Instrument Panel Electrical Fault

[wayne]

Hi, My 2014 SE has developed an intermittent fail to start problem. Either no power to the instrument panel or some power but with warning lights showing that normally would not be lit and or no sweep of the speedo or rev clocks.
I have traced the problem to the R/hand  (L/hand looking from the front of the bike) rear instrument plug and socket from the ecm. It is either a bad connection with a pin in the plug or a poor connection with the female instrument socket. I can remove the problem by simply lightly touching a wire whilst plugged in to the instrument panel.
Does anyone know how I can remove the individual socket leads to check them? I think that would be the first option before trying to repair or replace the instrument cluster.

Thanks

[Novocastrian]

The first suggested check is to ensure the infamous recall wiring harness problem is checked.  Has it been done?

[digital]

The two connectors on the instrument panel have a tab in the center of the connector.

Remove the rubber that protect the connector and press the tab inward at the same time, pull the connector back.

[wayne]

Thanks for your replies Novocastrian and Digital.
 Yes the wiring recall work has been done. I have disconnected the plug from the instrument panel and can see no bent pins. However with the plug in place I can get the fault to occur or disappear simply by lightly touching a couple of wires which are near each other. Either there is a poor connection in the male plug or the female socket on the instrument board. I need to know how to remove and reinsert fully any loose wires in the plug. I think there must be a tool or other method to do that. If it proves not to be the plug to blame then it must be a bad connection with the instrument panel female socket which is soldered to the board. 

[trophied]

I found a tutorial on a Ducati with the Econoseal type connectors that the Trophy uses in some areas and if it is indeed one of those you can see how to disassemble the connector.  No tools are supposedly required to disassemble the connector housing.  Looking at the connector and the pictures in the tutorial with the comment already made may clear up how it comes apart.  If a pin needs to be replaced it requires a specially shaped crimping too that is readily available.
Hope this helps,
Glenn

[Coconut]

From your description I would say it is quite likely that one or more wires
have broken where they are crimped in to the connecting pin, within the moulded socket.

Here is a picture of a "typical" connector pin :



The wire enters from the left and the longer of the two crimps is crimped around the wire
AND its insulation to hold it securely. After that crimp, the insulation is removed from the wire
and the second smaller crimp is crimped onto the bare wire to make the electrical contact.

The Barbs ( of which there may be more than one depending on the type of pin )
lock the pin into the moulded socket - being pushed in from the rear of the moulding
which spring out and latch in place.

To remove an individual pin from a moulded socket IS usually possible, but can be quite fiddly,
and requires a fine tool to be inserted that will depress the barb(s) to release it / them from the
moulding and allow the pin to be withdrawn.

For some types of round pin a very thin walled tubular tool can be pushed in from the front
of the socket to depress the barbs, while others need a fine / small flat blade type of tool,
with either one or two blades .....



Without dismantling my bike and examining the sockets I can't really advise further
on what type of tool might be best to try. 

Cheers 


 

[digital]

Better not touch those types of pins if it is not necessary.

The best thing in these cases is to look at the diagram of the part where this fault occurs and then locate the corresponding pins. Once these pins are located, take a pointed tool and flatten the female of those pins a little. Surely from there it will not fail any more.

Another cause could be that this wire is bent and causing the fault. But I doubt the last case.

[wayne]

Many thanks for your replies. I found the Ducati information mentioned by Trophied and found that useful. Coconut, the picture of the pin and key set with the simple explanation made it all drop into place. Digital you were also helpful.
I think it confirms that I have a bad wire/pin connection in the male harness plug. I now have a better idea on how to effect the repair. I maintain and service everything on my bike no matter what it is and have only found that possible because of the help i get from this brilliant forum and its contributors when I get stuck.
Hopfully I will now get it sorted. I will let you know.
Cheers 
Wayne