URGENT SERVICE 850 miles New 1400 Eldo

[kballowe]

......annnnnd it's back to the dealer.......

 

[DougG]

Hi all,

Latest report on the demand sensor - Cali 1400.

I called Harpers yesterday and spoke with Curtis.  He was helpful but said that he was unaware of the issue and had never sold a single one of the TGPS (B044414).  He also said that he would check with his supplier on the issue.  I just spoke with Curtis and he said his supplier told him that there was a problem with the part years ago but they were only put in Aprilias.  (I will save my comments on that for a later post).

Curtis also said that if there are problems now, he was informed that they arise from the connectors and advised me to clean them, be sure they are on straight and put out the word to fellow Guzzists.  I hope that is the case, it could be.  After all the problem is intermittent.

 Thank you Curtis for your legwork and recommendation.

There you have it.  I will take the tank off in the next couple of days, clean all contacts and report if I experience the "dread red triangle" anon.

Be well,
DougG

[pete roper]

As stated previously there was a recall on a run of V4's that had dodgy demand sensors. That is probably what is being referred to. This does NOT mean that because there hasn't been a recall by the Guzzi arm of Piaggio the component is infallible and judging from recent posts here it would seem that the Cali 14's at least are having a problem with another bad run, or perhaps they are just repurposing the bad V4 ones? Who knows.

Not every V4 in the recall range had a dodgy sensor but a recall was performed. Why Guzzi can't get the parent company to do the same thing I have no idea.

The thing is with Kevin's bike the shop has already done all the disconnecting and cleaning business. They have also got repeated P0155 error codes which, as has been explained relates to the track voltages in the demand sensor going out of range triggering a service or urgent service warning. Taking it apart, again, will achieve nothing. The part is 'Donald Ducked' and should be replaced.

[Ncdan]

As stated previously there was a recall on a run of V4's that had dodgy demand sensors. That is probably what is being referred to. This does NOT mean that because there hasn't been a recall by the Guzzi arm of Piaggio the component is infallible and judging from recent posts here it would seem that the Cali 14's at least are having a problem with another bad run, or perhaps they are just repurposing the bad V4 ones? Who knows.

Not every V4 in the recall range had a dodgy sensor but a recall was performed. Why Guzzi can't get the parent company to do the same thing I have no idea.

The thing is with Kevin's bike the shop has already done all the disconnecting and cleaning business. They have also got repeated P0155 error codes which, as has been explained relates to the track voltages in the demand sensor going out of range triggering a service or urgent service warning. Taking it apart, again, will achieve nothing. The part is 'Donald Ducked' and should be replaced.

I agree Pete as kev’s has displayed the exact symptoms as mine did when the TPS went bad last year. The bottom line for me came down to, if the ECU throws a P0155 code then the sensor is bad. The issue with Kevs situation it his dealer is  simply unable to fix the obvious. 

[pete roper]

Hi all,

Latest report on the demand sensor - Cali 1400.

I called Harpers yesterday and spoke with Curtis.  He was helpful but said that he was unaware of the issue and had never sold a single one of the TGPS (B044414).  He also said that he would check with his supplier on the issue.  I just spoke with Curtis and he said his supplier told him that there was a problem with the part years ago but they were only put in Aprilias.  (I will save my comments on that for a later post).

Curtis also said that if there are problems now, he was informed that they arise from the connectors and advised me to clean them, be sure they are on straight and put out the word to fellow Guzzists.  I hope that is the case, it could be.  After all the problem is intermittent.

 Thank you Curtis for your legwork and recommendation.

There you have it.  I will take the tank off in the next couple of days, clean all contacts and report if I experience the "dread red triangle" anon.

Be well,
DougG

Doug. My offer made to Kevin is equally open to you. I have a working, take off, From a TV4. It's the same part.

If you would like I am more than happy to send it to you, on my dime, and if it cures the problem we can work out how to move on from there.

I have no dog in this fight. I just want your problem sorted?

Pete

[Ncdan]

Pete made me the same offer last year when my TPS went bad. Thanks again Pete for your kindness to help the guys here. 👍

[Chuck in Indiana]

As stated previously there was a recall on a run of V4's that had dodgy demand sensors. That is probably what is being referred to. This does NOT mean that because there hasn't been a recall by the Guzzi arm of Piaggio the component is infallible and judging from recent posts here it would seem that the Cali 14's at least are having a problem with another bad run, or perhaps they are just repurposing the bad V4 ones? Who knows.

Not every V4 in the recall range had a dodgy sensor but a recall was performed. Why Guzzi can't get the parent company to do the same thing I have no idea.

The thing is with Kevin's bike the shop has already done all the disconnecting and cleaning business. They have also got repeated P0155 error codes which, as has been explained relates to the track voltages in the demand sensor going out of range triggering a service or urgent service warning. Taking it apart, again, will achieve nothing. The part is 'Donald Ducked' and should be replaced.

