Parking brake light comes on & brakes lock up - UPDATE!

[Jhawker]

2014 RTL parking Brake failure

I am having the same problem with my 2014 RTL. The bike has been in the shop on three occasions for a total of 19 days, all in riding season. My dealer, Reno's Powersports in Kansas City has replaced the switch and the windshield motor twice. This time I made it 70 miles before the brake failed, wouldn't engage and the light stayed on for the duration of my ride. Next morning after it cooled down everything was fine. Love the bike but am becoming very uncomfortable riding it. The first two times they claimed they couldn't make it occur. The third time it happened when the mechanic was showing the service manager everything was okay. If you don't know what is wrong, how do you know it won't cause an accident and/or serious injury. All of my failures have occurred when riding or when the ambient temperature was hot (90 degrees +). To me this is a BRP issue at this point. How do I get their attention.

 

[First Timer]

I have had it happen twice now. Last fall was the first time. In shop for around 30 days while dealer tried to figure out the problem. ended up replacing a switch for the brake. The second time was just 3 weeks ago, same issue. currently in shop again being looked at now for 2 weeks and haven't heard anything as of yet. Spyder is a 2016 RT Limited with only 2600 miles on it. Also this time other types of electrical issues along with the parking brake, like 4 way flashers running, radio not turning off when you turn off ignition just to name a few. Also had the starter replaced this spring after it locked up, in the shop for 30 days that time also.

 

[jerpinoy]

I have good experienced with BRP and they helped me. Please be on their shoes, no one can do what we want done yesterday. I was patient and it works. Lawyers should be out of conversations, otherwise make sure you got money, a lot of money, for your lawyer. JMOC.

 

[rgamore]

Similar in all aspects

I'm waiting to get back down to south Texas in October to ride my 2015 RT-S SE6 again. I'm a Winter Texan so my riding time on the RT-S is October to May. Last season when I first returned to the Valley, my RT-S brake locked-up in the garage and wouldn't release. I went through all the reboots and everything, it was locked up. This RT-S was new and first put into service 3-7-2016, only had 3,000 miles on it. The dealer (F&T, MS) sent their mechanic out with their trailer, disconnected the brake cable, free wheeled the RT-S onto the trailer and back to the shop it went.

The most aggravating part of the whole issue was the dealer waiting to build his BRP order volume to get free freight. This didn't set well with me, because the RT-S was my main transportation. Waiting to building a parts order to get free freight set me off. As it turned out the mechanic said the problem was the brake motor and replaced it. More than 10 days waiting for a part that BRP should have sent out overnight is totally uncalled for and shows a gross disrespect for the customer, especially when under factory warranty and such low mileage.

Just before we left to return back home to Southern Michigan, the *** electric park brake started to act up again. If the RT-S is not parked on an exactly level surface, the brake will not release.

My RT-S is awaiting my return to South Texas. I am quite concerned that it will be laid up again waiting for parts that should be available overnight and at no extra cost while under the BRP warranty.

BRP, are you watching these posts, you owe us better service and faster shipping of parts!

 

[First Timer]

My dealer just called me last Friday. Still no answers on what the problems are with the parking brake and other electric issues. Down for its third week and still not resolved. Terrible customer service, and I agree that BRP should be a lot quicker at getting their parts to the dealers. My RT only has 2700 miles on it.

 

[HayRog]

Ten of us so far...

that I'm counting with this same problem. Just sayin'

Don't know what this really means.

I still have to get mine to the dealer and see if the problem can be replicated.

 

[First Timer]

FYI... for everyone on my parking brake issue. Talked with my Dealers BRP tech today. He stated he has been in contact with BRP Tech's about this issue. They stated they believe the issue is with the electric instrument cluster, said everything works thru that cluster before going anywhere. They are shipping a new cluster for my Spyder. Dealer said most likely 7 to 10 days is what it's been running to get parts from BRP. I know this for a fact from the last two times they ordered parts from BRP, always at least a week to get them in. Terrible customer support from BRP for their product, no reason it shouldn't be here in three days. So my Spyder's been in the shop from July 13th until who knows when for sure, but looks like another 30 days for a repair.

 

[HayRog]

First Timer,
Question - first thing that popped into my head when you mentioned the instrument cluster - do you have the Magic Mirror Mounts installed?

Not intending a heated debate here - just interested to know. A logical step in a trouble shooting process I thought.
I have absolutely NO PROBLEM with my Magic Mirror Mounts!

 

[First Timer]

No Sir, I do not have those mirror mounts, stock mounts.

