PGM-FI Warning Light

[Tony8]

Today I went to take a little ride to the bank on my 2016 GL1800 Goldwing trike, when a couple miles into the trip the warning light for the PGM-FI came on.

I pulled over into a church parking lot and shut off the bike. After looking in the owners manual to verify what it was, I decided to go back home.

After restarting the bike the light was no longer on. I decided to continue on to the bank. I put 48 miles on the bike that evening without the warning light coming on.

Strange that it came on earlier. Should I be concerned or should I just take bike to a shop?

Thanks.

[mhgoldwing]

Personally, I would just keep riding. If it doesn't come back on then it was a fluke. If it does return then I would check the codes and probably take it straight to dealer.

[Tony8]

Thanks for the response. I'll keep an eye on it. I'm going to need to purchase a service/repair manual so I can learn how to deal with episodes like this. Don't have a clue how to check the codes.

Thanks once again.

[mhgoldwing]

The FI is the Fault Indicator light

The next time it comes on, pull the bike over and leave it running. Put it in neutral and then put the side stand down.



This will cause it to emit the code to the FI light again. Count the long/short pulses - they will indicate the fault code. Long pulses = 10, short pulses = 1, so long, long, short, short, short = 23.

You can Google GL1800 fault codes and find out what each one means.

Good luck!

[Gold Rush]

What's a "Side Stand"

[Tony8]

Thanks for the info about the code.

Put 168 miles on the trike today with no issues.

Thanks.

[rhino 2]

What's a "Side Stand"

Its that thing that sticks out of the bottom left side of a two-wheeler that i sometimes trip over at dealership's when the bikes are packed too close to each other and i'm trying to walk in between them...

[Gold Rush]

Been There - Done That!!

[DWATC]

I had mine light up in a hard rain. Same thing pulled into the next place I could. Shut if off then when I turned the bike back on it went out. Rode it a couple years more probably 40K and it never came back on. No idea what it was but bike never ran bad.

[Gold Rush]

I had mine light up in a hard rain. Same thing pulled into the next place I could. Shut if off then when I turned the bike back on it went out. Rode it a couple years more probably 40K and it never came back on. No idea what it was but bike never ran bad.

I don't remember (if I ever actually knew) where the offending connector is but my dealer service manager told me when my '01 was pretty new about the FI light activation while riding in the rain. My experience was actually self inflicted. I washed the bike in a car wash once and sprayed too much water somewhere. Like y'all, once it dried and ignition switch cycled that problem never came back. Bike never did run bad - just caused a bit of concern until I got educated.

[mhgoldwing]

Bike never did run bad - just caused a bit of concern until I got educated.

About taking trike to car wash OR, learning about FI light?

[Gold Rush]

About taking trike to car wash OR, learning about FI light?

Both... Once I knew the cause, the concern was gone. I don't think I ever used a car wash on any of the three GL1800s I've owned since.

[LadyonaMission]

I don't remember (if I ever actually knew) where the offending connector is but my dealer service manager told me when my '01 was pretty new about the FI light activation while riding in the rain. My experience was actually self inflicted. I washed the bike in a car wash once and sprayed too much water somewhere. Like y'all, once it dried and ignition switch cycled that problem never came back. Bike never did run bad - just caused a bit of concern until I got educated.

I am shocked and appalled that you did that, even once.

[Tony8]

My issue might have also been water. After riding in the morning I washed the bike, had a smoke and went for a ride. Also right before the light came on I missed second gear from a stop light.

Also since I've put over 200 miles on the bike with no issues, I don't think I have a problem with the bike. (I hope)

Tony

[Gold Rush]

I am shocked and appalled that you did that, even once.

In self defense, it was early in my GL1800 life. Some times I'm a pretty quick learner.

[lgjhn]

I've also had mine come once while riding in some heavy rain. I pulled over under an overpass and waited out the rain storm. When I cranked her back up, the light was out and has never come back on since. I just wrote it off a fluke indication. Now, IF it comes on and stays on, that's a different story. Since most trikes no longer have a kickstand, getting the code sequence takes a little more effort by requiring utilization of the Honda test plug to force the F1 light to flash the code sequence. Once the code sequence is known, the service manual can be consulted to direct to the offending part, sensor, etc. Most of the time, when the light stays on, the PCM goes into a "default" mode, but the bike can still be safely ridden. The PCM normally scans the all sensors etc. at a pretty fast rate making the automatic adjustments as necessary. But when it goes into "default" mode for whatever reason, it will drop back to what's almost like a fixed "carburetor" setting where the quick fine automatic adjustments aren't made, and everything just remains in that fixed "default" setting until the offending device is repaired/replaced. I don't know if this makes sense or helps anyone, but I hope so.

I just had 2008 GW in here about 2 weeks ago. The code sequence directed me to the VSS (Vehicle Speed Sensor). Replaced it and all was good.