Strange check engine light......

[dgreet77]

I got an '05 M7 acting funny as far as the check engine light goes. I can be running down the trail and it will start to flicker, almost like it is trying to constantly flash. IIRC a constant check engine flash means the sled is getting hot. So I stop and pack snow onto the top of the tunnel and throw a bunch of snow on the engine, etc, etc. Let the sled cool off good. Start back up and go and have the same problem. The sled runs great, doesn't act like its too hot, but the light tries to flash still.

When I say tries to flash I mean it will flash a couple of times then dim out, then kinda flicker back on and back out intermittently. Sometimes if I stop and idle it will stay on constantly but the sled won't be hot, and when I start going again it will dim out and every once in a while try to flash.

My guess is maybe I have a short somewhere or that my coolant sensor is shot. I can't find a short so that leaves me at the coolant sensor. Do these go bad? Where are they exactly? Is there a way to test them? Any other ideas? Thanks.

Cliffnotes: I think my coolant sensor is shot, does this happen?

 

[diggerdown]

Could be a coolant sensor but more than likely a shorted wire. Those are noted for the tail light wires shorting out and causing lots of strange things.

 

[dgreet77]

Could be a coolant sensor but more than likely a shorted wire. Those are noted for the tail light wires shorting out and causing lots of strange things.

Yeah, I checked the taillight wires because my whole gauge would go out when i hit the brake a while back; taped it up and fixed that.

This just started and the taillight wires are still good and taped up, so its not there anyways...

 

[dgreet77]

Any other thoughts?

 

[pushcat]

it could be low oil level sensor? Just an idea to throw out.

 

[diggerdown]

Usually when the sensor goes bad it messes up your efi, this does not sound like what yo have going on. Check all your wire plugs and the wire harness for rubbed spots. Check your engine grounds too, especialy the ground wire from the engine to the frame.

 

[dgreet77]

Usually when the sensor goes bad it messes up your efi, this does not sound like what yo have going on. Check all your wire plugs and the wire harness for rubbed spots. Check your engine grounds too, especialy the ground wire from the engine to the frame.

Alright, cool, thanks for the info. I need to get it thawed out from the last ride and give it a good once (or twice) over. Where exactly is the engine to frame ground wire...sorry for the dumbass question but the sled is stored 3 miles away and its cold out. Lol.

 

[dbritsch]

Engine light

Pushcat may be right. I was just about to post the same question as you because my sled did this yesterday and has been running fine. The oil light was coming on and off at the same time. Sled was not overheating and was running fine. Engine light would blink at trail speeds then stop blinking and go out. At idle would be off just like the oil light. I filled with oil today and can let you know Wednesday (when I ride) if that was the problem.
I was trying to run the oil down to switch brands...

 

[dgreet77]

Pushcat may be right. I was just about to post the same question as you because my sled did this yesterday and has been running fine. The oil light was coming on and off at the same time. Sled was not overheating and was running fine. Engine light would blink at trail speeds then stop blinking and go out. At idle would be off just like the oil light. I filled with oil today and can let you know Wednesday (when I ride) if that was the problem.
I was trying to run the oil down to switch brands...

Well my low oil sensor has been shot for quite a while now. My low oil light is on constantly but has been that way for upwards of a year and only now has the check engine light started giving me fits.....

 

[gary ol kitty]

you might pull your wiring plugs and dry put electrical silicon to keep them from shorting out from water. if your on hard pack it might be warm ?