V85TT Alarm Service explained

[Nedmac briskov]

The “alarm service” icon that pops up on the v85tt can be due to a myriad of issues like, low oil level, overheating, and spark failure. But it could also simply be due to an apparent program within the computer of the bike that monitors engine performance in order to determine engine oil quality, and notify you to do your next service early. I would assume it could be triggered simply by running an aftermarket exhaust, or any other mods that may affect engine behavior.

I know others have had this Icon appear, but I could t find any info on why it would appear when the bike seems to run fine. And many others agreed that the manuals were devoid of any help. Even dealers could clear the code temporarily, but not provide answers to why it happened. But I found some “fine” print that pretty much explains it. Pictured.

I had this light appear on my bike intermittently for an extended period of time, but I never had any issues with how the bike ran. I recently put the stock exhaust back on, and replaced the air filter, as well as the spark plugs, and I haven’t seen the code in the last 8000miles.

Hope this helps!

 

[john zibell]

Great information. Thanks for posting this.

 

[Bob Bourget]

I noticed that it's in the "off-road" mode.....wondering if the indicated 75mph speed in that mode would cause the "alarm"?

 

[JET_V85TT]

I had this light appear on my bike intermittently for an extended period of time, but I never had any issues with how the bike ran.

Nedmac,

My 2020 V85TT (E4) has just started the intermittent 'Alarm Service' behavior two days ago. As in your case, the bike seems to be otherwise running fine.

The day it started was the first ride the day after mounting a new rear tire (Dunlop TrailMax Mission). I couldn't think of anything electrical that would be associated with that, other than the rear ABS sensor. So while thinking about it today, grasping at straws, I unbolted that sensor from the caliper, cleaned it, and reinstalled it. Started the bike and the alert was gone. Took it for a ride, and the alert came back after about only 4 miles.

Tank was nearing empty, so I continued on to my usual gas station about 25 miles away, and filled it up. On restart, the alert was gone again, and this time stayed gone all the way back home.

Finding this thread, I notice that in your photo from last year that your bike was at just a little over 30,800 miles. When the alert first appeared on mine, I had just turned over about 30,150 miles. Also like yours, the little yellow wrench icon has been lit on mine since I acquired the bike in May. (I've been riding over 45 years and, like no doubt many Guzzi owners, do my own routine maintenance. So I'm glad the little icon at least isn't too obtrusive.) But it makes me wonder if it could it be that if the yellow wrench is lit when the bike turns over certain odometer readings—like 30,000 miles—it triggers the 'Alarm Service' warning for a while to sort of 'escalate' the Dealer service matter?

Mine had the Mistral decat exhaust when I bought it (and frankly love that, since it clears access to the oil drain). The common evap mod had also been done, and it already had the UpMap gizmo. I had done engine and drive oil changes, checked valves, and replaced spark plugs shortly after buying it, as is my practice whenever buying a previously-owned bike.

In July, it had started the 'wants to stall' behavior when, after a decent length ride, it was turned off and re-started before a cool-down period (like a normal gas stop). Suspecting the crank position sensor, I removed it, looked at its cable routing, cleaned it, reinstalled it, put its connetor back in a little tidier in the left side frame bundle. That was several weeks ago, and the stalling issue has not recurred since. Its running the best it has since I got it.

This is my first Guzzi, though I've wanted one for decades. I love the bike and very much want it to be a keeper. But all this uncertain problematic electronic stuff on a bike brand that is otherwise long renowned for quality, reliability, and no-nonsense simplicity is already beginning to make me wonder.

JET

 

[JET_V85TT]

I'm now within short reach of 34,000 miles on the bike (about 3500 since my last post here) and it's still running beautifully. Since then I've only seen the garish Alarm Service warning just flicker once for a fraction of a second when starting the bike.

Feeling pretty confident about the bike now and am really enjoying it. But I gotta say; just in general motorcycling terms:

Having retired in May, I'm now an official 'older guy'. Contrary to popular misconception, that doesn't make me a Luddite. As a career commercial and technical illustrator, I was among the earliest adopters and advocates of the 'digital revolution' upheaval in the 80s prepress graphics industry, and was doing database development in my last position before retiring.

