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[cambo]

The speedo on my bike has been collecting moisture since I bought it last year. It has gotten to where I can not see how fast I am going (is it a valid excuse if I ever get pulled over?!) or how much gas I have left. So I called the dealer and was told HD does not cover this type of problem under warranty and asked me to park the bike outside under direct sunlight for the moisture to evaporate. I told him I have tried that for a year now and the problem keeps getting worse. The service guy wants me to talk to the general manager to see if he would want to help me out.

AM I wasting my time? Should I just use duct tape around the speedo to make it weather proof?

 

[Fired00d]

Gauges fogging has been a known problem but most of them will clear up quickly. Are yours staying that way for extended periods while riding? If so that IMO would be a safety/operational issue and should be covered by warranty.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[cambo]

That's my point. Getting past the fact that the bike looks like crap when you see condensation inside the gauge I could not see the speed or the amount of remaining gas during my trip to NC last week or the Rolling Thunder ride yesterday. It's hard to figure out why sealing the gauge is such a challenge compared to all the plugs for the primary case/oil/transmission/etc.

If HD refuses to help out I will try a couple of things myself to fix this thing. I have read through the previous discussions regarding this problem and I will try out the proposed solutions if/once I am told to deal with it by HD customer service, I guess.

[Fired00d]

Cam call H-D Customer Service - (414) 343-4056 and file a concern/complaint... If it's staying fogged that long that's a defect... some including myself has had the gas gauge fog intermittently but it clears up quickly. Some have said the condensation at times could come from atmospheric/weather conditions/changes... IE: bringing your bike out of a cold/cool garage to outside (or something like that), however those instances the gauge clears up pretty quick.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[cambo]

Will do. Thanks.

[cambo]

So today I will be calling the customer service on this issue. Here's a picture of what the speedo looks like. It could be sunny outside when I'm riding, but inside the speedo it's always rainy!

[CVO2FIXUP]

 Oh they will replace this in a heart beat.  Just site that it is a safety issue.   I had a leaky gas tank on a 2008 RK. Leaking from where the fuel gauge wire goes through the tank. Bike was out of warranty for over a year.  Took it to the steelers, they contacted Harley Canada. Ne tank in a few days. FREE.  I just kept saying its a safety issue, could of bin in flames on the side of the road. I guess they listened.  Good luck.

[cambo]

Update: Contacted HD customer service, who then contacted the dealer. I am told this happens all the time to all bikes. I need to leave it outside under the sun for 24 hours to see if it clears up. Regardless, for them to decide to do something I need to leave the bike with them so they can leave it outside for at least 24 hours, but up to 48 hours. If it clears up then I'm on my own.

I did tell them that when I get caught in the rain I can't see the speed, gas, etc. and telling me to park it under the sun will not apply at that time. They understood my concern and still reiterated the under the sun as the remedy.

So, I need to get used to it I guess. 

[SBB]

Goldwings don't do that.

 

SBB

[cambo]

Goldwings don't do that.

 

SBB






Nah...I prefer DeWalt!

[Fired00d]

Update: Contacted HD customer service, who then contacted the dealer. I am told this happens all the time to all bikes. I need to leave it outside under the sun for 24 hours to see if it clears up. Regardless, for them to decide to do something I need to leave the bike with them so they can leave it outside for at least 24 hours, but up to 48 hours. If it clears up then I'm on my own.

I did tell them that when I get caught in the rain I can't see the speed, gas, etc. and telling me to park it under the sun will not apply at that time. They understood my concern and still reiterated the under the sun as the remedy.

So, I need to get used to it I guess. 

If they are going to require you to leave the bike there for 24/48 hours while it sits then they should provide you a bike to ride while it is there. That is total BS, and damn sure isn't good customer service, especially if you do it (let it sit out in the sun) prior to taking it to the dealership. You may want to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to see if they can offer any help and/or at least have it documented as a complaint.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[grc]

I'm not sure where you can go in this country to get 24 hours of continuous sun on the speedometer.  Maybe the geniuses at H-D could mount your speedo to the outside of a blimp and have it "follow the sun" for a day or two.  Of course they'll have to start over every time they run into a rainstorm.

The story you got from H-D is total BS, but of course you and everyone else already knows that.  Sadly, they get away with that kind of BS because most customers aren't going to take them to court over something like this, and Harley banks on that.

Is my decision to never buy another bike from this company becoming more understandable yet?

Jerry

[cambo]

Based on all the issues various members are having trying to get warranty work done, I suspect there is something else as far as the relationship between HD and the dealerships that we are not aware of.

For example, in my case, HD says it's up to the dealer to tell them they need to replace the gauge. If the dealer tells them the gauge needs replacing, they can make the call and do it. The dealership says HD has to ok the warranty before they can help me. A classic catch 22. But here's what I don't understand:

If I am the dealership, I want my customers happy. So if I am put in charge of determining whether a customer's issue is warranty related or not (at least in my case according to HD), I would err on the side of getting the work done. The customer is happy and I get paid for the work. Win-win as far as the dealership is concerned.

However, time and again, we see the dealers very hesitant to side with the customer. What would be their motivation to pi$$ off the customer and not do the work they would get paid by HD to do? Don't they get compensated for warranty parts and labor? Is there an HD incentive for the dealers to minimize warranty work? Are they penalized if they exceed a certain number of warranty  issues they agree with the customers on?

In my experience with auto dealers, I have found them a little too eager to find 'issues covered by warranty' to fix on our cars entirely on their own even before we noticed anything (all makes and models we have owned over the years, both domestic and European). Why is this not the case with HD dealer network?

Enquiring minds want to know. I want to know, too!

[ultrarider123]

Cam, don't worry....that new fangled "RUSHMORE" campaign the MoCo is gushing about (customer comments, feedback, etc) will take care of that...

Sorry about that, couldn't help myself.....

As for your problems I, like everyone else here so far, call BS on both the dealer and HD.  I've had condensation issues that came and went concerning the guages over the years but this one doesn't even come close to that kind of problem.  Any monkey working the service desk should be able to see that.  I mention the RUSHMORE crap because it's an ad campaign and that's all.  Nothing ever changed(s) or will change with the MoCo because we will keep buying them (all but Jerry, that is.... )

Keep us posted as to the final decision.  I agree with you on the dealer wanting the customer happy in that I would think they would want that customer to be a returning one, not a disgruntled one.  Good luck, brother.

[ultrarider123]

Goldwings don't do that.

 

SBB

...now DAT'S phuny rat dare....