SE5 Stuck in gear with engine off

[Dudley]

I agree and I'm not one to let them off the hook for long. Instead of gearing up to sell TWICE what they first expected (and lowering the value to us first owners), they should have stuck to their guns and only made what they planned on.

When we originally couldn't get simple parts like oil filters, my first thought was that there WERE plenty of oil filters - but BRP opted to put them into new bikes instead of having the dealers be able to stock them.

As far as I'm concerned - every Spyder on the dealers showroom floor should be considered an emergency spare parts machine.

If I were BRP I would not have sold a single Spyder until all of the dealers were stocked with everything they need for service. They could have easily done this if they had kept to their original plans of making only 1,500 PE units, or even after they increased it to 2,500 PE's - which ended up more like 2682 or something. They made over 5,000 Spyders that first year.

End of Rant - Love my Spyder.

Having previous experience with Honda Motorcycles, a new bike can never be considered an emergency spare parts machine. I am going out on a limb and point the finger to the dealer. With modern technology we have now, no part from BRP should take longer than 5 days to get. The service and the parts department of a dealer can make or break a dealer. If you have to have a part ordered by the parts department, DEMAND a copy of the order. It is your right. Dealers seem to blame BRP for all their delays in customer service. That's an age-old game. When the Spyder hit the market, each dealer was probaly given a game plan to set up to provide after-the-sale service. BRP does not "provide" dealers with the parts they need. The parts have to be purchased and stocked by the dealers. If simple things like oil filters are not shelf items, it's not BRP's fault, it's the dealer's.

 

[bone crusher]

Having previous experience with Honda Motorcycles, a new bike can never be considered an emergency spare parts machine. I am going out on a limb and point the finger to the dealer. With modern technology we have now, no part from BRP should take longer than 5 days to get. The service and the parts department of a dealer can make or break a dealer. If you have to have a part ordered by the parts department, DEMAND a copy of the order. It is your right. Dealers seem to blame BRP for all their delays in customer service. That's an age-old game. When the Spyder hit the market, each dealer was probaly given a game plan to set up to provide after-the-sale service. BRP does not "provide" dealers with the parts they need. The parts have to be purchased and stocked by the dealers. If simple things like oil filters are not shelf items, it's not BRP's fault, it's the dealer's.

Dudley,

Actually, BRP had parts that they couldn't get through customs to the dealers...this is the reason many SE5s went without help for so long...the dealerships simply couldn't get the parts they needed...my dealership, which is smaller and family owned, explained this to me. I trust them as they've always been 100% forthright with information.

As far as BRP goes, they probably should've held the bikes until they were really glitch-free. I'll use the example again of my Lexus hybrid...Lexus held these things for over a year (from 2005 until 2006) until they were 100% sure that they'd work right...they produced such a good vehicle that the hybrid is better than the non-hybrid with performance and reliability...BRP could've done the same with the SE5...

The situation we're in now could've been avoided had the dealerships AND BRP found a better solution to the parts issue...they could've found U.S. producers for the parts that were problematic...let's hope they do something soon enough for those in need...we all have Spyders, whether manual or auto...and they should all work well!

 

[Firefly]

Having previous experience with Honda Motorcycles, a new bike can never be considered an emergency spare parts machine. I am going out on a limb and point the finger to the dealer. With modern technology we have now, no part from BRP should take longer than 5 days to get. The service and the parts department of a dealer can make or break a dealer. If you have to have a part ordered by the parts department, DEMAND a copy of the order. It is your right. Dealers seem to blame BRP for all their delays in customer service. That's an age-old game. When the Spyder hit the market, each dealer was probaly given a game plan to set up to provide after-the-sale service. BRP does not "provide" dealers with the parts they need. The parts have to be purchased and stocked by the dealers. If simple things like oil filters are not shelf items, it's not BRP's fault, it's the dealer's.

