steering, what else?

[jeuchler]

Yes, yes--another thread on the steering.

I have spent free time the last few days trying to read all the posts here on steering issues and the recall. I am sure I missed some, but this thread intrigued me: it seemed like these 36 posts were optimistic about the effects after the trip to the dealer. But that was then.

1. Now I don't have parents alive anymore, so feel free to be a mom and chastise me for not taking care of this much (8 months?!) sooner, but I am finally planning on bringing old PE 2929 in for the recall work. I guess I want to know how many of the folks who had the work done are still content with the results...?

2. Perhaps this requires a separate thread (or maybe I missed it if it exists) but...what's a nice checklist to try to make sure the dealer tech does?

examples

Laptop: plugged in, not running off battery.

Firmware flash: warning message-- rather than hit either choice (Ignore, Cancel) wait until it goes away on its own.
Hit nothing but a "YES"
Error code "DPS failure" -- just clear it, reset the torque sensor, reboot--no more errors.
Rezero...TPS?

OR...

Do all the DPS replacement posts from December & January make these null and void?

AND

Is the 4 or 5 page service bulletin available somewhere?

Thanks in advance, especially to all of you who HAVE been keeping current with this discussion, unlike me. :dontknow:

 

[NancysToy]

You make me feel good! I waited until December to have the recall done. Unfortunately, ice and snow have only let me ride it to the trailer, out of the trailer, and a couple hundred feet to the shed. Our dealer will not let you watch, or even question the tech, usually, but the ECM did require reflashing, even after they tried to wait it out. That was to get the additional, ECM (or engine performance) update to take. Separate warranty claim for the reflash. The steering is now noticeably different, easier and it no longer twitches at idle, from the little I rode. Doesn't like to turn without moving anymore. I'm hoping it is better, but in any case the recall was inevitable, unless you never want to visit a dealer again for any kind of service.

I think you have to divorce this from the DPS issues, to some extent. Many of those are happening after the recall programming, however, so the update may expose that weakness. If you get a DPS error upon starting or riding, after the update and the sensor calibration, you probably have a bad DPS...at least that's the theory for now. Only way to tell is to have the update done, then see how the Spyder likes it. May you have the very best of luck!

 

[jeuchler]

... but in any case the recall was inevitable, unless you never want to visit a dealer again for any kind of service...have the update done, then see how the Spyder likes it....

That's what I'm thinking and hoping, Scotty--thanks alot.

And you had better post a new thread soon...

 

[Neez]

I had to return to the dealer 3 times to get it done right. It kept flashing " Check DPS" after the update. Finally, they replaced the DPS unit. No trouble with the steering since, and I've ridden lots (no snow here). The only thing I don't like about it is, since the upgrade, if I do have a problem and decide to pull both fuses, "check DPS" will continuously flash.

 

[jeuchler]

I had to return to the dealer 3 times to get it done right. It kept flashing " Check DPS" after the update. Finally, they replaced the DPS unit. No trouble with the steering since, and I've ridden lots (no snow here). The only thing I don't like about it is, since the upgrade, if I do have a problem and decide to pull both fuses, "check DPS" will continuously flash.

Thanks, Neez--I guess for yet another dose of reality.

OK, so to begin the whining:

I put off the recall update untic I had a day off that the dealer was open.
Of course, 31 degrees and 6 inches of snow predicted, snowing heavily--a nice test of VSS as I rode the 30 miles to the dealer.

I hung out the 20 minutes it would take which turned into over an hour.

"There's a problem," the tech said.

I just laughed.

"We got the update half done."

(Can an update be "half done??")

So apparently I need a new DPS.

I asked the tech if he canceled through (clearing, waiting, etc) and he said it still kept throwing the error.

So I rode the 30 miles home (still snowing) with the dang "check DPS" scrolling and the engine idiot light flashing. It feels like I have no power steering now, and I sure had a ridiculous time trying to get the vehicle up my unplowed uphill driveway.

I wish I had printed out the dozens of pages of spyderlovers.com posts on the steering issue and brought them with me. In fact, I think I may just do that now and highlight every possible "trick" to try to get the update to take.

I think next time I may also bring with me phone numbers for Carlo, Lamont, Scotty, HDX, bjt, and anybody else who has had major BRP tech "conversations" and just hand the phone to the tech and let them talk to one of you...

I know many of you have had it worse. I guess I was just hoping I'd be lucky...

 

[Magic Man]

Wait! :yikes:

Did I looked shocked? :dontknow:

Now just repeat after me.....

"There is no elephant in the living room."

"There is no elepeant in the living room."

"There is no elephant in the living room"......

Must suck to have had a "working Spyder" until they touched it though. I feel your pain.

MM

 

[jeuchler]

Wait! :yikes:

Did I looked shocked? :dontknow:

Now just repeat after me.....

"There is no elephant in the living room."

"There is no elepeant in the living room."

"There is no elephant in the living room"......

Must suck to have had a "working Spyder" until they touched it though. I feel your pain.

MM

Ev

I am remembing the good ol' days of my '70 Plymouth that, when the idiot light would go on I would remove the bulb and keep on driving.

