No longer Bummed out on Spyder Repairs

[PCBeachBum]

A few weekes ago I put a post up on how bummed out I was with my Dealerships Service Dept.

Thursday morning I took my spyder to a custom cycle shop for repairs that I couldn't get at the dealership I bought it at why? This dealer lost the only Authorized Certified Spyder Tech they had and I found him at this Custom Cycle Shop.

He did some work on my Spyder before and taking it for a test ride, he said this needs more attention. He told me to get new Y gaskets, plugs and I added an o2 sensor mod from evoluzione cycle.

What he found were the Y gaskets were in pretty good shape and since I had new Honda Y gaskets, he replaced old with the new. Turning to the plugs, he pulled the rear one and it looked new and said its running lean, replacing it with the new one I bought. Than turned his attention to the dreaded front plug with the airbox in the way.

Getting the front plug out and looking at it, he said this one is burnt and because of the airbox was not replaced. He said you've been running on one cyclinder and if it fired at all it wasn't manytimes. He said this is where the gas fumes were coming from.

He asked me who was working on Spyders now at the dealership. When I told him, he gave me a double look. He said he was the only Authorized, Certified Spyder Tech they had a couldn't believe who I told him, was now attempting to repair Spyder's now.

I'm not going to get into who's attempting to do spyder repairs here in this post but it sickens me at how manytimes I took my spyder in for repairs at this dealership, only to leave 30 minutes later with a BUDS report, bill and No Fix to the problem.

I found the place I'm now taking my spyder to with the certified Spyder tech this dealer, let slip away.

After taking my Spyder for a test ride he came back and was checking something with the steering. He said over all it runs like a new spyder now, but caught something with the steering. He had already left the dealership when they replaced my DPS and wants me to bring it back, so he can check a few things out. :thumbup:

This Tech cares as does everyone that works there from the owner down, who can be found working in the service dept.. I'm so happy I stopped at this custom cycle shop, after leaving the dealer with the same problem, I took it over there with.

Leaving, I could feel a big difference in performance and now have a cycle shop to take my spyder to that will actually do the repair without hearing, "We couldn't find anything wrong with it and BUDS showed its running fine". :dontknow:

I now know, the dealers service dept knew it wasn't right but, didn't have the knowledge and technical experience to do the repair. So instead made up an exuse and sent the spyder owner on his way, to fend for himself.

What has to happen before dealerships put safety before profit? Who do I blame more than the dealers service dept? Myself! For taking the baloney the service dept. was giving me.

 

[SpyderWolf]

I am very glad to hear you have a trustworthy place you can take your Spyder for repairs now. I wonder how BRP will react to this news when you contact Carlo and let him know about it. I don't think at this point the custom cycle shop will be authorized to do warranty work, but perhaps that could be changed.

Whatever the case, BRP definitely needs to be made aware of the situation with the dealership and their lack of service on the product. :gaah:

I hope your Spyder continues to run great for you as well. :2thumbs:

 

[widowmaker2011]

Sounds like a great place for oil changes , tires , exhaust and routine stuff...........The biggest challenge is that without the BUDS system (Only a BRP dealer has that and only a BRP dealer can buy one and even if they somehow had one ($$$$$$$$$) it has to link via your dealer code to BRP in Quebec to operate and download the software which, they can't do any setting of the ecm or related things on your Spyder..
Say for instance he finds something in your steering . ANY repair or even adjustment he makes will require a reset of the steering angle sensors etc. and this can only be done connected to the BUDS system. Your absolute best bet is to find a BRP dealer other than the one you were dealing with for anything but routine maintenance. :gaah:

 

[Firefly]

Glad you're making some progress-- but I'm a bit confused(doesn't take much).

If he was able to check the front plug--- he should have been able to replace it.

Did he tell you why the front cylinder was missing?

 

[FANG]

Glad things are working out Brian.

 

[the nicko]

nice

 

[BajaRon]

Glad you're making some progress-- but I'm a bit confused(doesn't take much).

If he was able to check the front plug--- he should have been able to replace it.

Did he tell you why the front cylinder was missing?

I could be wrong but what I think he meant to say is the front plug had not been replaced before by the previous mechanic, as it should have been, even though it was not firing correctly. Probably because it was hard to get to.

