Engine Management Light Comes On - 2008 883R

DWS

DWS

Club Member
I have an ongoing problem with this bike, when I bought last winter I did a two or three 150-200 mile trips with no problems at all, it seemed to run just fine.

Then on one trip the engine management light came on after 10 miles and the engine cut out and I came to a stop, I turned the ignition off, wait a minute or so and turn the ignition on again and the engine started and ran fine again, however not wanting to trust it I returned home. I had the error codes checked by my local Harley dealer and they showed an historic error code for the System Relay and a current error code for the Crank Position Sensor. A Crank Position Sensor was fitted and the System Relay contacts were cleaned.

The next trip I did after 30 miles the same thing happened again, I turned the ignition off, wait a minute or so and turn the ignition on again, engine started and ran fine again and I returned home, annoyed. I ordered a new System Relay just to be in the safe side, cleaned all the contacts in the fuse/relay block with electrical spray cleaner and fitted the new relay. I then did a trip of 80 miles with no problems however, the engine management light still comes on intermittently.

The bike has been laid up for a few months (health reasons) but today I started it - turn ignition on - all lamps light up and then go off, start the engine and the engine management light come back on for 5/10 seconds or so then goes off again. I haven't tried to ride it yet as I'm just not confident that if I do take it out for a ride and the engine management light come on again mid ride and the engine cuts out and it won't restart again it'll leave me stranded out on the road.

Has anyone got any ideas as to what might be causing this and where next to look?

Thanks in advance
Dave
 
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Have you got a H-D Workshop Manual? There is a step by step guide in the Manual to help in diagnosing faults. If you haven't got a Manual then they can be downloaded from the Club here:
Wiring Diagrams; https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Zlfizjvfhzog6rveFUVExhea7JoL2qoT?usp=sharing
Service Manuals: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1a2QSeUlGgW5Tavs7NK9Kt-AffVBtu-FU?usp=sharing
Electrical Diagnostic Manuals: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PFbMpSJgtoMHX5ajqPlZYgbTL8GNXSEB?usp=sharing
I should have said these are courtesy of Richard Jones.
:encouragement:
 
I know this might not help but I have had this occur and it was down to a Duff battery. The battery would have sufficient power to start the bike but the low voltage was causing the ECU lamp to come
 
softail898 said:
Have you got a H-D Workshop Manual? There is a step by step guide in the Manual to help in diagnosing faults. If you haven't got a Manual then they can be downloaded from the Club here:
Wiring Diagrams; https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Zlfizjvfhzog6rveFUVExhea7JoL2qoT?usp=sharing
Service Manuals: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1a2QSeUlGgW5Tavs7NK9Kt-AffVBtu-FU?usp=sharing
Electrical Diagnostic Manuals: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PFbMpSJgtoMHX5ajqPlZYgbTL8GNXSEB?usp=sharing
I should have said these are courtesy of Richard Jones.
:encouragement:
Click to expand...
Many thanks for that. (y)
 
Army said:
I know this might not help but I have had this occur and it was down to a Duff battery. The battery would have sufficient power to start the bike but the low voltage was causing the ECU lamp to come
Click to expand...
Thanks for that, worth a try with a new battery. (y)
 
They can be temperamental, I had one on an '09 Sportster that brought up the Engine light only when going up a very steep slope!
A replacement relay cleared it!
 
SJC69 said:
Did they change the system relay?
They can be temperamental, I had one on an '09 Sportster that brought up the Engine light only when going up a very steep slope!
Click to expand...
I've recently fitted a new System Relay to be on the safe side.
 
DWS said:
The bike has been laid up for a few months (health reasons) but today I started it - turn ignition on - all lamps light up and then go off, start the engine and the engine management light come back on for 5/10 seconds or so then goes off again. I haven't tried to ride it yet as I'm just not confident that if I do take it out for a ride and the engine management light come on again mid ride and the engine cuts out and it won't restart again it'll leave me stranded out on the road.
Click to expand...
This would appear to say you have a Historic DTC, as said download the Electrical Diagnostic Manual. Page 44 gives an explanation as to the Codes and what the lamps on and off indicate, look at any codes historic or otherwise and work from there.
A possibility is the wiring connections on the back of the relay being corroded and check the battery has a good earth connection to the engine they often get corroded on Sportsters!
 
Thanks for that, I have ordered a new battery to eliminate that possibility as I don't know how old the current one is.
 
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