Dash Blackout

flobrandx · Jul 9, 2012

Last week I was riding and my dash flickered a few times and I wasnt sure what was going on. I asked my dealer about it and they said it might be the auto function from shade to sun. I said ok maybe it was...

Then it happened again! NOT the auto function at all! A total dash blackout while riding. It happened approx. 10 times over 10 miles for different durations. Also noticed during dash outage my headlights were out too. Tried pulling over and get into the menu but nothing worked. Sun was beginning to set so I decided to just go and get home before dark. Luckily I made it with no other issues!

Anyone else experience anything like this? I'm not sure if this had something to do with the install of the new windscreen.

elitesoldier357 · Jul 9, 2012

I had the same problem with my 848 at one point. I think they said it was a power relay failure? Basically the part that governs power to the whole bike. Easy fix. They'll order you a new one. Let me guess... happens more frequently at idle or at low speeds when the bike gets real hot? Both your display backlight and both your headlights shut off at the same time sporadically and randomly. But tends to go away after the bike gets up to speed and cools down. It may sound strange that heat actually has to do with an electrical malfunction, I dont remember how he said it ties in with the electrical malfunction but it did. I can call my tech up and ask him exactly what it was. I had the same problem a little while back. Sucks when it happens and ur riding at night and both your headlights shut off!

efna · Jul 10, 2012

Heat and electronics do not mix. Relays are very sensistive to heat so it really makes perfect sense that a relay would act up if it were in an environment where temperatures were outside it normal range of operations.

On the 1199 I understand that some of the intake air from the cowl is diverted to areas under the fairing where the ECM, relays, fuses and other electronic controls reside. The reason? Cooling. I have not taken my bike apart to see this for certain but I did read it in this months StreetBike (EU) magazine.

We may be seeing the dawn of the age of electronic cooling. We have water coolers, oil coolers, intercoolers and now cooling systems for the ECU and other various components. I remember the days when bikes had two wheels and an engine you could see and everything made sense and was easy to work on. What price progress?

flobrandx · Jul 10, 2012

elitesoldier357 said:
I had the same problem with my 848 at one point. I think they said it was a power relay failure? Basically the part that governs power to the whole bike. Easy fix. They'll order you a new one. Let me guess... happens more frequently at idle or at low speeds when the bike gets real hot? Both your display backlight and both your headlights shut off at the same time sporadically and randomly. But tends to go away after the bike gets up to speed and cools down. It may sound strange that heat actually has to do with an electrical malfunction, I dont remember how he said it ties in with the electrical malfunction but it did. I can call my tech up and ask him exactly what it was. I had the same problem a little while back. Sucks when it happens and ur riding at night and both your headlights shut off!

Thanks for the input. I was in the mountains at speed, so I'm not sure that heat could be a factor. Outside temp was around 75F and bike was below 200F. I only noticed the headlights out when the dash was out, not sure if it was happening randomly.

Marcbc · Jul 10, 2012

Did not someone on here have an issue where they removed the fuse for the headlights ( they were at a track day) and (illogically) their dash went out as well? Perhaps worth checking the fuses?

tstephenson · Jul 10, 2012

flobrandx said:
Last week I was riding and my dash flickered a few times and I wasnt sure what was going on. I asked my dealer about it and they said it might be the auto function from shade to sun. I said ok maybe it was...

Then it happened again! NOT the auto function at all! A total dash blackout while riding. It happened approx. 10 times over 10 miles for different durations. Also noticed during dash outage my headlights were out too. Tried pulling over and get into the menu but nothing worked. Sun was beginning to set so I decided to just go and get home before dark. Luckily I made it with no other issues!

Anyone else experience anything like this? I'm not sure if this had something to do with the install of the new windscreen.

Sounds like something is loose in the wiring harness

hhuhuh · Jul 10, 2012

Sounds like something is loose in the wiring harness <-- I agree, too.

CHarles foxtrot · Jul 10, 2012

Marcbc said:
Did not someone on here have an issue where they removed the fuse for the headlights ( they were at a track day) and (illogically) their dash went out as well? Perhaps worth checking the fuses?

That was me, but I have a Base. Dr.j reported that this was not an issue with the S - no idea about how the wiring on the Tri, but I agree with that is either a faulty relay or a bad/loose connector.

elitesoldier357 · Jul 14, 2012

flobrandx said:
Thanks for the input. I was in the mountains at speed, so I'm not sure that heat could be a factor. Outside temp was around 75F and bike was below 200F. I only noticed the headlights out when the dash was out, not sure if it was happening randomly.

"Temperature does effect the conductivity of materials. For conductors, an increase in temperature reduces the current carrying capacity." (Temperature and Electricity)

Watch the blackout happen several times in a row, brand new paved road, no faults or bumps... rollin through town in first gear, bike temps over 200... display blacks out at the same time as the headlights.
Is this what is happening with your bike? I had them check all of my connections but it wasnt until they let it idle and recreated the effects, then did a diagnostic at the same time that they found the problem, I'll call my tech and have him pull the work order on the bike to tell you exactly what it was. But it wasn't a loose connection. Watch this video after 10 seconds in:
Headlight Blackout Ducati 848 - YouTube

flobrandx · Jul 14, 2012

Ok guys, I got her back from the shop today and they found the culprit. It was a poor ground connection from a screw that was too long. The screw bottomed out and was unable to get a tight connection. They installed a shorter screw and everything is good so far.

flobrandx · Jul 14, 2012

Thanks for the info!

You are correct about temp limiting current carrying capacity of conductors. Loose connection also create heat on wire terminations. Temps of 200 should not be enough to limit the conductor current and shut down the dash. If so you would need to rewire the entire bike. The conductors should be sized according to the normal operating conditions and de-rated for temp conditions. I'm an electrician so I have a lot of background on this subject.

It would be nice to know what you find in case they didn't find the issue like they said.

elitesoldier357 · Jul 15, 2012

flobrandx said:
Ok guys, I got her back from the shop today and they found the culprit. It was a poor ground connection from a screw that was too long. The screw bottomed out and was unable to get a tight connection. They installed a shorter screw and everything is good so far.

I remember them saying I didnt have something properly grounded too. So I probably had the same problem. But Im not electrician, all I know is they fixed it up for me! Good thing they found the problem! That issue really aggravated me for a while til I had it fixed.

flobrandx · Jul 15, 2012

elitesoldier357 said:
I remember them saying I didnt have something properly grounded too. So I probably had the same problem. But Im not electrician, all I know is they fixed it up for me! Good thing they found the problem! That issue really aggravated me for a while til I had it fixed.

Good deal! I was a little agro myself... new bike and problems already! WTH! At least it was found and fixed easily. Now back to riding!

PaddockStand · Jul 15, 2012

flobrandx said:
Ok guys, I got her back from the shop today and they found the culprit. It was a poor ground connection from a screw that was too long. The screw bottomed out and was unable to get a tight connection. They installed a shorter screw and everything is good so far.

Any chance of finding out from your tech which screw it was? Prevention is better than cure (swing arm bolt, front brake reservoir, ...) This could be quite dangerous if all the lights went out on a dark section of motorway at high speed.

flobrandx · Jul 15, 2012

PaddockStand said:
Any chance of finding out from your tech which screw it was? Prevention is better than cure (swing arm bolt, front brake reservoir, ...) This could be quite dangerous if all the lights went out on a dark section of motorway at high speed.

I'll send them an email for which screw was the problem. Will not get an answer till probably Tues since they are closed tomorrow. I'll post the findings.

lonewonderer · Feb 16, 2020

Any update on the screw? Mine had this issue with my 1299.

Dash Blackout

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