Be riding hard through the curves in the CO mountains on my 2011 spyder RS with semi automatic tranmission. shifting hard up and down as I race through the curves and I randomly get a check transmission error come across the screen with the engine light. It eventually goes away. I checked my oil and all looks good. I saw on this blog on a similar issue and input was regarding oil volume . I asked the the Can Am tech guys at the Durango event and they looked at me like I have two heads. I have never seen this error before until I was pushing the bike hard in high altitudes.
Any Ideas??
Just an update on my issue - I still have problems with this same transmission light error code. When it lights up, the bike will not shift up to the next gear. I took it in to the service department last week, unbeliveable response. I sent the following email to brptechsupport this weekend, and forwarded the message to the dealership (below). I'm not giving up, something is wrong.
Hello, I wanted to give you the consideration of letting you know that after visiting the service department recently, I'm exploring other resources to get the appropriate repair for a recurring, intermittent "check transmission" error code. Below is the message and attahments that I just sent to
[email protected].
From:
[email protected]
To:
[email protected]
Sent: 7/28/2012 8:31:30 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: Need your expertise with "check transmission light" error code
My name is {WingNutRider} and I'm the owner of a 2011 RSS SE5. I found the name "Carlo" and this email address in the SpyderLovers forum as a recommended contact to resolve a technical support issue.
Just within the past month while upshifting gears, the "check transmission" code displayed. I couldn't shift it into the next higher gear so slowed down to allow downshifting to a lower gear. I gained speed and shifted up with no issue. I continued to repeatedly have the "check transmission" message whenever I drove the vehicle - even notice a "sputtering" effect when the code message displayed. I began researching the owner's manual (doesn't address this specific intermittent problem) and explored the SpyderLovers forum to find out if other owners across the nation experienced the same issue. Several thread described the exact problem, several mentioned "faulty shifter sensor" and "replaced paddle shifter" as a repair. Logistically, I couldn't get the bike in the shop for two weeks so it stayed parked until July 21 when I took the bike in for service Coleman PowerSports located at 14105 Telegraph Rd, Woodbridge VA 22192. I explained the issue at intake at the service department and added that had been on the SpyderLovers forum and other owners that had this problem had a paddle or shifter part replaced. (I paid a $10 taxi fare to get back home). On July 24, delightfully I received a voice mail message that told me the bike was ready for pickup.
On July 26 I was able to leave work early to pick up the bike and, to make a long story short, I was told that there was NOTHING wrong and that I was not rolling off the throttle when shifting. In otherwords, after one year of operating the vehicle ... all of the sudden I do not know how to upshift gears. I'm not an experienced technician, but this explanation for the continual, intermittent "check transmission" error code didn't sound reasonable as a diagnosis. I told them that I haven't had an issue with error codes before when shifting gears and asked them to explain what I needed to do to upshift gears correctly to ensure the error message doesn't come on. They explained, and demonstrated, that just like any other bike (pointing to a two-wheeled motorcycle) that I needed to roll off the throttle and then press the shift button to change to higher gears. I told them that this is my first bike and something didn't sound right. "If it comes on again, bring it back." After paying $109.40 for this disappointing diagnosis to and that diagnostics charges are not covered under warranty, off I go to the cashier feeling... I don't know... disappointed with this response. The repair order invoice is attached as "Repair Order Invoice.pdf" In the Resolution section, it states, "TECH RECOMMENDS COMPLETLY CLOSING THE THROTTLE BEFORE UPSHIFTING." (I paid $13 in taxi fare to get to the service department to pick up the vehicle). I pulled out of the dealership to drive home, began upshifting using this weird rolling-off-the- throttle technique, and yep, eventually there is the "check transmission" light. Because it was late in the day, I kept heading home.
I drove the bike to work Friday, 7/27, light comes on during operation. Drove it home, light comes on during opeation. Not good when you can't shift gears after the "check transmission" light comes on while traveling 95S on a Friday afternoon in the DC area. I have re-read the 2011 Owner's Manual, and it clearly states on page 56 "... you do not have to release the throttle while shifting with the SE5." The appropriate areas discussing shifting gears are highlighted in the attachment "2011 Owners Manual - Shifting Instructions.pdf"
I am not sure how to take the next steps to resolve this situation. The technicians do not appear to be familiar with driving (or working on?) a semi-automatic Can Am if the diagnosis is to roll of the throttle to upshift. Even during my motorcycle safety class after I purchased the bike, I was not taught this upshift technique. I prefer to use this service department because I purchased the vehicle there along with the 3-year prepaid routine service maintenance plan, and it is the closest location to me. If known to you, I am willing to go to another dealership if more experienced Can Am technicians who are familiar with a repair for this problem are located a reasonable distance away.
Since this problem is one that many owners are experiencing (per the SpyderLovers forum at least), I am hoping that you have a repair bulletin that I can share with the technicians to repair my vehicle. I feel certain that you will have recommendations on how to determine the most appropriate repair under warranty. I would also appreciate your insight in to how to recoup the $109.40 diagnosis charge. Getting to and from Coleman PowerSports is challenging for me as I am working during their operating hours during the workweek. They are swamped on Saturdays! Any help with next steps would be appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you. I enjoy riding my Can Am as my primary mode of transportation! Without having a repair, the shifting and sputtering are very distracting and concerning and I am not going to ride it for safety reasons.
Regards,
{attached invoice}
{attached owner's manual explaining that you do not release the throttle to shift to higher gears}
pps:
