Help! Stranded in Alabama with frozen ignition.

[Cyclist922]

I checked into a hotel last night here in Daphne Alabama. I'm riding my 2014 Spyder on a tour of both coast. This is day 13 of a 27 day ride.

This morning my ignition is frozen. I can insert either of my keys but neither will turn. I tried WD40 with no luck. No sign of damage to the lock, and the cover was still in place this morning so I don't think it was tampered with.

Here are my questions:

1. Dealer recommendations in Mobile area?
2. Is there a way to manually disengage the parking brake so I can get the bike on a tow truck?
3. Any other quick remedies I could try?

Thanks
Rod

[Jim&Teresa]

I checked into a hotel last night here in Daphne Alabama. I'm riding my 2014 Spyder on a tour of both coast. This is day 13 of a 27 day ride.

This morning my ignition is frozen. I can insert either of my keys but neither will turn. I tried WD40 with no luck. No sign of damage to the lock, and the cover was still in place this morning so I don't think it was tampered with.

Here are my questions:

1. Dealer recommendations in Mobile area?
2. Is there a way to manually disengage the parking brake so I can get the bike on a tow truck?
3. Any other quick remedies I could try?

Thanks
Rod

Did you lock your steering? If so, it maybe jamming the lock mechanism....IF you did lock your steering, pull your handlebars one direction (or the other) to help the lock loosen so you can turn the key.

My thoughts - good luck and be safe!

[JayBros]

Is the Spyder completely locked, i.e., handlebars turned hard left or right. If so trying applying pressure farther into hard over position as you attempt to turn key.

[Poppy1144]

Did you lock your handlebars? I am new to the spyder, but on my gold wing this could be the cause. If so try turning the bars toward the locked position. Just a guess. Good luck. I will pray for you. Poppy1144

[Cyclist922]

Good advice. It feels like the handlebar is locked but no, they are pointed straight ahead. I've tried turning hard left and right with no luck.

[Bob Denman]

This was an issue for some of the earlier 2014 models; was yours ever replaced?

[Cyclist922]

Bob,
No. I've had it into the dealer a few times but they've never mentioned the service bulletin.

[Bob Denman]

I'll see what I can find about it for you...

[JayBros]

I checked into a hotel last night here in Daphne Alabama. I'm riding my 2014 Spyder on a tour of both coast. This is day 13 of a 27 day ride.

2. Is there a way to manually disengage the parking brake so I can get the bike on a tow truck?

The only way I know of safely trying to disengage the parking brake would be to completely back off the brake cable adjustment nut. You will need a 12 mm open end wrench. The nut is just forward of the brake cable support. Turn the nut toward the front of the Spyder as far as it will go and you should get enough slack in the cable to remove it from the support but I am not certain of this. The nut will turn hard as you start but should become easier as you create slack in the cable. Be certain the cable housing doesn't turn with the nut. Since you're going to a dealer they can readjust after solving your key problem.

[bruiser]

You can disengage the brake by pulling the pin at the rear caliper. You have a DESS failure. The security sensor does not recognize you keys. Sensor must be replaced.

[Bob Denman]

Here's a link to that thread about the TSB...
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...rvice-Bulletin

[wiredgeorge]

Isn't there someone in the Mobile area who can recommend a reputable dealer who could help this guy?

[cyclekid58]

Here's a link to that thread about the TSB...
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...rvice-Bulletin

I had that same issue, I sprayed some lock graphite into the keyhole and by jiggling the key for a bit got it to unlock and start the bike, then drove straight to the dealer where the ignition switch was replaced under the TSB, it was a known problem and my dealer replaced a number of them on the early 14's.

[Chupaca]

could you have the wrong keys..?? most commonly it is a chip communication failure but it would seem you have stuck tumblers. Releasing the cable and having the bars free will let you load her up. Do you normally lock the bars..?? Could be the bars were forced snaping the locking pin and damaging the ignition. If they were intending on rolling it away park brake would be the stopper..hopefully just a bad switch warranty work and you'll be on your way...let us know..

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

You can disengage the brake by pulling the pin at the rear caliper. You have a DESS failure. The security sensor does not recognize you keys. Sensor must be replaced.

