I bought a 2001 RK this spring and it seemed to run great but on two different days a few weeks apart it was having a problem: when I would stop at a light the motor would hesitate or stall altogether. No problems at speed. These two days happened to be the two warmest days of the spring so far, temps about 70. the second time I had also just filles up with 87 octane gas from a grocery store (might be carp gas). I always used to put 87 in my evo softails and never had problems. Could my issue be from gas or is it for sure some problem with the EFI? Now it's cool again so I can't really test any theories.
sam01RK
I bought a 2001 RK this spring and it seemed to run great but on two different days a few weeks apart it was having a problem: when I would stop at a light the motor would hesitate or stall altogether. No problems at speed. These two days happened to be the two warmest days of the spring so far, temps about 70. the second time I had also just filled up with 87 octane gas from a grocery store (might be crap gas). I always used to put 87 in my evo softails and never had problems. Could my issue be from gas or is it for sure some problem with the EFI? Now it's cool again so I can't really test any theories. Thanks in advance for any tips
should be runnin' 91 octane....think it says so in the owner's manual...and don't buy your fuel from a gippo station.....I use Chevron or Union 76......Arco isn't good at all, my wife's Ford Ranger runs like crap on Arco...
thats true. posting my question twice was an accident but not introducing myself was -ahem- impolite. My name is Sam. I bought a 2001 RK this spring that is turning out to be a real PIA. I used to use HTT on MSN to chat about harley problems but MSN stopped hosting groups so I'm hoping to get some help (and offer it in the rare instance that I can) here. My previous bikes include 3 evo sportsters , an evo heritage classic and an FX Springer. This is my first bike with EFI and I'm wishing I had stuck with carbs. Looking at my repair manual doesn't really help me feel like I can do anything with the fuel system on my own at all. sigh...
Start filling the tank with the highest octane available until You get that cheap crap outta there.:thumb
Its running to rich...getting too much fuel! My Night Rod did the same exact thing after mods...needs a little tuning!
Its odd though because most come from the factory too lean...
Its odd though because most come from the factory too lean...
and 70 degrees isn't hot by any means...that's a good ridin' temp..should not effect the performance of ur scoot...octane will, big time...good luck...
Check which sparkplugs you are using compared to the recommended ones in the Sparkplug Reference Chart here.
http://www.harley-davidsonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6061
Also, the gas you got at the grocery store might have had some water in it. 70* isn't enough to cause vapor lock I wouldn't think... I'm betting on water in the gas.
http://www.harley-davidsonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6061
Also, the gas you got at the grocery store might have had some water in it. 70* isn't enough to cause vapor lock I wouldn't think... I'm betting on water in the gas.
Thanks for the replies. This forum is great! I've been riding around, trying to use up the gas in the tank. Bike runs fine in the cooler temps, around 55-60 in SLC. I'm going to get some premium gas in the tank, also change the oil tonight, make sure to get some good synthetic in there, then wait for the temps in my area to warm up before I can know for sure whether the problem will return. My fear is that one of the temp sensors or the ECU is f@##ed. Actually my biggest fear is that I take it to the dealer and they can't figure it out but charge me a few hundred anyway. I know that if it's not the gas it could be anything from EFI tuning to a random electrical problem that only shows up in the heat when things swell up. Well, there must be others with this problem around the world. I'll post any useful info as it turns up.
Aah, I missed the part where you said it was EFI. You can rule out vapor lock due to the fuel system is pressurized with EFI systems.
so today the turn signals started flashing 6 times when I turn on the ignition. So I checked for historic codes and what I got was the check engine light flashing 18 times straight, then off for 2 seconds, then 18 times, then stop for 2 seconds, over and over. This is not the way it i supposed to work, right? WTF?
I thought you meant when the bike was hot....not when the outside temp was high.....
Duhhhh sorry......
Duhhhh sorry......
OK. I need help thinking this through. here's what I know:
1) it happens only on warm days; on cool days (less than 60 F) I can drive however, wherever without any problems.