But the promise of digital was to simplify life, not complicate it. (Think original Macintosh concept). The current excess of 'just because we can' Flash Gordon nagging nanny clusters in motorcycling in general is a real turn off; and is especially counter to the much hallowed character of bikes like Moto Guzzi.

Sure, I love throttle by wire, cruise control, self-cancelling turn signals—and don't care one whit if I never see another carburetor or breaker points distributor. But in any technology there's a 'breaking point' between elegant implementation of genuine valued advancement and gratuitous visual and functional clutter.

We live in the information age, in which most information is no information. Motorcycling is supposed to be a relief from that. Of all brands, Moto Guzzi is supposed to understand that.

My W800's instrumentation is functionally digital, too. But it's not disruptive to the simplicity and purity of the motorcycling experience or offensive and intrusive to the rider's view. It doesn't clash with the character of the bike or the experienced buyer who isn't afraid to adjust his own valves. There's still plenty of us out here in good shape with plenty of time to ride.

The thinly disguised marketing (and customer gouging) 'technology' on my fourth KTM (2019 790 Adventure) is why I became disgusted and done with that brand. I still have one street-legal KTM: A 2018 EXC500. It's instrumentation is a thin horizontal backlit LCD with a single-line readout and 2 buttons.

JET

 

[JET_V85TT]

Since my last post:
In early January I installed the GTM SAS kit. That completely eliminated the minor remaining deceleration popping and seems to have made the bike feel a bit more responsive. It's been running the best it ever has since my acquiring it.

Well, now five and a half months since the last occurrence—with the bike still running flawlessly—the infernal, garish "Alert Service" warning is back. As stated in my 08/24 post:

The day it started was the first ride the day after mounting a new rear tire (Dunlop TrailMax Mission).

This time—I kid you not—it re-appeared on the first ride after having mounted a new front tire. Can that really be mere coincidence?

Again, I checked, removed, and cleaned the ABS sensor. But this time, the alarm persists weeks later (roughly ~500 miles or so on nice weather days). On yesterday's ride, the yellow engine icon also appeared. No change in the bike's performance. Still running flawlessly.

Frustration level pretty high with this electronic nanny crap.

JET

 

[Vagrant]

Did you do the recalibration after changing the tires. If not, do it. The cruise control on the v85 makes it simple.

 

[JET_V85TT]

Did you do the recalibration after changing the tires. If not, do it. The cruise control on the v85 makes it simple.

Thanks for the reply, Vagrant. I found the 're-calibration' thing in a downloaded copy of the Owner's Manual (I did not buy my V85 new; it was a trade-in at my local go-to dealer in Macon, GA). So first thing yesterday, I set out to do it. But low-and-behold, when I started the bike to take it to the nearest no-traffic straight road, the 'Alert Service' had disappeared by itself. I went ahead and performed the procedure anyway, just for familiarity.

The engine icon (what the Owner's Manual calls the "MI Indicator" still persists. So still need to figure out what that's about. Again, the bike is running fine and I did routine service not long ago.

JET

 

[JET_V85TT]

The engine icon is still on, and the bike is still running perfectly. I bought a cheap code reader, which tells me the only error code has to do with the SAS system. The reader device lets me delete that error and says that the delete was successful. But immediately upon starting the bike, it comes back. I tried that several times.

Thing is, as mentioned above, the bike has been running the best it ever has since installing the Guzzitech SAS kit, and I rode the bike several hundred miles after the installation before the engine icon appearing. I removed the gas tank to check the kit elements. Everything seems in order. The harness dongle is still there, firmly connected, and secured to the harness with a zip tie. The rubber plug is still on the air filter box. The exhaust chamber plates are secure.

I have no idea what else to check. I'm still riding with that stupid engine light on. The harness dongle is sealed with shrink tubing, so I don't know what it actually consists of (A jumper wire between the connector slots? A diode or something?)

JET

 

[Vagrant]

So you don't waste time contact Todd directly.