Low speed power steering failures

[PCBeachBum]

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.

I could not move my handlebars, unless I was moving and parking it to put the handlebars to either the left or right, to be able to lock it was a :cus:. I had to move the bike just a little to turn the wheels. Most times I would forget and have to restart it to do it.

With the new power steering unit, I don't have that problem now and its a lot easier to steer at all speeds and when stopped.

A riding buddy of mine moved here from Oregon, for that reason. He and his wife wanted a warmer climate and they've been getting it. He opened a motorcycle safety school here after getting the states certification. Now he has to stand out in a hot parking lot during the summer months when the humidity is in the 90s and the heat is in the 90s, from 7 am to 3 pm, 4 days a week. He moves fast though and gets done at around 1 pm.

 

[ArmyJoe]

I've discovered something disturbing. Whenever my bike is in the shop, the weather is perfect.

If anyone has any planned rides, let me know. For a small fee, I can take it in for service. :joke:

 

[bjt]

I've discovered something disturbing. Whenever my bike is in the shop, the weather is perfect.

If anyone has any planned rides, let me know. For a small fee, I can take it in for service. :joke:

We've been missing out on some great riding days too.

 

[ArmyJoe]

I called yesterday for an status check. I was told they were just putting it back togther and that I could pick it up whenever I wanted. It was raining yesterday and I have a parent-teacher conference today, so it looks like I can't get it until tomorrow.

Since they were going to have it for a few more days, I asked them to do the performance update and I'll do the new evap can hose next time it's in the shop (they didn't have the part anyway).

If the weather is nice after Saturday's OSU-Michigan game (Go Bucks!), I'll take it for a test ride and post the results.

 

[bjt]

... If the weather is nice after Saturday's OSU-Michigan game (Go Bucks!), I'll take it for a test ride and post the results.

The first half of the seaon, it looked like Michigan might give OSU a run for their money but lately it looks like another easy OSU victory. Michigan's offense is erratic and their defense has been very poor lately.

 

[ArmyJoe]

Well, if they replaced any parts, I can't tell the difference. It's still goes stiff during low-speed turns.

I set up a 20-foot weave course and a swerve course and I was hitting cones left and right. My left elbow is sore from wrestling with the Spyder.

I honestly don't know what to do at this point. If I can figure out how to disable the power steering, I may do that just to see if it's working at all.

 

[ataDude]

Pull both the front and rear fuses. That may work.

On the other hand, give it back to them and tell them to fix it right, this time.

.

Well, if they replaced any parts, I can't tell the difference. It's still goes stiff during low-speed turns.

I set up a 20-foot weave course and a swerve course and I was hitting cones left and right. My left elbow is sore from wrestling with the Spyder.

I honestly don't know what to do at this point. If I can figure out how to disable the power steering, I may do that just to see if it's working at all.

 

[ArmyJoe]

I pulled the 5 amp fuse in the front and went for a ride. Immediately, I could tell the handling felt the same, which means to me that my DPS is working intermittently.

I rode to a new 1/4-mile long 4-lane road that's about a mile from my house that was put in to support future development. Right now, it cuts through the middle of a cornfield and is a dead-end, so there's no through traffic.

When I got there, I put the fuse back in. I could tell the DPS was now working, so I set my throttle lock at 15 mph and started swerving back and forth. After 10 swerves, the DPS failed and the steering went stiff. I powered-off the Spyder to reset the DPS and tried again. After 36 swerves, it went stiff again.

I'll be calling Carlo Monday morning.

 

[Way2Fast]

For the life of me I can't understand what all the fuss is when the power steering doesn't work. It's only a 700 lb vehicle and the bars are not hard to turn with both fuses removed. The DPS doesn't give a quicker ratio to the steering. If you were hitting cones with it off you would be hitting them with it on. This forum must be composed of a bunch of weaklings. What if you had to spend an 8 hour tour driving a 4,000 lb jeep with NO power steering on a beach where the sand makes the steering so hard you lift off the seat when turning the wheel. (I did for several years before one was provided that had PS.) Then I could see a reason to complain.

 

[ArmyJoe]

Did you have to walk in the snow, uphill, both ways, to get to your jeep?

 

[truck 85]

well it is official it is the stearing box wont be in tell Dec 3 :gaah:hope they have one in stock and i dont have to waite like some ove you have. Even though the weather here is not good i still would rather ryde my spyder than drive my truck :2thumbs:

 

[ArmyJoe]

I took it to the dealer again yesterday. Even before they looked at it, I was told:

- there's nothing left to replace
- stiff turning is a characteristic of the Spyder
- maybe it's the VSS kicking in

They gave me another Spyder to ride, but I couldn't get it to do the same thing. The technician said he couldn't tell the difference in steering between the two bikes.

I called the overall service manager of the three dealer locations. He asked me to bring it to a second location and he'll have it transported to the third location, so his most-knowledgeable tech can look at it.

 

[Spydr in KS]

After 10 swerves, the DPS failed and the steering went stiff. I powered-off the Spyder to reset the DPS and tried again. After 36 swerves, it went stiff again.

.

I had a loose ground once that caused the DPS to turn off and kick in again randomly. I had loosened the ground under the seat and didn't have it all the way tight again. After someone here mentioned check all grounds I retightened and it has been fine since.

 

[ArmyJoe]

The regional service manager just called to let me know he'd like me to come in for a test ride. They adjusted the steering angle sensor and the steering torque sensor. I probably won't be able to pick it up until Wednesday (too cold today and too raining tomorow).

 

[ArmyJoe]

Wow, I didn't think it would take this long to make an update. When I picked up my Spyder on 12/9, I knew as soon as I pulled out of the parking lot that the power steering was still not working. I was so discouraged, I just updated my signature with, "Riding with intermittent power steering since 10/27/09."

