34New terminals attached <strong>to</strong> correctgauge replacement wire.New coupler body installed on replacement terminals and wires.Butt splices allow attachment <strong>to</strong> original wire.The fact that the fog lamps worked flawlesslythrough all this should have been a cluethat they weren’t in the problem circuitry.Thewattage <strong>of</strong> the replacement headlamp bulbswas the same as the originals, so no adverseeffects could be attributed <strong>to</strong> them.We mightask, how can a fac<strong>to</strong>ry-trained technician beexpected <strong>to</strong> determine the effects <strong>of</strong> aftermarketelectrical equipment?Having had the opportunity <strong>to</strong> inspectevery inch <strong>of</strong> that bike’s wiring, a person witha smidgen <strong>of</strong> electrical savvy, having seen thefog lamps weren’t grounded <strong>to</strong> the wire inquestion, would (should) have realized theyweren’t part <strong>of</strong> the equation. It doesn’t matterthat the bike was a Honda and the fog lampsweren’t. Electrical principles apply universallyacross product lines.So what caused these terminals <strong>to</strong> oxidizeand burn? Had <strong>current</strong> flow exceeded thewire’s capability, the wire’s insulation wouldshow evidence <strong>of</strong> heat damage along much <strong>of</strong>its length. But what happened here startedwith either loose contact or oxidation <strong>of</strong> theterminals. Either condition would createresistance <strong>to</strong> <strong>current</strong> flow, and local heatingwould result at the point <strong>of</strong> resistance.Depending on the amount <strong>of</strong> resistance and<strong>current</strong> flow, it may have taken years, months,or only days for this damage <strong>to</strong> occur. But theprocess was—resistance, heat, further oxidation,increased resistance, increased heat, andso on, until <strong>current</strong> flow was impeded <strong>to</strong> thepoint that circuits grounded through this wireeither began behaving oddly or not at all.The solution? Properly repair the singledamaged wire, and then test the electrical system.One symp<strong>to</strong>m mentioned above—bulbsthat glow dimly when their circuit isn’t turnedon while other circuits fail <strong>to</strong> operate—is aclassic symp<strong>to</strong>m <strong>of</strong> a failed ground connection.But then, one would likely have had <strong>to</strong> experiencethat several times in the field before thelesson was learned.Decisions, Decisions…Any manufacturer must rely on informationprovided by its service associates when determiningwhether <strong>to</strong> cover a repair under warranty.Considering what was reported in thiscase as the cause <strong>of</strong> the damage <strong>to</strong> the wiring,the manufacturer denied the claim—correctly,in my opinion. They had no reason <strong>to</strong> believethey’d received incorrect information from thetechnician.The cus<strong>to</strong>mer was <strong>to</strong>ld <strong>of</strong> the decision.Now, it’s time for the cus<strong>to</strong>mer <strong>to</strong> make adecision.What are the options?Authorize the recommended repair at ourown expense.Discuss alternative repair strategies withthe technician.Halt the work, and obtain a second opinion.Ask <strong>to</strong> be contacted by a company representativefor the purpose <strong>of</strong> reversing the warrantydenial before work proceeds.Contact the manufacturer’s Cus<strong>to</strong>merAssistance folks before work proceeds <strong>to</strong> discussthe matter.Allow work <strong>to</strong> proceed, knowing the claimhas been denied, based on assurances fromwithin the dealership that “we’ll go <strong>to</strong> bat foryou with the manufacturer <strong>to</strong> get this covered.”Depending on the cost <strong>of</strong> the “recommendedrepair” and the nature <strong>of</strong> the actualproblem, the first and last options above couldbe very unfortunate choices. One needs <strong>to</strong> doa reasonableness check, perhaps by obtainingalternate opinions.In this case, the “recommended repair” fordamage <strong>to</strong> two small wiring terminals was <strong>to</strong>replace the vehicle’s complete wiring harness,including the fuse box with all fuses and therelay box, including all 20 relays—that’s theway the harness is supplied. They evenreplaced the battery cables and the turn signalcancel control! How those could have beenassociated with the damage escapes me.Nevertheless, manufacturers <strong>of</strong>ten replaceentire wiring assemblies during a coveredrepair rather than trust technicians’ abilities <strong>to</strong>properly solder, splice, or perform other electricalrepair tasks.This limits the chance that afailed repair could result in electrical failure oreven a vehicle fire that would expose the company<strong>to</strong> litigation and possibly injure the cus<strong>to</strong>mer.This is another cost <strong>of</strong> ignorance. A$1200 wiring harness substituted for $15Repairedsection isspliced <strong>to</strong>original wire,bypassingdamaged slotsin originalcoupler.5 6From headlights <strong>to</strong> taillights, and everythingin between. This is themaze <strong>of</strong> wiring thatwas replaced ratherthan performing therepair shown in thepreceding pho<strong>to</strong>s.48 <strong>Wing</strong> <strong>World</strong>
Mark Your Calendars2009 APPRECIATION DAYSMay 15-17, 2009Win a 2009 Gl1800Check Out the 2009 Gold <strong>Wing</strong> on our web sitewww.niehauscycle.comSPECIAL SALESAVE AN EXTRA 10%ON ORDERS OVER $300**Offer excludes Gerbing &Olympia productsGOLD WING APPARELLadies Luxor JacketPink/Black, Gold/Black,Gold/WhiteSale $179.99*TOUR COM SALE!KBC Tour Com w/J&M 279 Headset.Colors: Yellow, Black, White, Black Cherry & Silver.Reg. $319.95 SALE $271.95(Lower cord sold separately)Skyline Jacket Waterpro<strong>of</strong> Liner.Men’s & Women’s Sizing. Red/Black,Titanium/Black, Yellow/Black,and Blue/BlackSale $179.95*Blue Ridge JacketMen’s Size SM-5X. Black,Titanium/Black,Red/Black,Blue/BlackSale $125.99*All Weather Multi SeasonBushwacker Jacketby Olympia Mo<strong>to</strong> SportsWaterpro<strong>of</strong> insulated liner jacket.Colors: Black, Silver or Neon Yellow.Sale $249.99Heat up the cold ride withGerbing’s heated clothing.Jacket Liners $199.00Union Ridge Pants $229.00Super Tour JacketMen’s & Women’s Sizing. Red/Black,Titanium/Black, Yellow/Black &Blue/Black. Zip Off <strong>to</strong> Mesh acrosschest, Waterpro<strong>of</strong> Liner.Sale $242.99** 2X & 3X - add $15.00* 4X & 5X - add $20.00Millennium Textile Jacketby Parker SynergiesMen’sBackFront Fender Accents#7321 Fender Tip - $26.95#7320 Shark <strong>to</strong>oth - $44.95#7303 LED Accent - $71.95Infinity LightsGL1800 Tour Box#4622 Sale $269.99Front Garnish Grill - GL1800#7327 Unlighted - $53.99#7328 Lighted - $107.99Trunk Lid Organizer Bag#4135 $44.95Battery Cover Accent#3913 Sale $89.99Tricep<strong>to</strong>r Fender Accent#7340 Fender Tip - $35.95Shark Gills#7314 $71.99Nylon outer shell,removable insulatedzip in liner.Available in Black,Gray/Black or Wine/Black.Men’s Sizes Sm-3X (4X Black only).Women’s Sizes Sm-2X (3X Black only)Sale $125.99Women’sGold <strong>Wing</strong> Millennium Mesh Jacketby Parker SynergiesFront Fender Accent#52-737 2001-2005Sale $53.95Amber Opera Light Set#52-728 2001-2005#52-753 2006-2009Sale $89.95Speaker Trim 2006-2008#52-789 Front - Sale $38.95#52-790 Rear - Sale $38.95Lens Grills for GL1800#52-774 — 2006-2008 Trunk - Sale $44.95#52-775 — 2006-2008 Saddlebag - Sale $44.95#52-744 — 2001-2005 Trunk - Sale $44.95#52-745 — 2001-2005 Saddlebag - Sale $44.95Men’s Sizes Sm-3X Colors: Black,Black/Gray, Wine/Black.Women’s Sizes Sm-2X Colors: Grey/Black,Wine/Black, Gold/BlackSale $152.95Chrome Scuff Plates#52-761 - Sale $68.95We are not responsible for errors or omissions during the printing process.Take a ride along his<strong>to</strong>ric Route 66 and s<strong>to</strong>p in and see us. We’re an hour north <strong>of</strong> St. Louis. (I-55 North)1-800-373-6565 • www.niehauscycle.comOld Route 66 • Litchfield, Illinois 62056 • INTERNATIONAL 217-324-6565 • FAX 217-324-6563 • info@niehauscycle.com
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