  Stranger things have happened.. back in the day, at our GM plant there was a "material reclamation area." That's where the bad parts went.
Until they ran out of good parts, then the "bad" parts became "good" parts. 

[drbone641]

When my bike was delivered, it had a dead battery, Miami dealer said it had been charged before shipping. Put it on tender and all has been well for 350 miles. Grandson turned the key on and battery went dead, back on tender and it took about 2 days to charge. Urgent service light came on after charge and key code kept appearing. Called service at Atlanta Guzzi and they thought maybe just a side effect of dead battery and they could clear and check at 1000 miles. Took her out Friday for a 150 mile loop, bike was excellent. Running the daytime Led lighting, I switched over to Nighlights about 40 miles from home, fuel low light came on about where I expected it to and I was close enough to home I decided to gon home and gas later. Leaving a red light, at about 4500 rpm, the bike started dying, let off throttle and it picked back up. Thought maybe the gas was lower and she was starving at throttle, pulled in and gassed up. Bike wouldn’t start. Battery tested 12.8 but went zero when I hit starter. I’m waiting for dealer to send a new battery, as I’m thinking that it is hopefully, just the battery. Since she ran fine as long as I was using the lower drain daylights. We will see. Try the simplest fix first.

[pete roper]

When it's running see what the volt meter on the bike says it's charging at and double check it with a hand meter. If it's below 14V or doesn't increase to 14+V when you blip the throttle it ain't charging and you need to find out why.

Check fuses first.

[drbone641]

When it's running see what the volt meter on the bike says it's charging at and double check it with a hand meter. If it's below 14V or doesn't increase to 14+V when you blip the throttle it ain't charging and you need to find out why.

Check fuses first.

It was charging at 14.3 while running, before the shutdown.

[pete roper]

OK, that's good.

[drbone641]

When I was first trying to start it after fueling, the speedo complex was doing a Star Wars effect like aliens were blocking the power. Lots of flashing, it gave a Canbus error once but I think it was just due to borderline voltage. I started thinking about Kevin’s thread, while I waited for my buddy to bring my trailer. Flashback to the Tourings H-pipe issues, where there was a production issue that covered a large percentage of the bikes made with the same issue. Hoping that the sitting for 3 years affected the battery and they just charged a bad old battery. Oh and it also zeroed out the odometer, but not the trip odo. It also reminded me of the F-16 when voltage issues, we called ‘queertrons’ would cause the same type of switch and sensor failures. Hi tech lmao. Thanks for your sharing of all the things stored in your head. I appreciate you.
Don

[DougG]

Kevin...this may be a red herring, but do you have handlebar risers on your bike or any other modifications to the handlebars?

Be well,

DougG

[LowRyter]

It sounds like this is an Aprilia problem and not a Guzzi problem because they've sold about 10 Aprilias to 1 Guzzi.

My math could be wrong.

[twowheeladdict]

When my bike was delivered, it had a dead battery, Miami dealer said it had been charged before shipping. Put it on tender and all has been well for 350 miles. Grandson turned the key on and battery went dead, back on tender and it took about 2 days to charge. Urgent service light came on after charge and key code kept appearing. Called service at Atlanta Guzzi and they thought maybe just a side effect of dead battery and they could clear and check at 1000 miles. Took her out Friday for a 150 mile loop, bike was excellent. Running the daytime Led lighting, I switched over to Nighlights about 40 miles from home, fuel low light came on about where I expected it to and I was close enough to home I decided to gon home and gas later. Leaving a red light, at about 4500 rpm, the bike started dying, let off throttle and it picked back up. Thought maybe the gas was lower and she was starving at throttle, pulled in and gassed up. Bike wouldn’t start. Battery tested 12.8 but went zero when I hit starter. I’m waiting for dealer to send a new battery, as I’m thinking that it is hopefully, just the battery. Since she ran fine as long as I was using the lower drain daylights. We will see. Try the simplest fix first.

Tenders usually don't have what is needed to replenish a severely discharged battery.  It might even say it in the user manual.

[drbone641]

Agreed. Took two days to get a green light on tender. Rode it for 2 hours, alt charging at 14.2+. Just took battery to an Interstate battery dealer. Tested bad with load. I am thinking that this one is a 3 year old battery that went south, waiting to find an owner. I’ll give the dealer a chance tomorrow to replace and ship, or to get Interstate to handle it. 125 bucks should be theirs to handle. Just hoping the TPS isn’t involved or affected by all of the queertrons that were flying around.

[kballowe]

Kevin...this may be a red herring, but do you have handlebar risers on your bike or any other modifications to the handlebars?