That seemed to get some attention, because a few months ago, Carlo called me unsolicited. I told him about my issues and he agreed that stiff turning is not a characteristic of the Spyder. He suggested I take it to a different dealer. I knew I was coming to Georgia in June, so I bided my time.

I had the pleasure of finally riding with another Spyderlover this past Saturday. I was telling SpyderWolf about my power steering issues and asked if he'd take mine for a ride and give me his opinion. I think he was on it all of 30 seconds before he came back and told me there was no power steering. We stopped by Tomberlin Outdoor (3125 Washington Road, Augusta GA 30907) and talked to Chris, their Spyder tech.

Chris was very cordial as he listened to my backstory. He asked me to leave it when I could, but warned it was boat season and may take a few days to clear some space to work on the Spyder. I told him I'd be back in a few days.

Well, today was the day. I dropped it off and Chris told me it would probably be Tuesday before he got a chance to look at it. I asked him to take good care of me and told him I'll be reporting on their service on spyderlovers.com.

 

[happyspyder2039]

Given this time of year the air in the tires can go up and down often. I had the chk dps come on about 2 weeks ago and had just change rims a week prior to that without issue. went to shop for 6000 mile service. The shop told me there was a loose wire and it was ok. then about 3-4 days later I was out on a long ride when the :spyder2: would only steer straight easy. turn left or right was a bear. so back to shop only to discover that tire pressure was down to 10. I had checked a few days prior. I have learned not to trust the tire gauge that came in tool kit now!
keep psi at 17 works like a charm!

 

[ArmyJoe]

Well, it's been two days since Tomberlin said they'd look at the Spyder. Since it was a holiday weekend, I gave them a full calendar week before calling back to get a status.

When I called at lunch time, I spoke with the guy that runs the parts/service counter (I think his name may be Jeremy, but I'm unsure) and asked for an update. He put me on hold for a minute, then came back and told me there were 7-8 units in front of mine and it may be a few weeks before they can get to it. I asked why Chris (the Spyder tech) said he'd look at it Tuesday and he said he didn't know why Chris would say that. He then said I could come get the Spyder if I needed it, but that I would lose my place in line.

I asked for a best guess as to when they'd be able to look at it. He put me on hold again and came back a few minutes later to tell me they were pulling it into the shop now. I asked how I could go from 7th or 8th in line to next, but he said he didn't know.

I confirmed that I would be receiving a call later today after they hooked it up to BUDS and ended the call.

From this conversation I conclude one of two things: either they are disorganized or they remembered I planned to write about their service on this forum.

I'll post an update tonight if they call.

 

[bjt]

Well, it's been two days since Tomberlin said they'd look at the Spyder. Since it was a holiday weekend, I gave them a full calendar week before calling back to get a status.

When I called at lunch time, I spoke with the guy that runs the parts/service counter (I think his name may be Jeremy, but I'm unsure) and asked for an update. He put me on hold for a minute, then came back and told me there were 7-8 units in front of mine and it may be a few weeks before they can get to it. I asked why Chris (the Spyder tech) said he'd look at it Tuesday and he said he didn't know why Chris would say that. He then said I could come get the Spyder if I needed it, but that I would lose my place in line.

I asked for a best guess as to when they'd be able to look at it. He put me on hold again and came back a few minutes later to tell me they were pulling it into the shop now. I asked how I could go from 7th or 8th in line to next, but he said he didn't know.

I confirmed that I would be receiving a call later today after they hooked it up to BUDS and ended the call.

From this conversation I conclude one of two things: either they are disorganized or they remembered I planned to write about their service on this forum.

I'll post an update tonight if they call.

Been there... Sounds like that repair shop is "flying by the seat of their pants". It stinks when you lose trust / confidence in someone and this is exactly the kind of thing that makes me start doubting just about everything people in service tell me.

 

[SpyderWolf]

This is definitely not what I wanted to hear, and the main reason we stopped and talked to the tech in person before you leaving your Spyder with them. I am now wondering if the 7-8 machines in front of you, and it will take weeks, has become the standard answer for them to get people off the phone? As I told you, and was reported on this forum, that is what they did to GA-Spyder as well. :dontknow:

Giving them the benefit of the doubt, Chris sounded like he knew what he was talking about. It is obvious your power steering is not working, and hopefully he will say the same thing and get it fixed for you, unlike your dealership back home. My only concern for you now is how long it will take, as he said once he orders parts the Spyder has to stay there.

Best of luck, and please keep us updated. I am still looking for a dealer I can trust to work on my Spyder, and the numbers are dwindling rapidly between musicarcade's experience and your own with dealers close to me.

 

[ArmyJoe]

Sorry for the slow response...

They called Friday while I was in class and left a voicemail saying they found nothing wrong and to come pick it up. When I went in that afternoon, I talked with Chris and he said they found no codes or recalls and the test ride checked out OK.

There's only 5 turns between the dealer and my apartment and the DPS failed somewhere after the second turn.

I recall several people, including Chris, telling me some DPS problems were related to a bad ground. I had been having a "low battery" warning at idle for a few months and had been ignoring it. I read several threads here about how the stock battery was crap and wasn't designed to be laid on its side. I had planned to buy a replacement, but didn't have the money.

Thinking about the two issues, I put two and two together and hoped they added up to four. I got out the toolkit and tore off all the plastic. I then proceeded to disconnect, clean, and reconnect every connector and screw that I could find in the electrical system.

Since I had the afternoon off, I decided to go to St. Augustine, Florida for the weekend. I'm happy to say the DPS worked the entire time and I didn't see any low battery warnings.

Only time will tell if this is a permanent fix.