But he did replace it and that's one reason it's running so much better.

 

[PCBeachBum]

I could be wrong but what I think he meant to say is the front plug had not been replaced before by the previous mechanic, as it should have been, even though it was not firing correctly. Probably because it was hard to get to.

But he did replace it and that's one reason it's running so much better.

BajaRon is right! The front plug was never replaced by the dealer and was burnt. The back plug looked new and was replaced. He did pull the front plug and replaced it with the new plug. Both cylinders now have new plugs.

I also had a heat problem on the left side. I couldn't touch the left side of the Spyder with my knee and felt the heat down my leg where the joint is. The heat in the pipe wasn't being pushed out because no exhaust was being pushed through the pipe from the front cylinder. I was considering leggings and a heat wrap but, have now taken them off my list.

Taking it back Friday to talk to this Spyder tech, he took it for another ride and coming back he parked it and was checking the steering, moving the handlebars back and forth while watching the wheels. They did not move and he said the DPS motor needs to be replaced.

I told him it was replaced in Oct. He said its a bad part and checking the numbers on this DPS unit, they are the same as the 2009, 2010 RS & RT DPS units. Part # 709400453

He said he could feel a jerking motion in the steering, something I didn't notice til I rode home Thursday and when ryding on Friday. I told him it sometimes felt that it was pulling right and he said he felt that too but, sitting still with the engine running he could feel it more and moving the handlebars about an inch in each direction the wheels should turn and they didn't move at all.

As for BUDS? I will have to take it back to this dealership for that and warranty work. But, with repairs not covered under the warranty, I'll take to this Spyder tech and for any other problem, to get his opinion.

 

[BajaRon]

Not being able to trust your authorized Spyder Dealer - Very Bad!

Finding someone that can work on your Spyder and knows what they are doing - Very Good!

Too bad they are not both located in the same place.

I would reconsider the heat wrap on the exhaust. It's not a fix for a dead cylinder but it sure makes life under the cowling much better. For what it costs it is a great improvement.

 

[PCBeachBum]

Not being able to trust your authorized Spyder Dealer - Very Bad!

Finding someone that can work on your Spyder and knows what they are doing - Very Good!

Too bad they are not both located in the same place.

I would reconsider the heat wrap on the exhaust. It's not a fix for a dead cylinder but it sure makes life under the cowling much better. For what it costs it is a great improvement.

I'll reconsider getting the heat wrap. I saw one on the service managers HD. She to worked at this dealership.

Talking to the Spyder tech, he said he doesn't like talking about previous employers but did say having a wife and kids, they come first and this dealership thinks everyone is expendable.

The last thing I want to start is a political debate but it does play into why this highly trained motorcycle and authorized spyder tech, left this dealership.

Reading other's posts from Spyder owners about the service they are getting. I'm beginning to think it is the reason this tech told me, they to are not getting the service they should at their dealerships. If they still exist, like in SpyderWolf's situation.

In no way do I blame BRP for what dealerships do. BRP puts out a product and trains personal on how to repair these highly technical machines and for a dealership to put profit ahead of safety, is a crime.

This custom cycle shop does the opposite. They put the safety of the rider first before profit. My spyder was there for 5 hours, with just about one hour for cooling and the rest for training, since it was the first spyder they worked on.

The spyder tech did help and checked all work on it and test rode it, like he does with all other bikes. If it doesn't feel right to him, its taken back in for adjustments and it is tested again before, it is returned to the owner.

Because of the time it took for the other tech and owner to get there first experience with a spyder, they charged me just less than 3 hours of labor at $65.00 an hour. They also made further adjustments to the labor costs, cutting my payment even more.

I never saw my dealership test ride my spyder or any other bike they sell. They did ride it over from across the street from the service area to the service managers office area in the main building and I can only guess that was there test ride, all of about 100' if that!

 

[SpyderWolf]

Definitely keep taking it where you currently are for service, as it is obvious they are looking out for you and will take good care of you and your Spyder. As far as warranty work, I would be looking for the next closest authorized dealer. nojoke

 

[PCBeachBum]

Definitely keep taking it where you currently are for service, as it is obvious they are looking out for you and will take good care of you and your Spyder. As far as warranty work, I would be looking for the next closest authorized dealer. nojoke

After getting the service I got on Thursday Michael, there's no way I'll take it back for repairs that are not covered under the warrenty.

