Modules Before 2013 Discontinued

[IXL2Relax]

Does the shop still have the bike or do you have it back to work on it yourself? If it's at the shop, I guess you're at the mercy of whatever they recommend to move forward...?...

Originally Posted by taojaxx

6) How long has the problem existed? Did you do any work on the bike before the problem began?
After I changed the battery. Asked bike shop to check battery connections, not sure they did it
My big doubt about diagnostic is how could the TSM lose ground and turn signals still work?

Crazy things happen when you have no ground - where it should be. So, until I know exactly what the tech meant by the TSM not having a ground, I can't say if replacing it would be appropriate. But I'm skeptical at the moment and would put replacing the TSM on the back burner until I had done other diagnostics.


If you have the bike, you should do the ground checks I linked to in the previous post. That grounding is important. As that link describes, check both ends of both cables for corroded or broken wire strands.

And I would remove the fuses & thoroughly clean the fuse box, both front & back. Then use dielectric grease when putting fuses back in the sockets.


But here are two more links. The first is for getting the Diag Trouble Codes. That might provide the right clue as to what is happening (or failing).

http://sportsterpedia.com/doku.php/t...ing_dtc_codes1

This second link is to the Password Learn Procedure which is needed between the ECM & the TSM. With power removed from the bike (replacing battery) it may require you to re-run this learn procedure:

http://sportsterpedia.com/doku.php/t...earn_procedure


So - If you have the bike, those are FOUR things I would definitely attend to.


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[taojaxx]

Originally Posted by IXL2Relax

Does the shop still have the bike or do you have it back to work on it yourself?
I have it back.

Crazy things happen when you have no ground - where it should be. So, until I know exactly what the tech meant by the TSM not having a ground, I can't say if replacing it would be appropriate. But I'm skeptical at the moment and would put replacing the TSM on the back burner until I had done other diagnostics.

I agree
If you have the bike, you should do the ground checks I linked to in the previous post. That grounding is important. As that link describes, check both ends of both cables for corroded or broken wire strands.

And I would remove the fuses & thoroughly clean the fuse box, both front & back. Then use dielectric grease when putting fuses back in the sockets.

Will be doing that
But here are two more links. The first is for getting the Diag Trouble Codes. That might provide the right clue as to what is happening (or failing).

http://sportsterpedia.com/doku.php/t...ing_dtc_codes1

This second link is to the Password Learn Procedure which is needed between the ECM & the TSM. With power removed from the bike (replacing battery) it may require you to re-run this learn procedure:

http://sportsterpedia.com/doku.php/t...earn_procedure


So - If you have the bike, those are FOUR things I would definitely attend to.

Noted Thanks, very helpful. Will update as I progress (or not...)

IXL _______ >>>> My Motorcycle Chronicles Are Here <<<<
For Sportster Tech Info:
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[taojaxx]

Update on this: Friend of mine knows a Harley mechanic, so we brought him the bike. He just tightened up the ground stud of the negative battery cable and voilà, the bike runs. Turns out that shop I brought it to had no interest in servicing Harleys -they specialize in crotch rockets- and charged almost $200.00 for a cursory look at the bike leading to incompetent diagnostic: asked how the turn signal module should lack ground and turn signals would still work, he essentially had no idea.

[Melnic]

Originally Posted by Turbo Sporty 48

I hear the Chinese Harleys are quite nice, they make all the parts anyways, Alibaba?

JB in NC,
Emailed Signal Dynamics, thanks.

Funny you say that cause I can see some group in Harley wanting to obsolete old bike parts so people throw bikes away and buy new ones. Little do they realize that won't necessarily work as China will take over that business then people will not travel over to the Harley dealership to drool over new bikes on the way to the parts dept. For the few parts I needed this year for my 2007 883, I have gone to the local dealer instead of ordering over the internet.

[IXL2Relax]

Originally Posted by taojaxx

He just tightened up the ground stud of the negative battery cable and voilà, the bike runs.

Glad you got it back on the road. Those ground connections are critical.

BUT --- I would still do the other three maintenance items I mentioned - (1) All over, thorough ground check, (2) Clean & dielectric grease the fuse box, plus (3) Retrieve, Record & Reset the Diagnostic Trouble Codes.

That will not only help minimize trouble in the future, but familiarize you with the bike.

Good Luck.


IXL _______ >>>> My Motorcycle Chronicles Are Here <<<<
For Sportster Tech Info:
Ride On The Sportsterpedia - A Toll-Free XLForum Information Highway!

[taojaxx]

Originally Posted by IXL2Relax

Glad you got it back on the road. Those ground connections are critical.

BUT --- I would still do the other three maintenance items I mentioned - (1) All over, thorough ground check, (2) Clean & dielectric grease the fuse box, plus (3) Retrieve, Record & Reset the Diagnostic Trouble Codes.

That will not only help minimize trouble in the future, but familiarize you with the bike.

Good Luck.


IXL _______ >>>> My Motorcycle Chronicles Are Here <<<<
For Sportster Tech Info:
Ride On The Sportsterpedia - A Toll-Free XLForum Information Highway!

Yup, definitely plan to do that!

[Andy56]

I was thinking about the grounds check the other day as I haven't looked at them since owning the bike. Anyway I orientated myself on the 2008 and then went looking on the 2017. See how easy it is to access the battery ground as it is to get a picture on the 2008. Look how obscured the picture is on the 2017. I don't have any tool that can get to it just yet either underneath what HD calls the electrical caddy sticking out.

[hammer6315]

Originally Posted by Andy56

I was thinking about the grounds check the other day as I haven't looked at them since owning the bike. Anyway I orientated myself on the 2008 and then went looking on the 2017. See how easy it is to access the battery ground as it is to get a picture on the 2008. Look how obscured the picture is on the 2017. I don't have any tool that can get to it just yet either underneath what HD calls the electrical caddy sticking out.

You might consider getting a longer negative cable and attach it to the other ground that is much more accessible.

[Andy56]

On which bike are you talking? On the 2017 the battery is turned round so the negative is staring at you when the side cover comes off. The seat has to come off to get to the positive terminal.

The wiring harness ground is closer to the negative terminal on the battery so a shorter cable would reach but the terminal is obscured as well and not even visible like it is on the 2008.

[hammer6315]

Yes, you are correct. I was talking about an older model with the negative buried at the rear of the battery box. I liked the even older models where the battery and both terminals were right there in the open, easy to get-at.