ECM code being thrown due to altitude

[GoSlo]

A friend of mine just bought a 2018 TriGlide and now both times he's ridden it up into the mountains, it's throwing an ECM code. He talked to one dealership and they said it is a known problem with altitude and the ECM. The trike is set so lean that the rear cylinder isn't running right (?). Not positive on all the particulars, but he keeps getting the same code show up. They said they're pretty sure he'd be fine to just ride it, but he's worried about getting stuck up in the mountains and needing it towed if it stops running.

Has anyone else heard about or experienced this problem?

Side note: I bought my new 2018 the same week from the same dealership and have not had the problem....yet.

 

[GoSlo]

Forgot to say this about the ECM code. Here in the Denver area, we're about 5,000 - 6,000 feet in elevation and it doesn't throw the codes in town. When he gets above 7,000 feet or so, that's when it happens.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Nah, I don't buy it

If that were true ALL Harleys shipped from the factory would have the wrong fuel maps loaded in the ECM

Find another dealer JMO

 

[MDO]

A friend of mine just bought a 2018 TriGlide and now both times he's ridden it up into the mountains, it's throwing an ECM code. He talked to one dealership and they said it is a known problem with altitude and the ECM. The trike is set so lean that the rear cylinder isn't running right (?). Not positive on all the particulars, but he keeps getting the same code show up. They said they're pretty sure he'd be fine to just ride it, but he's worried about getting stuck up in the mountains and needing it towed if it stops running.

Has anyone else heard about or experienced this problem?

Side note: I bought my new 2018 the same week from the same dealership and have not had the problem....yet.

I have no idea what your talking about with the rear cylinder being lean & not running.

It would help if you mentioned what trouble code it is throwing.

Help us help you.

 

[GoSlo]

I have no idea what your talking about with the rear cylinder being lean & not running.

It would help if you mentioned what trouble code it is throwing.

Help us help you.

I don't know any more than what I've written. He doesn't know how to get the actual code, so all he can see is ECM Y. We know there's a way to do it, we just don't know what the steps are. Maybe if someone can explain that part, then I can post the actual code.

Thanks again....

 

[GoSlo]

He figured out how to get the actual code and it says this:

ECM Y

P0152

Rear oxygen sensor high / engine rich

Hope this helps.

 

[Jack Klarich]

He figured out how to get the actual code and it says this:

ECM Y

P0152

Rear oxygen sensor high / engine rich

Hope this helps.

That would be TOO much fuel causing that code

The dealer needs to hook it up to the digital technician scanner again to see why it is throwing too much fuel

Or the rear cylinder is not firing

Has this trike any modifications or is it stock?

 

[Jack Klarich]

I bet there is raw gas smell in the muffler

The ECM should compensate for the altitude unless it has been monkeyed with by the dealer already?

 

[MDF48]

Trip to Dealer

GoSl said in the original post "A friend of mine just bought a 2018 TriGlide and now both times he's ridden it up into the mountains, it's throwing an ECM code. He talked to one dealership and they said it is a known problem with altitude and the ECM." So, he talked to a dealer, but has the bike actually been carried to the dealer? It definitely needs to be seen by the dealer.

 

[Jack Klarich]

GoSl said in the original post "A friend of mine just bought a 2018 TriGlide and now both times he's ridden it up into the mountains, it's throwing an ECM code. He talked to one dealership and they said it is a known problem with altitude and the ECM." So, he talked to a dealer, but has the bike actually been carried to the dealer? It definitely needs to be seen by the dealer.

Good call

I am wondering if this trike has any factory add ons like maybe a tuner with the wrong map?

 

[ultrafxr]

I call BS on this being a known problem. If a dealer tech did troubleshooting on the bike and said this he's full of it. I just got back from the Deadwood 3 Wheel Rally and afterward we went to Cody and then down to Colorado. I rode to the top of Pike's Peak and never got a code nor any runability problem. Something is malfunctioning or like others have said it must not be stock and has a bad tune or needs a tune.

 

[GoSlo]

Lots of posts to reply to, so hopefully I get them all answered.

The trike is stock, no mods at all.

he has taken it in to a dealer to have it looked at, twice now. They clear the code and it comes back again once he gets above around 7,000 feet.

He was told this is a known problem on SOME M8's, but not all. I have a brand new 2018 TriGlide, and have not had the problem.

He's bringing it in again tomorrow, but I figured I'd see if anyone else has this problem or had heard about it.

 

[MDF48]

Thanks

Thanks for clearing that up. So it is the factory stock tune and not a "tuner" file. After the 3rd trip to the dealer, if it still does it I would at least call a couple of other HD dealers service department and see if they have ever seen this problem and code. Keep us posted.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Lots of posts to reply to, so hopefully I get them all answered.

The trike is stock, no mods at all.

he has taken it in to a dealer to have it looked at, twice now. They clear the code and it comes back again once he gets above around 7,000 feet.

He was told this is a known problem on SOME M8's, but not all. I have a brand new 2018 TriGlide, and have not had the problem.

He's bringing it in again tomorrow, but I figured I'd see if anyone else has this problem or had heard about it.

I've not heard of it.

I would be hesitant to take it back to the same dealer a 3rd time...they had two chances to fix it already.

Best advice is for your bud to call around and see if any other dealers have heard of this known problem with some M8's. If one of them has, next question is, do they know how to fix it?

Kevin

 

[GoSlo]

Like many suggested, it's the O2 sensor that's causing the problem, much like the 2012 bikes that were sold here at altitude. In 2012 a lot of the bikes experienced pinging when riding in the mountains. Harley came out with a new download for altitude to stop the pinging. I had a 2012 Limited and it pinged like crazy until they got it fixed. Seems as though that's what they're going to do now as well.

He called two other dealerships and they've all seen the same problem. Not on all M8 bikes/trikes, just some. So now he has to wait for Harley to send back a new file to download into the ECM.

Thanks to all that offered help/ideas/suggestions!

 

[MDF48]

Which one?

GoSlo said "Like many suggested, it's the O2 sensor that's causing the problem"

Glad your friend is getting some help finally. Just one question, is it the O2 sensor that is causing the problem or is it the tune? Maybe a combination of both? Did they replace the rear O2 sensor? Maybe they can get him fixed up finally without all the trips to the shop. Good luck.

 

[Teufelhunde]

A friend of mine just bought a 2018 TriGlide and now both times he's ridden it up into the mountains, it's throwing an ECM code. He talked to one dealership and they said it is a known problem with altitude and the ECM. The trike is set so lean that the rear cylinder isn't running right (?). Not positive on all the particulars, but he keeps getting the same code show up. They said they're pretty sure he'd be fine to just ride it, but he's worried about getting stuck up in the mountains and needing it towed if it stops running.

Has anyone else heard about or experienced this problem?

Side note: I bought my new 2018 the same week from the same dealership and have not had the problem....yet.

I will call BS. Find another dealer. With the bike set to run lean, if anything, as altitude increases, it should run better due to a richer mixture with thinner air.......

YMMV

Lon

 

[GoSlo]

This is an update on my friends 2018 TriGlide that was throwing codes when he went up in altitude, usually above 7,000'. It stopped doing it!! He's still waiting for the new download from H-D, but for now it's not throwing anymore codes. Over time the codes were thrown less and less and the light stayed on for less and less time the more times it happened. No one seems to know why except that maybe it's "learning" better? Anyway, wanted to let you know what's been going on with this problem. I still have not had any codes thrown at altitude on my M8, so that's a good thing.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Good deal

 

[520fd]

I was riding in the Needles Highway in South Dakota during Sturgis. Not sure what the elevation was. Was driving pretty aggressively, Got an engine code. Took it to Black Hills HD. Spent 3 1/2 hrs. waiting for it to get fixed. When I checked out they told me I had a PO 152 code. They ended up replacing the rear o2 sensor. Seemed to fix the problem. Never acted up again. But after that, I was never in the elevation again.

 

[Capt.Bob]

On my 2017 M8 TGU, about 200-300 miles after performing my 5000 mile service, my trike started throwing the PO152 code but it was essentially near sea level in North Florida. A Tallahassee dealer got the rear O2 sensor in and they replaced it under warranty. The engine has not thrown the code after replacement of the rear O2 sensor. I kept clearing the code and it would sometimes take 30 minutes to throw the code and sometimes it would be thrown just after startup on a couple of rides to get the problem resolved from a dealer who had the sensor to replace the bad one. The Service Writer said that they had experienced a number of the O2 sensors being sensitive and essentially quitting or intermittently working. About 2500 miles after the rear O2 sensor was replaced, I have not had another code thrown for the O2 sensor.

 

[ISP-FL]

My winter riding buddy has an early 2017 TG M8. Not sure what code he has gotten but two times he has been in higher elevations (once in SD and once in TN) he has gotten them. Dealer he went to said not to worry about it just to keep on riding and see what happens!

 

[Jack Klarich]

Looks like HD got a bad batch of O2 sensors

 

[Jack Klarich]

My winter riding buddy has an early 2017 TG M8. Not sure what code he has gotten but two times he has been in higher elevations (once in SD and once in TN) he has gotten them. Dealer he went to said not to worry about it just to keep on riding and see what happens!

Joe, tell your budddy to record the codes and have the dealer made aware of them

The ECM knows there is some thing out of parameters and can only fix what it has in its parameters

Clearing the codes with out fixing the underlying problem is sure to cause more problems maybe even a failure of components JMO

It is not normal or OK for these codes to keep coming back

As long as your buddy keeps HD in the loop I am guessing they cannot hold him hostage should a major issue rear its ugly head

I would not tell someone not to worry about a check engine light or multiple codes, but that is just me

I have seen bad Ju Ju happen because of this same thing JMO

 

[mjconde]

A friend of mine just bought a 2018 TriGlide and now both times he's ridden it up into the mountains, it's throwing an ECM code. He talked to one dealership and they said it is a known problem with altitude and the ECM. The trike is set so lean that the rear cylinder isn't running right (?). Not positive on all the particulars, but he keeps getting the same code show up. They said they're pretty sure he'd be fine to just ride it, but he's worried about getting stuck up in the mountains and needing it towed if it stops running.

Has anyone else heard about or experienced this problem?

Side note: I bought my new 2018 the same week from the same dealership and have not had the problem....yet.

I do not have this problem with my 2014 Triglide and I live at 6400 feet and have to cross a pass at 7600 feet when ever I drive out of the Scarmento Mountains to las Cruces. Been here 4 years without this problem. I actually get better fuel mileage up here vs. Fort Worth, TX where I bought the bike.

 

[GoSlo]

Just an update on my friends '18 TriGlide throwing codes at altitude.

He rode up in the mountains last week and the light came on again with the same code so he took it back in to the dealership. This time they talked directly with Harley and they agreed to change out the rear O2 sensor, plus an o-ring. So now he has to head back up and see if it's fixed or not.