I have only 120 miles on the SE5, and was caught in Orange County traffic. When driving on the freeway, the temp showed 4 bars, but in stop-and-go, it rose to 5 and 6 bars, and I think there are only 7 bars. I checked the coolant, and it was full-----do you think these Spyders run a bit hot? Could it be that it ran hot because it's new? Since it ran at 4 bars on the freeway, this would indicate that the water pump is ok. Please let me know your experiences with heating---and any advice----don't want to burn it up.....Ev
Spyder Engin Heat
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Since no one has responded......
Is the cooling fan coming on? My guess is it isn't. It should come on at about 5 bars and go off at about 4 bars. If it's not then......
The most common cause of that is the fan relay. Open the trunk and then find the fuses and relays up under the cover there on the right. Inside are 3 relays. As you look at them from the front of the Spyder there is one on the left and two on the right. The fan relay is the one on the right bottom. Exchange it with the one on the right top which is the headlight relay. If the fan now comes on when the engine gets to 5 bars then you've found the problem.
Now, do the headlights still work? If so then maybe the relay just didn't have a good connection there at the box but if not then take it to the dealer and have them replace the headlight relay.
Now, on the way back from the dealer or even if everything seems to be working......stop by Autozone and pick up a Duralast 19271 41-5100 relay and put it in the trunk because if that relay on the left goes out then nothing works on the Spyder.
i agree, i posted a response earlier but for some reason it isnt showing up. anyways, im a tech at berts mega mall in covina, ca and have ridden numerous spyders. in california, being warmer, normal moving temps is 4 bars. normal stop and go traffic is up to 6 bars, but at that point the fan should kick on and bring down to 4 bars temporarily. if the fan is not operating you will most likely overheat and get a message. the relay is most likely bad. they go bad quite often. but i think you have no issue with your cooling system right now.
also, check some of my posts under engine/transmission category. i have one on the cooling system.
also, check some of my posts under engine/transmission category. i have one on the cooling system.
I am in MS but was in Vegas a couple weeks ago and it was 60 degrees and on the strip in stop and go traffic both of our spyders ran hot, actually went into Limp mode but once we hit the open road they cooled down. I was riding today and temp was fine until I got into heavy traffic and it got to about 6 bars but no Limp mode. we have closely looked at this issue and have came to the conclusion that the cooling system (i.e., the fan isnt sufficient enough for stop & go traffic) IMHO I think the spyder was built for the open highway as an alternative to a cruiser and as a result performs like one. we checked the relay and it is ok, just my 2 cents
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I can't believe that a liquid-cooled motor would have trouble keeping temps down in stop & go traffic unless there was some mechanical problem. My air-cooled '95 Ducati Monster 900 only overheated once, but that stop & go traffic was in Vegas. The Harley I had before that never overheated... ever. I would have the dealership check to make sure everything is in working order.
I still hope to get a Spyder, but they better sort all these glitches out before I spend $20,000!
I still hope to get a Spyder, but they better sort all these glitches out before I spend $20,000!
if your spyder is overheating, especially in 60 degree weather. i would check these things: coolant level, does the fan come on and off, make sure nothing is restricting air flow to the radiator. and finally if those all check out okay, remove the right engine cover, inspect the radiator. some of the radiators are swelling and need to be replaced. the radiator will looked bowed outward and the cooling fins will callapse restricting airflow. this is a warranty repair. if you have cooling system issues, read some of my other posts.
Same relay switch?
Is this the same relay that would run the fan? I too have had trouble with my fan relay .....going to take 2 weeks for the dealer to get one...bummer...I have only put a few hundred miles on my Spyder!
Odds are you can carry the relay into any good parts store and they can match it up, the number should be on the relay.
Your dealer is correct, not an issue indicating anything wrong with your Spyder, but.......
That was one of the issues identified on the initial Demo Drive units. Between the Demo units and the production units the cowling was changed to route the heat (from air exiting the radiator) away from the foot.....I'm a size 8 and the heat misses my foot now.
I know on the Demos, if you put the ball of your foot on the foot pegs the heat missed your foot.
That was one of the issues identified on the initial Demo Drive units. Between the Demo units and the production units the cowling was changed to route the heat (from air exiting the radiator) away from the foot.....I'm a size 8 and the heat misses my foot now.
I know on the Demos, if you put the ball of your foot on the foot pegs the heat missed your foot.
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I found the problem pretty much eliminated by sticking a bit of thin plastic (notenbook cover) onto the scoop to close up the 25mm gap between the existing scoop and the body - as below. The hot air shooting through here seemed to be what was cooking my right foot. I did read about this on a US forum but cannot find the thread now. 2 screws and some silicone attached the red notebook cover, trimmed to suit.
I live in texas and we get some heat here ... haven't had mine overheat at all... there must be a problem with yours! I've had mine in 100 temps and still no problem with cooling... other than the rider!I can't believe that a liquid-cooled motor would have trouble keeping temps down in stop & go traffic unless there was some mechanical problem. My air-cooled '95 Ducati Monster 900 only overheated once, but that stop & go traffic was in Vegas. The Harley I had before that never overheated... ever. I would have the dealership check to make sure everything is in working order.
I still hope to get a Spyder, but they better sort all these glitches out before I spend $20,000!
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36 Posts
Hi Chris
Have a look at your Spyder , feel around and you will see the problem in that the scoop stops around an inch short. Cut a strip of plastic 3 or 4 inches wide, silicone it to the scoop to make it an inch longer and seal the gap. It is real simple when you look.
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I don't know if it's an issue with all Spyders, but mine gets up to 6 bars very easily in stop 'n go traffic. (Nothing wrong with it, I´ve checked it with the dealer.) I do travel a lot thru south Texas and northern Mexico, where's hot as hell. Got it in limp mode once, while waiting in line on the international bridge at the border. ...You wouldn't believe it, but I carry a portable battery fan on the trunk, that helps to cool the engine while on those summer traffic jams.
My 09 Spyder would heat up in stop and go traffic but otherwise OK. Now have 2010 RT with NO heat problems. Temp started to climb a little when in Nevada at about 7000 feet. Made 2800 mile trip last month with one complaint. Gas mileage!!!!
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Hervey, a Spyder owner in the US who has an auto parts business , has put together a kit to better seal the airgap around the radiator. Reports so far say that in hot weather, when moving, the temperature drops by up to 2 bars. See Home - Spyderpops.com
Hervey says "Professionally Die Cut Neoprene Closed Cell Sponge Pieces ..... through Reverse Engineering processes that includes Cavity/Empty Area measurement to create a product that was “Missing”. Easy to follow (picture/caption) instruction sheet is included along with a tube of very good 3M Super Weatherstrip Adhesive."
On Spyderlovers.com "Black Widow" says -" I just got one installed and I can tell the difference in the running temp of the spyder from about 35 mph up. You should run two to three bars cooler (when the outside temp gets hot) . I also noticed that when setting in traffic with five bars showing that it only takes a very short distance (once you get moving) for the bars to really fall off. This is obviously due to the increased air flow through the radiator. It looks like something that the factory forgot to put in. Great value for a option that works."
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