2013 Roadster Check engine light issues

[Nolte]

Hey guys, new to the site. I would appreciate any help I can get! I've done tons of searching already but no luck. My father has a 2013 spyder roadster. He went for a ride last weekend and had a check engine light come on. No limp mode and it runs fine. It was sitting in a parking lot and was pretty hot out before he got the check engine light. I read that too hot of intake temps can throw codes. I attempted to pull the codes with the mode, set, blinker cancel buttons but it just comes up with a blank screen (every time!). I tried this several times with the bike on and with the check engine light on every time (I am getting frustrated at this point). I checked the battery connections, I took it to advanced auto and had it load tested (they said it was good), I decided not to try a new battery. Put the battery back in and the check engine light still comes on every time I start it. Our local dealer stopped selling them and does not have the software to pull codes any longer, the next closest dealer is booked until the middle of Sept, and the next is about 3 hours away. I am at a loss...

Thanks in advance!

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Hey guys, new to the site. I would appreciate any help I can get! I've done tons of searching already but no luck. My father has a 2013 spyder roadster. He went for a ride last weekend and had a check engine light come on. No limp mode and it runs fine. It was sitting in a parking lot and was pretty hot out before he got the check engine light. I read that too hot of intake temps can throw codes. I attempted to pull the codes with the mode, set, blinker cancel buttons but it just comes up with a blank screen (every time!). I tried this several times with the bike on and with the check engine light on every time (I am getting frustrated at this point). I checked the battery connections, I took it to advanced auto and had it load tested (they said it was good), I decided not to try a new battery. Put the battery back in and the check engine light still comes on every time I start it. Our local dealer stopped selling them and does not have the software to pull codes any longer, the next closest dealer is booked until the middle of Sept, and the next is about 3 hours away. I am at a loss...

Thanks in advance!

Back in 09 I bought an 08 GS ..... showed Codes quite often .... did a lot of checking and never found an issue .... dealer couldn't find them either ..... I believe the early Spyders ( V-twins ) often showed " codes " that had no effect on the actual operation of the Spyder .... I began referring to them as " Ghost " codes. .... All Spyders are very computerized and have multiple overlapping systems ( that's why it's difficult for even the Techs to find the EXACT issue ) ..... I then began to ignore most codes that popped up, if the bike was running fine .... hope this eases your mind annnnnnnnnnnnnnnd :welcome:..................... Mike :thumbup:

 

[Ex-Rocket]

Has he ridden the bike on a ride since the check engine light came on? Sometimes the fault will clear itself when you go on a ride for like over 20 miles or more. I would try that first to see if the fault goes away. If the fault is still there after the ride, then I think it might be time to take it to a dealer to see if they can figure it out. Good luck and :welcome:

 

[Snowbelt Spyder]

All that you really need done right now - if the light won't go off on its own - is for somebody with BUDS (the software) to hook up to the machine, read the code(s), tell you what they are, clear the code(s), and send you on your way. No diagnostics or troubleshooting needed unless the problem returns. 10 minutes tops. Have you talked to Rusty Palmer in Honesdale and explained it that way?

OR

Anyone that does laser alignments normally has BUDS and can do the same thing - doesn't have to be a Spyder dealer. You could, if you wanted, call Netzley Tire in Accord NY. A nice scenic ride up 209 and get the alignment done at the same time. I bet they could fit you in sooner than September. Just a couple of ideas here and assuming your father is also in Scranton.

And yes, there can be a CEL on but the screen is blank when trying to pull up the code. It's not a bug, it's a "feature". You're not doing anything wrong.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Has he ridden the bike on a ride since the check engine light came on? Sometimes the fault will clear itself when you go on a ride for like over 20 miles or more. I would try that first to see if the fault goes away. If the fault is still there after the ride, then I think it might be time to take it to a dealer to see if they can figure it out. Good luck and :welcome:

:agree: .... but a quicker way to try first is .... afterr you shut off the engine re-move the key two feet from the Spyder and leave it there .... when you go for another ride if the " check engine light " is still on ..... dis-connect the battery and remove the wires & touch the + & - wires together, when re-attach wires to battery Use STAR washers under the terminals ... this will prevent them from EVER getting loose on their own ..... Mike :thumbup:

 

[Nolte]

:agree: .... but a quicker way to try first is .... afterr you shut off the engine re-move the key two feet from the Spyder and leave it there .... when you go for another ride if the " check engine light " is still on ..... dis-connect the battery and remove the wires & touch the + & - wires together, when re-attach wires to battery Use STAR washers under the terminals ... this will prevent them from EVER getting loose on their own ..... Mike :thumbup:

Wow! Thanks for all the advice!! He has not taken it for a ride yet. I will try all of your tips and let you guys know what happens. Rusty Palmers told me their software was expired, so they can't even pull codes. If I keep having issues, I will see if I can get someone to just plug it in quickly. I had the battery disconnected (the terminals were tight), however, I did not touch the wires together after disconnecting. I will have him take it for a ride and see if the code clears. These things seam like an average mechanics nightmare with all the electronic sensors.

Thanks,

Marty

 

[taxmyzer]

I had this happen on my 13-RT when we first bought it. It was parked in the mid afternoon sun when I went to ride check engine came on I called the dealer tech told me to ride the bike once the air starts to flow the warning would go away that was 7 years ago this month. The warning had something to do with the onboard temp sensor and it being parking in the sun. Enjoy the ride!

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I had this happen on my 13-RT when we first bought it. It was parked in the mid afternoon sun when I went to ride check engine came on I called the dealer tech told me to ride the bike once the air starts to flow the warning would go away that was 7 years ago this month. The warning had something to do with the onboard temp sensor and it being parking in the sun. Enjoy the ride!

:agree: If the temp under the tupperware exceeds 115° or 120°, I don't remember which, the check engine light will come on. As taxmyzer says that can readily happen if you're parked in the sun on a hot day. A ride of a few miles will clear it. It happened to me one time.

 

[blacklightning]

:agree: .... but a quicker way to try first is .... afterr you shut off the engine re-move the key two feet from the Spyder and leave it there .... when you go for another ride if the " check engine light " is still on ..... dis-connect the battery and remove the wires & touch the + & - wires together, when re-attach wires to battery Use STAR washers under the terminals ... this will prevent them from EVER getting loose on their own ..... Mike :thumbup:

I am glad someone else finally states that you can remove the wires and touch the + and - wires together. This is the method that I used to clear the DESS error code that would come up on my 2014 RT back in the day. I caught all kinds of grief when I mentioned it. It is not like I was saying to cross the wires while connecting them to the battery or something. Good to know that I was not crazy. Using that method got me out of a jam twice while on a ride when the DESS error came up. Taking 10 minutes to disconnect the battery and do that was a lot better than waiting a couple of hours for a tow truck.

 

[Chiefburg]

My 2013 RT did the same thing...check engine came on. Of course it was 105 out and sitting at a stop light. Pulled over in the shade to check it out, check the oil, etc. got back on and started it up and the light was gone...hasn’t come back on yet.

Rode last weekend in San Antonio and the temp was 106. The full sun on the asphalt made it hotter - the bike said the temp was 111. No check engine that day, but too hot to ride with those fans blowing hot air on the feet.

Jerry
2013 RT Limited

 

[wingit3611]

Jerry: you said "those fans blowing" is there more than just the radiator fan ? I also have a 2013 RTL