2001 gl1800a stalling from time to time

[Kurt J]

Hi Gents,
First post here so I'll do a little history on myself.
I have swung wrenchs all my life and most of that has been on bikes. So with that said I am ready to put a bullet threw the brain pan of this GL.
I keep the bike maintenance up on the bike and it is in good shape for a bike with 108k on her. Bike has never been dropped.
Any way, it started this stalling thing from time to time. The bikes runs smooth for a while and then it stalls while at speed or sitting at a light. Needless to say it starts right back up again.

I do have a factory shop mach. book for the bike. So I can perform all tests needed to locate a problem.....or so I though.
The charging system checks out fine and the battery is good to. All wires are tight and clean.
I can start the bike on its side stand and the MIL does not flash any codes. BUT when I jump the test plug under the seat it has codes from 11-17 in it.
Code 11 is the speed censor.....I did the test on this censor step by step by the book. The end result said that the ECM needed to be replaced.
Codes 12-17 are the injectors 1 threw 6.....I did the test on them as the book said and the end result was to replace the ECM.
I don't have a test harness to run between the ECM harness and the ECM to do the ECM tests in the book.
I have to assume that if I am getting codes on all injectors and the bike still runs smooth (when not stalling) that the injectors are not the problem. This goes for the speed censor too.
The fuel pump checks out and the fuel pump reg. I am getting the right mount of fuel pressure at the injectors. But due to the fact that I have 7 codes that point to the same problem (ECM) I am about ready to get a new one for it.
I thought I would ask here if there is any thing else that may be causing this problem that the factory book may not be touching on??? I ask because I be leave there is something else tripling up the injectors and not a injector problem (it least not all 6).

I still fell a bullet threw the brain pan of this thing would be easier.......but I don't like to give up that easy.

Cheers Mates Kurt

[Asphaltmaniac]

The cutoff switch on my right handlebar got real sensitive a few years back. Several times while at speed I would knock it without realizing I did so, And although it didn't move into the kill position,the bike would shut off. Scratched my head for awhile over that one..
Good luck! let us know what you find out.

[Kurt J]

No never have hit the kill switch when riding. I see there is no one here with any other ideas for me to look into. I'll keep tinkering with it checking grounds and vacuum lines. I do this as we go into winter any way. Basic full service stuff.

Just wondering if the ECM's have a problem going out at higher mileage (109k). As I said before all the checks I did for the codes go back to the ECM faultily. But when the bike stalls while running down the road it acts like I turned the key off . When it runs it runs fine. Some times it will run for a good long time and at other times i can go just down the block and it starts having this problem. Needless to say if it dies at a light or even in the drive way it fires right back up again. This is the reason I really think there is another problem other then the ECM. I think power may be getting cut off going to the ECM.
I have codes 12-17 which are all the injectors faultily. But the bike runs strong and has good power until t wants to die.......i hate elc problems on big bikes. Taking it to a deal is NOT going to happen. There mech's are fresh out of ITT tech school or something like that and are plug and play mech's. Sorry little vent there.

Kurt

[Kurt J]

Problem solved .

I had the bike warming up so I could start jiggling the wiring harness, While I was standing by the bike I set my hand on the throttle grip kind of hard and the bike died. I started the bike again and this time i bumped the throttle grip again a little harder bike died again......I turned the key off and flip the eng. kill switch back and forth a few times. I then started the bike and banged on the throttle grip again and again.....bike stayed running. I took the switch housing apart and found there was a bunch of dirt in the switch and the contacts where corroded. Cleaned it up put it back together and took out for a 100 mile ride......purrs like a kitten.

I got lucky.....problems that go on and off from time to time are real hard to find. There was know way I was going to replace the ECM even though everything said that was the problem. With this problem if it had been what the ECM said the problem was the bike would never start right back up and run smooth again each time it died.
Taking this problem to the dealer would have cost me and I think they still would not came up with the problem. They would just start replacing parts until it stayed running.
This repair cost me zero.....as I said I got lucky.

Just a side note: forums like this if you do your research does give you different ideas from other riders that have had problems like this. I did a lot of reading hear the last few days and tried different ideas....I got lucky and it paid off.....thanks


Kurt

[Steve F]

Problem solved .

I had the bike warming up so I could start jiggling the wiring harness, While I was standing by the bike I set my hand on the throttle grip kind of hard and the bike died. I started the bike again and this time i bumped the throttle grip again a little harder bike died again......I turned the key off and flip the eng. kill switch back and forth a few times. I then started the bike and banged on the throttle grip again and again.....bike stayed running. I took the switch housing apart and found there was a bunch of dirt in the switch and the contacts where corroded. Cleaned it up put it back together and took out for a 100 mile ride......purrs like a kitten.

I got lucky.....problems that go on and off from time to time are real hard to find. There was know way I was going to replace the ECM even though everything said that was the problem. With this problem if it had been what the ECM said the problem was the bike would never start right back up and run smooth again each time it died.
Taking this problem to the dealer would have cost me and I think they still would not came up with the problem. They would just start replacing parts until it stayed running.
This repair cost me zero.....as I said I got lucky.

Just a side note: forums like this if you do your research does give you different ideas from other riders that have had problems like this. I did a lot of reading hear the last few days and tried different ideas....I got lucky and it paid off.....thanks


Kurt

Looks like you owe ASPHALTMANIAC a cup of coffee

[Asphaltmaniac]

Oh I'm a BIG coffee drinker!!!! Ha!

[Asphaltmaniac]

Problem solved .

I had the bike warming up so I could start jiggling the wiring harness, While I was standing by the bike I set my hand on the throttle grip kind of hard and the bike died. I started the bike again and this time i bumped the throttle grip again a little harder bike died again......I turned the key off and flip the eng. kill switch back and forth a few times. I then started the bike and banged on the throttle grip again and again.....bike stayed running. I took the switch housing apart and found there was a bunch of dirt in the switch and the contacts where corroded. Cleaned it up put it back together and took out for a 100 mile ride......purrs like a kitten.

I got lucky.....problems that go on and off from time to time are real hard to find. There was know way I was going to replace the ECM even though everything said that was the problem. With this problem if it had been what the ECM said the problem was the bike would never start right back up and run smooth again each time it died.
Taking this problem to the dealer would have cost me and I think they still would not came up with the problem. They would just start replacing parts until it stayed running.
This repair cost me zero.....as I said I got lucky.

Just a side note: forums like this if you do your research does give you different ideas from other riders that have had problems like this. I did a lot of reading hear the last few days and tried different ideas....I got lucky and it paid off.....thanks


Kurt

Looks like you owe ASPHALTMANIAC a cup of coffee

I pull the left "Suspension/ emergency" and right "GPS" switch clusters every couple years and hose them out with electronics cleaner. Talk about dust and dirt in there. Wow!
And the handle bar clusters need an occasional hose out as well...I also like too re-lube the turn signal switch since it gets so much use after applying electronics cleaner.