Low speed power steering failures

[Smylinacha]

No codes at all either when it happened to me both times.

Mine had no codes at all, no scrolling messages either. The bike thought it was fine. However, they told me now that they have replaced parts and computer it gives a code for dps and won't reset. Strange....opcorn:

 

[BajaRon]

Not sure it is absolute, however. Lamont's steering seems to have stopped working, and he reported no codes.

True. No codes. But neither of us expected a code since mine and others have had issues with no code (scrolling or history).

I didn't know about the alleged DPS code update nor did Lamont seem to know about it. And he has talked to BRP tech's so you'd think they would have mentioned it.

He has had both update 1 and update 2. I just have update 1.

He has been riding his Spyder and I haven't talked to him about it since the initial problem. Don't know if it started working again or not.

 

[bjt]

The test rides were conducted by their employed test riders. BRP should have corrected ALL the problems discovered first in the prototypes and later in the production models. I was assured that they had been corrected before laying my $$ down.....didn't turn out that way.

I would bet they did fix all the problems they discovered during testing. To my knowledge, the fires and catastrophic steering failures have only been occurring within the past year or less. It's hard to predict the future problems. Ask anyone who has stock investments. :sour:

 

[Way2Fast]

I would bet they did fix all the problems they discovered during testing. To my knowledge, the fires and catastrophic steering failures have only been occurring within the past year or less. It's hard to predict the future problems. Ask anyone who has stock investments. :sour:

How about the brake noise and squeal? They had it in all the pre production bikes and it carried over to most of the production ones.

 

[bjt]

Brake noise vs. engine fires (or the major steering faults) are two completely different things. One's a nuisance, the other is a serious safety problem.

 

[SpyderGirl]

We too had a low speed DPS issue.... lasted a few days then just went away. Never came back. That was almost a year ago.

 

[Smylinacha]

We too had a low speed DPS issue.... lasted a few days then just went away. Never came back. That was almost a year ago.

Did it display any codes? Did your steering go out of whack?

Just wondering because mine had no codes, didn't happen until after the 1st update. Once I got the second update done (I think that is what the tech did at Lamonster's house), I didn't have another issue but then again, only rode it home from TN (mostly all highway and at high speed, few backroads home) and then one short ride once back home.

I'd hope it went away but I am not taking any chances for it to happen again. Thanks to this forum, reading about everyone else, made me think that I should call the dealer and bring it in.

 

[SpyderGirl]

Did it display any codes? Did your steering go out of whack?

Just wondering because mine had no codes, didn't happen until after the 1st update. Once I got the second update done (I think that is what the tech did at Lamonster's house), I didn't have another issue but then again, only rode it home from TN (mostly all highway and at high speed, few backroads home) and then one short ride once back home.

I'd hope it went away but I am not taking any chances for it to happen again. Thanks to this forum, reading about everyone else, made me think that I should call the dealer and bring it in.

Nope, no codes. No steering lock. Nothing wacky. The power steering just stopped working. And of course this was prior to any updates (which I still have not yet received and do not plan to receive). It just started right after stopping during a Spyder meet-up up by the Golden Gate Bridge, lasted that whole day and for some time after then just seemed to have disappeared.

 

[Smylinacha]

Weird - but glad it's workin for ya now!

Nope, no codes. No steering lock. Nothing wacky. The power steering just stopped working. And of course this was prior to any updates (which I still have not yet received and do not plan to receive). It just started right after stopping during a Spyder meet-up up by the Golden Gate Bridge, lasted that whole day and for some time after then just seemed to have disappeared.

 

[SpyderGirl]

Me too, and exactly why I have yet again decided to pass on the DPS updates....

 

[ArmyJoe]

I dropped mine off at the dealer this morning after a test ride. It happened again and I hurt my elbow again. They said it'll be 3-4 days before they have someone available to look at it.

 

[ArmyJoe]

/rant on

I called the dealer yesterday to get a staus update. I was told they were waiting on recall parts. I have an SM5 and already had the recall DPS update, so I'm my mind, I'm thinking what the :cus:? I ask what parts they're waiting on and I'm told the ground wire and they have to do the "performace recall." I explain to them that the ground wire doesn't apply to me and that the performace update is not a recall, but an optional update and that I don't want it. They tried to tell me that they know the service bulletins and they have to perform this work before they can check my Spyder for the reported problem.

