Was wondering if I can get some help on the problem that a lot of people had with these Autoshift ATVs. Been busy reading but can't seem to find where anyone has found the answer, if so they don't post it.

I have 2005 Honda TRX400FA and works fine in ESP mode but when in Autoshift going slow it "bogs down and has no power". There are no error codes and and if you let it stop and take off it works ok till you slow down again. Some of the suggestions have been to replace the clutch, although there was a recall (I believe it was an ECM update) on the 2004 for the EXACT SAME ISSUE, but not not on the 2005 which is odd.

The ATV has 952 miles, the oil is good (Honda Oil) and connections seem good along with the angle sensor. I just took it in to the dealer and it is going to be a week before they can actually look at it, but they also suggest a complete clutch job at around $900.00 installed.

Has anyone found the answer to this problem and if it was the clutch did it stay fixed? I don't won't to be replacing the clutch every 900 miles, if that is the case ATV has to go. Thanks in advance. Carl

 

If I was the Honda dealer I would fit one of the working ECUs that I took off during the recall. It wouldn't take long, and eliminate the ecu as the culprit if the fault is still on. I can't see the centrifugal clutch slipping unless the wrong oil was used. I've just fitted new piston rings and valve seats to a 400 Auto so it must have done a lot of miles, never needed any work on the transmission though.

 

I am also having a hard time buying into clutch being the problem as I think the centrifugal clutch it is being used in both modes but then I have never owned a Honda Autoshift before. It may have had the wrong oil in it at one time as I just recently purchased it, but wouldn't it being slipping in ESP(manual) mode also? Wish some of the owners (and there are numerous post on this subject) who had the problem would post how they fixed the problem or maybe they never did get it fixed. Thanks for the response, wish I had an extra ECU to throw on it and test it as that sounds more like the culprit, but it has no error codes and runs great otherwise.

 

I'm not a mechanic but if it works fine in ES mode, then the clutch must be fine. Sounds like the Honda dealer sees $$$ signs and suggests the most expensive repair. If they told me something like that, I would take it somewhere else. I would most likely just take it home and just ride it in ES mode until that failed. I'd prefer to ride it in ES mode anyway. I've read the newer DCT transmissions so a better job of shifting than the old autos, I'd have to try one of those in both modes to see which I'd prefer on those. Its probably an electrical issue that has nothing to do with the clutch. Its the same clutch whether its in auto or ES mode. In auto mode the computer does the shifting for you so that's probably where the problem lies.

 

The age of a Honda bike is a bit flexible, I get many with "2005 Model year" on the white sticker and "2004" on the black one. It may be worth checking the serial number against those requiring a recall, the previous owner may never have bothered getting it done. The recall was before I started working on Quads, but my boss has an ECU he took off during the recall so we can fit it to any 400 that has problems and eliminate the ecu as the cause.

 

$900 for a clutch yet it works fine in E.S? I would just get it out of that shop and rename the ATV a Rancher 400ES.

You not alone it seems Vehicle Reviews for 2005 Honda FourTrax® Rancher™ AT (TRX400FA) all the negatives are do to tranny only, the Rancher 400AT was a short lived red headed stepchild for Honda for a reason.

 

Thanks for the replies all, Merryman the black sticker on the frame says its 2005 but I can't find the link to the 2004 ECM recall back, I'll have to try again later. Well the reason I purchased it was for the automatic so ticks me off it doesn't work, otherwise driving in ES would work and I do like the ATV otherwise. I'm sure there is a good reason to put the clutch in oil (most likely heat buildup I guess) but it sure seems very counter intuitive! By now you would think they would have a solution to this but apparently not (other then drive it in ES mode).

 

What is the 10 digit in vin number? I have an Honda tech wrench bulletin thats has them listed at shop..

 

I maintain about five 400ATs regularly, and none have had problems with the gearbox except for a frayed wire to a sensor on one machine about four years ago. They lost their reputation because of the recall, but I am fairly sure the box is a smaller version of the old Rubicon's "Hondamatic" which has been both reliable and popular over a long production run. I prefer belt drive autos because of their simplicity but the 400AT's feels very similar in use.

 

Hi Papa, the vin is 1HFTE290454105367, Thanks