F3-T Stuck in First Gear (Ostensibly) and Won't Start?

[ISpydrF3S]

An interesting thing occurred to me and my wife over the weekend that prompted me to post it here, hoping that maybe it might help someone else.

For those that prefer short posts, my wife's new F3-T would not start after only owning it 2 weeks. The gear indicator read 1 instead of N, yet the Spyder would roll forward and backward, telling me that it was not in 1st gear. Being new to Spyders myself, I'm not sure if the Spyders will start while in 1st gear because I never tried it on my F3-S. I always put mine in Neutral before powering it off. Nevertheless, it would not start no matter what we tried, nor would it go into supposed Neutral. After having it towed home, using BRP's roadside assistance, I put the key into the ignition and tried it again. This time we saw a flash message appear that read "Wrong Key." So, we tried the second key she received in her packet and the Spyder started up just fine. After turning it off again, we tried the first key, and it started up again just fine. We also noticed that the gear indicator read N instead of 1. Therefore, I am assuming there is something wrong with the key or the chip in the key. If you're a lover of short posts, stop reading HERE.

For those who like more details, keep reading...

As I mentioned, we've only had the F3-T for two weeks and rode her three times, I think. She has less than 40 miles on her. My wife can't recall if she put the Spyder in Neutral or if she just turned it off while in 1st, so she's blaming herself for what happened, but after her second key worked followed by the other key, she doesn't feel as bad, but we both learned something. Actually we learned 3 things from this experience:
1 is to put it in Neutral before powering off the trike (if that's even an important thing - back to that later);
2 is to keep your second key on ya (maybe in your jacket) in case stuff like this happens again; and
3 is the BRP Roadside Assistance - while your trike is still under warranty - is a good service to use!

My question to everyone is, has anyone out there experienced this issue? We haven't heard back from our service center after several voicemails. Again, this happened on a Sunday when they were closed, so I do not have an official diagnosis. But I will let ya'll know what they say when she's been looked over and repaired.

As of right now, the F3-T will start using either key. So, maybe it's a intermittent issue.

More later.

- Declan

[Bfromla]

Sounds like not stepping on brake when starting - then you interrupted attempts & unknowingly did step on the brake when you tried again; &/or you'd flipped the Kill Switch (it happens & it's an aggravation, foiling thinking clearly!) Glad it is now going for ya & your roadside troubleshooting worked out. Bad key message can happen if another chip in anything is close by the ignition. The first chip read wins. Yes, you can still push SE Spyders if they're in gear - it's a li'l more effort tho (feels like you're pushing it with a flat tire, or in grass!)

[hypurone]

NM above post beat me to it...

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Don't discount a weak Battery ..... BRP is now using non-Yuasa cheapo batteries ...... this has happened to others with NEW Spyders .....good luck ....Mike

[Mikey]

What year is your f3

[ISpydrF3S]

Finally heard back from the dealer about my wife's 2024 Spyder F3-T. The key in question only needed reprogramming has worked on the last dozen starts. For now on, we'll carry both keys on us just in case as it apparently "can" happen often.

[ISpydrF3S]

The lastest news is just after the dealer fixed the key issue, they're getting a transmission fault error code they don't know how to clear. They're waiting on BRP to get back to them. It's been a whole week, so far, waiting for this issue to be resolved. It's a real shame. It took my wife a lot to drum up the courage to face her fears of motorcycles to finally learn how to ride and buy her first moto only to have it for 2 days and it's in for repairs. So unfair! As for me, if they're waiting on BRP, the same company that took almost a year to figure out how to get Apple CarPlay to work, I wish I had more faith in them to figure this one out. So unfair. That's all I can say really. Damn... Sorry folks, just needed to vent.

[BertRemington]

The gear indicator read 1 instead of N, yet the Spyder would roll forward and backward, telling me that it was not in 1st gear.

Your Spyder was in first gear but the clutch was disengaged. Spyder SE6 clutch engagement is controlled by the TCM using a line pressure (the HCM has its own pressure and scavenge pumps) twice that of engine pressure. It this TCM control that provides the Spyder's smooth takeoffs and shifts.

If you have anything attached to your Spyder key it may interfere with the recognition function.

[ISpydrF3S]

Lastest and maybe the last word on this thread about my wife's 2024 F3-T... The dealer fixed the "wrong key" warning and her being unable to start her Spyder. The key simply needed reprogramming. The service dept., tells me this happens often and has nothing to do with anything being attached to the key, because I asked @BertRemington, figuring the same. The very last issue, which has been left unresolved these weeks later is a transmission fault message the service dept., is getting on-dash display (intermittent) and as a code when they connect the F3-T to their computer. They managed to clear the on-dash message and report the Spyder rides just fine, and it does. We've since put over 50 miles on her this past weekend and she ran great - and started with the key that was re-programmed.

However, they are still waiting for BRP tech support to get back to them on how to clear the code they're seeing, because it's a new code to them and they can't seem to clear it. Not an emergency, but as a new BRP customer myself, having purchased my 2024 F3-S in late March, I am a bit surprised and disppointed that my service center would STILL be waiting on BRP these weeks later. However, they - the service dept., - are NOT surprised. They say this happens to them all the time and weeks is nothing compared to the months other customers have had to wait...

Gobbsmacked! I am being told to expect long delays. But at least she's ridable and we're having fun with her new F3-T.

Thanks for all of the helpful comments, regarding this post.

It's a 2024 and she's called Maggie - short for Magnolia, one of my wife's favorite flowers and the pearlescent off-white color reminded her of a magnolia.