Continuing DESS Issue?

[w6ada]

Hi, been reading ours an hours of threads regarding the DESS and key Error problems. Is this an issue still continuing? I have a 2014 spider and it appears these issues started then. Can I be comfortable buying a brand new spider that I will not have this issue?

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Hi, been reading ours an hours of threads regarding the DESS and key Error problems. Is this an issue still continuing? I have a 2014 spider and it appears these issues started then. Can I be comfortable buying a brand new spider that I will not have this issue?

From what I've read on the DESS issue, yes they started with the 14 model …. BRP changed them 3 times, trying to FIX it …. the last version seems to have worked ( for the most part ) …. however they still have failures at least thru 2017 model ….. as I told you in a PM , a few folks here have the BUDS program that will cancel / eliminate the DESS module..... I have not heard of a DEALER that will do it …… If your Spyder is out of warranty - the module costs around $ 135.00 ( cheapcycleparts.com ) and can be changed by most DIY'ers …. the module is located behind the frunk - bolted to the firewall just above the Battery …. it unplugs ( two ) …. As I told you ( in PM ) I then put mine under the right headlight ( the wires will reach that area ) and you will have instant access to the module and plugs...…. IF you have seen the " ORANGE " screen of death , your Module is now in failure mode and will eventually DIE, ……. Mike

[Chupaca]

The new models sold should all have been updated. If you look into a used model always a good idea to have the dealer check the vin# and see if all updates have been made. We see very little here as of late but we only see those that post here and there are many more out there. I would not let this keep you from getting one...

[w6ada]

Yes well I am at the screen of death. I needed a post in order to be able to PM you. Personal message come in later today. Thanks for all your help

[spyderryder53]

From what I've read on the DESS issue, yes they started with the 14 model …. BRP changed them 3 times, trying to FIX it …. the last version seems to have worked ( for the most part ) …. however they still have failures at least thru 2017 model ….. as I told you in a PM , a few folks here have the BUDS program that will cancel / eliminate the DESS module..... I have not heard of a DEALER that will do it …… If your Spyder is out of warranty - the module costs around $ 135.00 ( cheapcycleparts.com ) and can be changed by most DIY'ers …. the module is located behind the frunk - bolted to the firewall just above the Battery …. it unplugs ( two ) …. As I told you ( in PM ) I then put mine under the right headlight ( the wires will reach that area ) and you will have instant access to the module and plugs...…. IF you have seen the " ORANGE " screen of death , your Module is now in failure mode and will eventually DIE, ……. Mike

Hi Mike, does the frunk have to come off to unplug the dess wires to move over?
Thanks Leon

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Hi Mike, does the frunk have to come off to unplug the dess wires to move over?
Thanks Leon

YES, I have pics in my albums that will show you where it is... ( hidden under the frunk backwall plastic ). And a pic of where I moved mine to ….. The wires are long enough to reach ( must cut plastic wire ties to get slack ) without splicing. If you put it somewhere else this may be an issue...… Mike

[trikermutha]

YES, I have pics in my albums that will show you where it is... ( hidden under the frunk backwall plastic ). And a pic of where I moved mine to ….. The wires are long enough to reach ( must cut plastic wire ties to get slack ) without splicing. If you put it somewhere else this may be an issue...… Mike

The antenna wire is long enough, without back pulling the cable??

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

The antenna wire is long enough, without back pulling the cable??

????... He's asking about the DESS module ….. this doesn't involve the Antennae …. at least it didn't on mine …… Mike

[spyderryder53]

Thanks for the info. Mike I`ll check it out if the dealer doesn`t get it fixed .
Leon

[Sparky2014]

Mike,
Had reoccurring DESS warning, then last fall it completely shut down under power. Now it turns over but won’t fire. DESS has not reappeared in all my attempts to restart, feel like it might have completely died. Any idea what to expect when the DESS mod goes completely belly up? Changed gas filter and checked fuel flow, thought it might be a fuel problem, but seems ok. Even changed fuel out just in case, didn’t make a difference. DESS message should have shown by now and hasn’t, it was very frequent .

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Mike,
Had reoccurring DESS warning, then last fall it completely shut down under power. Now it turns over but won’t fire. DESS has not reappeared in all my attempts to restart, feel like it might have completely died. Any idea what to expect when the DESS mod goes completely belly up? Changed gas filter and checked fuel flow, thought it might be a fuel problem, but seems ok. Even changed fuel out just in case, didn’t make a difference. DESS message should have shown by now and hasn’t, it was very frequent .

