450 ES not shifting. The shift indicating number blinks 3 times then pauses and blinks again times over and over. Turn the key off and on and it is ok for a littel while. It only does this when i am trail riding on the ski-doo trails or the road after about 20 mins or in first or second gear braking trail in the snow. I am thinking it is a computer shut down code or something like that. How do i fix it or stop it?

 

well, 3 flashes for my 350 rancher ES is the angle sensor system, I think the foreman is the same, but i'm not sure. I've heard of many angle sensors going bad, especially with the older models. it's not that expensive (25-35$???) i would pick up a new sensor and try that first before going any farther. they are a piece of cake to install, they are o n the front of the engine by the front propeller shaft below the shift motor. it has a 3-wire connetor on it and has a little tin shield covering it. It moves with the shift-shaft, tells the computer how much the shaft moves when the machine is shifted. There are moving parts in the sensor, it only makes sense that it can wear out.

 

Thanks i will check it out. It's a good thing we have this forum to trade around information.

 

My 2004 Recon ES was doing the same thing. All I did to fix it was pull off the angle sensor plug and spray it with WD-40, then reconnect the plug to the sensor. Damp climates are the worst, causing bad connections do to corrosion. If mine ever does it again I will use Di-electric grease after spraying it with WD-40. You can buy it cheap at any auto parts store. Good luck!

 

i would advise against using spray penetrants like wd40 on electrical connections. WD40 has petroleum solvents that attack the rubber seal and the plastic of the connector, not to mention the sensor itself. I'm an auto mechanic, and I prefer just to use electrical or silicone grease on connections.

 

Hey guys thanks for the help, the 450 ES is back in fine running order.

 

HI all from northen ontario.
I am having the same problem as described with my 04 350FE. Got a code 3. I have checked the wiring, got a new angle sensor ($100cdn) and still no dice. The wiring to the angle sensor from the ECU is good, but there is no voltage going to the sensor. ( I have the honda service manual and have followed the steps.....i always end up to where is says "replace ECU and try again...)
I took my ECU out, put it onto another bike, and it worked fine ( i only had it turned on for a sec, but it did shift) I dident try the other ECU on mine as i was scared i'd break it and maybe have 2 to replace!!
SO now i'm at a loss.......i guess the only thing left is to double check ALL the wiring and connections ( ive already put di-electric grease on them)
I dont see how it could be the ECU when it worked in another bike, not to mention it only has 130hrs on it.

Maybe the connector for the angle sensor is bad? but contunuity tests work OK???
The dealers only advice has been to bring it in and we'll have a look-see (at $80/hr!!, thats more than my aircraft mechnaic!!)

 

ok, so you've replaced the angle sensor, right? and you say there is no voltage going to the sensor from the ecu? it might be a bad connector at the ecu on the wiring side, and since you put the ecu in another bike, that wiring might be good and it made contact for the bit that you tried it. measure for voltage at the sensor end of the wiring, and wiggle the wiring around at the ecu. if you get intermittent voltage, you might have a bad wire connector or the circuit board could be bad inside the ecu.

If you've checked the wiring and are 100% sure that the wires have good continuity from the ecu to the sensor, the grounds are good for the ecu, the 12 volt + is good, then i'm pretty sure you have a bad connection or a bad ecu. you could try tweaking the metal connectors at the sensor and the ecu and see if there is a connection issue, otherwise bite the bullet and try that other ecu in your bike. I'm an auto mechanic, and control modules are the same way for us, you dont want to try a new one unless you know there isnt a wiring problem that will fry the new one. BUT, i've never seen that happen. The chances that you'll wreck the good ecu by plugging it in for just a little bit is slim to none. but the chance is still there, so it's up to you.

 

Hi quicksilver, thanks for the response!
After double checking all the wires, all the connections, checking the ECU on another bike again, along with the angle sensor(and it all worked), the pins inside the ECU connector must not have been making contact with the harness. I dont know how this would have come to be, because this problem started a while back, would do it every now and then, and finally to the point where it wouldent work at all. But the ECU harness had never ever been unplugged to 'bend' any of the connectors. How they got out of wack is beyond me.

So if anyone else has this problem, check the connector on the ECU, the angle sensor wires are the red/black (the one at the end of the connector not the 5th one down{there are 2 red/blk}), and a yellow/blue, and a blue/green. They are both 4th from the end. I just bent the pin on the ECU a tad, a slight tad!! to make sure they were contacting the connector inside the harness. And put some di-electric grease on them for sure!! No more problems, bike works like new!

Good luck, happy mudding.
Thunder Chicken.
2004 TRX 350FE 4x4

 

Hey, Im from Northern Ontario too. Hearst to be exact!

I had the same problem with my 00 450ES and the problem was the angle sensor.

Peace!