2006 Surging at idle and cuts out when held at a constant speed

[drive2live2ride]

I bought a 2006 base model with about 21k miles. I noticed at night the headlight would pulse a little bit at stop signs (idle), but otherwise it ran fine for about 1k miles.

The first running issue I noticed was it started cutting out while traveling at a constant speed. Say running 45 mph holding the throttle steady. When I say cutting out it's as if the fuel is cut off very briefly. Just for a fraction of a second and the bike jerks then recovers. This will repeat every 10 seconds or so as long as the throttle is held steady. Twist the throttle and the bike accelerates.

The second issue that began at the same time, is it idles low and the headlight pulsates much worse than I mentioned earlier.

Yes, I tried the ECM initialization to no avail. The bike won't idle long enough without touching the throttle for the fans to come on. It dies before that. If I turn it off early, before the fans come on, there is no change at all with the symptoms I'm referring to.

In doing my homework I can point to many different possible causes. First thought was alternator. But it's putting out proper voltage and keepimg the battery charged. Maybe vacuum leak? I have the bike tore apart right now and the vacuum lines appear fine upon visual inspection. IAC Valve? Knock sensor? MAP sensor? ECM? My problem is trying to diagnose the problem.

I'm pasting a link below to a YouTube video showing how my bike is idling. I'm hoping someone has had a similar experience and can advise. Please remember, ECM reset/initialization does not help, so the standard response of how to reset the ECM won't help in this case. Thanks.



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[AZgl1800]

My '02 had a bit of that surging, but it quit and stabilized after I did the ECU calibration procedure.

but you say your bike won't run long enough for the fans to cycle on/off ?

[keithg64]

Did the FI light cone on at any time ?

[drive2live2ride]

My '02 had a bit of that surging, but it quit and stabilized after I did the ECU calibration procedure.

but you say your bike won't run long enough for the fans to cycle on/off ?

Thats correct. It will stop running long before reaching fan temp. Once, I tried turning it off after temp stabilized (but prior to fans turning on) and no change. Multiple attempts to run it until fans turned on failed due to bike quits running.

[drive2live2ride]

Did the FI light cone on at any time ?

No sir, no engine light whatsoever.

[keithg64]

Have you changed the air filter and check for a mouse nest ? Checked and replaced spark plugs ? Had the battery load tested ?

Also there is some reading here.

https://www.gl1800riders.com/threads/idle-surge.311825/

[drive2live2ride]

Have you changed the air filter and check for a mouse nest ? Checked and replaced spark plugs ? Had the battery load tested ?

Also there is some reading here.

https://www.gl1800riders.com/threads/idle-surge.311825/

Yeah, I have it torn down now. All the basic stuff has been checked. Now I'm at a loss as how to diagnose which of the many other possibilities that could be causing the issue. The thing that has me stumped more than the idle is the way it cuts out when holding the throttle to maintain a constant speed on the road. Seems like that symptom should lead to something more specific. Thanks for the link...

[Rambozo]

Have you tried to pull DTCs from the ECM with the test jumper?

[drive2live2ride]

Have you tried to pull DTCs from the ECM with the test jumper?

I have not. The engine light hasn't come on at all. I'm not familiar with the process. Can there be trouble codes stored in the unit even though the light hasn't come on?

[Rambozo]

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[drive2live2ride]

Have you tried to pull DTCs from the ECM with the test jumper?

I searched the forum for one of the test jumpers you referenced and didn't fine anything. Who supplies the jumpers?

[MikeB]

Have you tried to pull DTCs from the ECM with the test jumper?

I searched the forum for one of the test jumpers you referenced and didn't fine anything. Who supplies the jumpers?

You need to search the internet. Part # 070PZ-ZY30100 is Honda tool.
You could make your own or buy one for abut $20.

Find This Item on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081DBH6N9?tag=goldwingdocs-20

[drive2live2ride]

You need to search the internet. Part # 070PZ-ZY30100 is Honda tool.
You could make your own or buy one for abut $20.

10-4. Thanks for the part number...

Find This Item on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081DBH6N9?tag=goldwingdocs-20

[Terry D]

Before messing with the ECM, did you see if you had a filthy air filter. Did you try running a few tanks of gas with SEA FOAM and or injector cleaner to see if things improved a bit. EXXON and Standard have great gas with fuel cleaner it it. I had a Honda Generator and Honda Lawnmower do the same things and it was gummy carb idle and throttle jets. The same thing can be injectors need cleaning.