The WHY the DESS message is not showing is a mystery to me also. ... What I do know is .... the computer cannot fix itself ..... The DESS module USUALLY doesn't stop working entirely the first time it appears ( but it can ). .... When mine failed at Spyderfest 2015 I was leading a ride and about 125 mi. from Springfield.... I was not very familiar with this issue but got REALLY lucky, Two warnings later I was back in Springfield near " PitBull " when it failed again ( #3 ). After a phone call, I got it re-started and to the Dealer... BRP Techs can armed with quite a number of Modules and I got one of them ..... Mike ..... I have read EVERY thread that had anything to do with the DESS issue ..... What I learned is BRP -CHANGED the module in 2014 and that's when it became an issue .... were there more than one vendor supplying them ??? .... it continued into 2015 .... then slowed down in 2016 ...... not many in 17,18 and I don't remember it being an issue beyond then ..... It's easy to re-place - ( about #140.00 ) once you get the Frunk off .....Mike

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Mike,
Had reoccurring DESS warning, then last fall it completely shut down under power. Now it turns over but won’t fire.

If it cranks, it is not a DESS problem.

[4 MARIE]

I believe they have it worked out, or I wouldn't have traded my 2014

[Sarge]

New to the Spyder community. What is this "DESS"? And what is this "Orange Death Screen". Mine is a 2015 RTL. What's all this about please.



Thanks in advance!

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

New to the Spyder community. What is this "DESS"? And what is this "Orange Death Screen". Mine is a 2015 RTL. What's all this about please.



Thanks in advance!

Well there about 500 or so posts on this …. But read my post above #2, it tells you how to fix it , which is the most important thing ……. The DESS module is part of the BRP - KEY security system ….. If the module fails ( and they were having lots of them do so ) you won't be able to start your Spyder …. Generally , it gives a few / some …. SEMI- failures before it dies …. there is no cure other than module re-placement , If you have a warranty still in effect they will cover if not ( read above post #2 . )….. the Back History is this 10 thru 13 RT's had a different DESS module, then one of the BRP engineers decided it NEEDED fixing ….. well He/ She/ It broke the damn thing …. Now the DESS is a problem …. I hope they fired that SOB ……. good luck ……...PS if you get the " Orange screen of Death " ….. first move the spyder away from where you stopped ( if possible ) 20 ft should work ….. then turn the ignition switch ON - OFF 5X's in succession quickly, remove Key for about one minute, then try and start it ….. repeat as needed …. This worked for me when mine failed ( and nothing else I tried worked )

[jaherbst]

Mike did you get this from the factory or discover it yourself? I have been lucky so far and hope I will never have to try this. It is an interesting concept though.

Has anyone heard how Bob Denman is doing?

Jack

[Peter Aawen]

..... Has anyone heard how Bob Denman is doing?

Jack

That's just a bit off topic Jack but the latest news is here: https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...e-w-Bob-Denman

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Mike did you get this from the factory or discover it yourself? I have been lucky so far and hope I will never have to try this. It is an interesting concept though.

Has anyone heard how Bob Denman is doing?

Jack

What Mike are you referring to ???? ...…… ( Mike aka BLUEKNIGHT911 )???? ………...…… Mike

[Sparky2014]

Hey BlueKnight,

Have had a severe DESS problem and before got it turned off the Spyder shut down under power, had to trailer it home. Checked fuel system, filter etc., as it felt like a fuel problem. It turns fine but won’t fire. Only thing I’ve notices different is, I have not gotten any more DESS error messages, with multiple tries at restarts. Doesn’t want to fire. Feel as though maybe DESS finally gave it up completely and is holding me hostage. Do you know how I can expect the 2014 Spyder RT to behave when the DESS module goes completely belly up? Have someone later this spring to turn it off. Now with it maybe gone completely do you know if my MEGATECH friend be able to access it and shut it down, maybe clear it to run again?
Thanks!
Sparky2014

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Have had a severe DESS problem and before got it turned off the Spyder shut down under power,

The engine shutting down under power is not a DESS problem. Once the engine starts cranking over the DESS has no input into its operation. In fact, when the DESS is active you can start the engine with a non-chip key in the ignition with a chip key next to it. Once the engine has started you can take away the chip key and everything operates normally until the next time you need to start it. Let me reiterate. Your engine not firing is NOT a DESS related problem.

