2006 and 2007 FL Radio LED Disappears : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

V-ROD 1 FL · 01-31-2007, 03:09 PM

I haven't seen any postings on this yet BUT.... it happened to my radio and LOTS of others in my area. All of the other features on the radio work BUT you just can't see what feature is on the LED.

BOTH the light (LED)and the character displays (LCD) are GONE!!! (Thanks Dr. HeathenScum)

It's a known problem. Harley will replace the whole radio and upgrade the software when it happens. Business is brisk for exchanges so there may not be any replacements in stock at the dealer when you need it.

DrHeathenScum · 02-01-2007, 12:26 AM

did you mean LCD, as in the digits/characters on the display or LED as in the backlighting for the display?

eprenzlow · 02-01-2007, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrHeathenScum

did you mean LCD, as in the digits/characters on the display or LED as in the backlighting for the display?

On mine, the backlight still worked (as did the radio), but the LCD was gone. No characters or digits.

Exchanged for another unit by dealer.

Dealer said water intrusion from washing is killing the displays. Any spray on the dash area supposedly gets into teh internals. I guess Harmon Kardon forgot bikes get washed annually. I told him that I never wash my bike, but it's been in to the shop so often for electrical repairs, that their wash rack guys screwed it up (complimentary wash when in for work)

DrHeathenScum · 02-01-2007, 03:47 PM

interesting... I recently had one of those apart to change the illumimination to blue and the only thing I can think of is there is a single board connector between the face and the main board that doesn't seem to have a lot of tolerance to anything moving... that and the face assembly snaps onto the rest of the radio. I would almost guess that the face of the radio is pulling away slightly from the rest of the unit when it is slid into the dash.

next person with the problem, try pushing on the radio face to see if it comes back on... don't push too hard on the actual display or you will crack it and then you be fooked. The connector I mentioned is nearly dead center, so pushing above and/or below the screen should get the job done.

V-ROD 1 FL · 02-05-2007, 02:31 PM

It seems (unofficially) that the issue is water --washing and rain. When it gets behind the display "It's only a matter of time and IT'S GONE"!!

I think there is a seal that wasn't on the newer version of the Harmon Kardon radios that has been added to the exchange units.

I was also amaized to watch the process used to update the radio software. It's just like the SERT Race Tuner. I'll bet there's nothing in the after market area yet to do this.

Dr. Heathenscum---BLUE YOU SAY --- Hummm VERY Interesting with the white gauges on my Blue Street Glide........

Regards

txhawg · 02-08-2007, 11:03 PM

Ok, I have to ask, how did you change the illumination to blue?

reg26 · 02-09-2007, 06:31 AM

Same thing happened to me, last summer I was riding home from work , I had the radio on and when I went to change the channel there was no LCD display. I turned it off and when I got home I turned it back on and it started working again. It was weird but has never happened since so I kind of forgot about it till I read this. I do wash my bike allot.

DrHeathenScum · 02-10-2007, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txhawg

Ok, I have to ask, how did you change the illumination to blue?

very carefully removed and replaced about 40 LEDs about the size of a small mouse turd.

ratmotortom · 02-11-2007, 07:25 PM

Sounds silly, but make sure you haven't adjusted the contrast all the way out by accident. I did that once and thought the radio was toast. Read your owner's manual in the radio section on the display. Maybe you'll get lucky and that will be the cure !!

Krayven Sumhead · 02-12-2007, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eprenzlow

I guess Harmon Kardon forgot bikes get washed annually. :

Harmon Kardon only manufactures the amps that power the speakers. The head unit isn't a Harmon Kardon. The speakers aren't Harmon Kardon. Another member wrote Harmon Kardon complaining about the head unit and Harmon Kardon informed him of these revelations.

eprenzlow · 02-12-2007, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krayven Sumhead

Harmon Kardon only manufactures the amps that power the speakers. The head unit isn't a Harmon Kardon. The speakers aren't Harmon Kardon. Another member wrote Harmon Kardon complaining about the head unit and Harmon Kardon informed him of these revelations.

So who does make the head unit? Wang Duk's Chinese worker's prison #472? Another fine "Not Made in USA" Harley part?

V-ROD 1 FL · 02-12-2007, 02:31 PM

In case it occurs to someone.

there is a "reset" option that the dealer has to be sure the issue isn't software related. Push this button 1 time face north push this one 3 times face south--etc. In my and as I understand most cases, it doesn't resolve the issue either.

Of course as was mentioned the display level is one of the FIRST THINGS to be sure has beeen screweed with.

NOT HARMON KARDON--HUMMM I would think the motor company would be in BIG TROUBLE if they said the radio was HK and it really isn't. MORE CHECKING REQUIRED!!!