I got pissed and told them not to do anything to my Spyder without my specific approval. I then hung up and called Carlo to open a ticket. Unfortunately, he wasn't in, but I reported my problem and my lack of faith in my dealer to Customer Support. I called back the dealer and gave them the ticket number and asked them to keep BRP in the loop as they worked on the Spyder.

About 10 minutes later, the dealer called me back to apologize. They double-checked and found the ground-wire update didn't apply because it was already done and that the performace update wasn't required. "Great," I said. "Now that there's nothing standing in the way, you can troubleshoot the Spyder for the power steering issue."

Today, they called me back and said they couldn't replicate the issue. But I was shocked to hear that after hooking it up to BUDS, they said I didn't have the latest DPS software, so they downloaded new code to the Spyder. After I told them not to do anything without my permission! :gaah:

I have absolutely no confidence in these guys. Since I've never seen mention of a second DPS update, I can't be sure of what they actually did. And now I have to go back and get my Spyder, knowing its still got a problem.

/rant off

 

[Tom in NM]

ah . . . . Service Departments

/rant on
/rant off

Well, lots to rant about. And I agree, it would be difficult for me to have confidence in that shop given they did not follow your basic request.

My understanding was the the grounding wire 'fix' was for SE5s and installed at the same time the Spyder got the 1st Update for the DPS issues. While it would not hurt anything ( as far as I can figure ) you could do it to a SM5.

As far as everything else, you will have to just go in and try and figure out what they did and in what order. If they applied the 1st update ( or re-applied ) and if they had tested it before that or after that.

It is strange that the Spyder was not showing that it had been updated and can only think of 3 options/conditions that apply.
The Spyder never got the 1st Update.
The Spyder "lost" the 1st Update.
What you think is the 1st Update is and what they think it is are different.

You may find that when you go in and talk to them, that while they did not do as you asked, they actually have done the right things and have some convincing "evidence" to show you. I would ask for them to show you the Buds records and perhaps even print them out for you - and then walk you through what was and was not done.

I have seen many more bad Service Departments than I have seen good. That is my #1 favorite rant topic, but, they may be fine at fixing Spyders and the pits in communicating - that you should be able to tell in a face-to-face. Then you can decide to deal with that situation and manage it as best you can - or find another dealer.

I am interested in how it all turns out, keep us informed.

Tom

 

[SpyderDog65]

My power steering unit was bad from the crate. It was hard to turn at very slow speeds but not to bad above 40mph.

The dealer replaced the DPS and GPS units with no improvement.

They pulled a power steering unit off a showroom floor Spyder (a red one) and that fixed it.

I'm glad a Red transplant worked in my Silver Spyder and I didn't even need any anti-rejection medication!

P.S. Never threw any codes though I rode over 7,000 miles with no PS unit.

My Spyers DPS was bad from the crate as well and i rode it around for three or four months before i relized it so i had them replace the DPS unit and it ran fantastic untill the stupid dam Update that everyone complained screwed there bikes up a few months ago now it works intermittantly its really scary when your going around a twisty at 40mph and then u slow down to around 25 or 30 when its supposed to come back on and its super stiff and very hard to steer.I recently rode mine to San Diego for a 1600mile round trip and had next to no probs cept the DPS kept giving me issues and then my buddy pointed out that he noticed an oil leak and low and behold my brake master cylinder is leaking no wonder ive had to add brake fluid to my resivoir on more than one or two occasions in the past 6 months other than those issues as far as engine running issues I have had none it ran fantastic in that dept. thank god but now my dealer has closed there doors cause they couldnt make there payments to there manufactors like BRP or the people they buy there boats from so now i gotta go 40miles outta my way to get my Spyder Serviced instead of just having a 2mile trip to the dealer for warrenty work :gaah:

 

[ArmyJoe]

I just got off the phone with Carlo. He's going to have someone call the dealer, find out what they did, and insure it's safe to ride before I head back to get it. :2thumbs:

I'm so glad someone in the community understands customer service. I'm ready and willing to fall in love with my Spyder again.

 

[PCBeachBum]

OK, I think I got a new one...

Coming home from work two days ago, I was stopped at a light waiting for it to turn green. When it did, I began my left-hand turn, but the response seemed sluggish and my turn was a little wider than expected. I wasn't sure what happened and blew it off to sloppy riding.

