Bike throwing Codes all over the place

[pfromenthal]

I have a 2013 Spyder Touring LTD and I barely have 600 miles on the bike. Last year at the beginning of October I was preparing the bike for a Toys for Tots ride, getting the 1st oil change. While getting it out to bring it the bike began to give me an ABS code, Limp mode, Check engine, and CPS code. Brought the bike in and they said it wasn't doing it for the service department. Brought bike home, couldn't do ride because of rain and 2 days later wasn't able to ride because it gave me all those codes yet again.
So the bike has been in the shop 2 times for the exact same thing. When I picked up the 2nd time I was told that the vacuum hoses were bad and the bike is only 1 yr old, hhhhmmmmmm. Well I rode it home from the shop and all was well. But I only rode it to get home and 1 other ride as it was starting to get cold/chilly for me to ride.
Yesterday I decided to take her out again so that I could ride...WELL I am getting all those same codes again. Upon a suggestion, I put it on the charger for the battery in which I did and that did absolutely nothing for the bike.
I will attempt 1 more time to bring it to the shop and if it comes back yet again and does the same things - I will have to contact Can-Am........Could it be that I got a bad bike. Seems to me when that many codes shows up it is something wrong with the computer......... DUH .... what else could it possibly be.

Pamela from Louisiana
[email protected]

 

[NancysToy]

The most common cause of cascading codes is a low battery or bad battery connection. If the connection to the battery terminals themselves (not the jump start connections) or the frame ground (negative jump start terminal under the seat for 2012 and earlier) is loose or corroded, the battery won't charge properly and won't pass voltage to the Spyder. Those connections should be checked first. A battery that is run down too far cannot be charged with a battery tender type of charger. Those require a certain battery voltage before they kick in. Just the fact that the charger is attached is not sufficient...take a voltage reading or look at the diagnostic lights on the charger. Jump start or charge with a conventional charger to bring up the voltage before switching to the battery tender. The battery itself can also be bad, either failing to take a charge, failing to hold a charge, or failing to delivere sufficient voltage/amperage when under load. The battery should charge to at least 12.7 volts, remain at or above 12.6 volts for several hours after being removed from the charger, and the voltage should not drop below 10.0 volts when cranking with the throttle held wide open (to prevent starting). If it fails any of these tests it is likely the cause of your problem. Beyond that the dealer can review the fault history in BUDS and determine what happened first, causing the additional faults. I'm surprised yur dealer did not tell you the specific problem before...or maybe they merely charged the battery and everything was OK.

 

[pfromenthal]

Thanks for your suggestions, But my complaint then would be if the dealer had it both times and they charged the battery they should have told me.
I have driven numerous vehicles and never have I come across this before.
But I will test the battery..... funny have to figure how to get to it. The dealer is the one whom put on the battery minder/tender for me.
I would have thought they would be hopping to sell me a new battery if that was all it was. I know every time we have a downed battery on the Harley its off to replace it...... Well I'll pull it out and put on charger and check. Thanks again will let y'all know........

 

[NancysToy]

Getting to the battery is a treat.
It is on the left side of the vehicle.
You need to remove the mirrors, top panel and side panel and then black trim panel by the passenger grips.
Be careful about using wrenches or screwdriver on the positive terminal.

:lecturef_smilie: He has a 2013, so the battery is behind the front trunk. There is an access panel behind the liner, in the trunk.

 

[Bob Denman]

:shocked: Is there a chance that you're covering the brake pedal with your right foot?
Riding the brake; really gives Nanny the fits too!

 

[Spyder Tony]

Although you are in great tech hands with the advice given thus far, I too have had shops tell me the code is not being thrown when they have the bike. I have taken to using my cell phone and recording the code(s) to play for them at the service dept. Most often they can extract codes thrown, but I have had some codes that they could not extract, but that I had captured with pix or video. I always have my cell on me, so this is no inconvenience at all.

I hope you get to the root of the problem soon.

 

[Bob Denman]

But ANY codes that are thrown; get stored for retrieval by BUDS...
They should find the record of them, when they plug the bike in...

 

[Cruzr Joe]

Although you are in great tech hands with the advice given thus far, I too have had shops tell me the code is not being thrown when they have the bike. I have taken to using my cell phone and recording the code(s) to play for them at the service dept. Most often they can extract codes thrown, but I have had some codes that they could not extract, but that I had captured with pix or video. I always have my cell on me, so this is no inconvenience at all.

I hope you get to the root of the problem soon.

