diagnostic scan tool

Does anyone know of an affordable diagnostic scan tool that is available to the consumer and will work for Harley-Davidson?

Affordable? Not like you can get at checkers etc for $100.00 for sure. You can get the codes using the speedo though. There are professional grade tools that run about 1k.

Diagnostic tool

Does your HD shop charge every time you need to get an error message checked? I have not had to deal with that with my FXST yet, but when my wife's Jeep showed the little yellow engine sign, the shop charged $55.00 for the scan (which took 10 minutes) to indicate a pinhole leak in a vacuum line ($12 to fix). They told her every time it comes on, they will charge her that much to read it, whether or not they service the problem. They also told her if the light comes on and she ignores it, she can void the warranty. This sounds like a ripoff to me. Thoughts?

I think Autozone will do that for free for an autombile.

It is under warranty and they charge to diagnose codes? Charging to repair a problem under warranty?

Yes, that is exactly correct. The dealership where we bought the car new charges a fee for the scan. I don't know if Harley shops do this and I certainly don't mean to imply that they are. I was inquiring as to what their practice is.

I wasn't refering to an H-D dealer I was refering to your post saying that the dealer charges to perform warranty work. I find that baffling to say the least. First, WTF good does it do have a warranty if you have to pay to have it diagnosed and repaired? Secondly, if it happens to be the EPA mandated portion of the warranty there are federal mandates covering those to several degrees.

I must not be understanding how a vehicle that has a mechanical failure i.e. a faulty vacuum hose that was not caused by the owner and is under warranty and it cost you $$$??

And yet that is exactly what happened. It is a Pennsylvania dealership. And yes, it is under warranty and yes, I am contesting the charge. It doesn't make any sense to me either. The part I find infuriating is they are telling me whenever the little light goes on, I have to pay that fee for them to scan it, and if I don't I can somehow void the mechanical warranty. I don't have a problem paying an honest working man for his labor, be it bike or car. I just don't like being set up for what I see as a hosing. If and when I get a resolution I wil pass it on.

Yup

I do believe that Harley Davidson has a hot line for unethical/corrupt/unprincipled/dishonest/immoral dealers.

I have the same problem with my truck, light comes on and they charge me $50 to have it checked.. Said it was a hose they had to replace, which who knows if thats even true seeing the truck was running fine and never noticed any difference.. And to boot now the light is on again, and everything seems to run fine, I think its a hosing myself..