2012 Etec issues - post what you have had happen (not what you have heard)

[takethebounce]

I just wanted to start a thread on common issues people have experienced with their 2012's. If you have had something with your 2011 feel free to share as well, but most of the 2011 issues where due to people not being familar with the Etec, break in and low altitude symptoms. Most of the 2012 issues appear to be electrical related, minor, but a nuisance.

It would be nice to keep anything non-etec out of the discussion, we don't need to hear how great another brand of sled is working either. I'll start off but posting up what I have had an issue with and I see more people have had the same.


Sled - 2012 Summit X 154, only mod - full SLP exhaust after break in.

Issue 1 Several times during break in I had the check engine light (CEL) come on when riding slow, possibly the sled loading up. I chose to shut it down and light went away. Eventually I chose to run the sled. The sled did not protect itself and the light went out and sled ran great. No stored codes at that point.

Issue 2 - When I first started riding the sled I noticed the DESS tether felt like it did not connect well on the post. Once in awhile I would get the check key warning. I managed to lose the original key and the backup has not been an issue.

Issue 3 - Undervoltage code with CEL - this one appears to be common on X and Freeride sleds that do not have estart. The funky black switch that controls hi/low beam can allow both the hi and low beam bulbs to have power, putting too much draw on the system. Even switch from hi to low for a moment can do this, we duplicated this with the BUDS hooked up. Also the handwarmer swtich can sometimes be positioned not quite in the off postion, this too can allow too much amperage being drawn.

To verify it was only the headlight system causing this, I simply unhooked my lights. Not one voltage code or CEL since. My opinion is that if the sled has estart, this problem is less likely to happen as the battery would compensate for the amperage requirement with this scenario.

I have heard of other issues, I won't copy what I heard but if you would share your experience and what has since (if at all) corrected it, that would be great.

 

[bobsledder]

12 etec 154x
no codes, no issues. It has just worked perfect so far 1000km

 

[MATTIAC]

2011 summit X 154 MBRP Can, DJ clutch kit

1800 KM on it now with original belt, two different times this season EE_PROM2 popped up on the gauges. didn't effect anything, but popped up.
Gas Gauge is useless. Can fill it right to the brim, burp it a couple times, top it up and guage will only show 3/4 bars, after 100 KM riding it pretty hard showed no bars and gas light was on. Hard to know actually how much fuel i had left without being at a gas pump

 

[jaredszakacs]

2011 summit x 163 w/rpg stage 1 kit and shockwave helix no issues at all on this sled the odd little EE_Prom code but goes away after couple seconds. little bit of a bog hesitation put new clutching and pipe kit in and hesitation is gone. 4250 km's and finally on my second belt. seems like my oil gauge is really sensitive if I have 1/2-3/4 of a tank of oil left and tip it on its clutch side the low oil light will come on I usually just top my oil tank up evry couple rides seems to work. gas gauge on this one works well I found the sled if you are riding trail bit of bowls and trees I had nearly 150 km's before the light came on if i'm riding deep powder like i was in revy 2 weekes ago I was doing on average 70-85 km days and burning about 22-25 liters of fuel with the gas gauge reading half tank or a bar under. I do have a minor issue when i switch from low to hi beam it will sometimes make the sleds gauges go into restart mode were the gauges got peak rpm then back to zero then works fine something definately fishy in the wiring on these sleds.

 

[sar]

2012 Freeride 137 w/ 2.25" track, no estart. Stock

Issue #1: Had HID lights installed before ever riding the sled. Thought that all of the hesitation I was getting was normal (and to a point I guess it is). After breakin the hesitation did not go away and there was a terrible low end bog. When hammering the throttle the engine would bog once and usually twice on the way up to 8000rpm's. Could hardly get the skis off the snow. Unhooked my headlights and the problem was gone! Funny because HID's should draw less power. Stock headlights reinstalled and the machine rips with one exception (see issue #2)

Issue #2: With the thumb warmer on there is a very slight (and I stress slight) hesitation while accelerating. With thumb warmer off the machine is as smooth as butter.

Issue #3: For a brief period I was experiencing very high rpm's (8400-8600) and could only get them down to 8200-8300 with the clickers and was hitting the rev limiter. Perhaps the machine just came out of breakin when this happened because now it will go up to 8000rpm and fall to 7600rpm. Haven't tried adjusting the clickers since the loss of rpm has happened though. Been sick since I figured out the low end bog issue.

 

[thegeneral]

2012 163X with 3" and E-start

this only happened 3 times. When I shut down the sled randomly,the starter motor was spinning. Not engaged , just the shaft turning

the only other issue i've noticed is that my throttle lever seems to always bring up in the handlebar.

 

[takethebounce]

2012 163X with 3" and E-start

this only happened 3 times. When I shut down the sled randomly,the starter motor was spinning. Not engaged , just the shaft turning

the only other issue i've noticed is that my throttle lever seems to always bring up in the handlebar.

I would deffinetly look into the starter motor spinning if it happens again. If its spinning when you shut off the sled, would that not lead you to believe it was spinning all along? Burn out the starter pretty quick if that is the case. The bendix was returning, but starter still activated. Not good.

 

[Barker]

Yes! Defenatley having DESS troubles! Check key warning, with the original, 1 st spare one, and 2nd spare one seems to be good now with the 3rd one! Crossing my fingers! Haha

 

[maxwell]

Yes! Defenatley having DESS troubles! Check key warning, with the original, 1 st spare one, and 2nd spare one seems to be good now with the 3rd one! Crossing my fingers! Haha

interesting!

