I am a 2003 Kodiak owner and kind of ashamed at this point. First, after about 3 months of ownership, the machine got hot. Was told that it was low on antifreeze. They didn't explain that you have to take the front cap off the machine to check the antifreeze. I assumed that it was checked through the side resorvoir like on a vehicle. Didn't help. Had to continously add water/antifreeze. Thermostat is bad they tell me. Replaced it. Still no good, had to add water last week. Today, the engine choked and puked then the exhaust turned gray and smelled like antifreeze. The oil is milky. So, I'm assuming a head gasket. Yamaha warranty has expired around a year ago, yet the problems have continued since the first time it got hot.
What is your opinion, should Yamaha honor this problem since the problem never has been fixed to begin with, or should I bite my tongue and pay the expenses myself. Any ideas about the total cost of replacing a head gasket?

 

At this point Yamaha has no obligation... But your dealer could help you out, if he wanted too..........

 

Thanks, and I hope he understands that he is going to. I have only bought 8 different bikes and wheelers from him in the past 5 years.

 

I think they missed it when they said the thermostat was causing the water usage. If puddles dont form under the quad...its getting burned. Its very common for a head gaket to fail after an over heat condition. But unfortunetly, an over heat condition , and subsequent damage ,wouldnt be covered under warentee, if the cause was low coolant. They only cover manufacturing defects. You could try to make the arguement that the motor had a coolant leak from the beginning, and thats the root cause.
Id ask for some help at the dealership, and see if theres any good will adjustment yamaha could provide, but i dont think they are obligated to help.