My trike is possessed!

[Bionikop]

Hi everyone. I have a 2011 Tri-Glide, that has the separate Zumo GPS/XM. A couple of years ago the XM and FM just started switching back and forth without me touching a thing. I took it to the dealer, and of course the bike wouldnt do it then, stage fright I guess! They kept it for a few days, and it finally happened again. They ended up putting in a refurbished radio head. It was fine until a couple months ago, and then began doing the same thing.

I took it back to the same dealer, and they again pit in a refurbished radio head. I picked up the bike, and within a few blocks it was doing the same damn thing. I took it back and they said they would call Harley Tech. The tech guys said to check the mode switch. The dealer replaced that, and I picked up the bike again. I didn't get out of the parking lot before it was happening again! The dealer says they've never heard of this problem before, and are going to call the Harley Tech guys again. Any ideas or similar issues and/or resolutions would be great. Thanks.

 

[PosseRider]

Hi everyone. I have a 2011 Tri-Glide, that has the separate Zumo GPS/XM. A couple of years ago the XM and FM just started switching back and forth without me touching a thing. I took it to the dealer, and of course the bike wouldnt do it then, stage fright I guess! They kept it for a few days, and it finally happened again. They ended up putting in a refurbished radio head. It was fine until a couple months ago, and then began doing the same thing.

I took it back to the same dealer, and they again pit in a refurbished radio head. I picked up the bike, and within a few blocks it was doing the same damn thing. I took it back and they said they would call Harley Tech. The tech guys said to check the mode switch. The dealer replaced that, and I picked up the bike again. I didn't get out of the parking lot before it was happening again! The dealer says they've never heard of this problem before, and are going to call the Harley Tech guys again. Any ideas or similar issues and/or resolutions would be great. Thanks.

Forget the Dealer..... Take it to an Exorcist

 

[LadyonaMission]

Better to possessed than repossessed. I hope the tech guys get it fixed soon.

 

[ultrafxr]

So I am assuming you have a audio cable plugged into the Aux jack on the front of the H-K radio so you can listen to the XM feed from your Garmin GPS. I wonder if the connection is compromised (dirty, corroded, loose, etc.) and it is momentarily losing the connection at which time the radio reverts to the FM input source.

Might try giving a call or email to Iron Cross Audio. They are the experts on the H-K radios and should be able to help.

http://ironcrossaudio.com/

 

[Bionikop]

Thanks, ultrafxr. Yes, there is an audio cable plugged into the aux jack on the front of the radio head. However, I unplugged it last night on my way home, and it still changed back and forth. I have heard of Iron Cross radios, and will definitely do some checking with them.

 

[jc1300]

Thanks, ultrafxr. Yes, there is an audio cable plugged into the aux jack on the front of the radio head. However, I unplugged it last night on my way home, and it still changed back and forth. I have heard of Iron Cross radios, and will definitely do some checking with them.

OK - Now I'm confused.....if you unplugged the XM unit, what was it jumping back and forth....from....to....You know what I mean....

 

[Bionikop]

I know, me too. But, here's an update. I called Iron Cross Audio, as recommended by ultrafxr. They are all former Harman-Kardon techs. Tony, from Iron Cross, said that the problem is the auto-detect circuit in the radio head. He said that the refurbed radios probably wouldn't address that circuit, and would mainly check for cracked sound boards, etc. I called the dealer and told them all of this, but was told that they need to go with whatever Harley Tech tells them, to stay within warranty. The extended warranty is cool and all, but not if it doesn't remedy the issue.

 

[ultrafxr]

I know, me too. But, here's an update. I called Iron Cross Audio, as recommended by ultrafxr. They are all former Harman-Kardon techs. Tony, from Iron Cross, said that the problem is the auto-detect circuit in the radio head. He said that the refurbed radios probably wouldn't address that circuit, and would mainly check for cracked sound boards, etc. I called the dealer and told them all of this, but was told that they need to go with whatever Harley Tech tells them, to stay within warranty. The extended warranty is cool and all, but not if it doesn't remedy the issue.

Glad you spoke to Tony. He is good people for sure. I know you have ESP but it is administered not by Harley itself but by CNA Insurance Company. It might be less costly to them to have your dealer send the radio to Iron Cross for repair than to pay for a refurbished radio as they have done in the past. Might give them (the ESP administrator) a call and discuss it with them . . . or have the dealer do that. The dealer will have the contact number and it is also on the ESP contract form and the ID card you received.

And here is another thought: it does not have to be a Harley dealer doing the repair as independents can do that also. Might call Tony back and see if Iron Cross can work directly with the ESP.

In any case good luck and hope you get it all worked out. Electronic gremlins are a bear.

 

[Fredward]

Hi everyone. I have a 2011 Tri-Glide, that has the separate Zumo GPS/XM. A couple of years ago the XM and FM just started switching back and forth without me touching a thing. I took it to the dealer, and of course the bike wouldnt do it then, stage fright I guess! They kept it for a few days, and it finally happened again. They ended up putting in a refurbished radio head. It was fine until a couple months ago, and then began doing the same thing.

I took it back to the same dealer, and they again pit in a refurbished radio head. I picked up the bike, and within a few blocks it was doing the same damn thing. I took it back and they said they would call Harley Tech. The tech guys said to check the mode switch. The dealer replaced that, and I picked up the bike again. I didn't get out of the parking lot before it was happening again! The dealer says they've never heard of this problem before, and are going to call the Harley Tech guys again. Any ideas or similar issues and/or resolutions would be great. Thanks.

I never had a bike possessed, but I've had a couple repossessed.