I don't question the reliability of the ES Shifter since I love it . .

And I also know that there are 1 thousands threads about the ES ...

I just want to see some facts, and I don't read what I expected ...
I mean, I don't see the ones who had a hard time with their ES shifter ...

 

You will generally see the post about the problems people are having but you won't see a post from the thousands that have never had a problem as they are not in need of any help. So I wouldn't judge the reliability by the number of problem posts on a forum. Interestingly when you ask here about the problems almost all are reporting what good service they have had. My experience has been hearing they are bullet proof. I've only had mine for about 2 motnhs now and hope I have the same experience.

 

Rancher Questions ->
The problem with the auto shifter locking in a gear is not as simple as having the ATV in neutral when you shutdown the engine.
The four we have all are having the problem and we ALWAYS shutdown the engine with the trans in nuatral.

here is a description of the problem:

When riding the ATV in any gear the first gear indicator light starts blinking and shifting is inoperable.

The only way to fix the problem is to turn off the ignition and then turn it back on and then either:

Use the manual shift tool to shift the Trans back to natural, or
Turn the ignition back on and rock the ATV while trying to shift back to natural (you only have about 2 seconds before the shift light starts blinking again and the electronic shifter is inoperable.)

I have found that if you pound the transmission really hard by power shifting a lot for a minute shifting through all gears will stave off the problem for a while.

I already took them in to the local shop and they said that the problem was fixed, but it still is not....

Please reply if you are having the same problem... we need to get Honda to put out a recall on what ever is the problem.!!!

 

I get that blinking 1st gear light also. I thought it might of been that battery. I bought a charger for it, charged it up and it ran 2 weekends just fine. Now its blinking again. Wish I knew what the hell it was from. its a 6 month old 2004 Recon.

 

I had the same problem with my quad 1st gear light blinking. the book says its the angle sensor well guess what ???? it was the ECU ( dirty contacts) I took it out and cleaned the contacts and then put some electrical grease on the points and NO PROBLEMS after that. So for anyone that has a blinking light try cleaning the ECU it worked for me

John

 

OK, it's no secret that I am no fan of the ES! It's a nice idea, but if it doesn't work 100% of the time, why keep it around?

I think it is the opposite of what JokerGuy says....."you won't see a post from the thousands that have never had a problem". There is always the same handfull of people who pipe in every time somebody posts an ES problem, and they try to drown out the posts from those who have legitimate comments and questions. It's like an election polester asking the same 5 people over and over again who will win the election! It's a biased sample.

 

I've had my 03 Recon ES since last December about 150 hours and not one single problem. (knock on wood)!!!

 

You wouldnt be talking about me now would you RR?[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

01 Rancher FE w/ 26" mudlites still running strong, no issues with ES or anything else since the choke cable replacement. I do have to clean out the drum brakes though.

 

''Everyone seems very concerned about the electronic shift program on the hondas, but yet seems perfectly comfortable with a rubberband powering their atv. I guess I dont understand it.''

LOL! I hate it when people make remarks like that, because you obviously havnt spent alot of time on a belt-driven machine....
We have had our foreman es for a while now and with 3200mi we have only had minor problems with the electronic shifting...They where not easy miles, either.

 

ok... friends got 1700 miles on his 03 450es... ES is not workin at all. im thinkin its just a loose connection though, cuz everytime u hit a bump, it wouldnt shift, and the Neutral and oil pressure lights come on... that and the mornin after it crapped out, started workin again [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]