#1 - Check engine light on 2 2012 summit etecs only flashed once one day and never again. assuming its the overvoltage code. never had it checked.

#2 - 2 2012 dess key issues. sled would not recognize key at all.

#3 - aftermarket cans = sleds fall on face. finally having nothing but success with the hps can.

#4 - having issues with starting one 2012 sometimes. seems if i give it a weak ass pull the first time then it takes 4 pulls to start. but if i give it a man tug every time it always starts first pull.

#5 - having recoil issues on one of our 2 2012 sleds.


minor stuff...hasnt left me stranded. 3" track is too much fun. best sled ive ridden EVER

 

[jay]

bought sled put on 250 kms in mountains ran awsome
parked in heated garage for three weeks
took to mountains within 2 kms sled wouldnt run worth a dam check engine light on and check engine scroll non stop
took to dealer changed sensor in can
took to mountains ran awsome again for about 300 kms
sat in garage for three weeks
took to mountains made it 2 kms check engine light came on and really bogged a lot when you pinned it could still ride it though (didnt like 6700 to 7000 rpm)
took to dealer exaust can sensor again (now have spare)
put on 100kms ditch baggin around bon accord ran good again

sled has always been all stock and never had any kind of bog when running good at 1000kms now

 

[ferniesnow]

2012 SP 163 Estart with The Thing can. Also, an M-series LED tail light. JC's custom venting (top & bottom on both side panels and hood vents).

Hit rev limiter initially; changing clicker position remedied the problem.
DESS key is a pita but it gets abused quite a bit in the trees. Have a spare one but haven't tried it yet.
1500 km and first belt is still looking and pulling great.

Flat out love the sled.

 

[JoHNI_T]

bout 450kms only for me

sled has been spot on

except
over greased recoil,,, no prob just a pain
and maybe this voltage gremlin without the e start??? warmers seem odd and left doesnt get too hot and thumb not too hot and my headlights must be hot as its melting my tint

etec just rips!!
track great
clutching fine
fuel mileage is untouchable

March should get me 500kms and april will I will get 600kms season has just begun woooot wooot

 

[maxwell]

Had a non estart freeride go into limp mode today. Got it off the hill and did some diagnosis. I replaced the sensor in the can and bingo engine light went off and sled came out of limp mode. seems the sensor failed. 2012 freeride with 400k on it

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[go green]

I don't trust my fuel gauge . ( I put in 26 litres and it still reads one bar off of full?? ) Head light flashes on an off for a 1/2 a second and then a audible beep ,just like when you start it up.(happens only when you decide to cut the trail down and invent your own shortcut through the tree's after 8:00 at night ) I am thinking its a low voltage blip when you are engaging the clutch on a downhill and it drags the engine down to below 1100 rpm .

 

[jay]

Had a non estart freeride go into limp mode today. Got it off the hill and did some diagnosis. I replaced the sensor in the can and bingo engine light went off and sled came out of limp mode. seems the sensor failed. 2012 freeride with 400k on it

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was that stock can or aftermarket can

 

[maxwell]

Stock

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[fountaintirexp]

Had a non estart freeride go into limp mode today. Got it off the hill and did some diagnosis. I replaced the sensor in the can and bingo engine light went off and sled came out of limp mode. seems the sensor failed. 2012 freeride with 400k on it

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How much is the sensor, seems like i'm seeing this problem on a few threads and if it's not really pricey i'll carry a spare.

 

[sscamaro_skwark]

hmmmm? makes me wonder as I was surprised when they told me the etec had on O2 sensor, they do not last very long in 2 strokes as I recall after taking OPET course a few years back (one of my instructors was an ex-BRP instructor). I wondered how they would hold up for the break-in period (higher oil consumption), although with the extremely low oil consumption they may last longer than I think once broke in. Either way I still bought an E-tec & I love it
Also I did take it in for warranty, had a few codes set off, but was able to ride it for 12 days straight!!!! ohhh yahhhhh!!!!! I had an over voltage code which should be ok now, plus a rave valve code which has been addressed, & also a fan code, which was a mistake when setting up my sled as it doesn't have a fan. Either way I put on just shy of 600 kms in the two weeks I spend in the mountains, codes were set & it did not have its full power but still pulled like snot.
I guess that I also had a problem with the recoil, but that was only on the first day, out of 12, not an issue since & Dealer showed me the recoil they use, so I agree that it is all kosher

 

[maxwell]

the funny thing is i took the sensor out of the freeride and it looked almost new but had failed. and i removed one from a summit and swapped them. the summit one was very dirty as it had 3x the miles on it but worked fine. seems to be they are just failing randomly.

either way the sensor is about 200$. a little pricy to cary around as a spare but may not be a bad thing to have a spare in the group. the beauty is they make them extremely easy to swap. also if it does fail it only goes into limp mode so you can still get out of crappy spots at 6500rpm. or leapfrog the 02 sensor until you get to the trail.

 

[fountaintirexp]

My 08 limpmode would only let it only rev to around 4000, i didn't realize the 12 will still pull 6500. I think it would be a good thing for the group to split, i'm assuming it might be a little tough to get one of these on a sat night in vale when you want to ride the next day.