D.E.S.S. Error

[CarolinaSpyderRyder]

Was going on a road trip today... but...20180518_154258.jpg

[Mad Mac]

Did you take your key and do the "walk of shame" with it?? Might be the first thing to do. Mac

[Chupaca]

If you get it going get it to a dealer and have them change it out cause is seems it only get worse till it will not work ever again...

[CarolinaSpyderRyder]

Yeah, tried that, no luck. Tried both keys, still no luck. Read a forum post on a can am ATV forum about grease in the ignition getting wet and causing a short, might be some merit to that...

[Joel The Biker]

Yeah, tried that, no luck. Tried both keys, still no luck. Read a forum post on a can am ATV forum about grease in the ignition getting wet and causing a short, might be some merit to that...

I sprayed WD40 in mine and it worked as a temporary fix. My DESS is disabled now, so no more worries.

[CarolinaSpyderRyder]

If only I had some WD 40... or a Spyder i could get to the store on... Thanks BRP.

[ThreeWheels]

I sprayed WD40 in mine and it worked as a temporary fix. My DESS is disabled now, so no more worries.

How do you disable the DESS ??

[CarolinaSpyderRyder]

Compressed Air in Keyhole... direct results.... started... had tried at least a dozen previous starts, including right before the air.

[trikermutha]

How do you disable the DESS ??

He has B.U.D.S to disable the DESS

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Was going on a road trip today... but...20180518_154258.jpg

Turn the Spyder on - off five times quickly, it should start .............. But you need to get the module re-placed ( hopefully under warranty ) ...... It will not fix it-self , it will occur again until it fails entirely ......I discovered you have a 14 RSS ....2014 was the year BRP changed the perfectly GOOD - DESS system ....now it doesn't work as well .......... On the RT the module is behind the FRUNK rear wall , I would check a Fiche' for where yours is .... It's small ( size of a cigarette pack ) .... You can change it yourself, and you DON'T need a re-boot .....check " cheapcycleparts.com for Fiche' and price ..... good luck..........Mike ............Found it @ cheapcycleparts.com ..... part # 710004916 ....or on the fiche' picture - #614 ( for elec. system ) $132.99 , it might be cheaper on another sales site .... )

[Snowbelt Spyder]

Right, this is not a lubrication or cleanliness issue. This is all about RF communications between the DESS module and the chips in the keys. The module is the problem. If you find an independent tech with BUDS and a master tech license, they can disable the system for you. A dealer won't disable it for you. Other wise, as Mike said, replace the module before it leaves you stranded in the middle of nowhere.

[Joel The Biker]

My 2015 has done it five or six times and every time it was when the bike was wet and water had collected around the ignition. I haven't found any write ups or posts that specifically blame moisture, but I have never had the issue unless the bike had been washed or sat uncovered in a hard rain.

I dont think BRP really knows what the issue is and is just replacing the modules. But then you hear about people having the problem return. Then they have the ignition replaced, blaming the antenna, and no more problems. This problem is not unique to Spyders. BRP ATVs have the same issue, but are exposed to much more dirt and water. WD40 showed immediate results for me(suggested from the ATV forums). Now I have B.U.D.S. diagnostic software and have disabled the DESS so it will never leave me stranded.

[LeftCoast]

My 2015 has done it five or six times and every time it was when the bike was wet and water had collected around the ignition. I haven't found any write ups or posts that specifically blame moisture, but I have never had the issue unless the bike had been washed or sat uncovered in a hard rain.

Hmm, not that we get a ton of rain here but maybe I’ll come up with some sort of ignition cover.

[PaladinLV]

Strongly recommended you READ about the DESS issue started by Deanna about 3 years ago and that goes for all the others that THINK spraying it with all kinds of %$# is even an answer!

