Stuck in 5th

[SpyderDon]

I reported a few days ago that I was going down the road and when I went to down shift....it wouldn't....it would not go out of 4th gear. What a PITA....lucky me, I was close to a dealer. Took it in and they discovered that there was some nutt loose, not the driver, an acutual piece of metal with threads on it attached to something. Got everything put back together and off I went. Happy camper, made ryde I was really looking foreward to....all was foregiven.

Today, beautiful morning, about to cross the York River into where else but Yorktown, VA. 2 lights before the bridge it happens again, this time it's 5th gear. I pulled into the side steet and scratched my ole head, what to do, what to do....equal distance home and closest dealership, same one that fixed it the last time....no brainer, head across the river. I know I was called some choice things, this is a busy road, not downtown LA but busy by my standards, Holiday Weekend, people wanting to be somewhere besides behind this funny looking machine unable to maintain posted speed limit. You see, the throttle does not work right....not fun.

While waiting for my wife, by the way it's her birthday, I watch the mechanic tear down the tranny of the other RT. Lots of parts, very impressive, first time I've seen an RT almost naked. Folks, I have been uncharestically nice throughout this entire ordeal but it's getting more and more difficult. Labor day weekend, two rydes I could have participated in with good friends, fellow Legion Riders.

I just re-read this. I didn't report that there was another 2010 RTS SE5 with the same problem, black even. His was stuck in 4th, maybe it's a good thing there isn't a 6th gear.

Bottom line....I can't believe this is something that only happens in this part of VA. Shirley.....I had a cousin named Shirley...surely there are others out there with the same problem. I had dreams of long trips next spring, even this fall, we have reservations in Front Royal the end of this month for a bike ralley in a small town outside Winchester, VA, we were going to ryde the Blue Ridge Parkway for about 75 miles on the ryde home, to be honest, it scares the hell out of me, I'm retired, my wife ain't. She has to be at work Monday morning.

Wish me luck, it't real tough being reasonable undrer these circumstances. As others have stated, we paid a lot of money for something that on occasion provides less than expected performance.

 

[ARtraveler]

I understand your issues. You pay a lot of money for something--and poof--it stops working.

Generally once the vehicle gets set up good the bugs get worked out. Give the dealer a chance to get it right--and you should be piling up the miles.

I have over 44,000 miles with no major problems so far.

 

[SpyderDon]

I ain't new to this rodeo, I've got over 11,000 miles on the beast. I had vibration trouble, it has been mostly resolved, it went from 5000 rpm to now it's 6000. I ain't bitched much but this is putting me and anyone that rydes with me in jeopardy. If you ain't experienced it you can't begin to understand it. Try twisting your throttle and nothing happens. I wonder what in the hell this is doing to all those over engineered thansmission parts, I go over 1 year day after tomorrow and I suffered from a bad case of dumb ass, in hind sight, I didn't buy the extended warrantee. Poor pitiful me.

Again, there has got to be more than two of us in the same dealership in Newport News, VA. There is power in numbers.....

 

[NancysToy]

I ain't new to this rodeo, I've got over 11,000 miles on the beast. I had vibration trouble, it has been mostly resolved, it went from 5000 rpm to now it's 6000. I ain't bitched much but this is putting me and anyone that rydes with me in jeopardy. If you ain't experienced it you can't begin to understand it. Try twisting your throttle and nothing happens. I wonder what in the hell this is doing to all those over engineered thansmission parts, I go over 1 year day after tomorrow and I suffered from a bad case of dumb ass, in hind sight, I didn't buy the extended warrantee. Poor pitiful me.

Again, there has got to be more than two of us in the same dealership in Newport News, VA. There is power in numbers.....

The standard Spyder warranty is two years, not one. At any time during that period you can purchase up to three more years of BEST warranty...although it will cost you $75 additional per year of coverage after 60 days from the initial purchase.

 

[dilyles]

I'm with ya

I have a 2011 RT, no major problems until today. I only have 1850 miles on it. Stopped at the light in the middle of town during lunch hour and I'm stuck in 3rd. Manage to get pulled off from light. The next light catches me.... it will not down shift, check engine light flashes, an E shows up where the 3 used to be, temp is now 113. Goes back to the 3rd and I manage to get another block to my job. I turn it off, let it cool, start it up and shift into 1st. I drive three blocks shifts up to 5th all is good. Turn around to head back to work and it will not pull off. It's like the parking break is on or something. Rev it up to 6000 RPM and it CRAWLS. Put it in reverse and it CRAWLS.
Called tow truck and had it towed the 50 miles to the dealer we got it from. Now it will be Tuesday before they can even look at it and we cancel our plans for the ride we were going on this weekend with friends. BTW the entire time its being loaded I have to listen to the tow truck driver tell me how I should have bought a Harley. :gaah::gaah::gaah:
Granted he was a nice guy and he was just messing with me but really, how do you defend something that has less than 2000 miles on it and is having to be loaded up on a tow truck?

Let me know what they find out on yours.

 

[SpyderDon]

Now there are at least 3, all on the east coast, two connecting states, go figure, maybe it's the air, we've had a major fire in the Dismal Swamp for quite some time, I don't know what part of NC you're from but maybe you're close enought that it is also infecting your spyder. Got to keep a sense of humor. Bottom line, I really love my Spyder, I juist want it back home so I can tuck it in, hate when it's in the hospital.

