New to the forum here--have a neighbor with a 2012 Polaris ranger 500 efi. When he's driving down the path/road(high range), he randomly hears a 'click' and the throttle locks in place-can't accelerate, brakes slow the unit down, but throttle stays in place, still trying to maintain the speed it was set at when it clicked. The remedy is to turn off ignition, the unit rolls to a stop(in gear still because the shifter won't move either). Once it is stopped the unit can be restarted and all seems fine for a while--until the next time--the unit might do this two-three times during a ride of maybe 1-2 miles, sometimes it does not do this.
Has anyone experienced these symptoms?--if so, any resolution to the problem?
Thanks for any help

Gary

 

Ive never heard of this issue, but it sounds almost like something in the intake tract getting sucked into the butterfly, or possibly even a problem with the butterfly itself. I think id pull the air filter off and look down the intake tube, maybe while someone works the throttle. Definitely an odd problem but i think id start with a real good visual inspection.

 

We were able to take a look at the throttle body today. Apart from the failed inlet air filter in the front of the rig(the main air filter caught all the deteriorated pre-filter material) , there was no trash or carbon deposits on the throttle body or butterfly--very clean. The throttle cable was checked for pinch-points or burrs/catches or friction - none were present(the cable actually still had lube on it and worked smoothly).
Subsequent ride up to ~ 20 MPH resulted in another throttle lock and tranny lock, had to shut off ignition to get the thing to stop. after that the rig started normally and we drove home slowly without further incident.
Not sure what could cause the throttle to lock in place--this is seemingly a purely mechanical throttle control---any other ideas??

 

Looks like we found the culprit--since the idle was abnormally high(1700) RPM, when the throttle locked, decided to unplug the Idle stepping motor---hasn't locked since,. Plugged the thing back in and the problem returned--go a new stepper on order(NOT from Polaris @$289!!)

 

New stepping motor installed($20)--Problem has dissappeared!!