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[T MAC]

Hey Guys,

I have a concern and would appreciate some feedback.  I took my motorcycle in Monday to the dealer to have the heated grips replaced.  Should have been a couple of hours the service manager said - well at 4pm Monday afternoon he told me that the heating element had come apart inside the handlebar and they were having a difficult time getting it out.  I wanted to go back and talk to the service tech and when I went back he had my bike totally taken apart.  Front fairing was off, radio was taken out, seat was off both saddlebags were off, tank was off, all the handlebar controls were off I think the only thing that was left was the tourpak, motor and wheels.  I called yesterday and the service rep said that another tech that had dealt with this before was now working on the bike but it would be another day before it was repaired.

I am supposed to call at noon today and they say the heated grips should be replaced by and the bike ready by 4pm. 

3 days to fix heated grips seems a little long and I am concerned with the bike being totally dismantled for this fix.  Have you guys ever heard of this problem and it taken so long to get fixed.

I have definitely decided to get the extended warranty I can't imagine what the bill would be if I had to pay for this.

My big concern is I am going to Portland this weekend and don't want to be on the side of I-5 with some issue that might be created from this.

[Midnight Rider]

Well, first of all there are no heating elements inside the handlebars.  The grips themselves have the elements in them.  So, they lied to you.  Second, there is NO reason on earth to take all that chit off to change the grips...the fairing and radio makes it easier to get to the plugs and wiring to take the old out and put he new in, but removing the tank makes no sense, unless they discovered a short in the wiring harness was causing the grip problems and were doing a trace back to the fuse box.

I don't know what they did, but elements inside the bars is an outright lie.

[Twolanerider]

I don't know what they did, but elements inside the bars is an outright lie.

TC, I don't think I'd ever take the HD heated out to replace with same after we found the Heat Demons.  Would rather pay the hundred bucks for the heat demons than get the HD parts for free.

[LRebel]

Yep, the heated grips are self-contained.  The only thing in your handlebars is the wiring.

This sounds a little extreme.... If they remove the handlebars, they have to take the front of the fairing off and remove the radio.  And when any electrical work is done, you should remove the maxi-fuse under the side cover... so that would maybe explain the left saddlebag and the seat.  Can't figure out why they would remove the tank

Hope they get it back together for you soon and right

[Midnight Rider]

TC, I don't think I'd ever take the HD heated out to replace with same after we found the Heat Demons.  Would rather pay the hundred bucks for the heat demons than get the HD parts for free.

Oh, Hell yes.  I just did without until we got the Heat Demons installed.  I wasn't about to let some rookie tech screw around with the internal wiring on my bars.  I shudder to think of how that would have turned out.

[sportygordy]

Do Heat Demons work with the 2008 TBW models..

oops,, throttle by wire

[NWbiker]

I'm from Portland area and had the same problem with my 07 SEultra and Latus Motors HD replaced the left side grip.  Bike was in the shop in and out one day.  They still don't heat real well and going to look into those heat demons.  As for tearing your bike apart sounds like a new tech   was in there and didn't know what fuuk he was doing and the service reps always lie, never trust them as it there job to pacify the customer.

[2PAK]

My heated grips recently went out after a bad hail storm on Tioga Pass in Yosemite National Park. Not sure why, the heated seat kept working as I sat in the hail on the side of the road (when I finally found a place to get off the road) but thankfully it did.  My ass was the only thing warm (but still wet) as everthing else including me was throughly soaked through.

I'm going to have them replaced when I have the 5,000 mile service and Product Improved (read: heads replaced).  While I'm at it, I'm going to have install a "True-Trak" installed, I didnt care for the stability at 90MPH

[T MAC]

Thanks for all the information.  My gut keeps telling me something is wrong.  I wish I would have took a pic of the bic torn apart.  They said they may have to rewire the left side that is where the problem is.  My gut told me a rookie tech also.  I am calling the dealership at 11am and with the new information I AM going to get some answers.   I like the dealership - truth is the next dealership is 2 hours away but I think it might be time for a nice ride.   

