Altitude Limitation????

[Rd_Runner]

All, does anyone know if there is an altitude limitation on the Spyders?

I am just wondering, because, today the wife and I decided to climb Pikes Peak with our trusty new 2013 RT-S spyder. (Glad I convinced her to pack warmer jackets which we put on when were within ~ 3 miles of the summit).

At ~ 11,500 - 12000 feet (~ 4 miles from the summit) I noticed a check engine warning. The bike itself was running perfectly. The temperature never ever got above the mid-point. The bike did not hiccup, cough or sputter once during the ascent. The fault would appear to periodically clear then comeback. I carefully drove it to the rest of the way to the summit and watched all gauges and indicators like a hawk. When I reached the summit and parked the bike, I had a continues check engine light with the engine running.

Using my trust Spydercode android app I referenced it and pulled the fault code and got the following P0106:"Manifold absolute pressure circuit range/performance".
I thought it could possibly be MAP sensor related. I have know of early automotive designs that would set an ECM code when changing more than 5000 ft in elevation in a relative short period of time. In this case the fix action was: stop, turn the vehicle off then restart it after about 5 minutes. This action allows the MAP sensor to reset until you changed altitude again by more than 5000 ft.

So...I shut the spyder off, looked around, and took pictures hoping when we prepared to leave the fault would be gone.

When I started the bike up to leave I still got the check engine lindicator and it sputtered a little when starting then it quickly smoothed out. As we traveled down from 14110 ft (check the first photo) it would appear to clear then comeback just like it did on the ascent. We got to ~ 11,500 ft the check engine light cleared permanently on its own. During the entire the trip up and down Pike Peak the bike ran perfectly fine other than the short sputtering fit when re-starting it at the summit.

Based upon the error code I can only conclude the MAP sensor's range in the Spyder is inadequate when traveling above 11,500 ft. Anybody else run into this same problem?


By the way, it was bloody cold at the summit even though it was 80 degrees F in Colorado Springs which is at ~ 8600 ft altitude where we live.

Note to all: the temperature on dash read 57 degrees F in pic #2 when I took it at the Pikes Peak summit; that is definitely a big lie.:shocked:

 

[ARtraveler]

Drove cars in some of the Colorado and Utah high spots. Also had issues with poor engine performance. No power and had to use lower gears than used to. Problem fixed itself once we were out of the altitudes.

Seems logical that the :spyder2: would also protest.

We also run into temperature changes when driving into altitudes here. I can find 20 degree changes very easy.

 

[Bob Denman]

If YOU run out of air; :shocked: So will the bike!

 

[Silvervette05]

If YOU run out of air; :shocked: So will the bike!

:agree:

 

[ARCTIC]

If you are in fact going above the bikes parameters you can resolve it by installing a turbo:2thumbs:

 

[Bob Denman]

But you'd best have along an oxygen tank for yourself... :yikes:

 

[ARCTIC]

But you'd best have along an oxygen tank for yourself... :yikes:

We typically ride at 9-10,000 ft elevation when we ride snowmobiles in the snowy mountain range of Wyoming. It is difficult to catch your breath when digging stuck snowmobiles out. Few fun facts for you.... You lose something like 3% of base horsepower per 1,000 ft of elevation increase on a naturally aspirated engine. Therefore you can get by with a lower octane rating on your fuel.

 

[Chupaca]

As I see it..!!

as you got higher and the air got colder and thinner internal adjustments were made hence the lights going on and off. could be you reached the limit when the light stayed on. Alls well when you were back down..must have been a fun ryde..!! :2thumbs:hyea:hyea:

 

[DrewNJ]

I agree with what your saying. You were changing altitude faster than the system was reacting. It was interpreting your altitude change as the map sensor going out of range.
Likely if you spent a few days or did a hard reset of the system by discoing the battery then you would have not had the light.....at least til you got to the bottom...

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[Showie]

Did 11,312 going over Monarch Pass, Colo on way to Spyderfest with no problem. :bowdown:

 

[Bob Denman]

Question for you Mountain Guys and Gals:
at what point does alititude start presenting the SERIOUS threat of hypoxia? :shocked:

 

[PrairieSpyder]

Question for you Mountain Guys and Gals:
at what point does alititude start presenting the SERIOUS threat of hypoxia? :shocked:

Bob, unless you're climbing Everest or some-such, I don't think you have to worry about it. In Colo you may get "mountain sickness" but not serious hypoxia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_high_altitude_on_humans

 

[Bob Denman]

:shocked: I get dizzy when I'm up on an extension ladder! :yikes:
Glad to hear that at least I'm not starving my feeble brain for oxygen! :roflblack:

 

[bobbobtar]

Rode up Mt. Evans (14,200 ft) last year with 15 other Spyders and everyone had a check engine light on, coming down from the Mt.the lights went out and no other problems. Someone said the Spyders were not calibrated for that altitude.

 

[finless]

Just for FYI. This is the FAA regulation for supplemental oxygen requirements.

http://www.flightsimaviation.com/data/FARS/part_135-89.html

If your above 10,000 and lower than 12,000 for more than 30 minutes, during that time after 30 minutes you must have supplemental oxygen.

If your above 12,000 you must have supplemental oxygen all the time.

If your at 14,000 or above both the pilot and passeneger/crew must have supplemental oxygen.


Bob

 

[ARtraveler]

We typically ride at 9-10,000 ft elevation when we ride snowmobiles in the snowy mountain range of Wyoming. It is difficult to catch your breath when digging stuck snowmobiles out. Few fun facts for you.... You lose something like 3% of base horsepower per 1,000 ft of elevation increase on a naturally aspirated engine. Therefore you can get by with a lower octane rating on your fuel.

Which answers why they sell 85 octane at a lot of gas stations there.

 

[ARtraveler]

Question for you Mountain Guys and Gals:
at what point does alititude start presenting the SERIOUS threat of hypoxia? :shocked:

I believe the Everest climbers run into it at 17,000 ft plus. Been as high as 12,500 in Rocky Mountain National park and the difficulty in breathing was noticeable to me. It felt like I was getting only half of the air I wanted or needed.

 

[Bob Denman]

Note to Self: Sea-level; is ME-level!

 

[PrairieSpyder]

I believe the Everest climbers run into it at 17,000 ft plus. Been as high as 12,500 in Rocky Mountain National park and the difficulty in breathing was noticeable to me. It felt like I was getting only half of the air I wanted or needed.

My first ski trip I had mtn sickness really bad at Breckenridge. Since that time I would get a head-ache and shortness of breath the first day or so, and then got aclimated.

My dad rode in bombers over the Himalayas in WWII and they were required to use oxygen, of course. I think the FAA requirements are that way because a there is more risk if a pilot and crew died from hypoxia.

 

[groswald]

My computer started throwing codes between 13.5 and 14,000 feet but ran fine. You have to shut down and restart below 13500 or so to clear the warning lights. Learned on Pike's Peak - 14,110 feet.

The whole Spyder Ryder's club summited with the same behavior and no issues!


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