What I meant was that if I was BRP - I would run things differently. Dealers could not get oil filters for months from BRP. This was nuts - I found them online and had to take one in to my dealer for them to do the 1st oil change. Many other people had the same thing happen. BRP didn't have enough parts to go around - because they were too busy selling more new bikes with those parts - in my opinion.

I seen dealers take parts off a demo bike on the floor and use them to get someone by until their part comes in. BRP should have a demo/example bike at every dealer so the service techs can tear it down and play with it - in my opinion. That's the way I would do it.

No part should take over 48 hours in my opinion - no matter where it's shipping from.

 

[Dudley]

Dudley,

Actually, BRP had parts that they couldn't get through customs to the dealers...this is the reason many SE5s went without help for so long...the dealerships simply couldn't get the parts they needed...my dealership, which is smaller and family owned, explained this to me. I trust them as they've always been 100% forthright with information.

As far as BRP goes, they probably should've held the bikes until they were really glitch-free. I'll use the example again of my Lexus hybrid...Lexus held these things for over a year (from 2005 until 2006) until they were 100% sure that they'd work right...they produced such a good vehicle that the hybrid is better than the non-hybrid with performance and reliability...BRP could've done the same with the SE5...

The situation we're in now could've been avoided had the dealerships AND BRP found a better solution to the parts issue...they could've found U.S. producers for the parts that were problematic...let's hope they do something soon enough for those in need...we all have Spyders, whether manual or auto...and they should all work well!

Well, we could hash this forever, but bottom line is where we are today. How can any manufacturer hold back anything in the transportation or sports market until all the glitches are cured until we the riders ride the machines to find what the glitches are? We are the glitch finders. But again why just the SE5s having customs problems? Are SE5 Spyder parts used to make WMDs? Once again, DEALERS are responsible to stock needed parts, not BRP. If a dealer knows his needs of rapid turn-over parts, he will have them stocked for the customer. A good stock department keeps you on the road. It's just that simple. A dealership has no excuse for blaming BRP...if no orders go to BRP, no part stocks go to the dealer. If a dealer can't afford to keep the correct part stock on hand, the customer suffers and the manufacturer gets the blame.

 

[Firefly]

I don't mind being a glitch finder for minor things, but something like these steering problem should never had made it out of the factory.

 

[spyryder]

I don't mind being a glitch finder for minor things, but something like these steering problem should never had made it out of the factory.

You can be sure BRP was proud to bring this machine to market. They don't want to see it having problems either.

 

[NancysToy]

I don't mind being a glitch finder for minor things, but something like these steering problem should never had made it out of the factory.

BRP spent many thousands of hours, over many years, with the prototypes, demos, and test machines. I have a friend that went to the "Official Launch" and they rode for hours, only to come back to be debriefed for a couple of hours at a time by BRP's engineers. I suspect that some of these problems just never showed up, despite rigerous testing and thousands of miles. Sometimes, pre-production parts are not exactly the same as those obtained from the suppliers after full production begins. It is a pity, but it is a fact. I'm sure BRP feels just as caught up in this, surprised, and disappointed as any of its customers. We all have to just sit back and deal with it. If that is not satisfactory, we will have to bid the Spyder goodbye, and move on. There are no other choices.
-Scotty

 

[Firefly]

Well, I've never had such a safety item go bad on a car - in particular one that was not recalled. I've never heard of any auto on the US market in the past 30 years with possible steering lockup.

There are now 7 filings on this at the DOT, and you know there had to be many more that either didn't file, or don't know there is a problem. Some people have been riding for thousands of miles (one guy 12,000 miles) without ANY power steering - they just thought that was how the Spyder steered.

Without us that have had the problem putting major pressure on BRP, this wouldn't have been addressed as quickly.

There should be a world-wide recall to have all Spyders checked for this steering failure before anyone else crashes or dies.

 

[ptoemmes]

Well, I've never had such a safety item go bad on a car - in particular one that was not recalled. I've never heard of any auto on the US market in the past 30 years with possible steering lockup.

