WaltH
Senior Member
When I was at Spyderfest, I began to get the fault code “check engine” on my 2011 RT. At first, it would disappear with a simple restart. Then it started to get progressively worse. It put me in Limp Mode a couple of times and just plain shut down the engine four or five times. On the RT you don’t get the descriptive codes like you do on the GS/RS. All it said was “check engine”. When it was malfunctioning, start-up rpm’s would be very high at around 2800 rpm and would not go down below about 2200 rpm. The check engine message would appear, and if I didn’t shut down the engine, the computer would sometimes do it for me. Normal start-up would be around 2,000 rpm quickly decreasing to around 1,400 rpm. My remedy was to turn the ignition off and on several times and then hope for a normal start-up. On the way home, it became increasing more difficult to get a normal start-up.
My neighbors at the Wagon Wheel were Jack and Nancy (unknown last name) from Chattanooga. They told me about a fabulous Spyder dealership in Cartersville, Georgia called Extreme Propulsion. Jack said that if I ever had any problems in the vicinity of Northern Georgia, I should call these people. By the time I got to Tennessee, I was beginning to think there was a chance I would not make it home in Naples, Florida. So! Cartersville, here I come.
Jack and Nancy were right. This is a great dealership. I wish there was something like this in Naples. The owners are a husband and wife team – Ledgerwood (forgot first names). They didn’t make a penny from me, but they treated me like I was their best customer – very enthusiastic and helpful.
The B.U.D.S. computer indicated a fault code for throttle failure that was something like “failure to reset idle speed”. This is an approximation. There were many repetitions of this code. There were no others. The dealer called Kurt at BRP and explained what was happening and what the codes were. Kurt said to replace the throttle body. I have since learned I am not the only one with this problem. The dealer just happened to have a new throttle body (2010, but same part number). I was very surprised because I remember when in the earlier years dealers often didn’t even have O-rings and crush washers for an oil change. It was about 3:00 pm by this time. They said the service department would remain open until the job was finished, if I wanted them to do the work. I elected to push on because I wanted the work done in Kissimmee, Florida (200 miles from home) in case follow-up work was needed. We were not at all confident the throttle body alone would be enough to solve the problem. The dealer said if I broke down in Georgia, he would come and get me. I did make it home.
A new throttle body was installed yesterday. The butterfly valves (throttle plates) on the new one snap back in place when you move them. The butterfly valves on the old throttle body do not do this. They stick. It appears that my problem was sticking throttle plates. So far, so good, everything seems to be back to normal for now. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I intend to get the RT on Saturday.
I am leaving for a cross-country H.O.G ride at the end of the month. Our first stop is New Orleans. Maybe I should have added a snorkel on the new throttle body.
My neighbors at the Wagon Wheel were Jack and Nancy (unknown last name) from Chattanooga. They told me about a fabulous Spyder dealership in Cartersville, Georgia called Extreme Propulsion. Jack said that if I ever had any problems in the vicinity of Northern Georgia, I should call these people. By the time I got to Tennessee, I was beginning to think there was a chance I would not make it home in Naples, Florida. So! Cartersville, here I come.
Jack and Nancy were right. This is a great dealership. I wish there was something like this in Naples. The owners are a husband and wife team – Ledgerwood (forgot first names). They didn’t make a penny from me, but they treated me like I was their best customer – very enthusiastic and helpful.
The B.U.D.S. computer indicated a fault code for throttle failure that was something like “failure to reset idle speed”. This is an approximation. There were many repetitions of this code. There were no others. The dealer called Kurt at BRP and explained what was happening and what the codes were. Kurt said to replace the throttle body. I have since learned I am not the only one with this problem. The dealer just happened to have a new throttle body (2010, but same part number). I was very surprised because I remember when in the earlier years dealers often didn’t even have O-rings and crush washers for an oil change. It was about 3:00 pm by this time. They said the service department would remain open until the job was finished, if I wanted them to do the work. I elected to push on because I wanted the work done in Kissimmee, Florida (200 miles from home) in case follow-up work was needed. We were not at all confident the throttle body alone would be enough to solve the problem. The dealer said if I broke down in Georgia, he would come and get me. I did make it home.
A new throttle body was installed yesterday. The butterfly valves (throttle plates) on the new one snap back in place when you move them. The butterfly valves on the old throttle body do not do this. They stick. It appears that my problem was sticking throttle plates. So far, so good, everything seems to be back to normal for now. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I intend to get the RT on Saturday.
I am leaving for a cross-country H.O.G ride at the end of the month. Our first stop is New Orleans. Maybe I should have added a snorkel on the new throttle body.