AJ

Was going on a road trip today... but...20180518_154258.jpg

[Joel The Biker]

You can read that thread and draw whatever conclusions you want. Like I said, some people had the module replaced multiple times and still had the problem and ended up having the ignition replaced. WD40 will not harm anything, so give it a try. Do not leave your key in the ignition when you wash your spyder. This will prevent water from getting in it. If you read the ATV forums, they have lots of DESS errors and have been diagnosing the problem longer than spyder owners have. The consensus they have come up with, is that water is getting in the switch, mixing with the grease in the switch, and causing poor connections in the switch. They all recommend spraying WD40 or rubbing alcohol in the switch to solve the problem. If you can find someone with BUDS and a megatech license, then get the DESS disabled and never worry again. Good luck!!

[trikermutha]

Mine was never wet when my started acting up. I replaced the module last year and have been problem free since. Some have had to do both ignition switch and module.

Some have turned bike on and off fast,some have sprayed WD40,some have tried there other key.

Take it to the dealer for repair and make sure BRP get notified too.

Good luck

[Deanna777]

Was going on a road trip today... but...20180518_154258.jpg

Take a look at the "Thread D.E.S.S. KEY CODE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" that I had started. It has a lot of excellent information. It is a long thread. Deanna

[Deanna777]

[QUOTE=CarolinaSpyderRyder;1361846]Was going on a road trip today... but...20180518_154258.jpg[/QUOTE Have the D.E.S.S. module replaced, and the switch replaced, get the keys reprogramed the same time. Have your dealership open up a case with BRP.

I had the switch/D.E.S.S. module replaced 3 years ago. Since then I have not had the D.E.S.S. error show up.

Deanna

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Was going on a road trip today... but...20180518_154258.jpg

Was the water from rain or washing the bike? In either case it MIGHT be the reason. Water affects radio waves. The DESS uses an antenna to send a radio signal to the key which then responds with a code via radio wave. It MIGHT just be possible there was enough water around the ignition switch to affect the radio waves. I think they are very weak signals so it wouldn't take much to mess them up. See what happens after you've dried everything off really good.

[missouriboy]

Hmm, not that we get a ton of rain here but maybe I’ll come up with some sort of ignition cover.

The ignition switch already has a cover: the inner flap that closes upon key removal. To avoid water in the switch, I always remove the key when washing and when parking anywhere not under a roof. Otherwise, water can run down the key, into the switch.

[eddieshep999]

See this thread posted some time ago
The covers are still in use

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...165#post566165

[Elembytes]

You can read that thread and draw whatever conclusions you want. Like I said, some people had the module replaced multiple times and still had the problem and ended up having the ignition replaced. WD40 will not harm anything, so give it a try. Do not leave your key in the ignition when you wash your spyder. This will prevent water from getting in it. If you read the ATV forums, they have lots of DESS errors and have been diagnosing the problem longer than spyder owners have. The consensus they have come up with, is that water is getting in the switch, mixing with the grease in the switch, and causing poor connections in the switch. They all recommend spraying WD40 or rubbing alcohol in the switch to solve the problem. If you can find someone with BUDS and a megatech license, then get the DESS disabled and never worry again. Good luck!!

My 2015 RT Limited has NEVER gotten water anywhere near the ignition at all and yet I have had to replace the DESS module Twice and the 2nd time my dealer had me go buy a new key blank and they programmed the new key and so far, Knock on wood, it has been working fine. They said one of the two keys I had reported a bad chip that was why they had me replace the one key. Just my two cents and experience.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

The ignition switch already has a cover: the inner flap that closes upon key removal. To avoid water in the switch, I always remove the key when washing and when parking anywhere not under a roof. Otherwise, water can run down the key, into the switch.

My comment/speculation above was NOT directed at water entering the ignition switch. I don't think that is an issue. I'm referring to water external to both the switch and key and in the path of the radio signal between the two. Yes, I'm speculating, but as I see it, it is in the realm of possibility.

[missouriboy]

Moisture is NOT the issue

Moisture is NOT the problem only when it is NOT the problem.
Moisture IS the problem when it IS the problem.

In other words, moisture has not been claimed to be the ONLY problem.

(But please indulge my recalcitrance in (mis)using "issue" as a synonym for "problem.")