Brake Failure Light

    Quote from NightFlyer

    So has anyone come up with a "fix" for the brake light staying on? I sure hate to have to take it back to the dealer, they may know 4 wheelers but they don't know crap about SL's.


    It is a return to dealer light. Not sure what you expect to find here. Took me three visits to the dealer to get my brakes right, but now they are great. I blame only Polaris for the fuss.


    And be mindful that your brakes are what let you stop. A proper diagnosis, access to information not in the wild, and free service are only available at the dealer.


    While you don't think the dealer knows anything about a sling, your post suggests you know even less. Warranty was part of the purchase price. Use your brain.

    Warranties are great, as long as the dealer and manufacturer back them up. It only takes a lousy service experience to lose faith in a dealer. Some dealers have refused to perform the Headlight Recall because an owner has installed LED or HID bulbs. Crappy dealers can easily cost Polaris future sales.


    There are two brake problems that seem to be affecting Slingshots. One is the Brake Failure light coming on, usually due to sensitive brake sensor one or both), even though the brakes are usually working fine. The other problem is that some of the magnetic switches used by Polaris as clutch and brake switches seem to overheat under certain mysterious circumstances and basically fuse themselves in the Brake Lights ON position. For some folks, it has taken multiple trips to their dealer before things have gotten resolved. Others have simply bought a mechanical switch from an auto supply and fabricated their own bracket to solve the problem.


    'NightFlyer' has evidently already experienced less than stellar support from his dealer and from my perspective was asking for potentially helpful knowledge about his situation, not trolling for a sarcastic answer.

    Quote from ethermion

    It is a return to dealer light. Not sure what you expect to find here. Took me three visits to the dealer to get my brakes right, but now they are great. I blame only Polaris for the fuss.


    And be mindful that your brakes are what let you stop. A proper diagnosis, access to information not in the wild, and free service are only available at the dealer.


    While you don't think the dealer knows anything about a sling, your post suggests you know even less. Warranty was part of the purchase price. Use your brain.

    @ethermion, you're right I don't know anything about the Slingshot, I realize the dealer knows all, but when I get home from them repairing something and I have to fix what they screwed up, I get a "tad" upset. There is more than one "fix" in these forums to eliminate having to run to the dealer every time the Slingshot farts. I do respect your opinion though, however opinions are like 'noses', everyone has one. You can keep yours and I'll keep mine.

    I put 18k miles on my sling in 10 months. I can do over 1000 miles in a day. I have tracked my sling. I am neither a troll nor sarcastic. If you don't get good service from your dealer, ride farther. Brake failure light is serious. To suggest a home brew remedy is like suggesting home brew remedy for chest pains. Stupid. Get it fixed for free. Plenty of advice here supports that. Or, let Darwin run his course. No matter to me.

    Quote from NightFlyer

    @ethermion, you're right I don't know anything about the Slingshot, I realize the dealer knows all, but when I get home from them repairing something and I have to fix what they screwed up, I get a "tad" upset. There is more than one "fix" in these forums to eliminate having to run to the dealer every time the Slingshot farts. I do respect your opinion though, however opinions are like 'noses', everyone has one. You can keep yours and I'll keep mine.


    I hear that. I am currently waiting on three ball joints, needle bearings, and an angle drive. Constipated at Polaris.


    But, you will need to find a dealer you can trust. A sling is full of issues, and not very reliable. The forum can't solve all problems.


    Find a good dealer. I ride 3 hours to one that I trust, even with one 20 minutes away.


    Good luck with your nose.

    @ethermion, No offense intended when I commented about a trolling or sarcastic response. Having read other posts from you, I was surprised to read a comment that sounded sarcastic. I didn't remember your other posts as being that way and was surprised.
    Change of subject - Are you in Northern Virginia? Searching some of your other posts, I got that impression. If so, have you ridden what I used to call Northern VA's mini-Dragon, RT 619 from Independence Hill to Triangle? I also used to enjoy riding from the Clifton area past Bull Run Marina and down Davis Ford Rd to the PW Pkwy to Independent Hill. Another nice ride is from Markham (off I66) south on 688 to Waterloo and then over to Warrenton and Manassas via just about any of the back roads in the area.
    There are a bunch of Slingshot dealers in the Houston area, but I never developed a good feeling about any of them while waiting for Texas to get its head out of its ass and legalize the Slingshot. The dealer I use is about 100 miles away. Whne I lied in Northern V A (inside the Beltway near Braddock Rd), my preferred motorcycle dealer was in Unionville, VA (they're now a Slingshot dealer, too).

    Yes, I am in NoVA. Don't know the mini dragon, all ears. I am in Fairfax station, minutes from Clifton. Lots of fun rides. Lots of cops too... Asphalt aviation to west and south of Charlottesville to get my yaya's out. NoVA just too full these days.


    I'll check out your hints. Thanks for that. Love to ride.


    Maybe I am sour because my sling will be down more than a month for an angle drive. Not your fault.