 

[smartin436]

Me Too!!!!!!!!!!

stuck in 4th today(2011 RTS SE5.......1234miles two weeks old)......trailering to dealer in the morning. I did get it in nuetral, then first and reverse to get it loaded with a 13mm wrench from under left side............Hope they can get her fixed tommorow...........If I can dodge the tropical storm, we'll get some riding in this weekend

 

[dilyles]

HAHA Yea I live right on the border of NC and VA in Roanoke Rapids. Just photographed a wedding in Yorktown a few months ago. The smoke as been bad here as well.
We had a tree fall on our garage during the hurricane, maybe it scared the Spyder so bad it messed in its transmission. :roflblack: I am really trying to stay positive but this has been one crazy week. 4 days without power, a tree in my house, and now my baby is broken down. Kind of getting hard to be patient or positive.

 

[SpyderDon]

We were without power for 5 days burned a ton of propane, generator was screwed up, afraid to work on it, it might stop running. At least it's now ready for the next thing Mom Nature throws our way. We had a tree fall on our lane, took out a couple of lengths of split rail fence, it too is cleaned up.

Now latest spyder report and at this point it ain't nice. The mechanic thinks it's the shift linkage it was machined wrong and the threads won't hold the nut. Now the bad news.....they are on back order until December. That's according to the info they have available on Sat morning. Of course they are closed Monday so they plan to call BRP Tuesday. Poor service manager, I burned his ears then asked forgiveness, he said I completely understand, told him I'm not mad at him but December is just plain not acceptable, this is my favorite time of year to ryde.....DAMN!!!!

Have to admit, venting helped just a little bit.....NOT! This will be another 12 pk night. I know it won't change anything, but at least it gives me an excuse to drink beer to excess. Got to look for anything to make this easier to get through.

 

[smartin436]

I dropped mine off today. They had a quick look at it and said she would have to stay. Trop storm Lee has us all wet so I wouldn't be riding but it just ain't the same without my Bright Red Baby in the garage!!!!

 

[SpyderDon]

Just got a call from the Service Dept of CCC. Said they actually talked to a parts person at BRP and the part I need will be shipped September 12th. That beats the hell out of December.....Another lost weekend, at least, but I can probably deal with that, I don't like it but what choice do I have. We're expecting rain all week anyway into the weekend so it's not a bad as it could be. Now if there are no changes I can deal with this.

 

[CyncySpyder]

Inquiring minds wanna know

Just got a call from the Service Dept of CCC. Said they actually talked to a parts person at BRP and the part I need will be shipped September 12th. That beats the hell out of December.....Another lost weekend, at least, but I can probably deal with that, I don't like it but what choice do I have. We're expecting rain all week anyway into the weekend so it's not a bad as it could be. Now if there are no changes I can deal with this.

So, what have they determined to be the cause of these issues? And what part is it that they had to order? C'mon, share the knowledge:dontknow:

The symptoms aren't exactly the same, but it does sound very similar to the issues that many of us are having with our throttle bodies.

Hope they get you up & running soonray:

 

[smartin436]

I was told it was a module of some sort, they ordered it from north of the border today, said that they did have it in stock and that hopefully by the weekend I could pick her up. When I go get her I'll get the full story and post it in detail for all to know.........

PS: My WS6 Trans Am is lonely in the garage without the spider to sit beside her......

So, what have they determined to be the cause of these issues? And what part is it that they had to order? C'mon, share the knowledge:dontknow:

The symptoms aren't exactly the same, but it does sound very similar to the issues that many of us are having with our throttle bodies.

Hope they get you up & running soonray:

 

[SpyderDon]

CincySpyder? You talking to me??? Shift linkage, all I know. Something about the threaded end screwed up, not machined properly. I'm a long way from being a mechanic and at this point in my life don't want to be, just want my Spyder back in the garage, it's just to emptyl.

 

[frank3]

Reading all this with great interest. Havan't noticed if anyone with this problem stated if their RT was manual or semi automatic transmission. At any rate, my 2010 RT had the same problem last year with 10,000 miles on it. It's a semi auto model. Stuck in 3rd gear. Dealer replaced valve body on trans. but that didn't fix it. Ended up being a shift solenoid. Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[SpyderDon]

Frank, mine is semi auto and I think the rest are too.

 

[smartin436]

mine is an SE5 Also

Reading all this with great interest. Havan't noticed if anyone with this problem stated if their RT was manual or semi automatic transmission. At any rate, my 2010 RT had the same problem last year with 10,000 miles on it. It's a semi auto model. Stuck in 3rd gear. Dealer replaced valve body on trans. but that didn't fix it. Ended up being a shift solenoid. Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[SPYDERJEFF]

Have your dealer check the Valve-solenoid (prt#420656635). If failed in some way it can cause unit to get stuck in gear. Does require a pressure test of the system (which may test ok). Also will need to test both solenoids (upshift and downshift), which may test good but there still can be a problem. The internal o-rings can fail which can't be tested because the pressure test is external only. Its an elimination process with this component. This part includes both solenoids,all o-rings and the valve so thus a failure could be any one of the items mentioned. Hope this helps.


Jeff

 

[Radthorne]

Have your dealer check the Valve-solenoid (prt#420656635). If failed in some way it can cause unit to get stuck in gear. Does require a pressure test of the system (which may test ok). Also will need to test both solenoids (upshift and downshift), which may test good but there still can be a problem. The internal o-rings can fail which can't be tested because the pressure test is external only. Its an elimination process with this component. This part includes both solenoids,all o-rings and the valve so thus a failure could be any one of the items mentioned. Hope this helps.


Jeff

Methinks you're going to be a very popular fellow on this here board... Many thanks for your input on this and other issues; it's very helpful, and reassuring, to have a dealer who knows and works on these machines able to offer detailed insights into these things.

 

[dilyles]

Methinks you're going to be a very popular fellow on this here board... Many thanks for your input on this and other issues; it's very helpful, and reassuring, to have a dealer who knows and works on these machines able to offer detailed insights into these things.

:agree: