I thought of posting this with the title: "Not another 8-flash MIL Throttle Position Sensor thread." But I still think my experience may be useful.
The connector plug for the TPS can be reached via the right side mid-cowl (the black cowl with the vents in front.) You don't need to remove much plastic, lift the tank, or take off the air cleaner. Actually the Honda shopmanual also indicates this is possible. Its pretty easy but you'll need an inspection mirror and a flashlight. (This only gets you to the connector at the TSP; not to the TSP itself which is mounted in the throttle body assembly with tamper-resistant screws.)
I took the seat off, removed the right mid-cowl (one screw and tabs), and took off the snap-on plastic piece above the brake pedal and below the seat. I also took off the plastic cover over the tip-over protector (one allen screw and tabs.) It was helpful to remove some of the fastenings on the rear part of the right lower cowl (the body colored cowl), so the back end can swing away from the bike slightly. At this point you may be able to see the blue TSP plug hidden behind the box-section frame with an inspection mirror. Its kind of aft of the spark plug cap. I removed the two bolts holding the expansion tank and let it hang on its hoses out of the mid cowl opening. I also unbolted the tip-over bar from the frame. I gently let the tip-over bar drop down inside the lower cowl; you don't need to take it out altogether.
With these steps done, again using the inspection mirror and a flashlight, you can see the blue plastic TSP connector behind the frame. Notice the blue release tab on the edge of the connector. Its a tight fit, but you should be able to push in on the blue release tab, while gently pulling down and back on the male plug. The three prong plug should come off without a fight.
Why did I do this? Over past year and a half, after changing battery, spark plug caps, and voltage regulator, I still have an occasional eight flash MIL problem, very rarely accompanied by hiccups/stumbling on the highway. Happens infrequently and its never actually stopped me. All the fixes I have tried seemed to help for a while, but then the problem would return. My symptoms are exactly like those described by Rmcapozzi, including in his video, though perhaps not as frequently.
Taking off the TSP plug and hitting it with a bit of WD-40 is one of my last efforts before buying the throttle body assembly (best price currently about $580.)
After refitting the connector the bike is running fine, but I will not claim victory until I have at least 6 months without an MIL. Even if I get another MIL, now that I know how to do it, I may try the connector again, this time with a bit of dielectic grease. Now that I know how to do it, its about a 25 minute job.
The connector plug for the TPS can be reached via the right side mid-cowl (the black cowl with the vents in front.) You don't need to remove much plastic, lift the tank, or take off the air cleaner. Actually the Honda shopmanual also indicates this is possible. Its pretty easy but you'll need an inspection mirror and a flashlight. (This only gets you to the connector at the TSP; not to the TSP itself which is mounted in the throttle body assembly with tamper-resistant screws.)
I took the seat off, removed the right mid-cowl (one screw and tabs), and took off the snap-on plastic piece above the brake pedal and below the seat. I also took off the plastic cover over the tip-over protector (one allen screw and tabs.) It was helpful to remove some of the fastenings on the rear part of the right lower cowl (the body colored cowl), so the back end can swing away from the bike slightly. At this point you may be able to see the blue TSP plug hidden behind the box-section frame with an inspection mirror. Its kind of aft of the spark plug cap. I removed the two bolts holding the expansion tank and let it hang on its hoses out of the mid cowl opening. I also unbolted the tip-over bar from the frame. I gently let the tip-over bar drop down inside the lower cowl; you don't need to take it out altogether.
With these steps done, again using the inspection mirror and a flashlight, you can see the blue plastic TSP connector behind the frame. Notice the blue release tab on the edge of the connector. Its a tight fit, but you should be able to push in on the blue release tab, while gently pulling down and back on the male plug. The three prong plug should come off without a fight.
Why did I do this? Over past year and a half, after changing battery, spark plug caps, and voltage regulator, I still have an occasional eight flash MIL problem, very rarely accompanied by hiccups/stumbling on the highway. Happens infrequently and its never actually stopped me. All the fixes I have tried seemed to help for a while, but then the problem would return. My symptoms are exactly like those described by Rmcapozzi, including in his video, though perhaps not as frequently.
Taking off the TSP plug and hitting it with a bit of WD-40 is one of my last efforts before buying the throttle body assembly (best price currently about $580.)
After refitting the connector the bike is running fine, but I will not claim victory until I have at least 6 months without an MIL. Even if I get another MIL, now that I know how to do it, I may try the connector again, this time with a bit of dielectic grease. Now that I know how to do it, its about a 25 minute job.
