I have a 2005 ST1300 with 56k miles on it which was working great until my FI light turned red after about 30 minutes of riding, otherwise not affecting the ride. Finally, after a few weeks of riding like that, I decided to change the ect sensor due to code 7 (difficult start in cold) The "cheap" new sensor I used gave me worst problems from the start: 3 bars temp even with the engine cold, quickly going to 6 bars and blinking! But I suspect the temperature was fine, although I did not measure it for lack of an engine termometer. I should mention, when changing the sensor I also found the connector to this sensor had partially peeled off the plastic cover of all 3 cables, yet the cables were not broken. I did a careful "repair" of this cable with electric tape and plug the connector into the cheap sensor with the afore mentioned results. Of course I blamed it on the cheap sensor, not the cable which was repaired. So, I decided to go back and use the original OEM sensor back since "maybe the problem was not originally the sensor but the peeled cables" (my thought). Now the bike starts fine (like always did) at 2k rpm. After just about 2 minutes, instead of the rpm going down to 800 rpm (like it used to) it starts increasing to 2.5, 3k rpm and, without the fan running! Of course, I can't use it like that. What did I do wrong? Worst case scenario, I was expecting to go back to the original problem, not a new and worst one! I am about to invest in an new OEM sensor, but I am asking advise here, maybe it is not the sensor but the connector cable? And, I can not find it except used. Also, is it difficult to replace it? I can work my way to the engine alright but when electricity is concerned I am I'm impaired. Thank you in advance for the input!
St1300 ect sensor problems
- Thread starter Luis w rodriguez
- Start date
woodybelle
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The idle speed is controlled by the wax valve which is in turn controlled by coolant from the cooling system. Check the coolant level to start and if that is ok it has been mentioned here recently that the linkage of the wax valve can get dirty and hang up on the throttle body parts.
Thank you! Indeed my coolant level was low! I had drained it to change the sensor and refilled it to the adequate level in the reservoir but neglected to check it again after running the bike in idle for several minutes. I filled it again and the bike is running fine! Starts at 1.8 rpm and goes down to 800 rmp after 1.5 minutes. And the temp does not go beyond 3 bars and the fan is working fine after 4 or 5 minutes of running idle. I think I will be going bike week in Daytona after all! Thanks again!