Temperature light

[doctorider]

1998 Tourer: The temperature light comes on after riding. Sometimes it will come on after 30 miles of highway riding. It may go off after a while. Then again, I cannot always wait for it to go off. I may stop, turn off the bike, then restart it immediately. The light usually will not come on until another 15 miles or so. I can simulate this with the bike idling. The temp light will come on after maybe 15 minutes of running. If I turn the engine off, the fan will run for about 1 minute or less. When I turn the engine back on, the light will not come on immediately.

Are there any suggestions before I start changing parts?

[Hook#3287]

Coolant level good?  Reserve tank full?  Air in the system?

[Hook#3287]

Could be any of many reasons.  Sounds like the fan is working correctly.  How old is the coolant?  The cap could be bad.  The temp unit could be messed up.  Water pump could be toast. Thermostat could be the problem.   Start with a pressure test.  Make sure the bike is level when you check the coolant level in the radiator.  Any leaks or coolant smells?

Sounds like low coolant level.

[Patrick]

Like Hook said, if the radiator is full and there is no air in the system the system should be OK.. If the fan is running properly as you have stated then the problem is most likely a faulty coolant temp switch..

[Black Dog]

I answered a post about this issue, back in August of 2010...  Here is a cut n paste of the fix.  Hope it helps ya out  

Here is a link to the entire thread that also includes a schematic of where the part goes...

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,19430.0.html

Snip

I've had the same problem for a few years...  My '97 Standard would have the 'Hot' light flicker, at just about the same time my fan would kick in.  Checked along side another Valk, with one of those temp guns, and found my cooling system working just fine...  Fan was working just as it should, but kept getting the 'Hot' light.

Don't know who it was, but someone posted on the Tech Board, that early Valks (I know the '97, for sure), had an extra part as part of the cooling circuit, called an 'Indicator Unit'...

Here is the part number (I ordered mine from Dillon Brothers).  Don't know what year you've got, but use the part number, and see if it matches a part for your year Valk.

Order:
Qty.    Part Number    Price Per Item    Special Order    Product Name
----    -----------    --------------    -------------    ------------
1    38710-MZ0-003    $50.99        No            Honda - INDICATOR UNIT

It is located behind the right side cover, and is a 'plug n play' deal.

Fixed my issue, and if you have an earlier Valk, should fix yours.

End Snip

Black Dog

[vic]

My '98 Tourer was doing the same thing recently.  The red light would flicker on and off.  Since I have a Motosens temperature guage installed, and it wasn't showing that I was anywhere near overheating, it was apparent that the Engine Coolant Temperature Indicator Unit was faulty.  I think the '97-'99 Valks had them.  I ordered a new one from Honda Directline Parts (hdlparts.com) and that took care of the red light flickering.  By the way, the part is $45.24 at hdlparts.com.


PART RETAIL  YOUR PRICE 
       INDICATOR UNIT (38710-MZ0-003 )  $59.60 $45.24

[F6CTrider]

OK... so I am having the same issues with my 98 tourer, 77k.  For years the light never went off.  Around the time I switched oils the light started driving me crazy.  I have gone back to Mobil 1, but the light still does go off on occasion.
I have the new "indicator unit" on the way.
My concern is :
Is the bike really running too hot or not?   Am I replacing the messenger just because I do not like the message?   I will check the coolant again, and I know the fan comes on occasionally.  I do not think it is actually running too hot, but............
The light comes on somewhat predictably, under load, when I am riding two up and heading up the mountains.  There are times when I know for sure that it is running cool and the light comes on.  Other times, I know I am pushing it.  This is where I question the logic and the simple cure.

I had seen a thermometer type dip stick somewhere, do they work reliably?
Should I be measuring oil or water temperature?
I do not think I am up for the expence of the Mort guages.  Is there anything else out there?

Who knows, perhaps after the new electro gizmo goes in, I can forget about the little alarm light.

[Tundra]

98 Tourer...It is your indicator unit.