Great simple idea, thanks, I will remember that. (OK that gives you one Atta Boy, BUT remember one Ahh Sh*t wipes out ten Atta Boys) :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

Cruzr Joe

 

[pfromenthal]

:shocked: Is there a chance that you're covering the brake pedal with your right foot?
Riding the brake; really gives Nanny the fits too!

No Because this starts right away and I'm not even riding when it starts. I don't ride with my foot covering the brake, once started I remove foot until it is time to move the bike either in reverse or into 1st. Ya know heads turn when they see the Spyder coming and it is a classy looking bike. But man this is way crazy.

 

[pfromenthal]

oooooooops

Sorry Pamela.
Scotty of course is right.

Still sounds like a pain in the rear, I was so hoping that I could remove seat and ta da! Hhhhmmmm, next time I go out and buy something I guess I had better have them show me where the battery is, I have a car that I looked under the hood for more than 20 minutes saying surely there is a battery....it was covered and who would have thought that what it was under would have been a piece of the dressed out part of molding only...go figure!

 

[pfromenthal]

But ANY codes that are thrown; get stored for retrieval by BUDS...
They should find the record of them, when they plug the bike in...

You'd think right, well I got told no codes showing up the 1st time. I figured they just didn't want to deal with me. Boy look out if I have to actually bring it back. When I start tearing this bike down I will then do get a mechanics license.....:roflblack:
It's a shame, when you bring in mechanical things to shops of any sort if they see a woman they actually think they don't know a thing about mechanical things. :gaah:
I bring it in and tell them and they look at me like I'm out of my mind, So my husband usually listens to what I am saying so when we get to the shop he tells them and they say ok sounds like you traced out the problem let's get it fixed. I have had more than my share of mechanic shops.:banghead:

But all good as he says to me and we get it done......

 

[NancysToy]

Still sounds like a pain in the rear, I was so hoping that I could remove seat and ta da! Hhhhmmmm, next time I go out and buy something I guess I had better have them show me where the battery is, I have a car that I looked under the hood for more than 20 minutes saying surely there is a battery....it was covered and who would have thought that what it was under would have been a piece of the dressed out part of molding only...go figure!

It is a lot easier with the newer ones than before. Open the trunk, and pull the access panel to access the battery jumper posts, or pull back the liner and look for the battery access panel beneath it. Lamont posted thes pics last year.

 

[jthornton]

Still sounds like a pain in the rear, I was so hoping that I could remove seat and ta da! Hhhhmmmm, next time I go out and buy something I guess I had better have them show me where the battery is, I have a car that I looked under the hood for more than 20 minutes saying surely there is a battery....it was covered and who would have thought that what it was under would have been a piece of the dressed out part of molding only...go figure!

My wife's car doesn't have a battery under the hood and doesn't even have a starter motor... I do know taking the 2012 RT battery out is a pain!

JT

 

[Yazz]

You'd think right, well I got told no codes showing up the 1st time. I figured they just didn't want to deal with me. Boy look out if I have to actually bring it back. When I start tearing this bike down I will then do get a mechanics license.....:roflblack:
It's a shame, when you bring in mechanical things to shops of any sort if they see a woman they actually think they don't know a thing about mechanical things. :gaah:
I bring it in and tell them and they look at me like I'm out of my mind, So my husband usually listens to what I am saying so when we get to the shop he tells them and they say ok sounds like you traced out the problem let's get it fixed. I have had more than my share of mechanic shops.:banghead:

But all good as he says to me and we get it done......

Know the feeling all too well... Don't get me started. :gaah:

NancysToy, Scotty gave you good instructions on how to get to the battery. It's not that hard to start exploring the innards of the Spyder, it can be fun! Don't need no mechanic's license. :thumbup:

You will be looking for any looseness in the wires attached to the battery. Give them a slight tug. The wires should not move. If they do, tighten them up till they don't move. Vibration can loosen anything not cinched down properly.

Spyder Tony has a great idea. A picture paints a thousands words you don't have to say...

 

[pfromenthal]

Thanks everyone so much. I put the battery tender on and now am awaiting a little warmer weather yet again. This time when it warms I'll pull that puppy apart and look for everything to make sure everything is nice and tight.
By the way thanks for the pictures as well that really gives me where to look and visual is always goodopcorn:. Don't like reading instructions:yikes:, but when push comes to shove I'll read.
Well thanks everyone. Once I get this if this is all it is I'll be one happy riding lady! Oh how I wish I wouldn't have seen the picture and read about the 2014 having a cooler air flow - oh that would be nice..... well later guys and gals.

Pamela in Louisiana