Transmission problem -stuck in gear

[stant52]

Well, I've had this happen 3 -4 times . My 2010 Spyder Rt will stick in gear ,usually 1st . Cure is to shut it off and remove key from the ignition for a minute .Start back up and everything is fine , Each time has probably been 3-4 weeks apart. Dealer says I probably need to replace the entire left side control with the paddle shifter. Your thoughts ??

I checked oil level, all good . But now It seems to stick in gear every time I drive it up the street or move it in my yard ! Have to shut off ,remove key and restart .

Could it be paddle shifter (entire left side control) gear position sensor, or clutch solenoid ?? Can I pull a code ? 2010 RT audio and convenience , 15,000 miles ,recently serviced

Thanks , Stan

 

[RICZ]

Are you the one on FB I suggested try adjusting the brake cable?

 

[stant52]

no, brake cable ?? how is that connected to transmission issue ?

 

[pegasus1300]

Have you looked down at at the shifter lever on the shaft that comes out of your transmission? If this gets loose it will wear the splines on the lever out very quickly. It is very soft metal. It is very easy to reach up under the metal plate on the left side and see if it feels loose.

 

[RICZ]

no, brake cable ?? how is that connected to transmission issue ?

Sorry....I mistook you for someone else.

 

[stant52]

Have you looked down at at the shifter lever on the shaft that comes out of your transmission? If this gets loose it will wear the splines on the lever out very quickly. It is very soft metal. It is very easy to reach up under the metal plate on the left side and see if it feels loose.

Would that cause a "check transmission " light ? would that have anything to do with the shutting it off and resetting computers to get it to work ?

 

[Snowbelt Spyder]

Would that cause a "check transmission " light ? would that have anything to do with the shutting it off and resetting computers to get it to work ?

Hey Stan. No and No. I don’t think you’re resetting computers anyway. Let’s start from the top. Start up the machine, leave the parking brake on, and do what Pegasus said. Operate the paddle shifter into 1st and back to N multiple times. See if you are getting movement of the shifter linkage each time you operate the paddle. You may need an assistant to operate the paddle shifter while you watch unless you have the left side panels off. If the linkage operates each time with the paddle, then the problem isn’t electrical or hydraulic, it’s mechanical with that shifter arm and shaft.

However, if it shifts into 1st ok, but nothing happens when trying Neutral, kind of one and done, kill the engine with the kill switch. It’s still in 1st gear. Don’t worry about the key and all that other stuff. Put the kill switch back to the RUN position, put your foot firmly on the brake, and press the start button to restart the motor. By design, the motor will start then immediately shift itself into Neutral. Let’s see if that happens.

If that happens, it’s able to shift into Neutral, just maybe not with the paddle shifter. Now you have the motor running in Neutral again, try to shift into Reverse. If it does not go, it’s probably the downshift switch on the paddle shifter. You can go out for a ride to confirm. Does it upshift ok. Can the machine auto downshift itself fine when coming to a stop. Can you downshift at all with the paddle shifter.

All this will take less time to do than it took to write it out. Let us know.

 

[stant52]

Hey Stan. No and No. I don’t think you’re resetting computers anyway. Let’s start from the top. Start up the machine, leave the parking brake on, and do what Pegasus said. Operate the paddle shifter into 1st and back to N multiple times. See if you are getting movement of the shifter linkage each time you operate the paddle. You may need an assistant to operate the paddle shifter while you watch unless you have the left side panels off. If the linkage operates each time with the paddle, then the problem isn’t electrical or hydraulic, it’s mechanical with that shifter arm and shaft.

However, if it shifts into 1st ok, but nothing happens when trying Neutral, kind of one and done, kill the engine with the kill switch. It’s still in 1st gear. Don’t worry about the key and all that other stuff. Put the kill switch back to the RUN position, put your foot firmly on the brake, and press the start button to restart the motor. By design, the motor will start then immediately shift itself into Neutral. Let’s see if that happens.

If that happens, it’s able to shift into Neutral, just maybe not with the paddle shifter. Now you have the motor running in Neutral again, try to shift into Reverse. If it does not go, it’s probably the downshift switch on the paddle shifter. You can go out for a ride to confirm. Does it upshift ok. Can the machine auto downshift itself fine when coming to a stop. Can you downshift at all with the paddle shifter.

All this will take less time to do than it took to write it out. Let us know.

I'll check it out after work but it's was getting stuck in 1st gear ,first. It just started getting stuck in reverse also, and it even stuck in neutral last night . Until last night it only occurred I think 3 times ,always stuck in 1st. Last night I checked oil level and it was down just a little so I topped it off . Then I rode up and down the alley by my house and almost every time I stopped or backed up it stuck in reverse or 1st or neutral !

