rhjr
Member
For the past few weeks, the starter button on my 2012 Bonneville has intermittently stopped working. It either lights the bike right up or does nothing at all, as if it were a toy button. This could have a whole bunch of causes, I realize. Last week, the shop said the entire control needs to be replaced (as in, the housing with the starter button and kill switch and the wiring that comes out of it, which runs into the headlight casing). They said they could see the current cutting in and out while jiggling the wire. Once every few times or so, I've needed to start the bike via the solenoid.
But then.
During a trip this weekend, the speedometer began dropping to zero intermittently. When this happens, the needle drops for a few seconds, goes back to normal, drops again, etc. Sometimes it works as expected for many miles. Other times, it jumps up and down nearly constantly. When this happens, the odometer stops tracking for as long as the speedometer is disengaged (obviously). The same issue appeared one time a few months ago, also during a >50-mile ride, but then never happened again.
During nearly the entire trip this weekend, the Check Engine light was illuminated, occasionally turning off and back on again. This has happened several times in the past, also during >50-mile rides, but also in the city a couple of times. It comes on, stays on for a while (a few miles, or a day or so), then turns off again and stays that way.
During any or all of this, the clock works fine.
Today, I noticed the negative battery cable was a bit loose. I tightened it, then started the bike without issue several times in a row. The speedo is working, but I haven't road-tested it since doing this to see if it occurs again at speed.
Any other ideas? What might cause this particular collection of issues to crop up either individually or all at once, and only intermittently?
Thank you!
But then.
During a trip this weekend, the speedometer began dropping to zero intermittently. When this happens, the needle drops for a few seconds, goes back to normal, drops again, etc. Sometimes it works as expected for many miles. Other times, it jumps up and down nearly constantly. When this happens, the odometer stops tracking for as long as the speedometer is disengaged (obviously). The same issue appeared one time a few months ago, also during a >50-mile ride, but then never happened again.
During nearly the entire trip this weekend, the Check Engine light was illuminated, occasionally turning off and back on again. This has happened several times in the past, also during >50-mile rides, but also in the city a couple of times. It comes on, stays on for a while (a few miles, or a day or so), then turns off again and stays that way.
During any or all of this, the clock works fine.
Today, I noticed the negative battery cable was a bit loose. I tightened it, then started the bike without issue several times in a row. The speedo is working, but I haven't road-tested it since doing this to see if it occurs again at speed.
Any other ideas? What might cause this particular collection of issues to crop up either individually or all at once, and only intermittently?
Thank you!