Power Commander heads up...

[Funners]

Not a chunter or moan more a heads up to anyone with a PC fitted that may or may not have experienced poor running after wet weather/washing the bike.
I fitted my PC a couple of months ago and have been very happy with it till a very wet tour of Wales two weeks ago, then it started playing up, first symptom was a fast idle, then refusing to idle at all, then rough running, Not a happy bunny at all....

After a dry night the bike reverted back to normal and all was well till I washed it at home and it started all over again.
I plugged the in lap top and the PC program and it soon became apparent that the TPS wasn't reading right (You plug the PC into the TPS on a "Y" lead arrangement) at rest I was showing between 6 and 10% open and Max throttle was only 67%
Pulling the plugs apart about a tea spoon of water poured out and then kept trickling out of the wiring loom itself, opening it up the back of the plug is totally open unlike all the rest of the injector plugs which are rubber sealed and water was running down the loom and filling the plug up, the seal with the OE BMW plug is good enough to retian the water and it "shorts" out the TPS reading, due to the positioning of the TPS and the shortness of the loom it isn't possible to arrange a drip loop to prevent ingress and so I sealed the rear of the plug and then re-loomed it for neatness, so far so good no water ingress at all
I have no idea if ALL PC TPS plugs have no seal or whether mine is a Fri aft special, but if it helps someone out with an intermittent fault all the better...

Oh yes, it's the leg of the "Y" that plugs into the bikes wiring, NOT the TPS itself

 

[Magwych]

Before fitting my PC USB III, I checked with Power Commander about the weather sealing of the plugs because it looked non-existent to me on the injector plugs. They assured me that all plugs were waterproof, but I have never been convinced.

I asked them again at a recent bike show, and again they were adamant that they are weather proof.

If I really wanted to be sure, they said, I could wrap the loom with more insulating tape and continue up to the plugs and wrap them too, not that it is needed. I came away feeling well patronised by them....

However, my experiences are the same as yours, poor running and rough idling in heavy rain, and after any damp/wet nights. I have corrosion now evident on the right side injector plug and socket contacts, ( the side that is most exposed when on the side stand).

I get the impression that these are not really built for work-a-day bikes that are left outside. I tried looking for what appear to be "Junior Timer" plug rubber boots in t'interweb but gave up after finding nothing but the smaller, 2-way ones.

Any bright ideas on how to properly waterproof the connectors would be gratefully received, by me; and probably not by Power Commander. They gave the impression to me that they did not give a toss.

 

[Funners]

MY Injector plugs have a rubber insert to seal the back of them and when I pulled those there was no water in them to be fair, the TPS fly lead however is totally open and water just pours in, I tired wrapping in insulation tape but it just runs down the wires, if the lead was longer you could route it to prevent ingress but as it is, some selant in the back of the plug seems the only way TBH....
Crap as you say but if they won't listen.....

 

[Magwych]

Just binned my PC III.

The connectors for the right hand injector are now corroding enough to disrupt signals it seems. I have misfires and horrendous fuel consumption - I think I am unlikely to use one of these again, they do not appear to me to be up to use in our wet climate.

I have reverted to using one of mavn's air temperature sensor cable mods instead, it's not quite as smooth as a PC, but far more reliable.

 

[Funners]

Just binned my PC III.

The connectors for the right hand injector are now corroding enough to disrupt signals it seems. I have misfires and horrendous fuel consumption - I think I am unlikely to use one of these again, they do not appear to me to be up to use in our wet climate.

I have reverted to using one of mavn's air temperature sensor cable mods instead, it's not quite as smooth as a PC, but far more reliable.

I'll keep an eye on mine, since I greased the connectors and sealed the back of the TPS plug I've had no problems but I'll be sure to watch them....

 

[Pukmeister]

Thanks for the heads up guys.

Magwych you have a PM.

 

[Magwych]

Thanks for the heads up guys.

Magwych you have a PM.

and you have a reply ...

 

[xjrjason]

I'm using an accelerator module at the mo and it's doing it's thing. Looked at the PC for the GS, but thought I'd try out the accelerator module first. (and it's a lot cheaper)


I must say I have used Power Commander units in the past, with great success and with out problems. I'd guess four on my own bikes, and helped install/set up about another half a dozen on friends bikes.


I can't understand why the one for the GS is causing so many problems. My previous bikes have been used in all weathers, not used to traverse rivers, but then I doubt these ones are packing up because people are submerging their bikes. It's a shame people are having to bin the unit, due to it filling with water etc.

Is the unit placed in a position that is prone to being sprayed with water all the time? Or in a water run off area once washed?

 

[Magwych]

I must say I have used Power Commander units in the past, with great success and with out problems. I'd guess four on my own bikes, and helped install/set up about another half a dozen on friends bikes.


I can't understand why the one for the GS is causing so many problems. My previous bikes have been used in all weathers, not used to traverse rivers, but then I doubt these ones are packing up because people are submerging their bikes. It's a shame people are having to bin the unit, due to it filling with water etc.

Is the unit placed in a position that is prone to being sprayed with water all the time? Or in a water run off area once washed?

What bikes did you use it on before? On the GS the throttle bodies are totally exposed to the elements - both the injector connectors and the TPS one too.

It is not the control unit that is at issue. All the internal electronics there are well encapsulated in resin, and the unit gets tucked up out of the way under the seat. It is the connectors that let the whole system down

The PC supplied connectors have very limited weather protection, especially when compared to the BMUU ones; there are no rubber boots and no seals on teh cable ntry points. On a standard across-the-frame four cylinder UJM the throttle bodies are nicely tucked up out of the way protected by the cyclinder block, tank and other body parts. On the GS they just get rained on, and soaked by road spray - just imagine what happens when fording ...