C5 MN6 (manual) Corvettes - possible also some early C6s - generally happend on startup but I have heard of a few occassions while in motion. It happened to my wife on her since departed C5. I am pretty sure there was not a recall - much to many vetters chagrin.

Was actually a column lock malfunction and not a steering system issue per se - so you are probaby correct.

A DEFINITE safety issue none the less...

Pete

 

[ataDude]

You're right there. I had to buy a bypass for the electronic lock to prevent the problem from recurring... before the factory fix. The fix? A bypass.

.

C5 MN6 (manual) Corvettes - possible also some early C6s - generally happend on startup but I have heard of a few occassions while in motion. It happened to my wife on her since departed C5. I am pretty sure there was not a recall - much to many vetters chagrin.

Was actually a column lock malfunction and not a steering system issue per se - so you are probaby correct.

A DEFINITE safety issue none the less...

Pete

 

[bjt]

BRP spent many thousands of hours, over many years, with the prototypes, demos, and test machines. I have a friend that went to the "Official Launch" and they rode for hours, only to come back to be debriefed for a couple of hours at a time by BRP's engineers. I suspect that some of these problems just never showed up, despite rigerous testing and thousands of miles. Sometimes, pre-production parts are not exactly the same as those obtained from the suppliers after full production begins. It is a pity, but it is a fact. I'm sure BRP feels just as caught up in this, surprised, and disappointed as any of its customers. We all have to just sit back and deal with it. If that is not satisfactory, we will have to bid the Spyder goodbye, and move on. There are no other choices.
-Scotty

:agree:

Those prototype machines might have some prototype parts that might be hand built or hand modified to work on the new machine. Once those various parts go into mass production, there may be a deficiency in the way they are built. I don't know if the Gear Position Sensor, the Steering assembly, etc. were off the shelf parts from whoever makes them but that could be one possible explanation of why there weren't many issues during testing but they have popped up in the early model products.

 

[Firefly]

Yeah, and BRP also had many parts made in places like Vietnam.

Can't Canada or the US make anything over here anymore?

 

[bone crusher]

Yeah, and BRP also had many parts made in places like Vietnam.

Can't Canada or the US make anything over here anymore?

We can...but the companies can't afford to pay $40.00/hr to move widgets around and then offer retirement packages that will cover you for 3 generations...

 

[mickc]

SE5 problems

I had a situation when I backed my Spyder out of the garage to load on the trailer for the trip to Daytona, and shut it off in Reverse. After hooking up the trailer I then got back on the Spyder and NO START. No matter what I did it wouldn't start. Called the Dealer and got transfered to the shop. I was told to "ROCK" the Spyder back and forth. Right then and there I realized I was still in trouble. The Spyder has a centrifical clutch in first and reverse, rocking it would just be an exercise for my upper body. In desperation I opened the Owners Manual and found the information about using a 13mm wrench to get the transmission back into service. It worked and got loaded for the trip. No problem in the 300+ miles riden in Daytona. Got home and with the Spyder still on the trailer I made arrangements for the 600 mile service at 890 miles. A few days later took the Spyder to the dealer, 50 miles away. Pushed the Spyder off the trailer and it would not start to drive it into the service department. Every combination of feet, hands buuton pushing would convine the electrons to flow. Had to call helpers to push it to the service department. I explained the problem and left to wait till all the work was done. When done the service manager showed me they could not find any problems and started repeatedly in gear 4 times. There were no problems recorded on the computer that was checked during the service. Well its working just fine now. Also, my muffler, (stock) has a burn spot and the dealer has ordered a SS cover for the muffler under warrentee. I enjoy my SE5 very much, but am concerned about the gremlins that lives in the transmission. I needed the SE5 because I cannot shift with my left leg.

