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[jagonza1]

I have a 2003 FLTRI sometimes when I ride if its a warm day I park the bike it wont start till it cools down I have a new breaker so its not that otherwise I would loose all power on my bike.
I have had codes to check ECM before but not for a while.  The starter turns over but no spark to the plugs till it cools down.  Should I start thinking about a new ECM or a thundermax?
I never loose power just spark
Thanks
John Gonzales

[hawgzilla]

Sounds like a crank position sensor issue.   Heat it up and test it.  Don't just throw parts at it.

[bigchuck]

Sounds like a crank position sensor issue.   Heat it up and test it.  Don't just throw parts at it.

X2. Also l have had a coil ground out internally when it got hot but work fine when it cooled down. I could hit the coil with a can of Freon (back when R12 was 88 cents a can) and it would start working again.

[grc]

X2. Also l have had a coil ground out internally when it got hot but work fine when it cooled down. I could hit the coil with a can of Freon (back when R12 was 88 cents a can) and it would start working again.

 

Before you condemn the ECM, which is usually one of the most reliable parts of the system, I'd make sure the other parts are good.  A bad coil would be a good place to start, and using something to cool it down while you're having the no start issue might expose the problem without having to do any detailed testing of the coil. 

Back in the 70's in the car business we had problems with the electronic control modules failing when they got hot.  As a service rep I used the low tech method to help diagnose that one.  When taking a car with an intermittent stall or no start when hot complaint, I'd get a cup of ice and water to take along on the ride.  If the car acted up, I'd open the hood and pour some cold water on the module.  If it fired right up, I knew where the problem was.  We eventually traced the problem to tiny cracks from manufacturing in the circuit board which would open up at high temps btw.

Jerry

[sadunbar]

X2. Also l have had a coil ground out internally when it got hot but work fine when it cooled down. I could hit the coil with a can of Freon (back when R12 was 88 cents a can) and it would start working again.

Years ago I had a 96 Softail that would shut off randomly, but only when hot.  Or would not restart when hot, usually after stopping for gas.  Drove me crazy trying to diagnose it, because it would only happen when hot, and not every time.  I'm not one for throwing parts at a problem without some kind of diagnostic direction.  Long story short, it turned out to be a bad coil...

[Ridgerunr]

"As a service rep I used the low tech method to help diagnose that one.  When taking a car with an intermittent stall or no start when hot complaint, I'd get a cup of ice and water to take along on the ride.  If the car acted up, I'd open the hood and pour some cold water on the module.  If it fired right up, I knew where the problem was."

Pretty smart guy.  Field results waaay better than theory.

[lonewolf55]

If you have a test light just disconnect the plug at the coil, connect the clamp to the + on the battery. Then probe the C or D wire (Y/BE or BE/O). Crank it and the test light should flash. If not on either wire I would change the CPS. Flashes on one and not the other I would test the ECM.

[mjb765]

Just a thought...the bike runs until you shut it off or will it die when it gets hot?  If the coil was cutting out when it heats up, wouldn't the bike shut down?

[grc]

Just a thought...the bike runs until you shut it off or will it die when it gets hot?  If the coil was cutting out when it heats up, wouldn't the bike shut down?

Once the engine is shut down the coil continues to heat soak, thanks to the location directly above the engine (a situation eventually solved when the coil was moved several years ago to the area below the battery).  So it's feasible that the coil doesn't get hot enough to fail while riding, but does when allowed to soak up heat from the hot engine with no air movement to cool things off.  That's at least one possible scenario anyway.

Jerry

[jagonza1]

No the bike runs just fine until I shut it off and its not all the time its just certain times like it say a 90 degree day and I just rode a hundred miles and pull up to stop and then I decide after I park or there's a better spot to park then I can't start it till whenever it cools down enough to where it'll allow me to .

[Twolanerider]

Once the engine is shut down the coil continues to heat soak, thanks to the location directly above the engine (a situation eventually solved when the coil was moved several years ago to the area below the battery).  So it's feasible that the coil doesn't get hot enough to fail while riding, but does when allowed to soak up heat from the hot engine with no air movement to cool things off.  That's at least one possible scenario anyway.

Jerry

Strictly in the FWIW category; I replaced a 14 year old coil for exactly this reason this past spring.

[jagonza1]

Thanks guys I really appreciate the help  I'll look into both the coil and the crank position sensor that's some good info I never thought about the coil before but then now that you mentioned it I went to look at my brother's bike its under the seat now so thanks I'm getting it now they changed stuff alright thank you guys once again