Engine turn over with key removed

[exwinger]

Went out to start the spyder yesterday and it had a dead battery. Planned on using my battery charger but when applying the cables the charger pegged and then shut off immediately. Rechecked to make sure all connections were correct and tried again....same results. I then figured I had a bad battery due to shorted cells . After a lot of head scratching reading the manual on how to get to the battery terminals themselves I got help from Nancys Toys......Thank you ......and then finding Lamonts video on removing panels ....Thanks Lamont ....I finally ended up getting everything off . Once you do it it isn't all that bad but definitely not on top of things to do list.

Disconnected positive terminals at battery and gave the charger test again , charger performed as it should. At this point a bad battery was ruled out and pointed to something going on with the electrical somewhere in the bike itself. I charged the bike all night and went out this morning to check it , battery fully charged. The key was not in the bike . As soon as I touched the terminals to the bike the engine turned over just like hitting the starter switch . Double checked that I didn't have the key in and tried again....same results. Put key in and operated it to make sure that it was in the proper position ( off ) and removed it again and tried the terminal again with same result. Quit trying at this point because there is something going on inside which means I now have to take it to the dealer . Not to confident with my dealer mechanic since I called him yesterday and he said you couldn't jump start it....per BRP , and to charge it you needed to remove the battery from the bike....again per BRP. I asked him why then did they give instuctions on how to do it in the owners manual and he said he didn't know they did.....so much for mechanic schooling .

Has anyone else experienced this problem or have any ideas on what is going on ? I know there are components energized all the time but the starting system def shouldn't be one of them , especially with the key removed.

 

[Lamonster]

Sounds like a stuck starter solenoid. You could try tapping it and see it it releases.

 

[Cyclist922]

I've had a similar experience with a mechanic at the same dealer In Grove City. He told me it was normal to have to use my arm to pull the shift lever out of reverse, especially "when the bike is cold". Turns out, topping off the hydrolic fluid did the trick. This doesn't fill me with confidence, but we don't seem to have any alternative dealers in this area.

 

[exwinger]

solenoid

Thanks for the suggestion Lamont... but where is the solenoid located , probably on the other side of the bike and more tupperware removal ?? LOL

Cyclist....Have heard nothing but complaints about Grove City , Reynoldsurg have heard good things about. Jackson Honda has better prices for oil changes etc. but a little far but if service is better may just try them . Sure would be a lot easier to deal in Lancaster though but you get what you pay for I guess.

 

[boborgera]

Are you sure you didn't cross the solenoid terminals [jumped] That would kick start the Starter:dontknow:

 

[NancysToy]

Are you sure you didn't cross the solenoid terminals [jumped] That would kick start the Starter:dontknow:

I agree, if you took the wrong positive terminal off, and accidentally swapped the leads, that could happen. It is unlikely, though, since it would entaile removing two connections instead of one. BTW, the solenoid is located at the end of the short positive cable opposite the battery end, where the positive jumper terminal is.

 

[exwinger]

There were two wires on the positive terminal of the battery. These are the only wires I took off.Only one turns the starter over when I touch it to the post. Can't be swapped with anything else because they both go under the same screw ( positive terminal ). If the solenoid is the module at the battery then it sounds like Lamont is correct in saying it might be stuck because I believe thats the wire that does it. Have to give it a rap or two and see what happens.

 

[NancysToy]

There were two wires on the positive terminal of the battery. These are the only wires I took off.Only one turns the starter over when I touch it to the post. Can't be swapped with anything else because they both go under the same screw ( positive terminal ). If the solenoid is the module at the battery then it sounds like Lamont is correct in saying it might be stuck because I believe thats the wire that does it. Have to give it a rap or two and see what happens.

The wire you are touching runs to the solenoid. I'm afraid yours is welded and needs to be replaced. As long as you only remove cables at the battery itself, you are OK. It is removing them from the solenoid that can get you into trouble. BTW, you should always disconnect the negative terminal at the battery first, and reconnect it last.

 

[Bob Denman]

Why is it that "12 volt arc-welding" can put up such an impressive lightshow, and do so much damage at the same time?? :gaah:

 

[exwinger]

Agree on disconnecting the neg side first and usually always do but didn't want to take the risk of dropping the holder in jobber on the negative terminal and checked real close to make sure I wouldn't be touching any metal on the hot side. Sparks emitted weren't much at all , was really surprised.

Talked to dealer today and he said they've had numerous cases of this happening and usually a tap or two is enough to unweld the contacts and they haven't had to replace a solenoid yet. I'll probably be their first .

Going to give it a shot later this evening and see what happens.

 

[exwinger]

solenoid

You guys weere absolutely correct....stuck solenoid . Gave it a couple of taps with a brad hammer and touched the terminals and all is ok now . Bike starts fine . Now I also know how to take the tupperware off too which will help in the very near future for my oil changing.

Great big thanks to all that gave advice...you guys are more than great and hopefully sometime I'll be able to return the favor .

PS....about half of my screws didn't have washers on them but do now.

 

[SpydeRider2010]

I do not have the UTMOST confidence in MY dealer's svc dept. NOT because they don't know squat...; but rather because of the product age.

this is still only about a 5 yr old bike, with an even youger RT line. NOT all of the bugs have been worked out of everything. the learning curve is STILL rising.

the two techs at our dealer, are pretty good at what they do. and don't mind telling you that they
don't have all of the answers. I cornered one of them, and told him flat out... tell me you don't know; rather than blowing smoke up my butt. and they both have been up front with me; and that carries a lot of weight with me.

it sounds like... some of you folks out there, are getting a lot of BS smoke blown your way. good luck in finding someone who is worth the time and YOUR money. because frankly... they're costing you, the dealership and Can Am, a lot more than they are worth. cut them off at the knees, when you catch them in BS mode.

 

[NancysToy]

You guys weere absolutely correct....stuck solenoid . Gave it a couple of taps with a brad hammer and touched the terminals and all is ok now . Bike starts fine . Now I also know how to take the tupperware off too which will help in the very near future for my oil changing.

Great big thanks to all that gave advice...you guys are more than great and hopefully sometime I'll be able to return the favor .

PS....about half of my screws didn't have washers on them but do now.

Only the screws for the front upper panel (with the elongated holes) have washers.

 

[Lamonster]

You guys weere absolutely correct....stuck solenoid . Gave it a couple of taps with a brad hammer and touched the terminals and all is ok now . Bike starts fine . Now I also know how to take the tupperware off too which will help in the very near future for my oil changing.

Great big thanks to all that gave advice...you guys are more than great and hopefully sometime I'll be able to return the favor .

PS....about half of my screws didn't have washers on them but do now.

:thumbup:

 

[exwinger]

washers

The ones having washers on mine were the 3 along the saddlebag and the clear deflector . I was watching them uncrate a spyder at the dealers today and take parts off and out them back on.One guy appeared to know what he was doing and the other one didn't. Have a feeling that the one guy when putting panels back on just grabs one of the screws and puts it wherever , washer or not.Amazing to see how much of the bike comes assembled and then gets taken apart to put panels that were just shipped in the crate back on.

 

[Lamonster]

The ones having washers on mine were the 3 along the saddlebag and the clear deflector . I was watching them uncrate a spyder at the dealers today and take parts off and out them back on.One guy appeared to know what he was doing and the other one didn't. Have a feeling that the one guy when putting panels back on just grabs one of the screws and puts it wherever , washer or not.Amazing to see how much of the bike comes assembled and then gets taken apart to put panels that were just shipped in the crate back on.

Those don't get washers.