Stumped Shop ... Help me!

Ok so I have a 1998 VFR that has been to two different shops and can't track down my problem. Here is what's going on.

I bought this bike used and it's my first. I have greatly enjoyed the time I have had on it, taking it for about 1000 miles in the first week that I had it. There were no problems on the trip.

I started noticing that it was getting a lot warmer than most people said they see their bike getting. I started paying more attention and noticed that when I cut the engine off with the kill switch it would jump up to 250 and flash. Knowing this couldn't be normal I took it into a shop.

The shop replaced the fan switch b/c they said they didn't think it was comming on. On my way home the bike died, both the FI and Oil lights came on and it flashed 250 on the thermometer.

I moved and thus took the bike to a new shop ... having explained this to them they said it sounds like a thermostat problem.

After replacing the thermostat I drove the bike to work. When I got to work it flashed 250 when I cut off the engine (it doesn't get over 220 other than that). On the way home it died on me just as before. I drove straight back to my shop and it died on the way there agin. I found out that by switching the bike off and back on I could start the bike again and contine driving w/o stopping.

If ANYONE can help me with ANYTHING on this issue please e-mail me at Sanders.Chris@gmail.com ASAP or post here and I will check back periodically.

My shop is at a loss and so am I. I just want to have my new bike back and it's been in and out of the shop for 5 weeks now and I've only been driving it for about 3. :-[

Thanks,
Chris

 

Chris

I had a "engine cutting out" problem on my 1999 VFR. See post under that title further down page (or on page 2). If the bike temp is ok normally, it could be a problem with the temp sensor wiring. Fan should come on at about 101C (don't know what that is in F). I live in Cyprus and its up to 38C in the summer and the fan rarely comes on. Bike usually runs about 90C.

Best of luck

Ian ???

 

Ok so I was thinking last night and just thought of something that could be really important. The guy I bought the bike from installed a Techlusion Fuel Injector controller. It's the TFI 1015 has anyone messed with these before could this be the source of the problem? I know it controlls fuel to the engine, but could it kill the engine in any way?

hatzyian I read your post, was the oil light also comming on when yours died, or just the FI light?

Thanks,
Chris

 

Yes, oil light came on, it was just as if the engine stopped when you stall it. ie oil light, then the Fi light.

Ian

 

Hey,
I wounder if its running to lean causing the engine to Run real HOT?

Fan should have been an easy test...
I dont like just changing things with out testing.
To many shops due that these days causing the customer to flip the bill.
Relays can be tested. There should be no reason the bike is running hot.
Very few time's my fan would come on even on a real hot day.
I would take the controller out and run it stock...then at least you narrowed it down.

The bike is doing what it should by shutting down so you dont have a major melt down.
My advice is not to run and start again you could do some major damage.
Change the plugs I bet they are toast also.....its not a gard job you just need time and space.
I could walk you thru if you need help.

Regards,
Good Luck....
VFR Steve

 

FYI....before I even read your post about the controller ...
....my first guess was bike mixture was off.


Vfr Steve

 

Wow thanks for the info ... I'm out of town this weekend, but when I get back if the shop doesn't have any answers (which I'm starting to doubt they will) I'll probablly go get it from them and just check everything myself. (by myself I mean under the direction of this form ;D )

I called yesterday and the guy could only say he hasn't had it stop on him yet so they havn't done anything with it ...

I'll keep you updated.
-Chris

P.S. when I talked to the mechanic I ask him if it could be shutting off b/c it's running hot and he said he doesn't think it does that. Am I hearing you correctly in saying you KNOW it shuts off if it thinks it's running to hot?

-edit- : added P.S.

 

I'll try to read the book again....dont want to give you bum information.....sorry if I did.
Can the controler be taken out?

VfrSteve

 

Yes I talked to a tech guy from the makers of the controller and he told me I can just turn off the power and it won't effect anything anymore. It's pooring rain here in Huntsville, but I'll pull the power on the thing in the next few days and see if that helps.

-Chris

 

UPDATE

 

Ok so ignore that last post ...

I now have my bike back from the shop and am ready to do the work myself. I checked the error code from the computer and thought I could tell what it was saying. But after seeing the code I'm confused. I have a video to show anyone that knows how to read this darn flashing light. Please e-mail me at Sanders.Chris@gmail.com and I will gladly send you the video (DivX incoded so i'ts only like 200k!).

I know it flashes 7 times, but then it goes on a whole other sequence that I don't understand. Please help me here I'm really ready to dive in and get this fixed this weekend.

Thanks guys.
Chris

 

no takers? Come on it's just a short video of a flashing light...

I just want to make sure I don't go chasing the wrong error code ;D

-Chris

 

Perhaps I am not reading this right, but you keep saying that your temp goes to 250 WHEN YOU USE THE KILL SWITCH. It stays normal otherwise. I would look for something wrong in the right handlebar switch assy. Perhaps the switch is shorting out periodically (since you also say that you can switch it on and off and the bike will restart).

 

Well actually I have identified that there are definately 7 blinks, then 13 blinks ... then 23? The 23 is what is confusing me b/c my manual doesn't have a code for 23.

But 7 is the ECT sensor so that could very well be linked to the heat ...

-Chr

 

Hey,
Did you get the pages I scanned and e-mailed to you showing the codes?
One long ...1 1/2 sec blink ='s 10...
VfrSteve

 

Weekend update.

(yes I figured out that 1 long blink = 10 that helped!)

So this weekend was dedicated to fixing my VFR. I went after error codes 7 and 13 and got deeper in my engine than I ever thought I belonged.

I tested both sensors as per the book specs and everything checked out ... finally telling me to replace the computer. I didn't want to do that so I reset the error codes to see if they would come back. And they didn't. Does this mean I'm ok? If there were a problem the error code would come back right?

Only problem I'm seeing right now is that it runs really rough at low RPM's. It's like it's ideling low except if it's in Neutral it will still jump by about 500 RPMs even if you rev it up to about 3-4k. It just kinda osscilates. Under load (say second gear at 4kRPM) it's fine. I just added some Injector cleaning stuff last fill up thinking that might help. Any other suggestions as to what might cause this (there are no error codes anymore).

Thanks guys!

 

Yea....I would change the plugs running as hot as you did plus...using that controller ...I would bet they are fried.

VFR Steve
Glad to hear you are getting some where...
Two bad its not a 2000 or 01 I have a computer.

 

I rode around the other day with the TFI box disconnected and the idle is MUCH better. So I'll hook it back up and just play with the settings now.

However, the one nagging issure is still there.

It still shows 250+ on the temp when I cut it off after a 20min+ ride. There arn't any error codes and I've tested the ECT sensor, blead air out of the coolant lines, replaced the thermostat...

what now?

 

You keep saying it shows 250 after you cut it off. What does it show BEFORE you cut it off? If was reading normal before, then it is not in the cooling system. You should also remember that engine temp will rise after you shut the bike off (simply due to heat soak), and will return to normal within a minute of a restart.
This really sounds like you are trying to fix what is not broke.

 

heat soak? Do tell me more!

I'll check and get you a more exact number in the next day but I believe it's only around 230 while it is running before I cut it off. It is ONLY after I cut off the engine that it starts to read 250+

If this is normal I'll stop "fixing" stuff ;D