ABS light/warning SilverWing 600 2013

Admin----this should be in Silver Wing topics-----I tried using the crappy instructions....and it took my text away!!  Computers suck!!

So here again----ABS light came on the other day on the FL/GA border---followed instructions on owner's manual and later at home with shop manual/have disconnected battery for a few minutes/connected with local Honda shop---who I trust.   Made appointment for next Wed.  Rental car reservations as bike shops do not offer subs here. Enterprise and they will pick me up at shop.

Monday will call Honda to see if there are secret warranties on safety related stuff.   ABS motor $1200 retail!

My bike is leftover 2013, 40,000 miles and I am not sure the scooter is worth the $1200 investment, better by-pass and blank out ABS.   This modern fancy electronic junk can be expensive when it quits-----I have ridden over 1.5 million miles without it and am still alive.

Imagine if I had a new Vespa and no dealer within 125 miles.

Looking at another Suzuki TU 250---simple bike (had one new one already), just want to ride and oil chain.

John
- no idea where u live.
-There are sources for junk or used parts depending where u live.
-If battery low on start abs will fail to energize. Need > 13 volts.
Why do u think it is the pump?
-Runs normal without it, no panic to restore to ops level.
-Check teeth on front and rear tach wheel. Missing or damaged tooth will cause failure to arm.

I live in Chattanooga TN. I do not put junk or used parts in safety related areas, period.

Have to see what dealer does and fix? Bike for me, will be used another 10,000 miles as I like new and riding under warranty.

My experience (over 75 new bikes/scooters) 50,000 quick miles and pass any trouble on to next owner.

John, what convinces you that it is the abs pump, all faults that I've had  relating to abs lights on either car or scooter has always been an abs wheel sensor, some needed a good cleaning and some replacing. First thing is to check that the sensor and abs rotor are clean and spray them with some sort of contact cleaner before you have the pump replaced if that is the problem, it may just be road muck on the sensor that is stopping it working properly.  Pud.

Wheel sensors have been cleaned, checked My point if motor---pretty expensive.

I am interested in the diagnosis the Honda dealer gives you.

If the battery is weak, it can cause problems. Are you getting 13+ volts?

Battery 3 months old-OEM

John,
Since the battery was the last thing done to your bike, try removing then re-installing the battery. Check the voltage at the battery and compare to the manual. Maybe something else is needing to be replaced. May save you some time and money. My 2¢.

Battery been disconnected and re-connected. ABS lights coming on and staying on not so common, as this safety device should be idiot proof, etc.

Battery disconnect will not clear fault codes from the ABS system.


Try turning to chapter 17 in your FSM, it describes the procedure to clear the self diagnostic system codes and how to read the 2 dozen or so codes the ABS light displays.

Once the codes are cleared you will find out if it was a transient fault or condition, or a hard fault that caused the ABS light to come on.

This would be the same scripted procedure that the tech would use at the stealership and charge $100/hr for.

Read everything before you do anything....

I am well aware of what is in shop manual----but as far as I have gone in running down possible problems---am letting Honda Mech who has been in same shop see what he can run down.

Bucks spent in safety area are usually not wasted---I learned a long time ago in both Japan and Germany----if you have to ask what it costs, you probably should not have it in first place.

Ride SilverWing 30,000 miles or so a year---it ain't cheap!

John,
We are just trying to help you with suggestions. A simple thank you would be appreciated. Try to have a great day. Let us know what your mechanic determines the problem is. Thank you.

Bike goes to Honda Wed. Thanks for all suggestions. Hope outcome is simple and cheap or reasonable. Point: should never have happened in first place----ABS is one of the safety related items that should last life of bike.

Yes ABS can be by-passed, but mine was bought as new/fresh leftover/one rider and at least for the 2 years the bike has been on road.-------If ABS does not hold up well, aging, I guess older SilverWings will show up with troubles, too.

John, i appreciate you sharing the details of your ABS light problem - standing by to see what the "expert" at the dealership says.

side note: I'll add that for no apparent reason the ABS lights in my 2009 Dodge Van with just 60000 miles came on. After finding a code reader that would read and reset ABS codes the fault returned immediately. the control module was blamed a $350 part, oh but that wasn't all it also had to be "programmed" for an additional $250, plus other charges for labor and shop aides the total bill was $970....pretty ticked off at this one.