2) it can happen even when the engine is not warm, like leaving work after the bike has been parked for several hours
3) it never happens at speed
4) it happens when I am stopping or leaving from a stop
5) lights and instruments stay on; check engine light is lit for about 5 seconds.
6) idle is normal once the motor warms up, even immediately beofre and after the stall.
7) bike starts right up after a stall, though the fuel pump sounds like it cycles twice sometimes
8) on cold starts, the idle is really low for about 30 seconds, dies sometimes (like on the first start of the morning), but if I give it some gas to warm up, it levels out quickly at 1000 rpms.
9) no codes are stored when I check using the hold-odometer-button-then- turn-ignition-on method
Right now I am thinking of trying, in this order:
1) clean my IAC valve
2) have coils and ignition checked
3) fuel filter
4) fuel pump
5) Intake air temp sensor
What would you guys do? thanks in advance for input
1) it happens only on warm days; on cool days (less than 60 F) I can drive however, wherever without any problems.
2) it can happen even when the engine is not warm, like leaving work after the bike has been parked for several hours
3) it never happens at speed
4) it happens when I am stopping or leaving from a stop
5) lights and instruments stay on; check engine light is lit for about 5 seconds.
6) idle is normal once the motor warms up, even immediately beofre and after the stall.
7) bike starts right up after a stall, though the fuel pump sounds like it cycles twice sometimes
8) on cold starts, the idle is really low for about 30 seconds, dies sometimes (like on the first start of the morning), but if I give it some gas to warm up, it levels out quickly at 1000 rpms.
9) no codes are stored when I check using the hold-odometer-button-then- turn-ignition-on method
Right now I am thinking of trying, in this order:
1) clean my IAC valve
2) have coils and ignition checked
3) fuel filter
4) fuel pump
5) Intake air temp sensor
What would you guys do? thanks in advance for input
Like I said..above 60 degrees ain't a warm day or hot....I ride in 100+ weather...and that's when you need to deal with heat issues... 90 + degrees is where hot comes in to play...
04 efi night train
Sam
I am having the same problem with my 04 night train efi. It is doing exactly what your bike is doing. Your 1 to 8 symptoms are identical to mine. Runs fine in cold weather but acts up when in warm weather, etc. I am going to do the fuel thing just in case. I am also going to check the codes.
If you find out anything could you please let me know?
James
Sam
I am having the same problem with my 04 night train efi. It is doing exactly what your bike is doing. Your 1 to 8 symptoms are identical to mine. Runs fine in cold weather but acts up when in warm weather, etc. I am going to do the fuel thing just in case. I am also going to check the codes.
If you find out anything could you please let me know?
James
Live from Utah, north of SLC.....:nod
Had the same problem with my 97 Ultra this past spring. I finally worked out the problem being the EFI throttle positioning sensor getting tweeky and such. Also if the throttle body is not adjusted properly, it will float on you at a stop. You need to adjust the hot idle screw when it starts to really get hot, then in the morning, you need to reset the cold air adjustment screw.
This proccess takes a couple days to really get it dialed in for a ggod all round tune up. :faint
As for your crank triger problem, this should not even have been happening unless the unit has been worked on in the past few months. Once the proper settings are made and the trigger is locked into place, there should be no problems with this system.
Good luck, and if you need some help, just ring me on the web.
I live up in Webber county and have time off during the week to make things happen.
Maximo
Had the same problem with my 97 Ultra this past spring. I finally worked out the problem being the EFI throttle positioning sensor getting tweeky and such. Also if the throttle body is not adjusted properly, it will float on you at a stop. You need to adjust the hot idle screw when it starts to really get hot, then in the morning, you need to reset the cold air adjustment screw.
This proccess takes a couple days to really get it dialed in for a ggod all round tune up. :faint
As for your crank triger problem, this should not even have been happening unless the unit has been worked on in the past few months. Once the proper settings are made and the trigger is locked into place, there should be no problems with this system.
Good luck, and if you need some help, just ring me on the web.
I live up in Webber county and have time off during the week to make things happen.
Maximo
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