intermittent water temp warning

[eagle]

The water temp overheat warning light on my 99 standard has started to flicker and sometime stays on when the temperature gets up around 170-190 degrees. I have a water temp gauge on my bike so I can see the acutal temp.  Has anyone else experiecned this condition and if so, what is the cure?
Weatherford, Texas

[R J]

When my 97 did that some time back it was a screwed up ground......  I cleaned the contact, the area it was connected to and put it back.    Then I sprayed some clear coat on it and haven't had any more problems in like 8 years.    Watch, it will start acting up now.   LOL.....

[Six Guns]

The temp light flashing on and off is a fairly common problem with your year. The fix is the indicator unit. It is located under the left side cover behind the coolant bottle. It worked for me. The part number below is from HDL, their link is http://www.directlineparts.com/  you want to scroll down and go to the OEM on-line parts. It is #16 on the microfiche.
Order:
Qty.    Part Number    Price Per Item    Special Order    Product Name
----    -----------    --------------    -------------    ------------
1    38710-MZ0-003    $50.99        No            Honda - INDICATOR UNIT

[eagle]

Thanks for the information. Part is ordered and will let you know if it fixed my problem.  Getting ready to do the RFTW next month, riding from Weatherford to Las Crusas with the group from Dallas, et al.
Don't need any overheat problems out West.

[Six Guns]

My temp. sensor light came on for the first time while I was in Wash. D.C during the Rolling Thunder Rally last year. It was HOT and I thought my bike was in trouble. It kept coming on and then would go out. I rode back to Fort Worth and it would periodically come on then go out. I thought I had a thermostat problem. I was riding at night after I got home and it was not hot but the light came on again and then went off. I check the Old Tech Archives and found a post from RP#62 that described my problem to a tee. I ordered the indicator unit and swapped it out and have not had a problem since. I hope that takes care of your problem.

[Blackjack]

Just my stamp of approval: I had the same problem and took Six Guns advice, ordered the part, installed it and it worked.

[N0tac0p]

i don't have THAT problem, but it seemed my fan should not have some on after an hour of riding in ~ 50 degree weather.  i flushed (ie emptied and ran water, then refilled with anti, water, and water wetter last year, so i guess surprised the wetter didn't improve heat exchange?

[Ricky-D]

Honda stopped using that system in 2000 models.

It's possible that in 50 degree weather riding with the wind, the motor could get hot enough to turn on the fan.

***

[F6Dave]

As stated above, this is a common problem in early Valk standards and Tourers.  While replacing the switching unit under the left side cover fixes it, Honda apparently realized it was a bad design and changed it.

After mine started flickering I replaced the temp sender with the new style, which eliminates the secondary switch.  All that's needed is a different connector at the sender, and a jumper to bypass the switching unit under the side cover.  As I remember the new style sender actually costs less than the switch.