Excuse me, I have :cus: elephant poo to clean up.

 

[Roaddog2]

I think Paris Hilton is getting in the download

 

[Tom in NM]

Thanks, Neez--I guess for yet another dose of reality.
. . . . . . .

I asked the tech if he canceled through (clearing, waiting, etc) and he said it still kept throwing the error.

So, what comes between these two paragraphs? What is the shop doing?​

So I rode the 30 miles home (still snowing) with the dang "check DPS" scrolling and the engine idiot light flashing. It feels like I have no power steering now, and I sure had a ridiculous time trying to get the vehicle up my unplowed uphill driveway.

I hope they get this cleared up soon, you are going to miss a lot of snow riding.

Call Carlo. Get a case opened on this.

The only other thing I can guess at ( to add to your list ) is check all the fuses and battery connection - that "might" be another reason for the update only going half-way. The shop should have check that themselves.

Tom

 

[jeuchler]

The shop is just ordering a new DPS.

I should be happy I made it home with no limp mode.

I hope they get this cleared up soon, you are going to miss a lot of snow riding.

Call Carlo. Get a case opened on this.

Yeah, thanks, Tom--I will contact Carlo.

The only other thing I can guess at ( to add to your list ) is check all the fuses and battery connection - that "might" be another reason for the update only going half-way. The shop should have check that themselves.

Tom

See, this is why I started this thread before I went to the dealer.

I hate to have to tell someone their business ("Did you wait for the error code to disappear? Did you reset the torque sensor? Did you reboot? Was the laptop plugged in, or running off the batt? Did you check the fuses?")

But it's like (a little like) the time I had to have a septic tank filled and a new line connecting my old house with town sewer. The folks I hired said "Oh, we don't know what to do. There's ledge the last 15 feet and we can't get through it."

I, NOT being a plumber, suggested they subcontract an excavating ram to break through it.

"Oh, I guess we could do that."

So, what ELSE do I have to tell the tech to do next time when he replaces my "bad" DPS?

And I AM going to stand there and watch. Safety regulations? Fine. I will watch through the window and shoot video.

(And again, I do realize many of you deserve to be much angrier than me. I appreciate all the shared stories and advice.)

 

[DynamoBT]

If only you could do what I used to do with my older Ford F350 pickup truck. When the "Check Engine" light would not shut up for anything, even my mechanic said just put a piece of black electrical tape over it.

Worked for me, and the truck worked for Y E A R S like this with the light probably on underneath the tape. Tape held up well too. Only had to replace it once!!! :yikes: the tape that is!!

 

[Smylinacha]

Welcome to the DPS club!

 

[Sopher]

Hey John, What dealer? Send me a PM.

 

[jeuchler]

maybe you can sell it?

http://www.poopoopaper.com/

Oh, great. Thanks, HDX.

(I can just picture the chrome elephant poo now...)

 

[jeuchler]

Welcome to the DPS club!

It certainly is good company, Kim, but I am not a happy member of this club!

 

[jeuchler]

I think Paris Hilton is getting in the download

I guess she'd say "That's HOT!"

 

[jeuchler]

Hey John, What dealer? Send me a PM.

Sent---along with additional ranting...

 

[jeuchler]

If only you could do what I used to do with my older Ford F350 pickup truck. When the "Check Engine" light would not shut up for anything, even my mechanic said just put a piece of black electrical tape over it.

Worked for me, and the truck worked for Y E A R S like this with the light probably on underneath the tape. Tape held up well too. Only had to replace it once!!! :yikes: the tape that is!!

What, Marilyn, you mean you never had a "software upgrade" done on that F350??!:roflblack:

 

[NancysToy]

John,
I am sorry you got the short end of the stick, especially after you expressed your reluctance to go in and get the recall done. Bancy's Spyder balked, and needed the ECM flashed (even after the error cleared) before it would take the ECM update, but it had no DPS errors. Haven't had a chance to ride it to give it a real test, as yet. I hope you are on the road by the time the weather lets me get out. It would have been nice for the dealer to just give you a ride home. I don't envy you another questionable trip on a wounded Spyder. Better to have no power steering than the in-and-out or locking thing, though.

 

[jeuchler]

John,
I am sorry you got the short end of the stick, especially after you expressed your reluctance to go in and get the recall done.

No worries. you were right, Scotty, you had said that they would do the update the next time I brought it in anyhow, so it was unavoidable.

Nancy's Spyder balked, and needed the ECM flashed (even after the error cleared) before it would take the ECM update

...Yeah, see, I forgot to ask if they did that!

... but it had no DPS errors. Haven't had a chance to ride it to give it a real test, as yet. I hope you are on the road by the time the weather lets me get out. It would have been nice for the dealer to just give you a ride home. I don't envy you another questionable trip on a wounded Spyder.

And the more I drove it, the less I worried about it dropping into limp mode. Silly, but I got confident and started to think I don't mind the heavy steering.

Better to have no power steering than the in-and-out or locking thing, though.

Yep. Silly that we think this way, huh? nojoke

(So, I just sent off a long note to Carlo, for what it's worth.)