 

[Snowbelt Spyder]

Well, Stan, that's important, additional, amplifying information. So basically, your failure to shift is not favoring one direction or the other - i.e. upshift or downshift. However, the most common reported problem, other than oil level, is the failure of the shift arm on the shift shaft. So, when you get a chance, go ahead and check that out first. Rule that out before focusing on the left hand switch assembly. If the shift arm checks out good, and if you can get up to speed and get into some higher gears, see if it ever has any issues with automatically downshifting as you come to a stop. Let's you know if the issue is isolated to just the paddle shifter or if it's more universal. I was wondering one thing though, did this ever happen before its recent service? BTW, there probably aren't any active codes. You don't have any warning lights lit signifying that.

 

[stant52]

Well, Stan, that's important, additional, amplifying information. So basically, your failure to shift is not favoring one direction or the other - i.e. upshift or downshift. However, the most common reported problem, other than oil level, is the failure of the shift arm on the shift shaft. So, when you get a chance, go ahead and check that out first. Rule that out before focusing on the left hand switch assembly. If the shift arm checks out good, and if you can get up to speed and get into some higher gears, see if it ever has any issues with automatically downshifting as you come to a stop. Let's you know if the issue is isolated to just the paddle shifter or if it's more universal. I was wondering one thing though, did this ever happen before its recent service? BTW, there probably aren't any active codes. You don't have any warning lights lit signifying that.

Oh I have "Check transmission" orange light comes on and off

 

[stant52]

Well. I checked everything . No mechanical problems found. I took it for a ride and it shifted up thru the gears fine and down shifted by itself with no problems.. I up shifted and down shifted manually and everything works . So,,,,,, I'm leaning toward the paddle shifter is going bad ??? Thoughts anyone ??
Problem only occurs randomly , it was always just 1st gear it would stick in. But Tuesday was the first time it stuck in reverse and once in neutral.. Has Never happened in a higher gear, never 2,3,4,5,. But when it does occur I get an orange "check Trans" light warning in display.
THis all started last fall ,this spring I thought I cured the problem with oil change and changing filters, engine and transmission filters. It's occurred about once a month until the other night when it did it about 4-5 times ,always 1st or reverse and neutral once.
Gonna call my dealer and see if I can get it there and have them put computer on it and give me a definite answer.
Thanks

 

[Peter Aawen]

I wouldn't count on getting a 'definite answer' stant. :dontknow:

There have been a few 'phases' of these handgrip issues occurring over the years, some models/years being slightly more prone than others (IIRC, 2010 RT's amongst them ) but for most, there's been NO 'definite indication' of exactly what the problem really might be, just an annoyingly random issue in the handgrip giving you problems with the paddle shifter, or for some it was the lights, others the mode button, the windscreen, park brake, or whatever; sometimes it's even been difficulties with starting the Spyder. :shocked: But for most who've got as far as the 'I dunno, let's replace the whole Control Module' from the dealer after the other more obvious issues have been excluded, that's been the solution to their transient problems! hyea:

Sorry, but I think that's probably close to where you're at! Chasing it further down the rabbit hole is probably just :bdh:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Well. I checked everything . No mechanical problems found. I took it for a ride and it shifted up thru the gears fine and down shifted by itself with no problems.. I up shifted and down shifted manually and everything works . So,,,,,, I'm leaning toward the paddle shifter is going bad ??? Thoughts anyone ??
Problem only occurs randomly , it was always just 1st gear it would stick in. But Tuesday was the first time it stuck in reverse and once in neutral.. Has Never happened in a higher gear, never 2,3,4,5,. But when it does occur I get an orange "check Trans" light warning in display.
THis all started last fall ,this spring I thought I cured the problem with oil change and changing filters, engine and transmission filters. It's occurred about once a month until the other night when it did it about 4-5 times ,always 1st or reverse and neutral once.
Gonna call my dealer and see if I can get it there and have them put computer on it and give me a definite answer.
Thanks

I had a 2011 RSS that only had occasional issues that you have described ... it totally baffled the Tech at the dealership .... While I was at SpyderFest in 2014 I was able to have a genuine BRP Tech look into the issue ... He discovered 240 old codes in the Spyders computer, related to the " Paddle shifter ". ... He told me to have the dealer Tech contact Him at BRP ... The tech did so, and the issue was then fixed under warranty ... Mike :thumbup:

 

[Mikey]

I has a 2011 RSS that only had occasional issues that you have described ... it totally baffled the Tech at the dealership .... While I was at SpyderFest in 2014 I was able to have a genuine BRP Tech look into the issue ... He discovered 240 old codes in the Spyders computer, related to the " Paddle shifter ". ... He told me to have the dealer Tech contact Him at BRP ... The tech did so, and the issue was then fixed under warranty ... Mike :thumbup:

What did they do to it Mike?

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

What did they do to it Mike?

They re-placed the entire assembly ..... Mike :thumbup: