SE-5 shift lock-up.

[shunkmanitu]

My SE-5 has experienced several shift failure incidents. The first occurred yesterday during a 2/3 throttle stoplight launch and attempted 3500 RPM shift to second gear. I pulled over to the side of the road and found the transmission locked in first gear. The shift button had no effect either up or down. Only after I shut the Spyder down and allowed it to reset and then restart did it again function.

Again today after steady running at about 37 mph in fourth gear it failed to down shift as I came to a stop. This was about three miles into a sedate ride. I was lucky that I had a place to pull off and again cleared the system. Spoke to the Tech at Pensacola Motor Sports and he said he has had the same problem reported on another SE-5. Apparently the analysis showed no failure code on the other machine and he has no answer from BRP as yet.

As I returned home and turned into my subdivision it again required shut-down/reset to get back into first and restore normal function.

 

[drifter]

I had the exact same symptoms today and my bike later in the ride would not shift out of 3rd. I had to turn it off and on a couple times before it would go into neutral. Lets us know what your dealer says.

 

[garganos]

We had this situation with our demo. Possibly a power issue to the Transmission Control Module (TCM) or a faulity TCM. Our TCM actually failed. We replaced it and have not had an issue for over 1200 miles. Bring it to your dealer and the sould be able to duplicate it and verify that it is the TCM. We verified it by running it with our computer connected and seen that the TCM was not communicating with the ECM.

 

[shunkmanitu]

I will run over to PMS romorrow and take a copy of your message with me. Thanks! Seems from other fourms that it is becoming a common problem.

On top of this I just found out that Thursday I have to go in to the clinic to have my dialysis fistula "roto-routered" for the third time. That will keep me off Iktome for a couple more days.

 

[pphantom538]

I've had the same problem at least on every ride. Total about 500 miles. Will bring to dealer to address.

 

[NancysToy]

I suppose I shouldn't mention this, and it may not apply, but shifting at 3500 rpm seems a bit short. On our manual transmission Spyder I shifted at 3500, and found that it hit the next gear at 2500 or below. Wouldn't this cause an SE5 to try to immediately shift back to the lower gear? I have never ridden an SE5, and this may not apply at all, but it is something to think about.
-Scotty

 

[shunkmanitu]

Speed, not RPMs-----

I suppose I shouldn't mention this, and it may not apply, but shifting at 3500 rpm seems a bit short. On our manual transmission Spyder I shifted at 3500, and found that it hit the next gear at 2500 or below. Wouldn't this cause an SE5 to try to immediately shift back to the lower gear? I have never ridden an SE5, and this may not apply at all, but it is something to think about.
-Scotty

Speed, not RPMs seem to be the controling factor on the down shifts. Only had one incident where the Spyder shifted back down. Rounding a corner behind a car I shifted into second and was exiting at about 30 mph when the car slowed way down and as I chopped the throttle and hit the brake it went instantly back to first.

Shifting and throttling up at around 3500 doesn't lug the engine and gives plenty of power for most urban trafic. Otherwise you have to wait an extended period before followning a a car from a stop due to the rapidly increasing acceleration as the RPM rise. Anything much more than that seems to draw too much attention from law enforcment.

As with a note from another dealer and info from PMS in seems to be a computer communications glitch. Either it is the sensor units or as PMS said on another unit they could not even get the computer to speak to the analizer.

 

[drifter]

150 mile day today and happy to report no gear lock-up. Just a heads up.

 

[shunkmanitu]

Maybe it is like Catfishin'

150 mile day today and happy to report no gear lock-up. Just a heads up.

You just have to hold your mouth right!:2thumbs:

What I am unhappy about is the fact that BRP seems not to believe there is a problem. That, and the fact that the Spyder Team does not answer e-mail.

 

[drifter]

Shunkmanitu, what exactly did BRP or your dealer have to say about the shift locking? :shocked:

 

[shunkmanitu]

Two letters to Spyder Team with NO REPLY!

Shunkmanitu, what exactly did BRP or your dealer have to say about the shift locking? :shocked:

They have yet to tell my dealer of any problem let alone any fix. When I last spoke to the shop they were still working on thier own.


MY FIRST LETTER:
My SE-5 has experienced several shift failure incidents. The first occurred yesterday during a 2/3 throttle stoplight launch and attempted 3500 RPM shift to second gear. I pulled over to the side of the road and found the transmission locked in first gear. The shift button had no effect either up or down. Only after I shut the Spyder down and allowed it to reset and then restart did it again function.

Again today after steady running at about 37 mph in fourth gear it failed to down shift as I came to a stop. This was about three miles into a sedate ride. I was lucky that I had a place to pull off and again cleared the system. Spoke to the Tech at Pensacola Motor Sports and he said he has had the same problem reported on another SE-5. Apparently the analysis showed no failure code on the other machine and he has no answer from BRP as yet.

As I returned home and turned into my subdivision it again required shut-down/reset to get back into first and restore normal function.

MY SECOND LETTER:
Took Iktome into the shop (Pensacola Motor Sports) this AM for the shift problem and the 600 mile service. It was mentioned to me by another rider that 3500 RPM might be short shifting causing it to seek a lower gear and possibly "confusing" the computers. I don't believe this is the problem.

Speed, not RPMs seems to be the controlling factor on the down shifts. Only had one incident where the Spyder shifted back down unexpected. Rounding a corner behind a car I shifted into second and was exiting at about 30 mph when the car slowed way down and as I chopped the throttle and hit the brake it went instantly back to first. This did not confuse the machine!

Shifting and throttling up at around 3500 doesn't lug the engine and gives plenty of power for most urban traffic Otherwise one has to wait an extended period before following a a car from a stop due to the rapidly increasing acceleration as the RPMs rise. Anything much more than that seems to draw too much attention from law enforcement

As with a note from another dealer and info from PMS it seems to be a computer communications glitch. Either it is the sensor units or as PMS said, on another unit they could not even get the computer to speak to the analyzer. Any information or solution you might have on the subject should be forward to them as soon as possible.

It was mentioned that it might take several days to resolve the problem and get my Spyder back to me. This really is not acceptable, If a fix is available BRP should do everything it can to expedite any information or parts to the dealer's service department. While there I notice that the Red SM-5 I originally ordered finally showed up about SIX weeks after it was promised on my original order. It was only a stroke of luck and a loving wife (that added the extra funds) that kept BRP from loosing the order. I was with-in a half hour of canceling my order when Jimmy called and said the loaded SE-5 was available if I wanted it.

I know you have me hooked now but customer satisfaction should be BRP's Number One Priority. A minor glitch should not keep me from from having the neatest ride in the DaVita Dialysis Center parking lot for any extended period of time. I have purchased the shop "VIP" service contract that gets the Tryke back to me within 48 hours for normal routine service as I rely on it for my main source of transportation. Keep your riders happy and we will brag to anybody that will listen about our Spyders!! I have owned my AWD Subaru Forester for four years and nearly fifty thousand miles and have never been more than six hours without it due to any service or repair. Please don't tell me that BRP would not like to have the quality reputation like Subaru has built with their dedicated owners over the years. That same reliability made sure that my previous three bikes since 1987 were Hondas and good service from Pensacola Motor Sports has kept my money there.