So I have been troubleshooting my 2002 Honda Recon 250es for quiet sometime now with no success. My buddy borrowed the bike and sat in water drinking beer all day, then the electric shifting stopped working completely. The 1st gear light blinks 8x's indicating issues with angle sensor, ECU, or circuit. Here is a list of things I have done from start to finish. Inspected fuses. Replaced es battery and voltage continues to read over 13volts. I have replaced angle sensor and inspected the ohms. I have inspected and cleaned all wiring and connectors throughout the electric shifting system. Checked for voltage with light tester to the shift switches(dim light), the ECU(brighter light), connector from ECU to the shift motor(brighter light), shift motor(bright light), and the fuses(bright light). So, it appears I have good power all over. Just not sure if the power to the shift switches should be dim on the light meter. I was able to apply a 6volt battery to the shift motor, which made it work as it should, which I read it operates down in the 7volt range. I'm suspecting a bad ECU, which is very pricey or the shift switches are bad. I'm curious if there is a way to test the ECU? Or is the shift switch the problem? Please help I'm exhausted physically and mentally with this issue! And I do not know someone with an ECU to swap out to troubleshoot. Just do not want to spend that high dollar on electrical parts that I can't return.

 

You haven't mentioned how well it changes with the emergency lever, if it doesn't change with that, you have a mechanical problem with the selector mechanism. Does the ES motor try to change when you put your finger on the button? If it doesn't, the fault could well be the handlebar unit, though you often get one button changing OK and the other not. It may be worth striping the gearchange motor to ensure it is OK inside, doesn't cost anything but it is a pain to get back together. Finally, you could convert it to a manual change, much cheaper than a new ECU.

 

Thank you so much for the reply! I have fabricated a suicide shifter and it shifts manually beautifully. When I select the up or down shift buttons I do not hear anything in the shift motor or any electronic contact noise anywhere for that matter. Seems to be a dead circuit, I'm guessing that dim light with the tester at the handle bar shift should be bright indicating more voltage. That is a cheaper route to purchase the handle bar shift unit, which sounds like what I need to do. Unless you have any extra input? Thanks again for you time and help!

 

Sounds like any repairs to the machine need to be paid for by your "buddy". This is why I very seldom let anyone else ride my machines anymore. Many people have no respect for other people's property and this sounds like the case here. Water is not your friend on atvs. They can handle a little but care has to be taken not to let it in where it isn't wanted.

 

Yes I agree he should pay, it's hard to find good buddies these days lol! But on the other hand he's helped me out with free alarm system, cable, phone and surround sound installs when I built my house which is what he does for a living so I will cut him a little slack this time. Just wish there was a known way to test an ECU.

 

I had a buddy like that once. I haven't spoken to him in years. I regret I stopped associating with him sooner. Such is life I guess.

 

May want to get an Honda manual to inspect the ecu...test to ecu and test after ecu.

 

I have almost all the Honda manuals, and have never tried to test an ECU, my reasoning is if everything else is OK it must be the ECU, and owners always opt for a change to manual shift instead of buying a new one. It may be worth tracing the power feed wire to the handlebar switch, which seems to be faulty, as the fault could be further back, in the main loom rather than the switch unit or the piece of loom that comes with it.

 

I don't have a dog in this race,but if I were to bet,if it was in & around water all day;I'd say you switches on handle were sure to got wet at some time.Just saying..

 

I had a Rancher 350 ES a few years ago myself. Never had any trouble with any electronics getting wet. I didn't go swimming with it was it was also a 2002 model I bought in 2014 and had for about a year. Sold it to a coworker and he's still got it. Had to replace the carb, it dripped fuel but no issues with the ES system. I did put a new battery in it when I had it back late in 2014.