92 degrees, 103 degree heat index = nasty running Spyder..

[Greg H.]

16,500 miles in just over 10 months, and this is the one thing that is a big irritant for me. When I leave home in the morning, the Spyder runs perfect! I go out at lunch with the temps. indicated, and it runs really rough - almost like it's running on 1 cylinder.
And today, especially; it was backfiring really bad, and loud. I pulled through a parking lot, and then headed back onto the main road, and it stalled. I actually didn't think it was going to restart. It did, and I went to get gas - only needed about 4 gallons. When I left the Shell Station it was better. But, still not like when it's under 90 degrees.
I went out to the Hwy to run it around 70mph. All seemed pretty good. When I exited about 7 miles later, it was okay. But, not like when I'm riding at cooler temps.

This seems to be the norm anytime it's over 90 degrees. It will be the same when I leave to head home tonight. Then after maybe, 10 miles or so, it will probably improve. When it's like this it's louder, and rougher running. And, it sure won't run a steady 40mph or so without missing some. It will studder, for sure.

Who else has been experiencing this? I think (Tim) zzneonzz reported something similar here.

Thanks!

 

[Smylinacha]

I see you are in TN? Is it humid there? I'm in CT and whenever it's very hot and humid my :spyder:runs rougher, backfires, seems louder and feels hot.

 

[Greg H.]

I see you are in TN? Is it humid there? I'm in CT and whenever it's very hot and humid my :spyder:runs rougher, backfires, seems louder and feels hot.

Oh yeah! You are describing it to a 'T'. :dontknow:

And, the humidity is pretty high during much of these summer months, for sure.

 

[ptoemmes]

Hot humid air despite it "feeling" heavier actually has less O2 in it. Water vapor displaces the O2 molecules.

Although at near sea level I'd think not a biggie for FI, I wonder if the symptoms are like those you get from lean conditions.

I live in Southeast Florida and we've had 100+ heat index daze lately - but I tend to not ride when it's that hot sticking to morning and evening.

Pete

 

[Lowflyingowl]

Must be the humidity -- can't be the heat. I just got back from cross-country, rode through OK, TX, NM, AZ, CA with temps over 100 the whole time, doing 75-85 on the freeways. Hottest was 110 in CA. No problems at all -- except that it runs a little rough now at anything less than 65 mph. figure the 24000 mile service will fix anything wrong...

Actually, don't know about you, but I sure don't run too good in high humidity either!

 

[dabreitbach]

If you had the software update for the steering that is the cause. It also screwed with the fuel injection. Alot of people are dealing with the same thing AFTER the update. I had none of this before the update. They better get this figured out. FAST:cus::cus::sour::gaah::gaah::gaah:

 

[Greg H.]

If you had the software update for the steering that is the cause. It also screwed with the fuel injection. Alot of people are dealing with the same thing AFTER the update. I had none of this before the update. They better get this figured out. FAST:cus::cus::sour::gaah::gaah::gaah:

My Spyder was doing this before the steering software update.

My Spyder has always run beautifully. And, I figured that after the 12,000 mile service (new plugs, etc,,,) this condition would go away. It's just when it's 90+, that it isn't happy. And, like I mentioned; generally after a little while, it will improve.

 

[DynamoBT]

Rode last Saturday two up in the heat and humidity. Now that you mention it I was noticing it was up at 6 bars temp every so often. That's not usual. I have had the recall fix. The thing is, it hasn't been hot this summer until practically right about the time I got the fix. Prior to that time we had no days over 90. Now, a bunch of them.

A fix for the lean running, backfiring, and hotter running probably won't be a recall. I wonder how our dealers will find out what to do to fix this. Mine is a small dealer. I was their first recall update. I was their first 3000 mile service. :gaah:

 

[Brevet05]

Hmmm, I think I can attest to it being perhaps a function of humidity. Here in San Antonio, it's been at/about 100 each time I've ridden over the past couple of days, and I haven't noticed any issues. The machine runs smoothly both in the city and out on the open road.

 

[Tom in NM]

Like the name says . . . .

. . . . I live in New Mexico.
Hot Desert.
High altitude.
HOT ( the highest I have seen is 117 )
For the last month or so, 80% of my riding has been in triple digits.
The coolest ride has been 85.
Did I mention it has been HOT?
Had the steering fix almost two weeks ago, 700+ miles since then.
Stop & Go + Expressway (after update 36city/40hwy with 88 oct.eth mix)

Spyder is running smooth. And shifting smooth too. No more 'clunks' into 1st or Reverse.
No problems. (except on one 80 mile ride segment, I almost cooked my right foot off. Damn, that hurt.)

Forgetting that medium-rare-right-foot, my experience is very different from yours. The heat does not seem to effect my Spyder in a bad way.

Tom
2008 SE5, 4k miles (no significant mods)

 

[Firefly]

If you had the software update for the steering that is the cause. It also screwed with the fuel injection. Alot of people are dealing with the same thing AFTER the update. I had none of this before the update. They better get this figured out. FAST:cus::cus::sour::gaah::gaah::gaah:

Actually I've heard just the opposite - that after the steering update the Spyder runs BETTER. You are the first I've heard of having problems afterwards.

 

[Firefly]

16,500 miles in just over 10 months, and this is the one thing that is a big irritant for me. When I leave home in the morning, the Spyder runs perfect! I go out at lunch with the temps. indicated, and it runs really rough - almost like it's running on 1 cylinder.
And today, especially; it was backfiring really bad, and loud. I pulled through a parking lot, and then headed back onto the main road, and it stalled. I actually didn't think it was going to restart. It did, and I went to get gas - only needed about 4 gallons. When I left the Shell Station it was better. But, still not like when it's under 90 degrees.
I went out to the Hwy to run it around 70mph. All seemed pretty good. When I exited about 7 miles later, it was okay. But, not like when I'm riding at cooler temps.

