Electronic

Control Module
Electronic Control Module
Connecting/ECM Inspection
o Fault codes
o Test modes
o Reading Sensors
o Throttle Body Balance
TuneECU
Tasks Only in Triumph Software

General Comments
People I know have often told me that you cant work
on modern motorcycles and cars because they are all
electronic and you need special expensive software to
connect to them. Only for some vehicles this is true
whereby connecting to non-authorized software will
corrupt the Electronic Control Module (ECM).
Thankfully the Thunderbird does not fall into this
category and any vehicle that does lock you out from
legitimate software should not be purchased in my
opinion. Through my research and experience I have
learnt that connecting to the Electronic Control
Module (ECM) is not rocket science nor does it
require magic. This guide will not make you an autoelectrician but will cover the basics of engaging with
your ECM (or ECU) for maintenance purposes on this
model motorbike.
The Triumph Diagnostic software is the
required tool for the job and costs between 600-800.
Even if you can afford the genuine software you need
to be a Triumph Dealer to get software updates and
any assistance with using it. Thankfully you can do all
the usual maintenance tasks without this software.
Between the use of Dealer Tool (60) and Tune ECU
(Free) software you can, to my knowledge, do all the
required maintenance and minor modification needed
for your motorbike. There are only a few tasks you
cant do without the Triumph software and they are
listed below. But you are almost never going to need
to do these tasks. One day I might get the Triumph
software and see the difference, but for now it just
isnt needed.

Connecting/ECM Inspection
What you need before hand
DealerTool software and cable
Laptop/Windows computer
Steps
1. Follow the instructions provided by DealerTool
for installing the software on your computer. It
isnt rocket science but the instructions do need to

be followed exactly. If you have any problems

contact support@dealertool.co.uk. I have found
that they are helpful and if you look on the
Internet forums you will find other people have
found them helpful too.
2. Before connecting, check that your battery is in
working order with a full charge and you have a
full charge on your laptop (or plug it in to the
mains). You dont want either failing while doing
any procedures.
3. Remove the side panel on the left side of the bike.
It will pop off. The On-Board Diagnostic (OBDII) connector is nestled there.
4. Double check that you have disconnected the
windows Internet Connection, Wi-Fi/hard wired.
If you dont, windows will try and install a
different driver when you plug in the cable, very
annoying but an easy fix if you forget, just follow
the install instructions again.
5. Connect the dealer tool cable to the OBD-II
connector and the USB port on the computer.

6. Once attached, open the software if not already

open. Turn the ignition on but dont start the bike.
Click ECU Data and then click Read ECU
Data. At this point you want to take note of the
ECU tune Number. Unless you have a custom
tune, the tune number should read as per the table
below (Japan and Brazil are different and not
included in this table). Aftermarket exhaust
includes the TOR (Triumph Off Road) short and
long pipes. The secondary air injection is a T
shaped pipe going into the top of the engine and
was in older models (before 2012).


Engine
1600
1600
1600
1600
1700
1700
1700
1700

Secondary Air Injection

With
With
Without
Without
With
With
Without
Without

Exhaust
Original
Aftermarket
Original
Aftermarket
Original
Aftermarket
Original
Aftermarket

Tune Number
20303
20306
20356
20359
20307
20310
20360
20363

7. Now that the ECU has been read the other menus will
become accessible. If your engine light fault light has been
on the first thing to check is the fault codes. Click Check
Faults. For a list of fault codes, what they mean and for what
to do about them consult the Triumph Service Manual. If
there are fault codes, rectify the problem and then press
Clear Fault codes, which will turn off the engine light.
Engine Fault (Malfunction Indication) Light

ECM 3

8. The next step is to test the various components. Click on Test modes and then click on the motor you
would like to test, for example the fuel pump, then press run test. You will hear a noise associated with the
motor you are using. If you hear nothing and/or nothing happens you may want to get your bike checked by
a mechanic. However, more than likely if something isnt working on the bike a fault code will have
already come up, so these test arent entirely necessary but are a nice option. The tests including: fuel
pump, cooling fan, instrument panel (no sound just lights), purge control valve and secondary air injection
test (if fitted on older models).

9. The next step is to start the engine with everything connected and review the sensor values. Click on
Sensor Values and you will see 8 pages of different live values. Most of the values do not need checking
because if there is a problem your engine light will come on and give you a fault code. Some are worth
checking and others give you piece of mind that they are working. The software covers more sensors than
on this model of motorcycle therefore some will show no reading. Some target values, such as voltage, are
not known (or I cant find it in the service manual) so Ive left them blank until I know more.
10.

4 Thunderbird Storm

Sensor
Description
Engine Speed Revolutions of the crankshaft per minute
Target Idle
ECM reference speed for what it should be
Speed
operating at
Throttle
Coolant
Temperature
Idle Steps

Air
Temperature

Measure
RPM
RPM

Throttle position, does not need to be 0% for

closed and 100% for fully open
Temperature in the cylinder head

When cold the idle stepper motor opens until

a pre-determined idle speed is achieved then
slowly lowers. The stepper motor also
actuates a cam/lever to cause variations in
the closed throttle position
Temperature in the air box and intake hose

Number of
open/close
steps

Sensor
Injector 1
Injector 2
Injector 3 and 4
Current Gear
Road Speed

Description
Spray pattern of fuel
Spray pattern of fuel
Not used
Displays motorcycle gear
Speed of motorcycle

Target
Should be almost same
as the actual engine
speed
0-100%

Co

Co

Measure
Microseconds (usec)
Microseconds (usec)
1N2345
Kilometer per hour

Target

ECM 5

Sensor
IGN 1
IGN 2
IGN 3
IGN 4
EXBV%
2nd Throttle

Description
This measures the advance of the
ignition before the piston in each
cylinder reaches top-dead centre.
Ignition needs to just occur before the
compression stroke.
Not used
Not used

Measure
Degrees advance from
top dead centre (adv)

Sensor
MAP 1
MAP 2
Map 3
Barometric Pressure
Battery

Description
Air pressure in the manifold 1
Air pressure in the manifold 2
Not used
Air pressure in the airbox
Voltage of the battery

Measure
kPa
kPa

Baro Volts

Voltage of the barometric pressure sensor

Volts

kPa
Volts

Target

Target

12.8V or
higher