Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 new firmware update triggers engine check light (2024)

The over-the-air firmware update for the Royal Enfield tripper dash is not a seamless process.

The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is the brand’s most advanced motorcycle, currently the only one in the portfolio with a liquid-cooled motor and a comprehensive digital instrument console with several functions, including navigation, music, phone calls, riding modes and several read-outs. One key feature is updating the software or firmware through over-the-air (OTA) updates when connected to the Royal Enfield app on a compatible phone.

Recently, Royal Enfield released a firmware update for the Himalayan 450, as a DIY (do-it-yourself) process. As a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 owner, I got a notification from the company along with a tutorial video on how to update the firmware on the Himalayan 450. So far, so good. Having owned a few other Royal Enfield bikes earlier and being used to getting my hands greasy doing things the old-school way with spanners and screwdrivers, I never imagined I would be now just standing next to the bike while my phone and the bike communicated with each other. So, did the update go smoothly? No.

Also read: Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 review: A new mountain G.O.A.T

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The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 comes with what the company calls a “Tripper Dash”, which is an evolution of the tripper display available with the Meteor and Himalayan 411. The Tripper Dash shows you everything and more on the console – speed, rpm, fuel gauge, outside temperature, time, odometer, trip meters, average fuel consumption, distance to empty, battery voltage, engine temperature, and service due reminders. It also displays riding modes (Eco, Performance) along with ABS on/off settings, music, navigation, messages and phone calls. The display itself can be either analogue or digital as per the rider’s choice. It connects with the rider’s phone via Wifi.

The Himalayan 450 firmware update

Over the weekend, I downloaded the update following the instructions in the tutorial video. It’s fairly simple. One needs to go to the three-dot menu next to the connected bike code on the app, and click on firmware update (See video).

Once downloaded, start the bike and connect the phone to the Tripper Dash via Wifi. The update takes about 10 minutes to complete, during which stay close to the bike and don’t switch off the bike or close the app. I did as instructed and got the “firmware updated” message on the console and the phone. Interestingly, there is no communication from Royal Enfield about what the firmware update is supposed to fix, but any update is supposed to make the overall experience better.

The console went blank for about 30 seconds (as it was rebooting) and then came back on with the tell-tale needle sweep. That’s when I noticed the engine check light remained on, even with the bike running. I switched off the Himalayan and restarted it. The light was still there. I went for a 30-km ride – no change in riding behaviour thankfully, but the light remained. That’s when I went online to see that across multiple forums and Whatsapp rider groups, several Himalayan 450 owners have had this issue with the latest firmware update (May 2024).

The possible solution

Some owners have reported that after riding the bike for more than 50 km the engine-check light had turned off. A few others said that the issue went away by itself after 24 hours of not using the bike. A few others said that by turning the ignition on and off a few times, the engine-check light reset itself. The most plausible solution? Visit the Royal Enfield service station and let the technicians plug in the OBD diagnostics tool and reset the light. While this is the solution, why did Royal Enfield not test the downloadable update thoroughly before releasing it to customers? Could this not have just been a quick job at the service centre instead? While I admire the company’s zeal for DIY given that many RE customers love working on their bikes themselves, this one could have been a lot better.

(Story to be updated after a permanent solution is found)

Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 new firmware update triggers engine check light (2024)

FAQs

Why did the RE Himalayan fail? ›

Electricals of the Himalayan is one of the areas where they have managed to cut costs. As a result, the wires are quite low rent, which leads to electrical issues. Another major issue is the infamous crankpin failure, which led to a complete breakdown of the motorcycle.

Why not buy Himalayan? ›

I had two issues with BS6 Himalayan, which I was completely aware of even before buying it. 1. It lacks top end. While I do not expect myself to ride really fast, my expectation was to cruise between 90 to 100.

How do you force clear the check engine light? ›

Simply place your key into the ignition and turn it on for 1-2 seconds, then turn it off for 1-2 seconds. Repeat this step three or four times. If the check engine light remains after the reset, you might still have a problem with your vehicle.

How do you reset the engine light on a Royal Enfield? ›

Cycle the key and start it 4 or 5 times. Light clears itself.

What is the major problem in a Himalayan bike? ›

Yes there are numerous issues with Himalayan. 1st was rusting in just 2 months old bike. Rust was seen on nuts and screws as well as rims. Bike was recalled by RE and Clutch, handle bearing seals, and fuel pipes were changed.

What is the life expectancy of the Royal Enfield Himalayan? ›

no problem with engine will arise for 150000km if u change oil according to manual.

What is the engine life of Royal Enfield? ›

It all depends on how you keep your vehicle, well maintained one will come 10 years of riding. Mine almost 30k kms, haven't found any issues yet. but if you see older bullets its almost evident that it wont breakdown like other bikes. I do believe with maintenance you can push it up to 10 years without any issues.

Is Himalayan 450 value for money? ›

Overall, the Royal Enfield Himalayan offers an excellent balance of affordability, versatility, and adventure capability, making it a popular choice among adventure enthusiasts. However, it's essential to consider these pros and cons and test ride the bike to see if it meets your specific riding needs and preferences.

What is the top speed of the Himalayan 450? ›

Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 FAQs

Himalayan 450 has a top speed of 122 kmph. What is the fuel efficiency of the himalayan 450? The fuel efficiency of the himalayan450 is around 39.96 kmpl.

What is the disadvantage of Royal Enfield Himalayan? ›

What we didn't like. Tiny mirrors: Small mirrors are something we have experienced on other Royal Enfields as well. RE rearview mirrors don't have a wide enough field of vision, which restricts rear visibility. As a result, there is some guesswork involved in using them.

How long is the oil change on a Himalayan? ›

RE recommended oil change interval is 10000 kms.

How do I Reset my Himalayan service light? ›

So, to turn the service (spanner) icon off… 2) While holding in the SELECT Button, turn on the ignition, after approximately another 5 seconds the Spanner Icon will go out…..you have reset the service reminder… Your instructions are correct.

How do I clear my service engine soon? ›

Remove your gas cap and reinstall it.

Continue to tighten it until you hear the cap click repeatedly, which indicates it's secure. If the gas cap was to blame, the service engine light should turn off. You may need to remove the negative battery terminal and reconnect it to reset the dash lights.

How do you reset the check engine light on a Mazda? ›

Resetting Your Light

Park in a well-ventilated area and turn off the ignition. Look for the negative battery terminal with a black cap and a negative (-) symbol. Loosen the negative terminal bolt and pull the negative cable from the battery. Hold the cable away from the battery for between 30 to 60 seconds.

Can you reset engine warning light? ›

How Do I Reset My Check Engine Light? Your car's check engine light will not reset itself. You need to take it to a garage so that a mechanic can diagnose and fix the fault for you. Once the issue is resolved, the EML should turn off automatically.

How do you reset the check engine light reader? ›

Use OBD Scanner
  1. Plug the OBD reader in the port underneath the steering column.
  2. Turn the key on in your vehicle to turn on the dash lights.
  3. Once the dash lights come on, turn off the radio and other electronic parts.
  4. Press “read” on the OBD scanner and it will show and error code.
  5. Press ERASE or CLEAR.

References

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