 

[Jetfixer]

I have a '15 RTL and have not had this problem, but I have a question for those who have... Have any of you tried to raise or lower the windshield WHILE the parking brake problem is occurring? There is one post here about a dealer replacing the parking brake switch and the windshield motor, but no one mentions trying a new WPM module, which controls them both. If the WPM module was faulty, it probably would involve the drive motors for the windshield AND the parking brake.

 

[First Timer]

The first time I had the parking brake issue, the dealer replaced the parking brake control switch and motor. My windshield has always working with no problem. This go around, not only did my parking brake act up again by not releasing or hanging up, but I also have other electrical issues going on. When turning the ignition switch off, sometimes the light would flash, radio would stay on, and such. After talking with a BRP Tech about these issues, that's why they are replacing that module - to see if it corrects all the electrical problems.

 

[Pirate looks at --]

First Timer, We had a similar problem with our RT. My wife was ryding and came to a stop light. When she was ready to go the parking brake engaged and she could not get it to release. We took the key out, walked away, and it reset with no further issue. Happened up in the foothills when we stopped for a break. As luck would have it, we were on our way to a dealer where we were going to lead BRP demo rydes and get the oil changed at the same time. Now we were also getting an Orange screen saying Brake Failure! They hooked it up to BUDS, and turns out we were low on Brake fluid. They refreshed that and we have had no problems since! Go figure!

 

[HayRog]

Now we were also getting an Orange screen saying Brake Failure! They hooked it up to BUDS, and turns we were low on Brake fluid. They refreshed that and we have had no problems since! Go figure!

Wow !! if that's really a fix I'd be happy :hun:

 

[Pirate looks at --]

Not sure they are the same issue... but check the Brake Fluid!

 

[HayRog]

Not sure they are the same issue... but check the Brake Fluid!

Done - looks OK.

 

[First Timer]

Well, been two weeks that the parts have been on order and still no sign of them as of yet. The Spyder went into the dealer back on July13th. Took the dealer two weeks to figure out what and where the electrical issues and what was causing them, with the help of a BRP tech. I can understand the two weeks with the problem at the dealer because its hard to duplicate the issues. But two weeks and no parts yet . That is some of the worst dealer support and customer service from BRP .

 

[DesertRider]

Parking Brake issue

I have a '17 RT Ltd and I got out to ride today. The parking brake would not disengage. I turned off the bike, let it sit a minute, and tried again and it came off. I went for a mile or two ride, came home, and set the brake, but it wouldn't set... Parking Brake Failure I thought. I turned it off and the beeping started, so I started it up again and everything worked fine. I rode for the day and had no more issues. I have made an appointment at the dealer just to have it hooked up to the laptop to see what happened.

 

[Spyderitis]

WPM Module

I have a 15 RTL and have not had this problem, but I have a question for those who have. Have any of you tried to raise or lower the windshield WHILE the parking brake problem is occurring? There is one post here about a dealer replacing the parking brake switch and the windshield motor, but no one mentions trying a new WPM module, which controls them both. If the WPM module was faulty, it probably would involve the drive motors for the windshield AND the parking brake.

Jetfixer,
Good call! My wife's '15 RTS-S had a similar problem as the others a year ago, but the parking brake wouldn't release after ANY period of time, and the windscreen did NOT function as well. The first thing I tried was to check the fuse - it was blown. Replaced it, turned the key on, and it blew instantly. I disconnected the parking brake cable so she could take it to the dealer (remember to use wheel chocks if you do this, as it will roll on the slightest grade!). All this happened a week before we were leaving on a 4,000 mile trip to the Canadian Rockies! Anyway, the dealer diagnosed it as the WPM module, and it only took 3 days to get it from BRP, fixed it in a day, and got the bike back 2 days before leaving. That was last August, and it hasn't been a problem since. So good on BRP and the dealer for this one!

-Stoney

 

[DesertRider]

HAY Rog, seems to be several of us on here with the parking brake issues. According to BRP, they have had no complaints. Well I have had two incidents and the Tech at the dealer can verify each time and date of default. Very aggravating, but it's an issue that takes more than just clearing the codes. This problem needs to be addressed by BRP and fixed.

 

[HayRog]

Well, happened again :sour: parking brake wouldn't release. This time on the road in Oregon.

This time though I didn't panic, even though I was at a gas pump - again!!

Sat there and let it beep at me for 90 seconds until the brake released, but, the light remained blinking. Blinking stopped 30 seconds later and the rest of the trip was uneventful.

Dealer visit time asap.

BTW - 90 seconds feels like 9 minutes when there's a car behind you