Due to more frequent problems with the D.E.S.S. , I agree with Bruiser and think this may be the cause.........however some of the very early production Spyder Rt's had Ignition switch problems ........how old it your's ???????....................and have you ever had the " KEY " symbol flash on the instrument screen ????........................good luck.......I think the Dealer should provide the TOW on this ............Mike

[billybovine]

Due to more frequent problems with the D.E.S.S. , I agree with Bruiser and think this may be the cause.........however some of the very early production Spyder Rt's had Ignition switch problems ........how old it your's ???????....................and have you ever had the " KEY " symbol flash on the instrument screen ????........................good luck.......I think the Dealer should provide the TOW on this ............Mike

He is not going to get a key symbol on the screen when the ignition switch can't be turned on!!!!!!!

[hillrider]

Try

Hall's Motorsports
1520 W I-65 Service Road
251-666-7000

addy from spyder zumo

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

He is not going to get a key symbol on the screen when the ignition switch can't be turned on!!!!!!!

I meant in the PAST........I didn't think I had to say that to Him, I figured He would realize this !!!!!!!................Mike

[Bob Denman]

Mike,
I'm pretty sure that the TSB was dealing with a mechanical issue with the switch. the "KEY" error (I think!) would seem to be more a case of the computer and the key not speaking quite the same language...

One probably has very little, to do with the other.

[Cyclist922]

Thanks all. The truck is in the way. I'll have it towed to Halls. My key tag number is 1760. Not sure if that number was in the service bulletin. I've never had a DESS error. The bike was delivered in February of 2014 so it's relatively early in the production run.

[Bob Denman]

The list of affected keys...

gain, this is just to help out. It seems some have received incorrect info. There are a lot of key tags on the list. If you lost or discarded of your key tag and your vin is on the list you still need to have it checked. Here is a list of the key tags that are affected. 1656 1750 1800 1900 2009 2163 2200

1657 1751 1801 1901 2010 2164 2202
1658 1752 1802 1902 2011 2165 2203
1659 1754 1803 1903 2013 2166 2204
1661 1755 1805 1905 2014 2167 2205
1662 1756 1806 1906 2015 2169 2206
1663 1758 1807 1907 2017 2170 2208
1665 1759 1890 1908 2018 2171 2209
1666 1760 1891 1909 2019 2173 2211
1667 1761 1892 1910 2020 2174 2212
1668 1762 1893 1912 2021 2175 2213
1669 1764 1894 1913 2023 2176 2214
1670 1765 1896 1914 2024 2177 2215
1671 1766 1897 1915 2025 2178 2217
1673 1768 1899 1917 2027 2180 2218
1674 1769 1918 2028 2181 2220
1676 1770 1920 2029 2182 2221
1677 1771 1921 2030 2183 2222
1772 1922 2031 2184 2223
1773 1923 2032 2185 2224
1774 1924 2033 2186 2226
1775 1926 2034 2187 2227
1777 1927 2036 2189 2229
1778 1929 2037 2190 2230
1780 1930 2039 2192 2231
1781 1931 2040 2193 2232
1782 1932 2041 2194 2233
1783 1933 2042 2195 2235
1784 1934 2043 2196 2236
1785 1936 2044 2198 2237
1787 2046 2199 2239
1788 2047 2240
1789 2048 2241
1791 2050 2242
1792 2051 2243
1793 2052 2244
1794 2053 2245
1795 2054 2246
1797 2056 2248
1798 2057 2249
2059 2251
2060 2252
2061
2062
2064
2065
2066



It appears that 1760 is on the list.

[Cyclist922]

Thanks, I'll point this out to the dealer when I get there. The service manager said they have not seen this issue before.

[billybovine]

Mike,
I'm pretty sure that the TSB was dealing with a mechanical issue with the switch. the "KEY" error (I think!) would seem to be more a case of the computer and the key not speaking quite the same language...

One probably has very little, to do with the other.

That's correct Bob.

The 2014's have 2 different problems with the ignition and keys.

Problem one. Ignition switches with a certain series of key codes will get stuck and need to be replaced. The code is on the rubber tag that came with the keys.

Problem two. The spyder is unable to communicate with the transponder key. The DESS unit needs to be replaced.

They are two unrelated and separate problems with two different solutions. Over time they have been mixed up and confused. The result is people like the OP get lousy and confusing advice.

[Bob Denman]

Billy,
When you explain something: it always sounds so much better, than when I try to explain something...

[JayBros]

You can disengage the brake by pulling the pin at the rear caliper. You have a DESS failure. The security sensor does not recognize you keys. Sensor must be replaced.

What pin are you speaking of? There is no pin on my '14 Brembo brake. The cable is connected to the brake tensioner arm by an oblong loop that is swaged to the cable. The tension on the loop must be released by loosening the tension nut before it can be lifted off the tensioner arm. At least that's the way my brake is.