When you start off it shifts fine. After 15-20 miles of running in 5th, it wouldn't down shift. When the engine was warm & running, hitting the button did nothing (manual shaft was not moving). Got back to camp and shut it off. After 30 minutes the manual shaft would move when you hit the button but still wouldn't down shift. After an hour, the shifter worked fine again. I didn't see anything flashing, the 5 was constant. Last summer I was told it was the angle sensor which was replaced. I took it to the local Honda dealer and they are kind of stumped. On short trips it works fine. It only seems to act up after 15-20 miles in 5th gear averaging 30-35 MPH. I just found out about this site today as a source good good information. Any helpful suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

Unfortunally on 1998-01 TRX450ES the ECU didn't store trouble codes .. So the ESP troubleshooting flow chart must be followed step by step ..

 

Thanks for the reply Honda Mechanic. The shop the I brought it to thought that since we replaced the angle sensor last spring that it may be something with the shift motor since it only happens when the engine is good & warm and also heating the shift motor. Does this sound possible? Reading some of of the other shift problems regarding checking/cleaning connections and applying dielectric compound might this be more likely? I have pressure washed it a couple times since to clean the mud off not realizing you shouldn't . Might I have screwed up the angle sensor when pressure washing? Thanks again in advance for any help you might be able to give me.

 

All the tests should be done although everything is probably going to test good if it takes a while to stop shifting .. So I would clean the shift control motor first (before replacing it) .. Moisture is possible but it shouldn't take 15-20 min to act up .. It also could be the angle sensor ..

 

Thank you very much for the input. I'll let you know what the problems was.--If & when it is identified. Hopefully getting it back for the weekend.---Have a grat weekend.

 

I have had the same problem with my 00" 450 es. If I stay in fifth too long it will stay there until I let it sit, or try and reset it by turning the key on and off a few times. I have yet to take my angle sensor apart and clean along with greasing it; I plan on doing so this weekend. If it cures my problems I will let ya know......

 

Honda Mechanic--Called the dealer to see what they found out. Rather than running any tests to see if they could determine the problem, I was told they had been riding it around the parking lot off & on over the last weeek for almost 1.5 hours and everything was working fine. He was going to call me to see if they should keep riding it. I asked them how they were able to ride it around their parking lot in 5th gear for 15+ miles which is when the problem occurs and he admitted they couldn't. (He forgot that I had explained that to him when I brought it in.) I told him forget it and I'll just run it. He offered to just leave the work order open until I bring it back and total it up then. This is a full line Honda dealer, am I out of line thinking they can do something else with their work order? $75 an our to have someone run it around the parking seems pretty lame to me. What are your thoughts?