Edit: I need to change my comment about taking the chip key away. As soon as the normal display comes up on the screen you can take the chip key away even before you start the engine. As long as the ignition is not turned off the chip key is not needed to keep running. You can turn the engine off with the kill switch and restart it. All the DESS does is tells the ECM a valid key has been presented to the system. Everything is golden after that.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Hey BlueKnight,

Have had a severe DESS problem and before got it turned off the Spyder shut down under power, had to trailer it home. Checked fuel system, filter etc., as it felt like a fuel problem. It turns fine but won’t fire. Only thing I’ve notices different is, I have not gotten any more DESS error messages, with multiple tries at restarts. Doesn’t want to fire. Feel as though maybe DESS finally gave it up completely and is holding me hostage. Do you know how I can expect the 2014 Spyder RT to behave when the DESS module goes completely belly up? Have someone later this spring to turn it off. Now with it maybe gone completely do you know if my MEGATECH friend be able to access it and shut it down, maybe clear it to run again?
Thanks!
Sparky2014

Hey Sparky, From everything I've read in this Forum ( and it's EVERY post / thread ) If you have a DESS module failure, it will Display "DESS Failure " on an ORANGE screen. As IMS said it doesn't sound like your big issue is the DESS module..( maybe not at all ) .. Diagnosing is difficult using this Keyboard. ..... I hope you get it worked out ..... Mike

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Hey BlueKnight,

Have had a severe DESS problem and before got it turned off the Spyder shut down under power, had to trailer it home. Checked fuel system, filter etc., as it felt like a fuel problem. It turns fine but won’t fire. Only thing I’ve notices different is, I have not gotten any more DESS error messages, with multiple tries at restarts. Doesn’t want to fire. Feel as though maybe DESS finally gave it up completely and is holding me hostage. Do you know how I can expect the 2014 Spyder RT to behave when the DESS module goes completely belly up? Have someone later this spring to turn it off. Now with it maybe gone completely do you know if my MEGATECH friend be able to access it and shut it down, maybe clear it to run again?
Thanks!
Sparky2014

I PM'd you on this .... however for others ... my understanding of the DESS module , is that it's only Active during the START procedure . Once the Bike is running it does not occur ..... When My DESS was Failing ( on a ride during Spyderfest 2015 ) ... I got the " orange screen of Death " ... three times .... But this occurred while I was trying to START the Spyder ( after stopping ) .... and didn't occur again until I stopped and shut the motor off.... Luckily for me I was able to clear the Death code and got it back to" Pitbull "....Then the BRP Tech's changed out the module ( only that, not the ignition switch ) ...... good luck ... Mike

[Deanna777]

New to the Spyder community. What is this "DESS"? And what is this "Orange Death Screen". Mine is a 2015 RTL. What's all this about please.



Thanks in advance!

HI,

D.E.S.S stands for Digially encoded Security System.

I have a 2014 RTS-SE 6 and I have had the D.E.S.S module replaced 2 twice in 2015 ( under the warranty,) and the Switch( in 2015) replaced once( under warranty).


I also started a thread " D.E.S.S KEY CODE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! on 8/13/2015 Replies 736 & 149,647 Views & 30 pages long. The thread has some very helpful info. Since I have had the D.E.S.S module , I have not had the D.E.S.S error show up. Also I have 24,900 miles on my spyder. On the "Thread" I posted pictures of the Orange Screen, when you get a chance take a look at the thread.

Deanna

[Don in E Texas]

Had my 2014 RT in the dealers shop 6 weeks last Summer. They said they could not duplicate the problem (DESS Error). Module has the "latest and greatest" installed. I've had 6 more DESS errors since I got the bike back. I just wait about 15 minutes - go back and it starts up. So not a big issue any more. Now I have a "Check Engine Light" that is on all the time plus the cooling fans starts when I start the bike (cold start) and cycles on/off as I ride. Bike is otherwise okay. I don't ride it much any more.

[Deanna777]

Had my 2014 RT in the dealers shop 6 weeks last Summer. They said they could not duplicate the problem (DESS Error). Module has the "latest and greatest" installed. I've had 6 more DESS errors since I got the bike back. I just wait about 15 minutes - go back and it starts up. So not a big issue any more. Now I have a "Check Engine Light" that is on all the time plus the cooling fans starts when I start the bike (cold start) and cycles on/off as I ride. Bike is otherwise okay. I don't ride it much any more.

What is your D.E.S.S module part #?

Deanna