Vulcan Drifter Riders

DISCUSSIONS => General Discussion => Topic started by: asklapios on March 23, 2012, 04:44:47 AM

Title: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: asklapios on March 23, 2012, 04:44:47 AM
Is this real? My Drifter - 99 1500cc - was dead. because my ecu is dead... what can i doing my ecu problem...

when i wanna start my bike than i turn to the  ignation switch and i doesn't hear fuel pump and i doesn't see no FI lights my speedometer.i have serius problem my ECU...

buy a new ECU or compatibilities a different motorcycle ECU?

help...please...
Title: Re: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: KsDrifter on March 23, 2012, 08:50:09 AM
Not to be an ass, but what process did you use to determine if it was the ECU? When you flip the key on, do you have any power anywhere? How many volts do you have at the battery?
Title: Re: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: chief on March 23, 2012, 09:36:40 AM
You need to do some troubleshooting to determine if it is the ECU. There are MANY more likely things that cause what you describe.


Start simple, make sure switches are in the right position and connected properly, check battery and fuses.
Title: Re: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: asklapios on March 25, 2012, 18:22:50 PM
the battery ----ok
the junction box -- ok.--all fuses 10 A --- is it right?
all connections---ok
start switch turn on--ok
ignation switch turn on--ok
then starter motor ---works--on
but doesn't work fuel pump and other ignation systems...no FI lights...
what should i do ?
Title: Re: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: ratze on March 25, 2012, 18:28:40 PM
first off, have a cold beer. then check all ur ground connections an RIDE ON.
Title: Re: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: Troll on March 25, 2012, 19:30:43 PM
What kind of ign switch (key switch) do you have? Aftermarket switches are lots of problems. Did you check the primary fuse under the seat, at the back of the battery compartment?
Title: Re: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: chief on March 25, 2012, 20:12:26 PM
http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/ECUFaultCodes.html (http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/ECUFaultCodes.html)

Try this page for some info.
Title: Re: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: 1999 Drifter on April 01, 2012, 22:33:33 PM
my 99 1500 would not start this spring.
I put a battery tester on it,  it read 13.4v so I figured I had a problem not sure what. Checked everything and couldn't find any problems, now I had no lights , dash, horn etc.
I figured I'd start with the cheapest first and since I wasn't sure how old the battery was I thought I'd get it tested
Took it to a shop , he tested it .......12.4v
I thought good but he said lets put a load on it and it went from 12.4v to about 2v in about 5 seconds....battery no good...... must be tested under load
Hope this helps
Title: Re: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: asklapios on April 02, 2012, 01:19:45 AM
dear friends,
all test results show my ECU is death...i want to know some information and i need your helps...which are model's ECU compatibility with my 99 1500 drifter's ECU?
Title: Re: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: 49Reo on April 02, 2012, 10:26:37 AM
Did you test the tip-over switch?

Regards and such,
49Reo
Title: Re: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: Troll on April 02, 2012, 10:50:29 AM
How about the EFI main relay?
Title: Re: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: asklapios on April 02, 2012, 11:54:54 AM
Quote from: 49Reo on April 02, 2012, 10:26:37 AM
Did you test the tip-over switch?

Regards and such,
49Reo

tip-over switch? what is this?
Title: Re: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: 49Reo on April 02, 2012, 14:38:50 PM
It is under the seat in front of the battery. (the correct name is "Vehicle down" switch). It is held in place by a single Philips-head screw and a tab on the bracket locates in a hole in the frame to keep it from turning or moving. If the switch is faulty, it will prevent the bike from running. It shuts the bike off in the event of a lay-down.

The following 2 paragraphs are from the service manual:

This sensor has a weight with 2 magnets inside, and sends a signal to the ECU.  But, when the motorcycle  banks(40~50 degrees) or more to either side, (in fact falls down) the weight turns and shuts of the signal. The ECU senses the change, and stops the fuel pump, injectors, and ignition system.

When the motorcycle is down, the ignition switch is left ON. If the starter button is pushed, the electric starter turns but the engine doesn't start. To start the engine again, raise the motorcycle, turn the ignition switch off, and then on. When the switch is turned on, current flows through the latch-up circuit and the transistor in the circuit is turned on to unlock the latch-up circuit.

However, if the switch is faulty or comes loose on its mount, it can also go into a "vehicle down" condition and it usually won't correct until it is remounted. This bear looking into.

Hope this helps. Good luck,

Regards and such,
49Reo
Title: Re: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: asklapios on April 02, 2012, 15:53:13 PM
we check out vehicle-down sensor...it is working correctly...by the way ECU's transistors are burned...i want to more information abouth compatibility other vulcan's ECU...
Title: Re: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: Troll on April 02, 2012, 16:12:06 PM
According to bike bandit.com, all the drifters use the same ECU....http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/1999-kawasaki-vulcan-1500-drifter-vn1500j/o/m149609#sch77547 (http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/1999-kawasaki-vulcan-1500-drifter-vn1500j/o/m149609#sch77547)
The price isn't as bad as I have seen other places. Once you get it running, you should check the charging system voltage, if it goes too high it will take out the new one, too.  I'm thinking that the major difference between the ECUs is the fuel mapping. You might want to speak to a dealer you are on good terms with about this.
Here is a listing from eBay... the prices are all over the map, but generally cheap!
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=vn1500+fuel+injection&_sacat=See-All-Categories (http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=vn1500+fuel+injection&_sacat=See-All-Categories)
Title: Re: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: asklapios on April 10, 2012, 08:33:35 AM
i wonder abouth information...

1- 1999-2000 drifters( J1-J2) ' s ECU part number :21175-1064
2- 2001-2005 drifters (R1-R5) 's ECU part number : 21175 -1064(same J models)

but J model's wiring diagrams different from R model's....R models include speed sensor...
and R models same wiring diagrams N model's..
i wanna buy ECU from ebay and i just find N models ECUs...are they compatibility R and J models?
Title: Re: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: chief on April 10, 2012, 09:16:58 AM



they are different part numbers... don't know if those for Classics would work on he drifter or not.
Title: Re: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: asklapios on May 10, 2012, 14:17:17 PM
Dear friends,
My problem is  solved!!!

the vulcan 2001 classic N1 's ECU came on 2 weeks ago and it works...my motorcycle is the 1999 vn1500 drifter J1 and the diffrent ECU %100 compability of my bike......thats all...
Title: Re: ECU - Electronic Control Unit Problem?
Post by: Troll on May 10, 2012, 14:42:12 PM
Kinda figured that would be the case, but it's hard to tell, especially when it's someone else's bike...I've been thinking about experimenting with different ECUs just to find out....