sputtering after using outdoor cover ????

[baxter2215]

recently purchased brp outdoor cover. starting using cover after i ride while spyder is parked at work during the day. at the end of the day when i uncover to go home spyder seems to sputter and cough with almost no power for the first few miles and doesnt really recover till the next ride.

has this happened to anyone else? have tried ride home after not using cover for the day and it runs perfectly.

any ideas what might be the cause? have had the evap canister and hose recall done at dealer. only mod to our spyder is the hindle exhaust.....and i do have the strong fuel smell after a ride like some have noted.

 

[- Tim -]

Hi Baxter2215,

I'm just speculating here, but my guess would be that heat is building under the cover while it's on. When you start your bike after taking the cover off the AITS, or Air Intake Temperature Sensor, is providing the elevated temperature to the PCM for air density and fuel mixture calcs. Because the measured and actual temperatures do not match very well, the fuel mixture is off until the sensor and surrounding body panels come back in line with the actual air temperature. This could explain why the Rotax smooths out after a mile or two. Like I said, this is just my best guess... there are others here with much more first-hand Spyder experience who may chime in.

Tim

 

[baxter2215]

makes sense......especially with the hot texas days here!

thanks for your input

 

[Firefly]

Are you waiting for it to warm up to 1-2 bars before taking off?

 

[fastfraser]

Try using a 1/2 cover or a quick shade cover .

 

[baxter2215]

really havent paid attention to two bars when warming up....usually just give it around 3 or 4 minutes (time to stow away cover, get helmet and gloves, put stuff in trunk).

will try to monitor this next ride and see the results.

thanks :2thumbs:

 

[boborgera]

Hi Baxter2215,

I'm just speculating here, but my guess would be that heat is building under the cover while it's on. When you start your bike after taking the cover off the AITS, or Air Intake Temperature Sensor, is providing the elevated temperature to the PCM for air density and fuel mixture calcs. Because the measured and actual temperatures do not match very well, the fuel mixture is off until the sensor and surrounding body panels come back in line with the actual air temperature. This could explain why the Rotax smooths out after a mile or two. Like I said, this is just my best guess... there are others here with much more first-hand Spyder experience who may chime in.

Tim

:agree:I think you hit the nail on the head.:thumbup:

 

[sabunim5]

I agree. Also, I believe that the ECU only samples ambient pressure and temp at startup, not continuously, so if the map chosen is incorrect, it will stay that way until the next restart. Might want to try giving it a little time to acclimate before starting it the next time the cover is removed.

I agree. I live in Florida and use the full cover every day that I commute. I have absolutely none of the symptoms you describe. But - I stow the cover and don all my gear before starting the Spyder. This only takes a few minutes, if that long, but it may be why I'm not experiencing the symptoms you describe. I hope it is that simple for you. Good Luck :thumbup:

 

[Firefly]

really havent paid attention to two bars when warming up....usually just give it around 3 or 4 minutes (time to stow away cover, get helmet and gloves, put stuff in trunk).

will try to monitor this next ride and see the results.

thanks :2thumbs:

You really should let it warm up 1-2 bars. As far as the "ECU only sampling ambient pressure and temp at startup vs. continuously" .... I be interested to see technical proof either way.

 

[boborgera]

recently purchased brp outdoor cover. starting using cover after i ride while spyder is parked at work during the day. at the end of the day when i uncover to go home spyder seems to sputter and cough with almost no power for the first few miles and doesnt really recover till the next ride.

has this happened to anyone else? have tried ride home after not using cover for the day and it runs perfectly.

any ideas what might be the cause? have had the evap canister and hose recall done at dealer. only mod to our spyder is the hindle exhaust.....and i do have the strong fuel smell after a ride like some have noted.

:dontknow:
Just an after thought on my part, Some Spyders had the temperature sensor not installed in the right spot. Maybe? that's the problem.
If it's NOT in the right spot it might take a little time for it to catch up
to the actual temperature.

 

[Campverdefela]

Here in AZ. sitting out in the sun for awhile lets say around 100 degrees when first started the bike temp will show 120 and for a mile or two it will run rough so I believe the trapped heat is your problem but probably nothing much you can do short of parking in the shade.

 

[JJW SpyderRider]

Here in AZ. sitting out in the sun for awhile lets say around 100 degrees when first started the bike temp will show 120 and for a mile or two it will run rough so I believe the trapped heat is your problem but probably nothing much you can do short of parking in the shade.

:agree: My '09 Spyder GS does the same thing, rough until the temp reads closer (but never within 10 deg) to the ambent.

P.S. Did you notice that the BRP outside cover is not to be used outside unless covered!:hun: I assume the cover is not UV protected very well. :dontknow:

 

[Firefly]

Here in AZ. sitting out in the sun for awhile lets say around 100 degrees when first started the bike temp will show 120 and for a mile or two it will run rough so I believe the trapped heat is your problem but probably nothing much you can do short of parking in the shade.

Good point. This would lead me to believe the ECU samples the air all the time.

Since I have the O2 mod I really don't notice any sputter problems--- ever--- but you are 100% correct about the temp change after letting the bike sit for an extended period. I don't know how many times mine has shown a really high temp after sitting for awhile.

 

[Firefly]

:dontknow:
Just an after thought on my part, Some Spyders had the temperature sensor not installed in the right spot. Maybe? that's the problem.
If it's NOT in the right spot it might take a little time for it to catch up
to the actual temperature.

Good thing to check for sure-- but I think the main issue is not letting it warm up to 2 bars before taking off--- and 3-4 minutes generally isn't quite enough for that.

Adding the 02 mod will take away any stutter as it makes you run richer---- I can take right off on my Spyder without the warm up (but I don't do it very often) and it runs great. It didn't do this before the O2 mod. I also run a JB---so that comes into play too.

Mine is in a heated building all the time, so I often take it from 70 degrees climate controlled out into 50 degrees or colder (and damp) and don't have any such problems--- and yes I start it inside.

All we have out here is speculation about how all this works--- perhaps someone that really knows how the Spyder ECU and temp sensors work can chime in. In the meantime I would try warming to 2 bars, check the position of the sensor, etc. and see if things change.:thumbup:

 

[boborgera]

:dontknow:

Good thing to check for sure-- but I think the main issue is not letting it warm up to 2 bars before taking off--- and 3-4 minutes generally isn't quite enough for that.

Adding the 02 mod will take away any stutter as it makes you run richer---- I can take right off on my Spyder without the warm up (but I don't do it very often) and it runs great. It didn't do this before the O2 mod. I also run a JB---so that comes into play too.

Mine is in a heated building all the time, so I often take it from 70 degrees climate controlled out into 50 degrees or colder (and damp) and don't have any such problems--- and yes I start it inside.

All we have out here is speculation about how all this works--- perhaps someone that really knows how the Spyder ECU and temp sensors work can chime in. In the meantime I would try warming to 2 bars, check the position of the sensor, etc. and see if things change.:thumbup:

:dontknow:
I'Ve said this a number of times before, Every Spyder runs a little different.
My garage is not heated, In the dead of winter it will go down in the 30's.
Outside temp's 15/20f, I just pull out and go no warm up is needed.
Now in July i had to get a new ECU.; Now when the temp's go down to 45/50f the engine act's like it has a choke[en richer] and will idle at 19/23 hundred RPM,s till 2 bars. I can still pull right out with no problem.

 

[QuadManiac]

If it is due to heat build up under your cover, you could rig a small fan, powered by a solar panel, forcing ambient air under the cover to reduce the build up.