Fi problem

[SHARPY]

Thanks for all the info guys, I have now changed keys to the spare one and ( touch wood ) it has been fine and no problems at all.

[Freerangestormer]

See, stronger 1's on the other key

[Dee Duble Yuh]

Try not to wear out all the new 1s. The zeros will probably stay shiny all by themselves but it's the 1s you have to look after. I'd say it's a bit of a knack.

[Freerangestormer]

This thread is getting a bit 1sided.

[AncientAndy]

My 3 month old Vara does exactly this, latterly with increased regularity. Key out, key in several times fixes it. Some days no problems, other days, FI stays on. It still cuts out on occasion after a throttle blip and a large bike fart from directly under the tank.

I will be back in the UK on Thursday and Honda can fix the fooker.

I chose Honda for its notorious reliability and build quality; geez the others must be real bad. Is it me or are the Vara plastics, particularly the fairing, cheap and nasty?

[africajim]

Well, three months on and touch wood, no problems with FI, key seems to work ok, no idiot lights coming on.
Agree, plastics are poor quality compared to older Hondas. Flimsy, buckle when polishing and the black part above the belly pan? Well, don't get me started!

[Trixsta2]

My XL1000V8 has had the same HISS and FI light problem for some time. My observations are that it happens when the bike is semi warm operating temp and never from cold start. To clear the problem, I turn the bike over, then ignition off and back on. My local dealer V&J have looked at it, and they could not replicate it. They spoke with Honda who said it must be a connector issue and they have not experienced the issue before. V&J were helpful enough but there is only so much time they will spend on these issues. They only get paid to replace something under warrantry. I have written to Honda UK, with a positive letter asking for help and suggesting this problem is reasonably common. They usually do not respond, if not I will write again including video footage I have taken of the problem. The last time I engaged with Honda was a problem with my car, I ended up just poping in to their office with the ignored letters, all very polite of course, not so easy to dismiss if you are not ranting. Things started moving soon after then. I have not read any posts which say that this problem goes terminal, but it could, and not so good if it happens as you are presenting your bike for sale in the future. I would be really pleased to hear of other peoples progress and will post mine

[Dee Duble Yuh]

My 3 month old Vara does exactly this, latterly with increased regularity. Key out, key in several times fixes it.

This should be a warranty issue. I like Trixsta2's idea of videoing the problem.

It still cuts out on occasion after a throttle blip and a large bike fart from directly under the tank.

Maybe you shouldn't blip the throttle or... do that other thing. Not nice.

[Percy1]

My XL1000V8 has had the same HISS and FI light problem for some time. My observations are that it happens when the bike is semi warm operating temp and never from cold start.

Strangely enough the problem seems to occur when my bike is "warm" too. Get wherever you're going... switch off, have a fag, go for a walk, half-hour goes by, try to start bike and....................nothing!

Update from my earlier posts: Dealership initially said that it would take approx 3 - 4 days for the replacement "immobiliser aerial" to be delivered. Rang them last Friday and.......oh dear ......ETA for the new aerial is now 4th August(ish).

Popped into the dealers Saturday and the very helpful parts man thinks (his opinion) that the August delivery date is because Honda are investigating/modifying the HISS aerial. He thinks they may have had a number of dealers reporting the fault with bikes. My dealer does have another bike (a Honda - but not a Vara) with the same fault.

I'm a bit worried as SWMBO and I are climbing aboard the Vara and heading for Andalucia on 23rd August

[Mr NiceGuy]

I had this problem as well as a couple of occasions it cut out whilst I was riding. Took to the dealer who tried all sorts under warranty and the fault still persisted. I cleaned the ignition barrel and key with electrical contact cleaner and the problem disappeared.