Unfortunately, it happened four more times today. It's like the power steering is gone. Every time, it's been in first gear when turning from a stop, like at a traffic light or stop sign. It's happened on both right and left hand turns.

The last time it happened, I was watching the instrument panel and I didn't see any indicators come on. Because I wasn't really watching where I was going, I almost hit the curb. I jerked the handlebars so hard, the left wheel came off the ground and I tweaked my elbow.

Has this happened to anyone else? Is there anything I should check or verify before I call the dealer? The bike has only 3100 miles on it and just the first software update.

Thanks,
Joe

The speed limits here at the beach range from 30 mph to 45 mph. Since taking ownership of my Spyder, the steering was always hard. After having the recall done on the DPS, there was no change. It still was hard to steer.

When I left the dealership after having the recall done, I made a stop at a store and after starting it, I got a messege to "Check DPS". I wasn't far from the dealership and took it back. They put it on the computer but found no codes coming up. I was told to bring it in the following week for the normal service and they would have an answer from BRP.

The following Saturday, my steering locked up making a slight right turn to go over a bridge. I pushed hard on the right grip and pulled on the left hard and saw the left front wheel jump about 4" to the left, freeing up the steering. I took it home and the following Tuesday I called the service dept. They came out with a trailer and picked it up. That afternoon, I got a call from the service manager and was told they had to order a new power steering unit.

Since getting it back whether stopped and waiting to make a turn and at low speeds, its easier to steer. It handles the same now at any speed and I believe the original power steering unit was my problem. (Knock on Wood)

If you feel your power steering unit is bad, take it in and have them look at it. Don't take the chance of it getting worse and locking up like mine did. I was lucky I was able to free it and avoid going into the lagoon or hitting the end of the bridge.

If I had known, I would have left it at the dealership, when I saw the messege "Check DPS" scrolling across my screen. I'd rather be safe than sorry and if I get another messege or it doesn't feel right to me, believe me! I'll take it in and leave it til they get it right.

 

[ArmyJoe]

my steering locked up making a slight right turn to go over a bridge. I pushed hard on the right grip and pulled on the left hard and saw the left front wheel jump about 4" to the left, freeing up the steering. I took it home and the following Tuesday I called the service dept. They came out with a trailer and picked it up. That afternoon, I got a call from the service manager and was told they had to order a new power steering unit.

After reading your post and others about steering locks, I'm sure that's what's happening rather than a failure as I indicated initially.

The dealer finally called at 6 PM this evening. Although they said it was ready for pickup on Saturday, after talking with Kurt at BRP, they're now going to replace the power steering unit. I was also told that the parts are not in stock at the dealer or BRP, so it's going to be a few more days.

 

[PCBeachBum]

After reading your post and others about steering locks, I'm sure that's what's happening rather than a failure as I indicated initially.

The dealer finally called at 6 PM this evening. Although they said it was ready for pickup on Saturday, after talking with Kurt at BRP, they're now going to replace the power steering unit. I was also told that the parts are not in stock at the dealer or BRP, so it's going to be a few more days.

GIJoe, That's good to hear that they are going to replace the power steering unit. You will notice a big change in steering at any speed. :2thumbs:

I was told it would take 3 working days to get the new part in. It was more like 6 days but, it didn't matter to me. I just wanted it fixed right. I also wanted to get rid of the "Check DPS" scrolling across my screen. They had it for about a week and a half and since it was there, I told them to service it.

The dealer sent the original steering unit back to BRP, so they could break it down and inspect it. Hopefully if they decide to replace more of these units, they can get to the root of these problems.

 

[bjt]

I was also told that the parts are not in stock at the dealer or BRP, so it's going to be a few more days.

That's an optimistic estimate unless their meaning of "a few more days" is longer that what I think "a few more days" means. Of course, maybe the DPS ships faster than anything else that BRP has been out of stock on. :sour:

 

[truck 85]

slow speed

I just noticed to day that when my se5 was cold first thing the stearing was very easy. But after riding it for a while (had to go to the dealer to get some screws for Tupperware) the steearing got stiff at low speeds and at a stop you could not turn it I was thinking that it was ok but after all the talk on here i thought i would ask them to look at it. I could tell that they thought oh it ok but i will look to make him happy but when i showed him he got a funny look on his face and said that anint right. they check and it has had the updates so it is back to the dealer on friday for a look hope they find someithing easy all most out of days that you can ride in the great northwest.