Be well,

DougG

No, it's bone stock.   

[DougG]

Hi Kevin,

"No, it's bone stock."

Got it...was hopin' for a Hail Mary for ya.

DougG

[pete roper]

So Kevin? Have they fixed your Eldo yet?

[kballowe]

So Kevin? Have they fixed your Eldo yet?

UPDATE 08/14/2019

Hello Pete !     

Dealer called to say that they had been attempting to warranty "a defective TPS/Demand Sensor" and that the system would not process the warranty claim. 

After several calls, and some amount of time with the Guzzi warranty people, it was discovered that this bike is part of the recent front brake recall, and that warranty claims cannot be filed until the recall is completed.

Assuming that the bike passes the recall check "procedure", then the demand sensor warranty claim may progress.


Kevin B

P.S.  - This bike has had all of the electrical connectors removed, cleaned, and reassembled on two separate occasions. 
I spoke with Curtis Harper this morning about a parts kit, and we got on this TPS sensor subject. 

He mentioned that it may be a bad connection causing this problem.  Harper's is always very helpful.  I love that place.

Anyways, it appears that the dealer has tested and pronounced the TPS/Demand sensor as defective and is endeavoring to replace it.

[pete roper]

Good grief! How can they make everything so Byzantine in its complexity? I'm also astonished by the apparent need to replace all these master cylinders when all that is required is removal of the lever and adjustment of the operating plunger! And that only if there is an issue with the brakes. It's something I have advised on here on multiple occasions. Can it really be that Piaggio USA expect their 'Mechanics' to be so clueless as to not be able to adjust a simple plunger mechanism? It's bizarre and if that is the case more than a little bit frightening!

Pete

[kballowe]

Good grief! How can they make everything so Byzantine in its complexity? I'm also astonished by the apparent need to replace all these master cylinders when all that is required is removal of the lever and adjustment of the operating plunger! And that only if there is an issue with the brakes. It's something I have advised on here on multiple occasions. Can it really be that Piaggio USA expect their 'Mechanics' to be so clueless as to not be able to adjust a simple plunger mechanism? It's bizarre and if that is the case more than a little bit frightening!

Pete

Pete -

This entire experience has been the source of mild entertainment, and an education in the trials, tribulations, and complexities in the care and feeding of the Moto Guzzi motorcycle.

Kevin B

[LowRyter]

Kevin, you certainly have a great attitude about it.  It almost seems like it's been entertaining given that the repair station has been avoiding the most likely solution.  Me?  I'd be losing it.  You do have a nice fleet of bikes and are taking it in stride.

[pete roper]

Pete -

This entire experience has been the source of mild entertainment, and an education in the trials, tribulations, and complexities in the care and feeding of the Moto Guzzi motorcycle.

Kevin B

You have the patience of Job. I would be an incredulous, frothing at the mouth nutcase by now!

[Ncdan]

Yep, what Pete said times 10, to the 10 power👍

[80CX100]

Hey Kevin;    I have to thank you for the grace and perseverance displayed through this whole thing, very inspiring   

    The part of the adventure when you forced the out of town trip,,, and made it back safely,,, was gold,,, some of the best rides, are the ones a little further out the limb 

    Not to make light, but there is a good side to this for me.   

   I once passed up a smoking deal on a beautiful black 2016 Eldorado w windshield and huge leather bags,,, kicked my ass ever since,,, when I read the hoops you and others are jumping through,,, the kicking has lessened in frequency and intensity, 

   I've seen pictures of the bikes in your basement,,,  ,,, I may be wrong, but I get the impression that a flakey TPS isn't going to keep you from riding, not for too long anyways.

   I know once the bike is sorted out and running strong,,, and you grab a handful of that 1400 torque,,, you'll be able to have a good chuckle at all the bs you went through, just to have that huge shit eating guzzi grin on your face,,, I know all about it,,, I do it all the time 

   Wishing you many safe miles on it.

    Kelly

[kballowe]

UPDATE 08/27/2019

It's been in at the dealer for three weeks now.  (this time)

I visited there on Saturday and was given the cold shoulder.    In fact, I've been getting a fair amount of that lately.
Having purchased three motorcycles there in the past 18 months, I would have expected a better reception.

This bike is involved in the front brake recall, and it failed the "test" - so a "recall kit" has been ordered.  They tell me that the warranty claim for the demand sensor (TPS) cannot be processed until the "recall" has been completed.

That's all I know, for now.



Kevin B

[LowRyter]

Kevin, have you considered calling Guzzi HQ regarding getting the parts in?  Or are you enjoying the comedy as it plays out?

[TN Mark]

Tragedy not comedy.

[drbone641]

I am headed up for a Tuesday appointment @ Atlanta Guzzi, to address the electrical gremlins.