temperature "idiot" light

[RedValk]

So yesterday, I'm riding my 97 Tourer around town....and I notice that once in a while the Temperature light on the gauge flashes on ....just briefly (almost surprised I even noticed....but it is a bright red light). So I begin checking it out. The engine doesn't seem to be hot over overheating. When I stop, I turn the ignition on and off....and notice the light does NOT come on when I turn the key on. I ride home later in the day, with the light coming on briefly a few times.

when I get home, I go out to the garage and turn on Sherry's 98 Tourer (it's always nice to have TWO of the SAME bike....to compare when problems like this arise!)....and note that the temperature light on it too....does NOT come on when you turn on the ignition (unlike other lights...like the oil pressure light...which come on UNTIL you START the bike, then go off ...assuming that all is normal of course!). So I ASSUME...this must be normal for that light?

THen I go inside and read my service manual, and find out supposedly....it is NOT normal for the light to NOT come on when turning on the ignition! However, BOTH my bikes do just that!

So as I read on....I see there are some tests I can conduct to determine if the temperature sensor is working properly. I have NOT done those tests yet. But my conclusion so far, is that this is most likely a bad sensor or something. I don't really think the bike is actually running hot.

that said, I did check the radiator level in the tank under the sidecover....and...my fluid level was indeed LOW. So I topped it off to the proper level (but have not ridden the bike since doing that).

I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced similar symptoms? Or ....regardless if you have or haven't....what everyone's take is on this symptom? Again, I'm guessing bad temp sensor. In fact, it would appear from what little I've looked at the service manual...since NEITHER bikes' light comes on when first turning on the ignition, perhaps BOTH bikes have an issue with the temperature sensor (or something similar?). Though, the 98 has NOT had the light come on while riding. Again, the 97 light JUST started flashing on for brief periods...but then goes off. For instance, it did it a few miles from home yesterday....while riding at hiway speeds....out in the country....on a 78 degree day. The engine did NOT seem hot, nor did the fan come on. The light never stays on.

Related, does this light have anything to do with the fluid level in the radiator? (since my level WAS low)...............

Thanks for any advice............

[R J]

Tim, I'm with you, sounds like a bad sensor.

Would Sherry kill you if you swaped them out of her bike to see it yours still does the flash/flicker on your bike.

Before buying a new sensor, the swap would be my suggestion.

Be sure and burp both systems when ya change them out.   If the 97 still flickers after a change, I don't see a need to swap back.

Happy Hunting Bro.

When you added water, was it in the radiator or the overflow container?   If you added it to the radiator, ya need to burp the system, especially if it was very low..

[Ricky-D]

The subject has been discussed several times and search will reveal many threads about this subject.

Here is the latest thread, only a few weeks going.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,66920.0.html

***

[RedValk]

yep.....did a search right after I posted (sorry)....and saw TONS of info. I've already ordered the 38710-MZ0-003 indicator unit, as the description in other posts .....sounds EXACTLY like what i'm seeing. I will take RJ's advice and swap out with Sherry's part....especially since I have a biker wedding to DJ for TOMORROW...and the wedding includes a ride around the lake with all the wedding party...and I plan on riding the Valk on that ride...TOMORROW! So i'll do it with Sherry's part. I ordered thru Partzilla.....for 39 bucks. I'm sure I need one (maybe two?).

Oh, I added water to the overflow container.....I could barely see fluid at the BOTTOM of the container (it wasn't even anywhere near the LOW line....so it needed fluid).

Thanks for the responses....and sorry for NOT SEARCHING FIRST 

[HayHauler]

I have absolutely nothing to add, just wanted to jump in and say HOWDY!

Good to see you posting again.  Hope you and Sherry are doing well.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Red Diamond]

Hey Tim, I just turned the switch on 3 different bikes, only the safety and oil light came on, not the temp. On an I/S the temp comes on for a moment and then goes out. Tell Sherry next time we get to go on a party boat ride, I'll gladly sit next to her. LOL Hope to attend another Rune Rally, I had a great time, thanks to Early Bird for inviting me.

