03-15-2018, 02:12 PM
(03-15-2018, 12:04 PM)Dave_imp Wrote: Update: I cleaned the electrical connection to the air temperature sensor. The connectors all looked good when I unplugged it, but I sprayed everything with electrical cleaner and blew it clean with compressed air. I started the bike with the air temperature sensor disconnected and it seemed to start and run normally, except the low/cold idle speed was lower than normal, at about 1,100 – 1,200 RPM. The engine was cold, and the outside air temperature was in the upper 50’s. I only let it run for about a minute as I blipped the throttle a few times, and the idle decreased to about 1,000 RPM before I turned it off. I disconnected a three-pole connector directly in front of the air temperature sensor connector to try an gain more room. This connector was attached to a clip on the frame and it was not coming off (my bike looks different than the middle of the three illustrations on page 5-76 of the FSM, but I believe this connector was the one in the picture with the text [3]/[4] just above it). I immediately took the bike for a test ride, going about 8 miles with a mixture of freeway and city streets, turning the engine off and restarting it twice. To my surprise the bike ran perfectly. So I took the bike for another test ride last night, this time slightly longer. The temperature was in the upper 50’s again. It started out running perfectly, but after about 10 miles the low idle condition returned. I rode home, where the engine stalled in my driveway as I gently blipped the throttle a few times. So in summary, cleaning the air temperature sensor connection did not cure the low idle problem.
I was planning to clean the connector to the MAP sensor next, but after reading the FSM to learn where it resides I have decided to skip this test because it is almost as easy to just replace the IAC valve. I’ll clean the connection to the EVAP purge valve next, but if this doesn’t work I am just going to replace the IAC valve.
Dave I have to say I'm am quite impressed with your stick-to-it-ness at pinpointing this problem. I know you've contacted CS at Honda and didn't have much luck, but I hope at some point the step-by-step attempts could be tabulated and sent off in another letter to Honda. They should be aware of what the members here have tried to do to find a fix for your bike. Ask for a rebate of 3 or 4k$ off your next Honda purchase or something as compensation for your taking the time to solve something they should. Yes, maybe they will laugh, but maybe they will listen and do or offer ...something.
When I talked with the the Service Manager where I was thinking about taking my affected '14 standard, he bleakly pointed out with no "check engine" light occurences, that it was very possible they would need to spend hours before finding the problem area--he said they could get lucky and ID something within an hour, or they might not be able to tell me anything after 5 or 6 hours.
Back to Honda...plead with a CS rep to pass the info along to a "higher-up", ask them to wade through these pages. If I were a Honda person, and read all this, I'd say "let's offer to buy Dave's bike and find out what's going on. Then let's find a fix, and let everybody on that forum know we got this". Wishful thinking, I guess, but man would brand loyalty have meaning.