I purchased my 05 Rubicon 3 months ago, and I have had nothing but problems. When I first brought the bike home it would not shift pass 3rd gear. I took it back and they replaced the bank angle sensor and the ECM. It picked it up and went riding for approximately 2 hours on the trails until it broke agian. It got stuck in first gear and the ESP would flash 5 times. I read the forums and saw that this is a typical problem with these bikes, so I didn't get that upset. I took it back to the dealer and they changed the bank angle senor, ECM, and wire harness. I took it home, and was able to ride for 4 hours this time until it got stuck in first gear agian, and gave the same code. Well, to make a long story short, I have taken it to the dealer three more times with the same problem. They told me that the transmission is fine, and that it is my neglogence that is causing these problems with the bike. I find that hard to believe because I ride with two ranchers and three rincons, and none of those bikes have ever gone to the dealer with any problems.

I would like to know if anybody has any contacts inside of Honda that I might be able to speek with about fixing or replacing my bike. I am really fustrated with my local dealer and can't get them to take any responsibility for this LEMON bike I purchased.

Thanks

 

yikes, don't like to hear that. I have a 06 and my brother has a 05 and have no probs yet. Of course we only have like 300 miles on them, but all good and not a single prob.

 

How can there be negligence on an electrical part? What can anyone possibly do to an electrical part to make it fail? Sounds like you need to find another dealer. Where are you located? If its the same problem every time you take it in, Honda should be notified immediately. Is the dealer in contact w/ Honda on your machine or are they just replacing parts and sending you back out? I'm assuming they know to preload the angle sensor when installing, if they weren't I don't think you would be able to go ten minutes w/out the ECM throwing a code. Are they re-initalizing the ECM after installing a new electrical part? By my count, you have taken this thing in five times in three months. There is no way that machine would have come back to the dealer I work at that many times. There is no reason for you to have to keep taking it back and have the same thing fail.

 

They might consider negligence if the vehicle was shifted under heavy load, i.e. not letting off the throttle whilst shifting gears. Not saying that is the problem, just saying that is probably what they might be reasoning. Either way, I hope the Rubicon owner finds a more helpful dealer.

Is the Rubicon the model with a High/Low transmission? If it is, does the problem happen in high and low or just one or the other?

 

It's sad I have read posts like this on virtually every site. I freakin love my 05 Rubicon, but I went through 4 sensors before they got it right, had to switch dealers though. If its still on warranty keep taking it back, but if your dealer is accusing you of abuse, I can only think that either you have given him a reason to think this way or he has no clue about this "exhisting" problem with Rubicons and the ECM system in both 400at's and Rubicons. hondaforeman.com has lots of info on this problem, as does avtfrontier.com.

There is also info from the Honda manual on how to reset teh ECM yourself. From what I have read the sensors are very fragile. If the mechanic's first tool is a hammer your toast. Sounds like you need to switch your dealer. Either way DOCUMENT your problems when it happened what it did, at how many Km's stuff like that. Remember that people try and rip off dealers all the time, so when others have a legitimate problem that is intermittent, they are looked upon you with suspicion. All they are told to do is check the computer, if it readks ok they will think your mental.

I read a thread from a guy that was past his warranty period so he carefully cut the "sealer" away from the sensor and found water in what is supposed to be a sealed unit. He blew the single grain of sand and the small amount of water out, resealed it, hooked it back up, cleared the ECM and has been running ever since. I think honda got screwed by a supplier and just warrantys them as they come, I'm dissapointed they havent issued a recall yet, but lots of guys never complain about the sensor while others are going through the same thing as you. Stay on top of it, once you find a honda "TECHNICIAN" vs a part slammer you should be back on the trails pullin out your buddys on those other bikes! Good luck.

 

Hi I also had problems like that with my 2005 rubicon and it was a pinched wire behind the cooling fan that was making the thing short out I have had problems with my dealer saying the same thing about the problems I have had to. Some of the guys aroung here abuse there atvs and destroy them and trade them in at the same dealer so then they think mine is the same but I use mine around the yard. I had a 2003 and I had the trany go out in it I was pushing snow and I herd a pop and I looked under it and oil was running out I lifted it up and it lookid like some thing sliced rite through the case it only had 125 miles on it but when I asked what hapened to it the shop guy said I abused it. Then a couple of months later the angle sensor whent out of it I took it to them and the atv wouldnt act up and it would shift ok for them in there parking lot so I told them I will come over and I will show them how to ride it so they can see what it was doing and the guy changed his hole aditude tords me and said it will be fixed at the end of the week and he has never treeted me like that again. My brother has a 2003 rubicon and he has never had problems with his and he rides his more then I ride mine. I would go to a difrent dealer if I was you good luck.

 

Hey guys, thanks for all you responses. I can't take it to another dealer because I purchased the bike under a demo program. Therefore, it doesn't have any warranty. I spoke with a service rep from Honda and explained to him that even though I don't have warranty, it doesn't matter because I purchased the bike with this problem. The bike had 0 hours when I got it, so it had to come broken from the factory.

I took it back to the dealer and I'm waiting for a call back. I don't think it can be any pinched wires because they already replaced the wire harness. I'll keep you guys updated when I get the bike back.

Thanks

 

Could be a pinched wire anywhere on the bike, a short causes a low voltage and the tranny wont shift right. Same problem when the battery starts to die when it gets older.

 

My friend has a 02 or 03 Rubicon i'm not sure which, but he beats on his pretty hard, riding fast, jumps. Deep mud, snow, the works. Playing bumper cars with other wheelers. And his hasn't missed a beat. He had to buy new racks for it but so far no interal problems.

 

I think that if your dealers giving you the run around, look in your owners manual and call Honda. They call the dealer to see what 's up if you talk to them right. If nothen else you can see if they have samitted any warrenty in on your unit.
Sorry to say but there are just plain crappy dealers out there that won't do a dang thing all there interested in is sellen units, and never call into Honda and ask for help on these kinda problems.