[drive2live2ride]

Before messing with the ECM, did you see if you had a filthy air filter. Did you try running a few tanks of gas with SEA FOAM and or injector cleaner to see if things improved a bit. EXXON and Standard have great gas with fuel cleaner it it. I had a Honda Generator and Honda Lawnmower do the same things and it was gummy carb idle and throttle jets. The same thing can be injectors need cleaning.

Yes sir. I've covered the basic things I've read about. Air filter was two weeks old when this started. New non ethanol gas didn't help. Although I did not run seafoam through it.

[Asphaltmaniac]

You might just bite the bullet and take it to a Honda shop to check fuel pressure.
There is a pressure port on the left side fuel rail.
06 with only 21K I'd hazard a guess it sat a lot with cruddy fuel in the tank.
There is no real fuel filter on the 06 just barely a strainer
on the pump to keep bugs out of the fuel stream.

The pump is pretty easy to get to with the seat off..Videos on U tube.

[Asphaltmaniac]

You might just bite the bullet and take it to a Honda shop to check fuel pressure.
There is a pressure port on the left side fuel rail.
06 with only 21K I'd hazard a guess it sat a lot with cruddy fuel in the tank.
There is no real fuel filter on the 06 just barely a strainer
on the pump to keep bugs out of the fuel stream.

The pump is pretty easy to get to with the seat off..Videos on U tube.

Thought Id add this easy way to check your pump.

..But it wont tell you if the flow
regulator is acting up? And are you sure the vacuum hose to the regulator is 100% good.
16 years is 16 years...Ya know?

[drive2live2ride]

You might just bite the bullet and take it to a Honda shop to check fuel pressure.
There is a pressure port on the left side fuel rail.
06 with only 21K I'd hazard a guess it sat a lot with cruddy fuel in the tank.
There is no real fuel filter on the 06 just barely a strainer
on the pump to keep bugs out of the fuel stream.

The pump is pretty easy to get to with the seat off..Videos on U tube.

Thought Id add this easy way to check your pump.0902211245.jpg..But it wont tell you if the flow
regulator is acting up? And are you sure the vacuum hose to the regulator is 100% good.
16 years is 16 years...Ya know?

Thanks for this. The vacuum hoses coming off the front of the throttle body look good. The three small hoses come together into a coupler then a larger hose runs forward. I'm uncertain of where the regulator is. I've got the bike torn down to the throttle body, but I'm not used to working on two wheeled cars Lol. I replaced the whole top end on my harley in less time than what I have trying to find this issue. I just don't know these bikes at all, but I'm learning. Just got my hands on the big 6 ring service manual so I'm going to try to chase down the regulator. Nothing at all in the index about vacuum lines. I suppose I need to start reading through the fuel system section and figure it out. Thanks again for the input...

[Asphaltmaniac]

You might just bite the bullet and take it to a Honda shop to check fuel pressure.
There is a pressure port on the left side fuel rail.
06 with only 21K I'd hazard a guess it sat a lot with cruddy fuel in the tank.
There is no real fuel filter on the 06 just barely a strainer
on the pump to keep bugs out of the fuel stream.

The pump is pretty easy to get to with the seat off..Videos on U tube.

Thought Id add this easy way to check your pump.0902211245.jpg..But it wont tell you if the flow
regulator is acting up? And are you sure the vacuum hose to the regulator is 100% good.
16 years is 16 years...Ya know?

Thanks for this. The vacuum hoses coming off the front of the throttle body look good. The three small hoses come together into a coupler then a larger hose runs forward. I'm uncertain of where the regulator is. I've got the bike torn down to the throttle body, but I'm not used to working on two wheeled cars Lol. I replaced the whole top end on my harley in less time than what I have trying to find this issue. I just don't know these bikes at all, but I'm learning. Just got my hands on the big 6 ring service manual so I'm going to try to chase down the regulator. Nothing at all in the index about vacuum lines. I suppose I need to start reading through the fuel system section and figure it out. Thanks again for the input...

fuel regulator is the small silver gizmo on the left side fuel rail. Its controlled by one vacuum line going over to the throttle body.
So if you can start er up apply vacuum to it and see what happens?
So if you have factory manual near the beginning you should find highly detailed drawings. Study them and they will be invaluable during reassembly.
These 1800's are crammed pretty tight and things have to go back just like factory.
I hate to give you more work, dont forget while its apart check every electrical connection and make sure they are crud free.