    Cheers,


    -e

    Rt 619 is most likley to be patrolled on the weekends. It has a 90 degree, 15 mph turn about midway. 688 is unlikley to be patrolled.
    Try Clifton Rd from 123 towards Clifton then left on Henderson Ford Rd to Old Yates Rd past the BR Marina to left on Davis Ford Rd which becomes Hoadly Rd at the PW Pkwy. Turn left at 234 to right onto Independent Hill Rd, then left on 619, then 619 left. I would either turn around at Triangle and go back or take I95 down to 610 West to 612 to 611 west to Elk Run Rd to 28 and back towards Manassas.
    A long trip w/some decent roads is to go east from Fredericksburg/Falmouth on 218 over to Dahlgren and 301 across the Potomac. then go west from La Plata towards Port Tobacco. There's lots of fun roads in that area and work your way up to 210 back to the Beltway.


    We moved from Northern VA to the Houston, TX area back in 2009, so some of the roads are undoubtedly busier now. We should've moved to the Hill Country west of San Antonio for better riding roads. Here in the Houston area, the roads are too flat and too straight. I need to ride about 1 hour away to find any decent, fun riding roads.


    If you're not familiar with these sites, they offer a chance at finding some good rides -
    Motorcycle Roads | Motorcycle Roads and Rides | MotorcycleRoads.com
    MotorcycleRoads.US - Great Motorcycle Roads in the US
    American Motorcyclist Association > For Members - The AMA Roads Database was down when I checked. Membership required
    Sunday Ride [Motorcycle Route] at MotoWhere.com You can also search for other rides as well.
    Motorcycle Roads | SundayMorningRides.com
    Motorcycle Events in The United States of America Lots of Events/group rides


    Hopefully, Polaris'll get your angle drive fixed and you can get back out there. I was afraid I had a bearing problem, but my mechanic aid it was a warped rotor. Sound went away after they replaced the rotor, but it's back so I still don't know what's wrong. I've had my Slingshot for almost 13 months and have around 23K+ miles on it now. All local trips down here.

    It's only logical to go through a dealer while under warranty. Conversely, it pays huge dividends to have a good understanding of both the problem and resolution before going. Trying to get this info beforehand is simply good judgment as the level of many dealers knowledge is questionable when it comes to Slings.
    Keep in mind, it's not that much longer till many owners warranties run out and we'll need to lean more on each other.

    Took my sling to the dealer to get this fixed he said they couldn't do anything till they got the ok from Polaris. That was 5 weeks ago this Friday I have called the last 3 Fridays I get the same story. " They have not heard back From Polaris to get the ok to fix this". I have told them what the problem was and how to fix it and get the same answer can't do anything till they hear back from Polaris. They won't even order the parts till they hear back!!!

    :GRAYSS: Its all about that base :HEADERSS::MOTOROILSS::COLDAIRSS::COILOVERSS: Wycked hitch, Welter duels

    Huh. Hearing back from Polaris takes minutes. Brake sensors can't be more than a few bucks. Evil clouds above.


    Discouraged by such reports. Perhaps a call to corporate is in order. If just to say, I cannot anymore recommend a sling because of the anus licking dirt bags that service our rides.

    Quote from slolane

    Took my sling to the dealer to get this fixed he said they couldn't do anything till they got the ok from Polaris. That was 5 weeks ago this Friday I have called the last 3 Fridays I get the same story. " They have not heard back From Polaris to get the ok to fix this". I have told them what the problem was and how to fix it and get the same answer can't do anything till they hear back from Polaris. They won't even order the parts till they hear back!!!

    One or two ways this has happened:
    1. your dealer is either not telling you the whole story, or has dropped the ball
    2. Polaris has dropped the ball, and NO ONE is doing any follow-up


    1-800 765-2747 Polaris. Get a case number and a "resolution specialist". Tell them just what you wrote above. Before the end of that day, that "specialist" will have gotten ahold of your dealer and pretty much reamed him a new one. (If you think you like your dealer- it is a good idea to let him know you are going to call Polaris & see what is going on.) JMHO

    I can't blame the techs working on the SS since Polaris never had a training course for them. I think Polaris really needed to have techs from the dealers attend a technical course. I have had several issues with the SS but my dealer has stepped up to the plate each time to get them resolved. Yes it is a pain to drive 20 miles for service and drop it off but it is what it is. I love the SS and after 50 years of riding MC's, I have them all up for sale.

    Before I would go through all of that trouble with a known problem switch from Polaris I would install the mechanical brake switch. That is what I did. If you are a person that likes doing things yourself it is not a big deal. ( drill motor - file - hook up a couple of wires ) and besides it works with no problems. The DIY is already on this forum somewhere.

    Just an FYI...at Cycle Springs, they plug in to your system, read the errors and then take pics of vin, mileage and your drivers license and immediately do the job. Not sure if Polaris system immediately approves or they simply know what they need to keep Polaris happy. I had this done at 10pm at SSITS with no preapproval.