[indybobm]

Hey Tim, I just turned the switch on 3 different bikes, only the safety and oil light came on, not the temp. On an I/S the temp comes on for a moment and then goes out. Tell Sherry next time we get to go on a party boat ride, I'll gladly sit next to her. LOL Hope to attend another Rune Rally, I had a great time, thanks to Early Bird for inviting me.

Out of curiosity, what year is the I/S?

[Red Diamond]

'99, she rocks.

[RedValk]

follow up.....

Red Diamond....I concur, I know the SM says the light is SUPPOSED TO COME ON....with the ignition, but not only do NEITHER of my Valks' temp lights come on with ignition, but you said 3 you checked don't....and....I had two other friends that live around here...and theirs don't come on either.

I'm beginning to think the SM is WRONG....that the temp light does NOT come on with the ignition (like the oil and of course....side stand....do). The SM talks as if the temp light should come on....then go OFF after starting....just like the oil pressure light. BUT....all the evidence I've seen so far, says that IS NOT true (on a Tourer or Standard....not sure about Interstates). HAS ANYONE SEEN A VALK TEMP LIGHT COME ON....with just the ignition switched on? I'm betting NOT......

meanwhile, I swapped out the Indicator Unit (under the radiator reserve reservoir/side cover)....from Sherry's Valk to mine. I have NOT ridden her bike, but I rode my bike....150 miles...on an 85 degree day. the light NEVER came on. Once I ride her bike, especially if the light flickers on and off on hers....I will confirm my "problem" is indeed the indicator unit...as many had suggested!  I just know my bike "appears to be fixed"...by swapping out that indicator unit.

I have one (and indicator unit) on order, but Partzilla....which said it was in stock....just keeps sending me notices ever since I ordered it....that it would ship TODAY. so far, it still hasn't shipped? Not sure what's going on with that.............but hopefully, eventually it will ship....and I'll swap out the "bad" one for a new one.......

sure would like to hear if ANYONE has a Valk that the temp light comes on with JUST the ignition switch turned on. Let me restate that, if anyone has a Standard or Tourer....that the light comes on like that (i'm still thinking maybe the interstate might be different in that regard?). I know someone here said the 97-99 were the only years that the indicator unit under the side cover was part of the circuit. apparently that part isn't on 2000 and later years?

PS:....thanks to all with the info and responses above 

[Bone]

From the Owner's  Manual

Low oil pressure indicator

Lights when the engine oil presure is below the normal operating range.

Should light when the ignition switch is ON and engine is not running.


Coolant temperature indicator

Lights when the coolant is over the specified temperature.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

My standard.......ignition turned on and temp light does NOT light. Same as yours 

[Willow]

For what it's worth, Tim, the temp light comes on briefly with my '99 Interstate.  It does not come on with either of the Standards.

[R J]

Tim/Bob, did ya get my PM?

[hubcapsc]

Paul Mull noticed that his light didn't come on, and we checked my bike and some
others... they didn't come on either.

My buddy Henry's light flickered like yours on the way to this awesome rally
we used to go to in Cheaha... we looked in the owner's manual and
it described the "normal" level of the coolant reservoir at operating
temp, and determined he needed a little coolant added. We added
it, and as far as I know that cleared up the problem from then on...
he has since sold the bike...

-Mike

[HayHauler]

Can't figure out how to embed with this phone, so here is the direct link.  

http://s610.photobucket.com/user/HayHauler1/media/C80B136C-3396-439C-A758-AFA036A81184_zpsexzxvxlw.mp4.html

Mine is an Interstate.  Sorry, don't have another, but wanted to set the record straight.  

Hay
Jimmyt

[RedValk]

got the two PMs and answered them. Yea, now that I've reread the manual...it's kind of misleading. I thought on page 19-11 it was saying the temp light SHOULD come on with the ignition. But what it was actually saying was....in bold letters ....temperature light comes on with ignition....then the following steps under the bold type tell you how to troubleshoot....IF that light comes on with the ignition (which I now know, it should NOT). it's a bit misleading in the SM to me.......

so now I know, it does NOT come on with ignition. Poor design isn't it? I mean, if it doesn't come on with ignition (and go off when you start it, like the oil pressure light).....how do you even know the circuit is working?

At any rate, not sure if mine flickered on and off due to low radiator fluid....or due to bad indicator unit. I still haven't ridden Sherry's Valk (which I swapped out my indicator unit with). I know my bike "seems fixed". I'll know more when I ride hers.

I did hear from Partizilla. That indicator unit part is backordered. I'm not too worried, as nothing is really wrong with either bike. But if I find out SHerry's temp light now flickers (like mine did before I swapped out her indicator unit with mine)....then i'll replace hers with the new one....whenever Partzilla finally ships it!

I've never used Partzilla....I assume they're good to deal with...as I've seen others use em'. so i'm not too concerned the part is backordered. they were MUCH less $$$ than anyone else I checked. They wanted $39.....HDL wanted like 49 if I remember....local Honda dealer 60 something!

[scooperhsd]

This is why I hate idiot lights  - and temp guages that are "dumbed down" so that a large range in temps shows the needle in about the same place.

[MarkT]

This is why I hate idiot lights  - and temp guages that are "dumbed down" so that a large range in temps shows the needle in about the same place.

You'll love this.  Remember hearing about the new Gold Wings having overheating problems?  Know what one of the service directives was?  Install a resistor in the temp guage circuit.  For the electrically challenged, what that does is reduce the PERCEPTION you have a problem by moving the temp needle down.  NOT FIXING THE ACTUAL PROBLEM.

[indybobm]

I started a poll two weeks ago concerning this. Here is what I have decided.

1. All 1997-1999 Standard and Tourer Valkyries came with the Temperature Indicator Unit. It was designed and intended to turn on the temp light for 2 seconds when the ignition switch is turned on. It was evidently a bad design and does not always work that way.  The poll showed that there were 'some' 97-99 Valks Stds and Tourers that actually did turn the light on for 2 seconds.

2. All Interstates should turn the light on because it is controlled by the 'LCD Module' that controls the Trip Odometer, Temp Sense, and Fuel Gauge.

3. I think that for ~2000 to 2003 Stds and Tourers, the Temperature Indicator Unit was removed and the temp circuit redesigned sometime during the 2000 model run. The light should not come on with the ignition switch. They have a thermostatic switch that goes directly to the coolant light. No module to control the light.


The POLL
Does Your Coolant Light Come On With The ignition Switch?
1997-2000 Std & Tourer Yes      2 (7.1%)
1997-2000 Std & Tourer No      11 (39.3%)
2001-2003 Std & Tourer Yes      0 (0%)
2001-2003 Std & Tourer No      3 (10.7%)
1999-2001 Interstate Yes      12 (42.9%)
1999-2001 Interstate No      0 (0%)

[tvgod]

Has anybody found someone carrying this discontinued part lately? My '98 Tourer has started doing this.

Thanks,
Randy

[Firefighter]

Little late, but just checked my 2000 IS and the temp. light comes on for about two seconds when I first turn on the Ignition switch.  Firefighter

[Gryphon]

My first '98 standard did that for most of the time I had it.  I installed Motosens gauges and then started ignoring it.  It seemed to be a quirk of the first 2.5 years.  There was a fix in Shop Talk or the tech pages, but I never got around to tearing the bike apart enough to do it.  I went with a reliable temp gauge and never worried about it again.

[Ricky-D]

The owners manual for the 2000 Interstate says:

"The low oil pressure indicator and coolant temperature indicator come on when you turn the ignition switch ON so you can check that they are working. The indicators remain on until after the engine is started"

***

[desertrefugee]

My Standard's temperature light does NOT come on with the ignitions switch.  Does that mean the only way to know if it's working is to overheat the motor?

At the very least, I have added an oil temperature gauge (Tru Temp) dipstick so that I'm not completely in the dark.  Engine temperature in traffic in Phoenix starts becoming a real concern  in another couple of months.

[The emperor has no clothes]

My Standard's temperature light does NOT come on with the ignitions switch.  Does that mean the only way to know if it's working is to overheat the motor?

At the very least, I have added an oil temperature gauge (Tru Temp) dipstick so that I'm not completely in the dark.  Engine temperature in traffic in Phoenix starts becoming a real concern  in another couple of months.

You will know soon enough with the fan coming on in the heat.