Just getting back from a ride I'm now feeling what the Spyder tech felt in the steering. Being some distance away from him and when he was checking the steering while parked. I didn't see the wheels move. But they did with just a slight turn of the handlebars. What I noticed in my driveway was the steering was making a high pitched squeeking noise and that's what he picked up.

While riding I moved the handlebars in the same was I was in the driveway and was getting a wobbling jerking feeling, just as he explained it to me on Friday.

The next closest dealer I know about is in Pensacola about 90 to 100 miles from here. Instead I will write Carlo this week and see what he recommends I do.

Back in the early 80s I worked for Ziebart and was sent off to school to learn how to drill out panels, frames and spray. Every 6 months Ziebart sent out inspectors to checkout the Ziebart dealers and those spraying cars. I got high marks and was recommended for an inspectors job and took it. It was more money and kept me on the road. Once I hit a dealer in a state, the rest of the dealers were notified that an inspector was instate.

I would than leave that state and hit another one in another state and by doing this, they never knew when or where I was going to show up.

I would think that BRP would be doing the samething to see who is working on Spyder's. Who knows they may be doing it but, if they were, why is this dealership getting away with a non trained spyder tech pretending to know what he is doing for repairs?

Seeing that front plug was proof to me that they would rather cut corners than do the job right and send you on your way, with the same problem.

 

[SpyderWolf]

After getting the service I got on Thursday Michael, there's no way I'll take it back for repairs that are not covered under the warrenty.

Just getting back from a ride I'm now feeling what the Spyder tech felt in the steering. Being some distance away from him and when he was checking the steering while parked. I didn't see the wheels move. But they did with just a slight turn of the handlebars. What I noticed in my driveway was the steering was making a high pitched squeeking noise and that's what he picked up.

While riding I moved the handlebars in the same was I was in the driveway and was getting a wobbling jerking feeling, just as he explained it to me on Friday.

The next closest dealer I know about is in Pensacola about 90 to 100 miles from here. Instead I will write Carlo this week and see what he recommends I do.

Back in the early 80s I worked for Ziebart and was sent off to school to learn how to drill out panels, frames and spray. Every 6 months Ziebart sent out inspectors to checkout the Ziebart dealers and those spraying cars. I got high marks and was recommended for an inspectors job and took it. It was more money and kept me on the road. Once I hit a dealer in a state, the rest of the dealers were notified that an inspector was instate.

I would than leave that state and hit another one in another state and by doing this, they never knew when or where I was going to show up.

I would think that BRP would be doing the samething to see who is working on Spyder's. Who knows they may be doing it but, if they were, why is this dealership getting away with a non trained spyder tech pretending to know what he is doing for repairs?

Seeing that front plug was proof to me that they would rather cut corners than do the job right and send you on your way, with the same problem.

I hope you are able to get your steering issue sorted out quickly. Hopefully contacting Carlo will bring you some good results.

I have no idea whether BRP spot checks their dealer network or not. I do know there are some dealers who have had the Spyders pulled away from them, but am not sure what the real cause of that change was. It sounds to me like this dealership could be another one on the verge of having the product pulled once BRP finds out what they are doing. :dontknow:

If I knew the dealer in Pensacola was a good one, I would have no problem with ryding there for warranty work. As it stands right now, I may need to start looking outside of SC and Georgia to find a decent dealership.

 

[Wheeler~]

Simply put, you have to do what's best for the bike! It would be great if this tech could get certified at his new location. BRP might need to take that into consideration!!!!

 

[PCBeachBum]

Simply put, you have to do what's best for the bike! It would be great if this tech could get certified at his new location. BRP might need to take that into consideration!!!!

I'll write to Carlo and see what he recommends. I wrote him once while they were out of the office until July 6 and guess it got buried in all the other emails.

I know sometimes it takes weeks to get an answer. I also know that Carlo and other BRP reps check this site for problems and will make contact.

What has me worried now is will I experience another lockup of my steering? That's the main issue now and I'll wait until I hear from Carlo as to what I should do.

Thanks to all for you imput, its appreciated.:2thumbs: