Steering scare today!

[Rando]

I have been off the forum and off my Spyder for the past week. I was down in Florida helping my Mom who is recovering from shoulder replacement surgery. She has to have the other side done in December. There is no future in getting old!

Anyway, I just posted the following on the NHTSA website:

Today while driving my 2008 Can-Am Spyder Roadster, I needed to exert a force greater than expected to initiate the turning of steering the handlebar off center in order to correct vehicle drift from a straight line path.

This higher than expected steering control input could have easily resulted in an unexpected deviation of the vehicle from my intended path.

It felt like the steering would lock up or want to continue to the left and when I applied a greater pressure than normal, it felt like it would "break free" from the locked position.

It was a very unpleasant experience and a less experienced driver could have easily over corrected and an accident could have resulted.

My Can-Am Spyder Roadster recently had the mandatory recall completed for the steering issue. This was the first time I experienced this problem.

I copied part of the wording off the mandatory recall bulletin for the steering.

I should have just pulled over and called for a tow truck but I decided I just wanted to get home. It was a "white knuckle" ryde to say the least! Time to call the dealership!

 

[Smylinacha]

08 or 09 sm or se?

 

[Rando]

2008 SM5 PE

 

[Bersquack]

At least you are OK.

 

[pitmon]

Thank goodness you are ok. That happened to me as well. Spyder is with the dealer now. opcorn: Just waiting to see what happens now.

 

[Smylinacha]

Hopefully I'll know something by end COB thursday

 

[pitmon]

BRP told me they would probably have mine a week, maybe two. It will be a week Thursday. I will probably stop by this weekend if I don't hear something and take a looksee and find out what's going on.

 

[tatt2r]

Had dps replaced on mine all is well

 

[Rando]

When the Spyder is standing still, what if anything should you feel if you move the bars slightly right or left? Mine feels like there is a slight resistance and then it feels like it "pops" or releases.

How about a ground wire theory. Has anyone experienced a steering issue on a SE5 or SM5 that has had the BRP ground wire fix?

 

[RoadHammer]

I have an 09 SE5 , i felt resistance 2 times in parking lots making a right hand turns. Otherwise whenever i would shut the bike down i noticed a twitch in the handlebars. It would twitch ever so slightly but i noticed it. I have all the up to date updates on my bike now. The only problem is i havnt driven it yet. My buddy drove it home for me because I didn't have my handbrakes on it. So I have no idea if the fix did anything or not. If good weather comes I will head out and see what gives.

When the Spyder is standing still, what if anything should you feel if you move the bars slightly right or left? Mine feels like there is a slight resistance and then it feels like it "pops" or releases.

How about a ground wire theory. Has anyone experienced a steering issue on a SE5 or SM5 that has had the BRP ground wire fix?

 

[czdaryle]

this is getting crazy..how do we know changing the dps will do anything unless they say they need to replace everyones? I don't want to have to wait for it to happen to me before they will do something. THink I will put my away for the winter

 

[Smylinacha]

Standing still and running - I had no resistance but it "popped" twice on me when bringing the bars back to center. Not sure if that is normal or not. I also mentioned that to the dealer too.

When the Spyder is standing still, what if anything should you feel if you move the bars slightly right or left? Mine feels like there is a slight resistance and then it feels like it "pops" or releases.

How about a ground wire theory. Has anyone experienced a steering issue on a SE5 or SM5 that has had the BRP ground wire fix?

 

[Rando]

I would publicly thank BRP and especially Carlo for calling me today and discussing the steering issue. I love my Spyder and I hope they can get to the bottom of these steering issues!

 

[STelath11]

It's my understanding the computer does not actually control steering but only the brakes - or am I reading this wrong?

 

[ataDude]

It's my understanding the computer does not actually control steering but only the brakes - or am I reading this wrong?

Yepper, reading it wrong. The steering processor accepts inputs from several sensors (speed, angle, torque, etc) and sends the signals to the electric stepper motor (part of the steering box unit) to assist.

.

 

[ataDude]

You're reading it wrong......The ECM provides output to both functions.....

You're getting slow as you get older. Beat you by a minute. :lecturef_smilie:
.

 

[docdoru]

Yepper, reading it wrong. The steering processor ("DPS") accepts inputs from several sensors (speed, angle, torque, etc) and sends the signals to the electric stepper motor (part of the steering box unit) to assist.

Why replacing the GPS on my Spyder (and yours, many months ago) solved the steering issue? :dontknow:

 

[ataDude]

Why replacing the GPS on my Spyder (and yours, many months ago) solved the steering issue? :dontknow:

That particular issue was a result of the Gear Position Sensor sending corrupted data through the Can Bus system to the steering. My original manual showed the GPS as a direct input into the steering. However, apparently subsequent manuals have removed that reference.

 

[NancysToy]

That particular issue was a result of the Gear Position Sensor sending corrupted data through the Can Bus system to the steering. My original manual showed the GPS as a direct input into the steering. However, apparently subsequent manuals have removed that reference.

Yeah, because of you there are lots of things they won't tell us about anymore. :roflblack:

 

[ataDude]

Yeah, because of you there are lots of things they won't tell us about anymore. :roflblack:

Well, excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse me.

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