Search
Friday, July 30, 2010 ..:: Technical » Harley Specs & Standard Procedures » Trouble Codes » VDO Ignition Carburated FLTs ::.. Register  Login

How To Determine Trouble Codes Stored on VDO Ignition Carburated Model FLTs *

* copied from the Harley Davidson 1998 FLT Service Manual

How To Determine Trouble Codes Stored on VDO Ignition Carburated Model FLTs *

* copied from the Harley Davidson 1998 FLT Service Manual


Knowing which trouble codes are stored by your bike's ECM can greatly assist you in determining the source of a problem you are having. In order to check the codes on a VDO Ignition Carburated Electra Glide (FLHTC/U-I), Road Glide (FLTR-I) or Road King (FLHRC-I) without the benefit of a scanalyzer, do the following:




  • Make a diagnostic test wire as shown above

  • Connect pins 1 and 2 of the data link connector using the wire you made

  • Turn the key switch to 'IGNITION' and wait

8 seconds after the last step, a sequence of flashing lights will begin (from the engine-check light). These let you read out the codes stored by the bike's ECM. Read the following to understand how to interpret the sequences:

First the light will flash an 'intermission' sequence. This is a series of rapid flashes (3 per second) to tell you it is about to transmit a trouble code. The rapid flashing will then pause for 2 seconds. This tells you that it is about to parse out the first trouble code.

The engine-check light will now flash at a rate of 1 beat/second to give you the first digit in the first trouble code the ECM has stored (just count the beats to get the number). It will then pause for 2 seconds and flash out the second digit at 1 beat/second and pause again for 2 seconds to tell you it is finished transmitting that digit (there are always 2 digits for a complete trouble code). Record these 2 digits so you can translate them, using the table below.

It is possible that there is more than one trouble code stored by the ECM, so the rapid-flashing 'intermission' sequence will start again, followed once more by a 2 second pause to tell you it is going to parse out another code. Just keep reading the codes as described above until you get the same code fed back to you, because the whole cycle will keep repeating once the last code is flashed out.



To interpret the code (or codes) you have read out, refer to the chart presented below:

Trouble Code Description of Fault
12 MAP Sensor
16 Battery Positive Voltage
24 Front Ignition Coil
25 Rear Ignition Coil
35 Tachometer
41 Crankshaft Position Sensor
42 Camshaft Position Sensor
44 Bank Angle Sensor
52 RAM Failure *
53 ROM Failure *
54 EEPROM Failure *
55 Module Failure *
56 Crank Position Sensor/Cam Position Sensor Timing **

* - Requires ECM Replacement

** - Not applicable for 2001 Models


Knowing which trouble codes are stored by your bike's ECM can greatly assist you in determining the source of a problem you are having. In order to check the codes on a VDO Ignition Carburated Electra Glide (FLHTC/U-I), Road Glide (FLTR-I) or Road King (FLHRC-I) without the benefit of a scanalyzer, do the following:




  • Make a diagnostic test wire as shown above

  • Connect pins 1 and 2 of the data link connector using the wire you made

  • Turn the key switch to 'IGNITION' and wait

8 seconds after the last step, a sequence of flashing lights will begin (from the engine-check light). These let you read out the codes stored by the bike's ECM. Read the following to understand how to interpret the sequences:

First the light will flash an 'intermission' sequence. This is a series of rapid flashes (3 per second) to tell you it is about to transmit a trouble code. The rapid flashing will then pause for 2 seconds. This tells you that it is about to parse out the first trouble code.

The engine-check light will now flash at a rate of 1 beat/second to give you the first digit in the first trouble code the ECM has stored (just count the beats to get the number). It will then pause for 2 seconds and flash out the second digit at 1 beat/second and pause again for 2 seconds to tell you it is finished transmitting that digit (there are always 2 digits for a complete trouble code). Record these 2 digits so you can translate them, using the table below.

It is possible that there is more than one trouble code stored by the ECM, so the rapid-flashing 'intermission' sequence will start again, followed once more by a 2 second pause to tell you it is going to parse out another code. Just keep reading the codes as described above until you get the same code fed back to you, because the whole cycle will keep repeating once the last code is flashed out.



To interpret the code (or codes) you have read out, refer to the chart presented below:

Trouble Code Description of Fault
12 MAP Sensor
16 Battery Positive Voltage
24 Front Ignition Coil
25 Rear Ignition Coil
35 Tachometer
41 Crankshaft Position Sensor
42 Camshaft Position Sensor
44 Bank Angle Sensor
52 RAM Failure *
53 ROM Failure *
54 EEPROM Failure *
55 Module Failure *
56 Crank Position Sensor/Cam Position Sensor Timing **

* - Requires ECM Replacement

** - Not applicable for 2001 Models

Copyright 2008 by XiDOS Software   Terms Of Use  Privacy Statement