[Keithincda]

TMAC, is it a dealer in Western Wa or in Eastern WA? Just curious....

[T MAC]

Ok so I call the dealer.  The service writer says that the bike will be ready by 3pm today but the grips may not work.  She said no big deal because it is warm out - What the F*ck does it being warm out have to do with anything.

I asked again to be sure what the problem was - her response was the heating element came apart inside the left handle bar.  I said my understanding is that the heated grips are one piece and they are external - she said they usually are unless they come apart.  I do not think she knows what she is talking about and that as was stated earlier her job is to make everything seem ok.

She said the service manager Jared is working on the bike now so when I get there I am going to talk with him and find out what the problem has been and what they did to fix it or should I say not fix considering if the grips don't work when I get it back - it will be exactly like it was when I took it in unless they left a few more wires disconnected --I don't need turn signals I can just use my arms, why do I need the crusie control when I can hold the throttle steady    This reminds me of my local Ford dealership I took my truck in to have new brakes put on - left the dealership stepped on the brake to stop and almost went through the windshield.  Took my truck back and the service manager said oh these brakes are now better than new - what- I said how in the he*l can they be better than new he babbled some bs and now I drive an hour to another dealer.

Depending on what Jared says I may be driving to another Harley dealer too.

The dealer is in eastern washinton - I don't know if it is appropiate to give the name on the site - I really do like the folks there too but this is BS~!

I will update when I get back tonight - If I make it!

[murphy]

It is important to relay identities of lier stealer types to protect your fellow CVO brethren!

[Midnight Rider]

Ok so I call the dealer.  The service writer says that the bike will be ready by 3pm today but the grips may not work.  She said no big deal because it is warm out - What the F*ck does it being warm out have to do with anything.

I asked again to be sure what the problem was - her response was the heating element came apart inside the left handle bar.  I said my understanding is that the heated grips are one piece and they are external - she said they usually are unless they come apart.  I do not think she knows what she is talking about and that as was stated earlier her job is to make everything seem ok.

She said the service manager Jared is working on the bike now so when I get there I am going to talk with him and find out what the problem has been and what they did to fix it or should I say not fix considering if the grips don't work when I get it back - it will be exactly like it was when I took it in unless they left a few more wires disconnected --I don't need turn signals I can just use my arms, why do I need the crusie control when I can hold the throttle steady    This reminds me of my local Ford dealership I took my truck in to have new brakes put on - left the dealership stepped on the brake to stop and almost went through the windshield.  Took my truck back and the service manager said oh these brakes are now better than new - what- I said how in the he*l can they be better than new he babbled some bs and now I drive an hour to another dealer.

Depending on what Jared says I may be driving to another Harley dealer too.

The dealer is in eastern washinton - I don't know if it is appropiate to give the name on the site - I really do like the folks there too but this is BS~!

I will update when I get back tonight - If I make it!

Have them show you the "element" they removed.  The left side grip has the rheostat which controls both it and the right hand grip.  The grips simply slide off the ends of the bars when the switch/clutch/brake clamp is removed.  The wires, surrounded in black wrap are ALL that is in the bars, believe me, along with the wires for the switch controls on both sides.  Remove the pins from the connectors inside the fairing for both grips, and voila, the grip comes off while pulling the wire through the hole in the bars where the switches are.  If they let some retard, like the kid who changes oil in the bike, mess around and remove wires from connectors that shouldn't have been removed, then you better hope they got somebody who can actually read a wiring diagram to put the pins back in the right holes.  Dumb f#$ks.

[Keithincda]

SOUTH eastern Washington or NORTH eastern Washington? again, just curious....

[Twolanerider]

What a mess over a grip replacement.  TC, did I mention I'm glad we found the heat demons (and didn't have some hack installing them for us)?