Stove Pipe
New member
Great information to store in the old data bank. Just if we can remember when it happens?? Thanks Guys!
Happened to me a few times too .... always when it was on it's side stand and on an incline, probably more than normal. (Seems to be a VERY sensitive sensor. but then again the HFT is QUITE expensive to replace!) The few times that it came on, it took it's sweet time to go out but I ALWAYS checked the oil level, just for my piece of mind. (2009 DN-01)So, now it seems my turn to deal with this annoying oil warning red light issue.
The red oil warning light did lit up twice in last two weeks.
The oil light thing happened after bike was parked on side stand, the front end a bit upper than horizontal, not much but worth to mention, in both cases. Checking the oil level right on site it was found correct, oil was visually nicely clean. No signs of oil leak at all. Both oil filters used are Honda OEM. Oil used is Motul 7100 with 10W-30 viscosity, 5000 km driven. Engine was sitting for 10...15 minutes in both cases, say warm but not fully warmed up. The letters OIL on dash instead of clock did not come visible never.
Bike has 20000 km on odo. The oil warning light did not go off without the special resetting procedure done described in Service Manual, see below.
After resetting the light it did not come on again, so it looked safe to ride further.
The red light did LIGHT up, not BLINKING. But it may be so as the bike is EU model, it may have some differences in ECM/TCM softwares causing the light be lit all time, not blink, until resetted? The Service Manual I have quoted below is for US model, not for EU.
I was looking in service manual about what sensors there are used and after some thinking it seems logical for me the reason probably is the oil level sensor. This sensor is a floating type sensor and according to Service Manual it has contact points. Seems pretty possible for me those points may not working very well in age of 13 years? And the sensor is installed on bike's engine front right side corner so the float may give some faulty readings while bike is inclined to left and front up.
And after all Honda provides now an upgraded model of the floating sensor with part number 35480MEH003 (old part number is 35480MEH000).
This sensor is used only on DN-01, not on any other bike, so there seem some reason to make some changes to the sensor, et least there are quite a lot of complains about the oil warning light issue. My bike is from 2008, probably it has the first type of oil level sensor and it is time to change it anyway.
In Service manual there is a procedure described how to inspect and change the oil level sensor. It is a floating type of switch, it may be possible for it to stuck the float into unwanted position causing therefore a fault alarm:
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Seems pretty easy first to change the sensor rather than pay some hours of labour for dealership for troubleshooting and after that for changing the sensor anyway.
And on my bike the red oil warning light did not go out by itself. I followed the procedure described in Service Manual (didn't find this info in User Manual!):
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After resetting the oil light first time I had driven for about 500 km and after second time about 200 km's. No mechanical troubles so far and it keeps oil level.
Sure thing to stop at once and check the oil level first right after red oil light comes on. I got both oil lights right at the takeoff after engine starting, not at the onroad high speed driving. Easy to pull over and check the oil level, but still extremely annoying situations, never expected such from Honda.Happened to me a few times too .... always when it was on it's side stand and on an incline, probably more than normal. (Seems to be a VERY sensitive sensor. but then again the HFT is QUITE expensive to replace!) The few times that it came on, it took it's sweet time to go out but I ALWAYS checked the oil level, just for my piece of mind. (2009 DN-01)
The issue about kickstand I think is simple: you will keep the bike upright when the kickstand is up. And then the oil level sensor will get information right, there is enough oil.Thanks to all who replied, I just bought mine a month ago with 5100 miles and rode it from Portland to San Diego and today my oil light started flashing after i started it and didnt go out. I did start it with the kickstand up but ive been starting it with the kickstand down now i know better. Are there any other owners in San Diego? Im letting my dino sit over night and will see what it does in the morning.
Is the bike still running? I mean does it allow to switch to D or S and ride?Thank you for Responding! I have taken your advice and my blinking oil light has not returned!
I have another question. When I turned the engine off with the kill switch the far right of the instrument panel had a blinking horizontal bash symbol. Is this normal or does it indicate some issue with the Dino. It doesn't blink with any kind of pattern or order, just blinks. Thanks and stay safe.
Doug
Thanks for the info KnobIs the bike still running? I mean does it allow to switch to D or S and ride?
The blinking "-" means there is some issue related to the transmission. You may try to count the blinks, usually it displays error codes by the number of blinks. The more precise procedure of counting blinks for getting error codes is described in service manual (you can get the pdf file of service manual for free nowadays).
When the "-" blink steady and continuosly (about 1 blink per second), then it probably just needs re-calibrating the swash plate angle sensor. The procedure is described in service manual and I put the related information also below here. Just follow the procedure when you see the blinking "-" on the right side of the instrument panel.
Please note you need some piece of wire to short temporarely the Brown - Green/Yellow wires in the red DLC testing connector located left under the seat (or use Honda tool 070PZ-ZY30100 if you have access to it. The simple piece of wire will do the same).
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If the re-calibrating will not solve the blinking issue, I suggest to visit some known good Honda repairshop to get more error infomation from bike's ECM/TCM. They must have more developed Honda testing tools and they can get more accurate data about what's going on.
BTW I did put these image files into my smartphone (together with the service manual pdf file) so I have always access to information needed if there some error strikes while riding. It saved me in a case of red oil warning light coming up and also once after getting the same blinking "-" on dash.
And specifically I will remind: DO NOT DO ECM RESET BY USING THE HEALTECH (aftermarket) HONDA TESTING TOOL! It will reset also all the DN's transmission (TCM) calibrations and will lead you in troubles! Calibrating the TCM will be mandatory after running the Healtec tool resetting procedure, bike will not switch to D or S then before re-calibrating is done.
Healtec does not say a single word about this issue in their user manual and also their helpdesk probably do not know about it.
Thanks for the info!Regarding switching off the engine using the kill switch - apparently, the correct thing to do is to turn off the engine using the ignition key - the kill switch is only for emergencies!
AH YEAH! Why use the kill switch to turn off the bike is BEYOND ME! The KEY IS the KEY!! (I totally agree with BobF!)Regarding switching off the engine using the kill switch - apparently, the correct thing to do is to turn off the engine using the ignition key - the kill switch is only for emergencies!
Basically I agree. I also shut down the engine always by the key only.Regarding switching off the engine using the kill switch - apparently, the correct thing to do is to turn off the engine using the ignition key - the kill switch is only for emergencies!
And how many times have I heard or found out someone's bike won't start because the kill switch is turned on? I sure would hate it if someone took their bike to the dealership/repair place only to find out the 'kill switch' was engaged. As we get older, we tend to forget things or get complacent (an old habit) and don't realize what we did. The Dino being 'unique' I tend not to cause additional 'grief' by finding out what happens, (displayed) IF I chose to turn my bike off via the Kill switch or by using the Kill switch, unnecessarily, caused a problem within the switch. I wonder IF water intrusion was your original problem with the Kill switch on the Goldwing, Knob!Basically I agree. I also shut down the engine always by the key only.
But out there is an oppinion encourageing to use the kill switch: they say using kill switch will work out the muscle memory to find it blindly and use automatically in real emergency situation. And I must agree with it. Not using the kill switch on regular basis - and you will not find it in emergency case...
Second thing: all electrical switches not used regularly tend to get oxidized the contact points. And one day you may find yourself wondering why the starting motor on your Honda will not work? I had such experience with my Goldwing. Honda is mayde so the starter motor relay gets elelctrical power thru the kill switch. So keep it clean by working out on it once in a while.