This seems to be the norm anytime it's over 90 degrees. It will be the same when I leave to head home tonight. Then after maybe, 10 miles or so, it will probably improve. When it's like this it's louder, and rougher running. And, it sure won't run a steady 40mph or so without missing some. It will studder, for sure.

Who else has been experiencing this? I think (Tim) zzneonzz reported something similar here.

Thanks!

A few questions:

1. What Mods are you running? (exhaust, air intake, O2 mod, etc??)

2. What Octane gas are you running?

3. SM5 or SE5 ?


If you run anything higher than regular (87 octane) - you most likely will have problems - unless you're at an altitude that requires different octane.

If you're not running an aftermarket exhaust - like the Hindle - I would get one - this bike runs much better with a different pipe on it.

I would also look into an O2 modifier (evoluzione.net) or JuiceBox (ESI Cycle).

I wouldn't look for your dealer to offer much help since this appears to be weather related - thus hard to replicate in the shop.

Doubt it is the steering recall as that should only improve how the Spyder runs.

There has also been some bad gas floating around certain parts of the country.

 

[Greg H.]

A few questions:

1. What Mods are you running? (exhaust, air intake, O2 mod, etc??)

2. What Octane gas are you running?

3. SM5 or SE5 ?


If you run anything higher than regular (87 octane) - you most likely will have problems - unless you're at an altitude that requires different octane.

If you're not running an aftermarket exhaust - like the Hindle - I would get one - this bike runs much better with a different pipe on it.

I would also look into an O2 modifier (evoluzione.net) or JuiceBox (ESI Cycle).

I wouldn't look for your dealer to offer much help since this appears to be weather related - thus hard to replicate in the shop.

Doubt it is the steering recall as that should only improve how the Spyder runs.

There has also been some bad gas floating around certain parts of the country.

87 octane

Hindle

SM5

:thumbup:

 

[aka1004]

The fuel management thingy I ordered from magnumtuning may solve this problem, I am hoping.ray:
it's a simple device with potentionmeter that tricks ecu to think it's colder than it really is and have o2 sensor built in and you control how cold with that potentionmeter. It gets connected to o2 sensor and ambient temp sensor.

My spyder is back firing like crazy but may or may not be related to software update as stock o2 sensor is back on. I need that in order to use that thing from magnumtuning. I should get it this week and will report the result after it gets installed. One drawback is you loose ambient temp reading as it will say whatever you set it to.

Steering and shifting is better after update. There still are delays when shifting but it's less frequent and to a lesser degree.

 

[ataDude]

Greg... I have found in the past (even on older bikes) that heat and humidity can affect electronics... and this trike is full of 'em.

I would first check the spark plugs and spark plug wires and then go from there. Hooking the wires up to an induction timing light would tell you of misfires.

Just my $0.02... no change required. :thumbup:

 

[Firefly]

87 octane

Hindle

SM5

:thumbup:

Hmmmmm-

Is your ambient temp guage mounted in the proper area? They come from the factory twist-tied to the shock mount and need to be installed properly--- and many dealers missed this step.

Check here:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4822&highlight=Ambient+temp

 

[krb1945]

get some of the heat out of...

the engine compartment. The most simple thing to do is remove the splash guards under the engine compartment. This allows more air to flow through to get some of the heat out. Next you can get some exhaust insulator tape from summitracing.com. wrap the header pipes to keep the heat in the pipe so it goes out the rear.

We removed the splash guards on both spyders and in these florida temps we find they are running about 2 bars cooler above 40 and 1 bar cooler below 40 in the lower gears.

MY 2 inch exhaust wrap is on the way I'm hoping for tomorrow and I'll let you know how well it works. There are several people on this site that have wrapped the pipes to keep the heat out of the engine compartment.

Hope this helps you.

 

[Firefly]

the engine compartment. The most simple thing to do is remove the splash guards under the engine compartment. This allows more air to flow through to get some of the heat out. Next you can get some exhaust insulator tape from summitracing.com. wrap the header pipes to keep the heat in the pipe so it goes out the rear.

We removed the splash guards on both spyders and in these florida temps we find they are running about 2 bars cooler above 40 and 1 bar cooler below 40 in the lower gears.

MY 2 inch exhaust wrap is on the way I'm hoping for tomorrow and I'll let you know how well it works. There are several people on this site that have wrapped the pipes to keep the heat out of the engine compartment.

Hope this helps you.

Good ideas for a heat problem - but this sounds like a humidity problem - not heat.

I'm waiting until winter and then will get my pipes jet-hot ceramic coated instead of using the wrap.

 

[TJ_Spyder]

If you had the software update for the steering that is the cause. It also screwed with the fuel injection. Alot of people are dealing with the same thing AFTER the update. I had none of this before the update. They better get this figured out. FAST:cus::cus::sour::gaah::gaah::gaah:

SAME HERE! I posted it about it in another thread about the recall.

I have the Hindle and Ken's O2 sensor, otherwise stiock.

BTW Florida, HOT and HUMID, never an issue until the recall....

 

[Zerocool]

Riding to and from work on I95 today (about 30 miles each way) and the :spyder: hit 6 bars sitting in traffic, peaked once to 7 bars on the way home, but only for a second.

Idling was fine, but she was running HOT... so hot that the nw BRP custom seat felt like it had a heating element in it.

How high can/do the temp bars get before the nanny shuts down, if at all?