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[deucedog]

Okay, so tonight I decide to hook up a simple pigtail to the battery so I can keep my battery charged.  Simple?  Not tonight.  The new CVO Ultras have these new locking side bags, so it's not just a twist of the 1/4 turn fasteners and off comes the bag - no, you also need to "unplug" the connectors to the power locking system.  So the wife holds the bag while I unplug the connector.  You ask why the bag comes off?  You need to remove the seat strap to remove the seat to get to the battery.  Okay, I'll deal with it.

Now off comes the seat right?  Nope.  You have to disconnect the connector for the "heated" seat first, then the seat will come off.  Okay, seat now off.  On my old Ultra, the battery was right there under the seat - both terminals easy to disconnect and reconnect with pigtail connectors ends.  Not so with the CVO.  First the ECM must come off, as it sits on top of the battery.  Then a tray needs to be removed that is being held in by a large torx head screw which is complete overkill to hold a plastic tray in place.  Go figure, but so far so good, so I start to disconnect the terminals.

Then the alarm goes off!    The siren is sounding, my neighbors must be going crazy.  And it staying on with BOTH terminals to the battery removed!  I can't stop the thing!  I'm feeling pretty stupid right about that time.      I try the fob, that doesn't work.    I read the manual, but it takes a rocket scientist to figure it out quickly.  Finally, the book says it will go on and off for five minutes and then stop. 

I finally get the pigtail on the battery and the alarm siren stopped for good.  I put everything back together and put the battery on charge. 

After that ordeal, the battery probably could use a good charge.

Dumb question - how can the alarm go off if there is no battery connected to the bike? 

Damn Harleys...

 

[sadunbar]

Okay, so tonight I decide to hook up a simple pigtail to the battery so I can keep my battery charged.  Simple?  Not tonight.  The new CVO Ultras have these new locking side bags, so it's not just a twist of the 1/4 turn fasteners and off comes the bag - no, you also need to "unplug" the connectors to the power locking system.  So the wife holds the bag while I unplug the connector.  You ask why the bag comes off?  You need to remove the seat strap to remove the seat to get to the battery.  Okay, I'll deal with it.

Now off comes the seat right?  Nope.  You have to disconnect the connector for the "heated" seat first, then the seat will come off.  Okay, seat now off.  On my old Ultra, the battery was right there under the seat - both terminals easy to disconnect and reconnect with pigtail connectors ends.  Not so with the CVO.  First the ECM must come off, as it sits on top of the battery.  Then a tray needs to be removed that is being held in by a large torx head screw which is complete overkill to hold a plastic tray in place.  Go figure, but so far so good, so I start to disconnect the terminals.

Then the alarm goes off!    The siren is sounding, my neighbors must be going crazy.  And it staying on with BOTH terminals to the battery removed!  I can't stop the thing!  I'm feeling pretty stupid right about that time.      I try the fob, that doesn't work.    I read the manual, but it takes a rocket scientist to figure it out quickly.  Finally, the book says it will go on and off for five minutes and then stop. 

I finally get the pigtail on the battery and the alarm siren stopped for good.  I put everything back together and put the battery on charge. 

After that ordeal, the battery probably could use a good charge.

Dumb question - how can the alarm go off if there is no battery connected to the bike? 

Damn Harleys...

 

The alarm has its own battery....and if I'm not mistaken, your dealer should have installed the pigtail for you.  My last 4 CVO's came with the pigtail preinstalled...!

[deucedog]

Install done.  Owner's Manual on the "Smart Alarm" read.  Siren has it's own 9 volt battery.  Mystery solved.  There is a reason why they include an owner's manual.

[skreminegul07]

I ran into almost the samr story last year with an early 07 SERK.  Worked on it with the siren wailing. I think if you put the key on then disconnect the battery you are golden.  Also there is a service mode on the o7.   

[VAZHOG]

Had you thought of it before hand you could have removed the alarm siren befor you started or added the The the smart sirenII while you had it gutted. (located behind my ECM (06))

(perhaps this will help others before they start that project)

[deucedog]

Had you thought of it before hand you could have removed the alarm siren befor you started or added the The the smart sirenII while you had it gutted. (located behind my ECM (06))

(perhaps this will help others before they start that project)

Good thinking.  Sometimes we get so focused on something we fail to manage the obvious...

[grc]

I wonder just how many battery connections will get checked during the 1k/5k/10k/etc. services, now that you have to dig to find them? 

Jerry

[naitram]

The alarm has its own battery....and if I'm not mistaken, your dealer should have installed the pigtail for you.  My last 4 CVO's came with the pigtail preinstalled...!

thats a bonus from yur dealer. not a standard thing

[110tHunDer]

thats a bonus from yur dealer. not a standard thing

I was at the dealer in Bloomington, IL yesterday and happened to notice pigtails installed on every 2008.  For awhile there, I was thinking the MoCo did it, but realized it must be part of their dealer prep.  Nice touch.  Wonder if they just started doing it since the change in the connection location and siren style?

[sadunbar]

thats a bonus from yur dealer. not a standard thing

I did not know it was not standard for the dealer to install the pigtail during the setup (my dealer does not charge a setup fee).  Another gold star for my dealer!

[VAZHOG]

I wonder just how many battery connections will get checked during the 1k/5k/10k/etc. services, now that you have to dig to find them? 

Jerry

They never checked them before why should they start doing now?

(mine came already installed before del.)

[harleyteam]

just turn the switch on,,,, faster and easier.

[hd-dude]

When working on the battery on the 07 - up models you need to have the fob at the bike, turn the bike on and then pull the maxi fuse. This will disable the alarm so the battery can be disconnected....

[CVOwner]

You didnt leave the alarm on when you disconnected the battery did you? Well, at least you know it works!

[porthole]

I wonder just how many battery connections will get checked during the 1k/5k/10k/etc. services, now that you have to dig to find them? 

Jerry

How many do you think were checked before?

If the bike starts OK, the battery must be tight.

I would venture to say very few techs will check every item on a service list like you think they should. Most techs that do the "service" PM stuff are not the top the pile when it comes to skills. It is the same whether it is a car - truck or bike. All dealers are the same.