 

[retread]

One thing to remember here, the prototypes are hand built, mostly; the production unit parts are made by the lowest bidder.

john

 

[pathfinderjoe]

I'm not trying to add fuel to the fire or take a side in your discussion about M5 vs. E5. However, after gleaning info from this site about the problems with the E5 I decided to go with the manual. There were other factors involved in making my purchasing decision but the reports of problems with the E5 was a major factor. Love riding the spyder. Some day I'll ride when it's dry and warm.:thumbup:

 

[bone crusher]

I'm not trying to add fuel to the fire or take a side in your discussion about M5 vs. E5. However, after gleaning info from this site about the problems with the E5 I decided to go with the manual. There were other factors involved in making my purchasing decision but the reports of problems with the E5 was a major factor. Love riding the spyder. Some day I'll ride when it's dry and warm.:thumbup:

Yeah...I keep getting picked on for pointing out all the problems with the SE5...there is no question that it is more troublesome and costing everyone more money (in regards to the warranties)...BRP really needs to get going on the problems...I went with the SM5 because I wanted to have the control of the clutch and feel the machine work...I equate this to driving a manual car vs. an auto...anyone who has driven both knows there is quite a difference in feel of the ride....IMHO, manuals are much more fun to drive...

Whether someone owns the SM5 or the SE5, they're both great bikes...those with special needs have the option, unlike with any other bike, to get an auto...BRP has done great with offering this product...they just have to do a better job with making sure they work as well as advertised...people are dropping a lot of money for these bikes and they should not be having problems. Spring is here and we still read of people whose bikes are in the shop for weeks on end...

 

[bone crusher]

I had a situation when I backed my Spyder out of the garage to load on the trailer for the trip to Daytona, and shut it off in Reverse. After hooking up the trailer I then got back on the Spyder and NO START. No matter what I did it wouldn't start. Called the Dealer and got transfered to the shop. I was told to "ROCK" the Spyder back and forth. Right then and there I realized I was still in trouble. The Spyder has a centrifical clutch in first and reverse, rocking it would just be an exercise for my upper body. In desperation I opened the Owners Manual and found the information about using a 13mm wrench to get the transmission back into service. It worked and got loaded for the trip. No problem in the 300+ miles riden in Daytona. Got home and with the Spyder still on the trailer I made arrangements for the 600 mile service at 890 miles. A few days later took the Spyder to the dealer, 50 miles away. Pushed the Spyder off the trailer and it would not start to drive it into the service department. Every combination of feet, hands buuton pushing would convine the electrons to flow. Had to call helpers to push it to the service department. I explained the problem and left to wait till all the work was done. When done the service manager showed me they could not find any problems and started repeatedly in gear 4 times. There were no problems recorded on the computer that was checked during the service. Well its working just fine now. Also, my muffler, (stock) has a burn spot and the dealer has ordered a SS cover for the muffler under warrentee. I enjoy my SE5 very much, but am concerned about the gremlins that lives in the transmission. I needed the SE5 because I cannot shift with my left leg.

Argh...sorry to hear about this...keep the pressure on BRP...as far as the muffler goes, make sure the gaskets are replaced and they're not just covering the spot...

 

[Firefly]

I can't believe BRP didn't have the foresight to put some kind of lever to force the bike into neutral - or have some kind of manual clutch lever for this type of situation.

 

[wftb]

i bought a used spyder roadster se5 with 200 km on it , 2009 model .ran it 140 km with no problems and once i got used to it was loving the bike . then today the bike would not start cause i left it in first .would not shift in to neutral . read the manual and did the wrench thing . got it going , road to port elgin wal mart , gave it too much gas , chirped the rear tire in reverse and it shut down .would not restart and could not shift into neutral .out with the wrench again .now , every time i try to shift in to neutral i have to slap the paddle shifter about 5 times .i thought i tried stepping on the brake as i hit the starter button but i only got clued in to that trick because my wife googled the problem .but i have no warranty .i looked at the linkage while manually changing gears with the wrench .looks like i could bolt on a manual shifter to save future headaches .any one done this ?