2020 V85TT CEL after/during heavy rain

[Grabcon]

I have a 2020 V85TT with 33k miles, I bought the bike with 3200 miles on the clock, owner two years now. The bike runs great most of the time, 99%. But in the last 17k miles or so I have had an issue during heavy rain and after. I live in SE Arizona so I don’t get a lot of rain and if I do I won’t ride unless I am already out and about. So this issue only happens on trips.

The problem is that I will get a CEL while riding, sometimes the bike will have a significant misfire and always in an uphill direction. Sometimes the bike has sat in the rain because we were traveling and it may have been parked for the evening, then when we start out the next day I might get the CEL after some miles, don’t know how many it is random. Sometimes the CEL will go out on its own other times I will need to check and clear codes. Codes always show as an O2 sensor.  Early on I pulled the sensors and tested and they test fine. After a tank of gas or so the intermittent misfire will stop.

My original thought is that it might be an electrical connection issue, I have pulled the tank and got thru all connections cleaning and reseating. It still happens. This last weekend I went on a 1300 mile trip and hit heavy rain 10 miles from destination so 650 miles in the trip. The CEL lite up but no misfire. The bike sat for three days and we had heavy rain on and off for those days. We packed up and left started the bike and no CEL and sunshine. Filled up and went 30 or 40 miles and the CEL came on along with the misfire. Again random misfire always uphill. This went on for 200 miles. CEL on the whole way, did another fill, misfire lessened but still there. CEL didn’t go out. Got to the motel for the night and disconnected the battery overnight. As a note when the misfire happens the onboard computer AVG Miles MPG drops into the teens From whatever it  was reading. Misfire stops MPG goes back up.

Reconnected the battery in the morning, did a fill rode 335 miles with a second fill midway. No issues.

So the questions is “Am I getting water in the tank when it rains?” IF so how, “is the cap leaking?” I am at a loss as to what cause the issue.

Any constructive thoughts would be good.

[guzzisteve]

Plug the bike in when light is on to find out what goes on. Plug into software to tell you. It's the way it's made, or look at info on dash for codes.

[Dirk_S]

Can you unplug the Lambda sensors temporarily to see if the code pops up again?

[rocker59]

1) I would be concerned about water contaminating the fuel.  Next time you park it out overnight in the rain, cover the bike.  Bike covers are not expensive.  I always carry one when on long trips.  Keeps prying eyes away from the bike, and keeps the bike dry in the event of overnight monsoon rains.

2) make sure your plug wires are good, and are not being fouled by the heavy rain.

[kingoffleece]

+1.  I always bring a half cover with me on trips.
If you need a dealer Matt at ManicMoto in Queen Creek is very good.

[Grabcon]

Plug the bike in when light is on to find out what goes on. Plug into software to tell you. It's the way it's made, or look at info on dash for codes.

The only code ever shown has been an O2 sensor code. If the senors are good than all the code tell you is that it is fueling issue.

[Grabcon]

Kind of tough to cover the bike while riding in a heavy rain. Plus by then it is too late.

[rocker59]

Kind of tough to cover the bike while riding in a heavy rain. Plus by then it is too late.

"Sometimes the bike has sat in the rain because we were traveling and it may have been parked for the evening, then when we start out the next day I might get the CEL after some miles"

This scenario is repeatable and you can inject the waterproof cover into the mix to help rule in, or rule out water intrusion into the fuel after sitting in the rain.  That's why I suggested the idea.

Personally, I think you have a very high probability of fuel contamination. 

The drain on the fuel filler well may be blocked and water is getting past a fuel cap seal.  I've had to clean the drains out in years past.

You asked for help, and I'm just offering some suggestions learned from past experiences over the past 30-years.  It rains a whole lot more in the Ozarks than it does in Arizona, so I've faced a few trials over the years.

 

[Tkelly]

In your first post you say the bike has no issues now,I don’t get what you are asking.I had an idiot light on my Stelvio supposedly caused by a hard to reach bad connection under the fairing come on during strip out west in 2016.At some point it went out and never came on again.I guess it fixed itself,maybe yours did too.

[Grabcon]

"Sometimes the bike has sat in the rain because we were traveling and it may have been parked for the evening, then when we start out the next day I might get the CEL after some miles"

This scenario is repeatable and you can inject the waterproof cover into the mix to help rule in, or rule out water intrusion into the fuel after sitting in the rain.  That's why I suggested the idea.

Personally, I think you have a very high probability of fuel contamination. 

The drain on the fuel filler well may be blocked and water is getting past a fuel cap seal.  I've had to clean the drains out in years past.

You asked for help, and I'm just offering some suggestions learned from past experiences over the past 30-years.  It rains a whole lot more in the Ozarks than it does in Arizona, so I've faced a few trials over the years.

Thanks for the input this is what I was thinking as well. Unfortunately the fuel filter is internal and attached to the fuel pump. I saw a write up on how to replace the fuel filter on GTM. Not difficult just a PIA to do.

[Vagrant]

I doubt it's fuel.
The 20-23 models have a big gap under the switch gear on the right side that controls the aux. driving and head lights. Look for the gap, I think it shows with the switch forward but it could be in the back. I don't remember. Flush it out with Deoxit. Then clean the plastic and slide i piece of electrical tape under the switch to cover the hole.
The V7's have had O2 sensor issues from water / washing, etc. but I don't remember any with the v85. Being as it's a 2020 just spend $100 and get a Beetle map and that will kill the O2 sensors and eliminate at least that item. Also on the v85 that light can mean just about anything.

[Grabcon]

I doubt it's fuel.
The 20-23 models have a big gap under the switch gear on the right side that controls the aux. driving and head lights. Look for the gap, I think it shows with the switch forward but it could be in the back. I don't remember. Flush it out with Deoxit. Then clean the plastic and slide i piece of electrical tape under the switch to cover the hole.

 Also on the v85 that light can mean just about anything.

I will look at the switch gear. Thanks

I use at the ODBLink LX bluetooth and android app to read and clear the codes. It always show O2 sensor. I brought it to the dealer early on around 15K miles and all they saw was an O2 code.

I will look at Beetle Map