switch a thousand times and a hundred different ways. I could never prove it was the ignition switch. Of course, in the end, I couldn't prove it was the EHC. But, my WP install fixed something each little wire one at a time!

If you jumper your ignition switch and your EHC turns on properly, then you may have found your problem.

I will try your suggestions. I appreciate the tips! Like I said, I'm no mechanic, but I can do some things, if given enough direction.

 

[bullydog]

The PDM really is pretty painless. I replaced mine before I needed too. I had a few minor probs, but was worried about being dead on the side of the road. I believe someone with basic mechanical skills can do the PDM. I am happy with mine.

If I exhaust all other avenues and it boils down to a wp or pdm I think I will go the pdm route...it sounds like it will be much easier and give the same results. Thanks for the encouragement.

 

[Fibersnake]

Many people have had very much success with the WP the same goes for the PDM. As mentioned the WP requires one to cut off the connectors going to the EHC and putting many new ones on, normally by crimping the pins and/or soldering. Normally not an issue, but even then you could get a bad crimp as well as a dry socket on solder if one is not careful. IN addition since you will cut off the connector from the Main Harness and the Power Harness for the WP, you need to measure twice and cut once for if you cut too much, you could find yourself short on a wire and then have to splice in more. The more splicing ones does or crimping the better chance of not getting a good one and then chasing circles.

The PDM requires one to remove the Main Harness (the one down the backbone) and the Power Harness by disconnecting the JST and terminal. Not cutting. Depending on the model of the bike, you may also have to replace the battery box. Once done the PDM which consist of a PDM (has the fuses, relays and circuits in it, a HCI (Hand Control Interface), and some relays will be installed along with one complete new wiring harness (verse the two taken out). That harness will have the connectors to go back to the various JST connectors.

The newer PDM have gotten a little better from my understanding, but I have one of the first from BDPP and it is holding up fine. PDM can easily be done in an afternoon or a day, and if you take your time, think things out, should have no problems. If you got with PDM, there is one set of wires that go to the ignition module that are not part of the old harness (do not remove them and leave them in place). The other issue with PDM is getting all the wires neat, secured without pinching and laid up with the side covers on (can be a PITA).

The EHC may be your problem, but many have found that the EHC is fine and even after replacing with a WP, that some of the problems were still there and then upon further investigation found the real culprit such as a chaffed or pinch wire, bad connectors or even back to a bad battery. You indicated you changed batteries, should not have an issue with your battery, however you would not be the first to have done such and have the new battery go to crap fairly soon. May want to have the new one fully checked just to be on the safe side.

Question, is there anything of the electrical nature that your BD has that been done or changed that is not stock. Any alarms, LED lights, HID kits for example? If so they sometimes can create a problem especially if not put in properly or a piece of crap kit.

 

[bullydog]

The previous owner installed (or had someone install) one of those led light kits that light up the underside of the tank, under the motor, etc.... I never use it so when I started having problems I unhooked that first. It didn't make a difference but I haven't hooked it back up either. I'm trying to eliminate all the variables... I took my new battery back to my mechanic and had him load test it...it was in excellent shape, as expected. I just wanted to make damn sure it wasn't a bad battery. So now there is nothing that isn't stock on the bike as far as electrics go. My problem started this spring when I noticed my battery was almost dead. I charged it back up but I never had a tender on it over the winter. I keep the bike at my shop, so it was in a heated environment all winter but I suppose the system just drained it down to the point where it wouldn't start. The rest has been a miserable headache.