[GoldWingrGreg]

I bought a 2006 base model with about 21k miles. I noticed at night the headlight would pulse a little bit at stop signs (idle), but otherwise it ran fine for about 1k miles.

The first running issue I noticed was it started cutting out while traveling at a constant speed. Say running 45 mph holding the throttle steady. When I say cutting out it's as if the fuel is cut off very briefly. Just for a fraction of a second and the bike jerks then recovers. This will repeat every 10 seconds or so as long as the throttle is held steady. Twist the throttle and the bike accelerates.

The second issue that began at the same time, is it idles low and the headlight pulsates much worse than I mentioned earlier.

Yes, I tried the ECM initialization to no avail. The bike won't idle long enough without touching the throttle for the fans to come on. It dies before that. If I turn it off early, before the fans come on, there is no change at all with the symptoms I'm referring to.

In doing my homework I can point to many different possible causes. First thought was alternator. But it's putting out proper voltage and keepimg the battery charged. Maybe vacuum leak? I have the bike tore apart right now and the vacuum lines appear fine upon visual inspection. IAC Valve? Knock sensor? MAP sensor? ECM? My problem is trying to diagnose the problem.

I'm pasting a link below to a YouTube video showing how my bike is idling. I'm hoping someone has had a similar experience and can advise. Please remember, ECM reset/initialization does not help, so the standard response of how to reset the ECM won't help in this case. Thanks.



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Be sure to start with the basics. Make sure you battery connections are clean and tight, then have your battery professionally tested. Once all that's verified, test your charging system.

[Terry D]

Number one problem is the garage door is closed. This bike needs fresh air. Just kidding. Did you check for loose or cracked plug wires and or coil wires? All spark plugs torqued to specs. It seems that if the bike is acting up while driving at a constant throttle, then maybe you have a heat problem or corroded ground connection. Take off ground wires and clean their connections. This is what was wrong with my Son-in-laws bike when it started missing.

[drive2live2ride]

Number one problem is the garage door is closed. This bike needs fresh air. Just kidding. Did you check for loose or cracked plug wires and or coil wires? All spark plugs torqued to specs. It seems that if the bike is acting up while driving at a constant throttle, then maybe you have a heat problem or corroded ground connection. Take off ground wires and clean their connections. This is what was wrong with my Son-in-laws bike when it started missing.

Thanks. Yeah, I've addressed the basic stuff. The bike is really clean and was kept out of the heat in a garage. All the wires, hoses and connections are in good shape and I've found no loose connections - yet. I think something is giving bad information to the ECM. I just don't know yet if it's vacuum, sensor, ECM itself or even a short somewhere (ground issue aside from the battery maybe). I'm going to address all suggestions that come my way one at a time until I figure it out. Thanks again for the input...

[tamathumper]

You have several good suggestions already - air filter condition, current or former mouse infestation with urine soaking the intake bits, and mouse chewing damage on the harness(es).

But if you haven't run a can of SeaFoam through it, you haven't done "the basics".

[drive2live2ride]

You have several good suggestions already - air filter condition, current or former mouse infestation with urine soaking the intake bits, and mouse chewing damage on the harness(es).

But if you haven't run a can of SeaFoam through it, you haven't done "the basics".

Fair enough. Back story before the issue began. As soon as I got it home after purchase, I changed the air filter. The old air filter looked really good and the air box was nice and clean, but since I went through the trouble, I replaced it anyway. Along with changing all fluids (oil, brake, clutch, final drive) brake pads and spark plugs. Bought a shim kit but didn't get to the adjustment yet. After the above, I proceed to put just over 1000 miles on it over the course of maybe five weekends. It ran like a clock before and after I serviced it. Then, all of a sudden, out if the blue it started with the symptoms I've outlined. The bike is currently torn down and I'm hoping to diagnose the issue before putting it back together. With this information do you still think seafoam is a possible solution? If you were in my shoes would you put the bike back together and run seafoam through it now without trying to diagnose further?

[Terry D]

With the bike apart, are you able to start it and try to let it idle?