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New Spyderlovers Member with Water Intrusion and DESS Code Problems

Paul H

New member
We have owned our 2015 RT Limited since July of 2015. It is still under warranty. This summer we were on a 3000 mile ride through the western US and went through a heavy rain thunder storm in WY. This was our first big thunder storm that we rode through with the Spyder. After we got through the storm, we stopped for fuel. When I tried to start the engine, I got a DESS key error message. We then had our bike and motorcycle trailer towed about 100 miles to a great dealership in Spearfish, South Dakota. This shop accepted our Spyder in as a priority. After 2 days in the shop, they removed water from within two fuse boxes, the wiring harness and all connectors to the computers. The operating computers were not operating properly because of the water intrusion. The computers thought the bike was running, in first gear, even though it was turned off. The DESS module was not working and would not accept a re-boot or reprograming for the keys. It took 1.5 days to dry out the water at that shop. After the trip, on July 12th, we took the Spyder to our local Can Am dealer in Bend, Oregon (Pro-Caliber Motorsports) to have them determine the cause and remedy of the water intrusion, seal failures and DESS failure. They gave it back to us unrepaired stating they could not find anything wrong. I asked them to contact BRP service support to determine a fix so this did not happen again in rain, which they did not do. Then 3 days ago, I washed the Spyder with a garden hose. Nothing special. The next morning we again discovered a DESS error code and the keys did not work. I had it towed to Pro Caliber Motorsports of Bend and showed them that the Spyder would not start and had a DESS error message on the display. It sat for 3 days waiting for a tech to run a diagnostic. By then it had dried out and was again starting. Even though it was towed into the shop with the DESS error code and none of the keys working, BRP warranty wanted them to now re-create the problem by hand washing the Spyder before authorizing warranty action and repair. Of course the one washing did not re-activate the code. BRP still will not authorize the warranty work to be done at this time until it comes back into the shop again for the same problem. This is absurd. I left the Spyder at the dealership under the same warranty work order and told them to re-contact BRP for authorization to proceed under the factory warranty. I have requested that the wiring harness, the harness connectors, and the back of the fuse boxes be sealed or replace. In addition, after researching the problem, I have requested that also the DESS module be replaced with an updated version and the ignition switch be replaced to avoid another DESS error problem.

I have contacted BRP customer care with documentation of all the mentioned incidents asking for assistance and authorization to repair the defects. I am waiting for a reply. I do not know think this water intrusion problem is a unique problem to our bike, or has occurred to others. BRP was great to work for on another warranty problem when I first bought the Spyder and it had a defective shifter module so I am a little surprised at their inaction on this issue. Anyone with advise or have a similar problem with water intrusion and the DESS problem?

I will update my post when I hear back from BRP customer support. Thanks Paul
 
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There were some repair "campaigns" (recomended fix not mandatory) for fuse boxes on some 13's& 14's I know of & the DESS is a ever On-going mess:barf: as far as both problems at same time I have not seen here:dontknow: anyway. However to try & recreate the water problem at the dealers, was it you washing like you did at house or a tech just hosing off:lecturef_smilie:. Narrowing down the variables will help the recreation if you can at all. Either case the tech should talk with the techs that first found problems & maybe they can pinpoint the culprit :thumbup: togeather
 
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