Am I right in thinking ABS is in addition to normal Braking? I think this because the earlier bikes did not have ABS, so Braking ordinarily should still be possible, would it not?

Old Limey wrote:

Am I right in thinking ABS is in addition to normal Braking? I think this because the earlier bikes did not have ABS, so Braking ordinarily should still be possible, would it not?

yes brakes "should" still work - ABS is supposed to keep brakes from locking the wheel and skidding the tire. If i recall correctly all Silver Wings have linked brakes - and some had ABS as an additional option. the last few years they were sold 'new' in the USA only ABS models were available here.

Once I got blinking ABS lite, I stopped, read manual---determined nothing had fallen off, or was blocked and normal brake system functioned---continued on home another 300 miles or so.

Home--went to shop manual---realized I had fixed nothing. Tried my local Honda shop---they said few problems with Honda systems. Made shop appointment. Mech has been there 29 years, and has touched my bike on minor warranty issues, changed belt as case was already open. I trust him

One more thing on my ABS----it has never cycled, even snow/mud/sand/rain.

I feel you live longer not requiring really hard braking---except in emergencies when there is no other way out---then keep the bike upright hitting the object upright, all the time at max braking, that way you hit at the slowest possible speed.

My 17 year old Burgman 400 does not have ABS, when braking I always brake in short steps (brakes on then release, several times) except, in emergency braking I always have done, it is just the way I brake. The other advantage is, you are warning the vehicles behind that you may be stopping.

john grinsel wrote:

I am well aware of what is in shop manual----but as far as I have gone in running down possible problems---am letting Honda Mech who has been in same shop see what he can run
Ride SilverWing 30,000 miles or so a year---it ain't cheap!

Bucks spent in safety area are usually not wasted---I learned a long time ago in both Japan and Germany----if you have to ask what it costs, you probably should not have it in first place.

Ride SilverWing 30,000 miles or so a year---it ain't cheap!

John

What do you consider ----- it ain't cheap? Do you keep records?
Are you refering to SW maintenace?

Bob

SilverWing, mine does not go to bike shop for routine maint. Only warranty work or such things as current ABS light.

Reason for Expensive: Let's take 30,000 miles=2 drive belts OEM @$140 Each=$280...then if you have to pay to have them put on at least another hour's shop time, each time,$80 a pop total$160
Tires 30,000 miles=about 4 rears @$70 a piece, 2 fronts @$75 a piece---Now if you do not mount/balance yourself, and remove replace wheels yourself---say high side @ $80 a wheel, for remove/replace wheel mount tire times 6 for the 30,000 miles=$480.

I have no idea what routine maint. costs when shop does it---but a lot.

Scooter maybe more expensive than bike and surely more than cheap new car. Motorcycles, I got 43,000 miles on Suzuki Gs500E OEM chain and sprockets.

Add Insurance/gas/oil=expensive transport/hobby.

My bike goes to shop today as I have not found answer for ABS light on my own.

ABS problem solved----Shop time $89 with tax----which is good in my book. In in the morning, out in the afternoon.

System checks out----Problem rear wheel wearing on splines, giving some free play. Wheel pulled, splines greased, high temp grease, put back together. So spines wearing on both wheel and axle shaft, probably no problem with non-ABS----real fix, replace rear wheel and axle----have to see what happens down the road. I plan to sell/trade at or before 50,000 miles. So the pick up for ABS is space sensitive, small wear movement, can up set things.

I grease splines each time wheel comes off, anyway----careful about this as spine wear with BMW twins was problem in past for me.

Knowing what caused the problem gives you some peace of mind John ; and the rest of us learn from your experience and "report". Thanks.
Mike

Curious that it would take a rain ride to give rise to an ABS problem caused by worn splines.

Glad that you got it sorted though.

I think just wear....and bad luck....time? If there is next time, just put a piece of black tape over light, knowing I may or may not have ABS assist. I am waiting for sale of house I own, then money enough to buy another new bike/scooter without debt.

Glad you got it sorted John. Always useful to know the outcome of problems and cause, for future reference.

Have to see what happens, down the road----Maybe 3-4 months more with this SilverWing, then traded or sold for something different.

Mine has fresh belt, fresh air cleaner and new rear tire-waiting to have me put on. Should go to the 50,000 miles I want to get out of it.

A week has gone by, scooter used daily-----shop fix has worked=no ABS light flashing at me.

Satisfied that the $89 shop time=well spent.