05 rx-1....Strange issue, need help

[wizard]

My friend recently picked up an 05 rx-1, used it for a short 500 miles last year, getting ready for this season he is having a strange problem....

Details:
sled is started with the choke on then once running choke is turned off...at this point the sled stalls, (could be an improper idle adjustment, I'm thinking) on a restart the sled runs feathering the gas no choke but zero lights, (no headlights, no dash lights nothing) but sled is running, on another restart the lights come back on....

since the lights came back on (seemingly by themselves) this should rule out a bad fuse, since if a fuse was popped they would be off all the time....


I remember a similar issue with my wifes 04 rx-1, lost the headlights on the trail but in my case it was the fuse....

any help would be appreciated!

 

[MNBlizzard]

I would start with cleaning out the carbs and make sure the pilots jets are clean as a whistle by holding them up to the light.

You may also want to check your battery as I have seen this happen on a failing battery and on really cold starts. If the latter, just let it warm up longer and the lights should flick on. I believe it is a relay along the right side, behind the footwell that controls this function.

 

[04rxw10]

Check the relays might have one sticking

 

[Len Todd]

If the main relay is not functioning, the tail light and the gage will not energize. The wiring branches off before the main relay. This is why the engine will start, but the gage does not come on or it comes on late. After the vibration of the engine works on the relay a while, it will typically function and the gage lits up. If it does not light up fairly quickly, it could be frozen. Then a heat gun on it will thaw it out. But, if it is acting up at all, it is time to eventually replace it.

About the idle, ...clean the carbs. I attached some tips, a procedure and a carb exploded view drawing.

 

[wizard]

Thank folks for the feedback! I will be meeting him tomorrow at a place where we can work on it, I will pass this info along! Never thought of the relay, great point....I have my old 03 service manual cd-rom that came with my rx-1, I'll look up the schematic on the relay.

thanks for the tips!

(glad my Apex has FI!)