Went for a 200 + mile ride today and several times on curves I had to use extreme force to turn the bars , needless to say it took the fun out . It didn't happen on every curve and oddly seems to happen more often on right handed curves . The bike does not show any codes . The steering is hard exiting the curve but once I'm going straight the handling is normal. Like I mentioned , it does not happen on every curve however it does seem to happen more often on tight curves. I have 38k miles and a lot of those miles are riding twistys in N. Carolina , Tenn. & Virginia. After I got home I rode it around the neighborhood and could get it to act up on some of the curves and when going back and doing the curve again it didn't do it . Needless to say it's very unnerving. The DPS was changed under warranty some time ago but it only threw a code and the steering wasn't affected . Has anyone else experienced this problem with losing intermittent steering and not showing a code ? Need to get it to my dealer but if it don't stay broke it will be hard to find the problem. The bike is a 2011 rt sm5 .
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Losing steering assist
- Thread starter exwinger
- Start date
Grandpot
Active member
Similar problem
I have a 2011 RTS and have a similar problem. When moving below 5 MPH the power steering works, above that, it resists turning in either direction. The first time it did that in a turn, I almost hit a car head-on. The problem is very repeatable now. A new steering unit is over $1,000 for the part without labor.
The Steering Angle Sensor works fine. The steering unit just wants to go straight when over 5 MPH. I decided to unplug the motor of the steering unit (the motor has a separate plug) to see if the Spyder would work in that condition. It does. It is a little harder to steer when going slow, but at highway speeds it works fine. A highway speeds the power assist is not used anyhow.
I don't mind putting a couple of more pounds of force to turn the Spyder if it saves me over $1,000. At least it is constant and doesn't fight my intentions to turn.
Back around 2009 BRP had a Safety Recall for this issue. I doubt if they will do anything for a 2011 unit with 20,000 miles on it.
I have a 2011 RTS and have a similar problem. When moving below 5 MPH the power steering works, above that, it resists turning in either direction. The first time it did that in a turn, I almost hit a car head-on. The problem is very repeatable now. A new steering unit is over $1,000 for the part without labor.
The Steering Angle Sensor works fine. The steering unit just wants to go straight when over 5 MPH. I decided to unplug the motor of the steering unit (the motor has a separate plug) to see if the Spyder would work in that condition. It does. It is a little harder to steer when going slow, but at highway speeds it works fine. A highway speeds the power assist is not used anyhow.
I don't mind putting a couple of more pounds of force to turn the Spyder if it saves me over $1,000. At least it is constant and doesn't fight my intentions to turn.
Back around 2009 BRP had a Safety Recall for this issue. I doubt if they will do anything for a 2011 unit with 20,000 miles on it.
A few Ryders here in Aust have experienced the same problem, most of them have been due to aging batteries, and they've able to rectify their intermittent steering problems simply by replacing the battery with a new OE Spec Yuasa or better. That could be a good first step for you exwinger - if your battery is more than a couple of years old or if it shows ANY signs of aging, fit a new one! 
Good Luck :thumbup:
Good Luck :thumbup:
The Governor
New member
The Governor
New member
It's not a steering FAILURE, it's a loss of POWER ASSIST. I agree it's a safety issue, but not something that would cause a loss of control. The odd thing about it is the battery starts the bike just fine, and everything else works, EXCEPT intermittent loss of power assist.
I wouldn't have believed it unless it happened to me.....
Freddy
Active member
It ain't working like it should or as you expect it to or as designed to - that's steering failure and can cause loss of control and/or a collision. Why do you think there was a recall about 6 years ago?
Last edited:
Easy Rider
New member
Also could be a loose or corroded connection at one end of the main battery cables.
Do you have it on a battery tender ALL the time that it isn't being used ??
The Governor
New member
Park the bike until fixed if you are concerned about the loss of POWER ASSISTED STEERING.
I hope you got the answer to your question. I'd bet it's a dying battery. That power assist sucks up a lot of power.
Freddy
Active member
IGETAROUND
Active member
losing steering assisrt
A few Ryders here in Aust have experienced the same problem, most of them have been due to aging batteries, and they've able to rectify their intermittent steering problems simply by replacing the battery with a new OE Spec Yuasa or better. That could be a good first step for you exwinger - if your battery is more than a couple of years old or if it shows ANY signs of aging, fit a new one!
I had similar intermittent loss of assist, Before you do ANYTHING else, check and tighten both of your battery terminals. Loose ground was my problem, and I have star washers on my battery bolts.
A few Ryders here in Aust have experienced the same problem, most of them have been due to aging batteries, and they've able to rectify their intermittent steering problems simply by replacing the battery with a new OE Spec Yuasa or better. That could be a good first step for you exwinger - if your battery is more than a couple of years old or if it shows ANY signs of aging, fit a new one!
I had similar intermittent loss of assist, Before you do ANYTHING else, check and tighten both of your battery terminals. Loose ground was my problem, and I have star washers on my battery bolts.
billybovine
Active member
I hate to break it to you but most new automobiles have electric power steering.
Dying battery
Pretty sure it's not a dying battery , it's brand new . Maybe a loose terminal but haven't checked that yet but will tomorrow . Had to make an appt. for dealer and leave it but he will at least check using BUDS. Will do that after I check the battery. Dealer did say it's funny it's not showing any codes when it fails .
Pretty sure it's not a dying battery , it's brand new . Maybe a loose terminal but haven't checked that yet but will tomorrow . Had to make an appt. for dealer and leave it but he will at least check using BUDS. Will do that after I check the battery. Dealer did say it's funny it's not showing any codes when it fails .
paraflyer1966
New member
A few Ryders here in Aust have experienced the same problem, most of them have been due to aging batteries, and they've able to rectify their intermittent steering problems simply by replacing the battery with a new OE Spec Yuasa or better. That could be a good first step for you exwinger - if your battery is more than a couple of years old or if it shows ANY signs of aging, fit a new one!
Good Luck :thumbup:
This. Just happened to me 3 months ago. New battery and it's been fine since; 2012 RT-s with the original battery still in it (no longer!)
lewisalice
New member
I change my battery every 36 months if it needs it or not worth the money for the piece of mind.
RinconRyder
New member
I disagree. Loss of power steering in a car could result in a serious collision if it happened suddenly. Same with a trike. Since the assist is only active when turning it follows that a turn is the most likely time for failure - and the most serious.
terminals
I knew the battery probably wasn't bad because it was brand new this spring. I tore into it this morning and after a minor bit of swearing , got to the positive terminal and lo and behold it was loose .Star washer went on the terminal this time and really torqued down . How many of the other owners that replaced batteries for this problem didn't really need a new battery but probably just had a loose connection ? I was the one that changed my battery , was really late at night just before leaving on a trip the next morning and didn't take the time to add a star washer . Lesson learned , new star washers on every battery change . Positive terminal isn't fun to check on the spyder .
I knew the battery probably wasn't bad because it was brand new this spring. I tore into it this morning and after a minor bit of swearing , got to the positive terminal and lo and behold it was loose .Star washer went on the terminal this time and really torqued down . How many of the other owners that replaced batteries for this problem didn't really need a new battery but probably just had a loose connection ? I was the one that changed my battery , was really late at night just before leaving on a trip the next morning and didn't take the time to add a star washer . Lesson learned , new star washers on every battery change . Positive terminal isn't fun to check on the spyder .
Easy Rider
New member
That could mean that it wasn't properly charged before being put into service.
And.....sometimes "brand new" things don't work right.
Edit: But I see that the problem has been located and fixed.
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