Step-idler

[rktmn3]

My R3 runs great except when at idle. It starts to search at low idle and then sometimes stalls. Also, at startup I have to give it some gas to get it going. I have had the dealer re-set my step-idler several times but each time it goes out of Wac over time. Sometimes it takes a week other times one day.

It’s been said that it is due to the PCIII I have installed. OK, fine so how can this be fixed, without removing the PCIII?

Is this step-idler directly related to my secondary butterflies? Here is my setup, Red-Rocket III, Jardine pipes, 3-K&N filters with velocity stacks and the PCIII. If I remove the butterflies will that take care of the problem?

Any help would be most grateful, thanks.
. :hammer:

[Toystoretom]

If you go into your PC III software there is a utility for idle speed adjustment. I did this to mine last year and it helped. I don't have the software in front of me right now so I can't walk you through it but its pretty easy (It would have to be if I can do it :-D )

The secondary throttle plates won't have an effect on your idle quality...

Your idle is controlled by what is called a stepper motor. This motor has a plunger that screws in and out and works the linkage on your PRIMARY butterflies to give you a correct idle. You have made so many performance modifications that you have gone outside the maps in your ecm and now it is "searching for an idle".

I suspect that the 3 K&N setup may aggravate this more than anything else you have done. You could:

1. Reinstall the stock air intake and air filter and see if this helps or cures the problem

2. Make your own custom fuel mapping curves with the PC III at idle rpms and low rpms to see if this helps. You may have to go rich across the board to see if it helps, if not, try going lean.

3. Wait for the Tune Boy... you will be able to make custom maps that will exceed what the PC III can do.

4. Did you reprogram your ECM when you put on the Jardines?? I would think that tune 20054 would be a must even with the PC III.

5. Have you tried the dreaded 12 minute tune??

6 Just don't stop... you won't have to idle :-D

This is too much typing for me... SteveRed will hurt me if I keep going....

Tomo

[rktmn3]

Toystoretom,

Thanks for taking the time to help me out. I will try the PCIII idle adjustment. I have a custom tune already but that was created back when the stepper-idle was working just fine.

I am just waiting for Tune-Boy to come out.

Thanks again.

[vonbonds]

Hey Tomo, I think you are referring to "Set Throttle Position" under "Power Commander Tools". I thought that just refers to where the Power Commander thinks idle is so it knows when 0, 2, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% throttle have been reached so it can do its thing with the air/fuel mixture. I don't believe there is an idle adjustment tool within the Power Commander. Please tell me I am wrong because my bike loses its idle when I am in stop and go traffic which is really annoying.

Tom

[Toystoretom]

That's the one!!! The thing is... you should have the throttle opening at a certain percent when the throttle grip is fully released. Since this is all done electronically and really not by cables you can tell it to be open a certain percent. Triumph is using the stepper motor to hold the primary throttle plates open instead of using something like an idle air control valve (which is what a lot of cars use).

It wouldn't hurt to play with this, set it at 5% or 10% and see what happens. If it makes things worse you can always go back.

This seems to be a common problem, and yet I've never experienced it. My bike will search for an idle right on initial startup but after that it settles down and I don't have a problem. Other people report that their bike will die at red lights.. ect.

I am beginning to wonder if some of this is caused by poor electrical connections in the connectors in the wiring harness. If you experience bizzare running problems the first thing I would do is lift the gas tank, disconnect the plugs under there (one at a time please, with the battery disconnected) tweak the pins ever so slightly, put a little dielectric grease on them and reconnect the plugs. If you have a poor connection that actually causes resistance you have no idea what kind of trouble this causes with your ecm. And if you have an intermittant open circuit in the wrong wire your bike could die for no reason. This little experiment would only cost a few dollars and maybe take an hour or so (depending on the beers) and your bike might run a lot better. It sure ain't gonna hurt it.

If you have never worked on anything like this before in your entire life you might want to get some experienced help :-D .

[Toystoretom]

I'm still trying to remeber... doesn't the "Set Throttle Position" end up giving you a target idle rpm??

I may have to play with this over the weekend..... It appears that you can't bring that "tool" up unless you are pluged into the PC III on the bike....

[SteveRed]

I have the PC-III and Staintune pipes and had the R3 Dyno run. I am having the same problem when the bike gets HOT it idles out... even if in traffic (Heavy traffic little movement, i.e just rolling) I'm not sure whether to take it to my service guys or back to the dyno guy who installed the PC and the pipes!?

SteveRed

[vonbonds]

On 2006-02-13 21:32, Toystoretom wrote:
I'm still trying to remeber... doesn't the "Set Throttle Position" end up giving you a target idle rpm??

I may have to play with this over the weekend..... It appears that you can't bring that "tool" up unless you are pluged into the PC III on the bike....

Tomo, yeah, the tool only works when plugged into the bike and the key is in the ignition position (bike doesn't have to be started). I think I might have a late night tonight but I will try to plug it into my bike and take some screen shots for everyone. Since there is snow and salt on the ground now in Maryland my bikes are off the road so why not tinker with them a bit .

Tom

[jenks666]

Mine hasn't idled since 6 weeks after i bought it last june , and has been the shop from oct. on . Triumph can't find what is wrong . They have replaced the stepper motor , the temp sensor, and loaded a bunch of programs into the computer nothing works . Does anybody know is this somthing that can be lemon lawed ? :???:

[vonbonds]

Sure it can be Lemon lawed. Check your states rules on Lemon's. In Maryland the problems have to have happened in the first 15 months of ownership. If you are past that point check out the Magnasun-Moss Warranty Act.