Scary: 09 Vec overheated and wouldn't move

[Delta_T]

So I got my Vector last Friday and I frickin' love it. I drove it for about 150 miles over trails, awesome.
Sunday however it had a little booboo. I was riding on a tral when I suddenly noticed an orange warning light, the engine was overheating. It wasn't cold, but it shouldn't happen IMO.
I was alone, so I decided to stop and wait a while until things cooled down. When I started it up again, evertything seemed fine, but the sled wouldn't move anymore. The transmission belt was slipping like crazy, smoke and all. So I took off the bodywork to check it out and there was some black stuff from the beld and it was quite hot. I didn't have a spare belt and didn't really know what to do. I checked the manual but I couldn't find anything that might help, so I waited some more and then tried it and it took off again. Drove it all afternoon and didn't fail me anymore.
Any idea what that was all about? It was quite a scary experience.

 

[lakercr]

So I got my Vector last Friday and I frickin' love it. I drove it for about 150 miles over trails, awesome.
Sunday however it had a little booboo. I was riding on a tral when I suddenly noticed an orange warning light, the engine was overheating. It wasn't cold, but it shouldn't happen IMO.
I was alone, so I decided to stop and wait a while until things cooled down. When I started it up again, evertything seemed fine, but the sled wouldn't move anymore. The transmission belt was slipping like crazy, smoke and all. So I took off the bodywork to check it out and there was some black stuff from the beld and it was quite hot. I didn't have a spare belt and didn't really know what to do. I checked the manual but I couldn't find anything that might help, so I waited some more and then tried it and it took off again. Drove it all afternoon and didn't fail me anymore.
Any idea what that was all about? It was quite a scary experience.

You were most likely riding in marginal snow conditions, both for engine cooling and slider lube. When you stopped to let your engine cool down, the sliders were very hot and stuck to the track clips. This might happen to you again before the sliders have worn to the point that they'll live at. Did you notice the sled feeling a bit sluggish and not wanting to roll prior to the light coming on? Next time (if there is one) tip your sled on it's side a bit (not too far to the left) and you'll probably see what I'm talking about.

 

[Delta_T]

Thanks for your reply. The snow conditions weren't perfect to say the least. But I really wanted to take it out for a spin. You know how it is with new toys.
I was really worried, being new and all. The sled didn't feel sluggish at all. I am actually glad I even saw the warning light.
I thought there might be something wrong wit the clutch. But your reply makes sence. I hope there is no second time.

 

[SIMMER]

With all respect to lakercr, I really don't think that conditions would be the problem. Considering I live "near" DeltaT.

I have ridden my 4-strokes in +10C in MUD for miles (not by choice) with the occasion on snow just to try and cool down and yes my machine would get hot but never that hot.

It's definately an overheat but I don't think it's conditions. Do a search on the forum. You'll see quite a few posts about "bleeding the cooling" and cutting the mixture from 100% antifreeze to a 60/40 mix.

 

[lakercr]

^^Good advice, and well worth checking out^^

If it's a new sled (sounds like it is) it's pretty common for the hyfax to wear in fast. By your description of what happened I say this was definately happening. The extra work the engine had to do to keep the sled moving with sticking sliders could be a big part of the overheating problem.

 

[Delta_T]

I've taken this for the dealer. And they agree with you guys, it was probably sticky sliders that caused it.
I wish I could give it another testrun, but..... I NEED SNOW !
It's +6C (42F) today, so fat chance.

 

[apltx08]

I've taken this for the dealer. And they agree with you guys, it was probably sticky sliders that caused it.
I wish I could give it another testrun, but..... I NEED SNOW !
It's +6C (42F) today, so fat chance.

Check your track clips for melted black plastic stuck on the edges of clips to confirm if they overheated which I to think happened...if you rode this past sunday I'm sure thats what happened not enough powder to cool things down, I left mine parked in the garage this weather S@CKS!!!

 

[Riceburner]

Engine runs hotter during break in as well.

Same thing happened to me with wifes 07 Vector.

 

[Delta_T]

What the @#$%!
I was out on a the lake today taking the Vec for s spin and I suddenly noticed parts of my beld on the left running board. I took the cover off and the top of the belt was gone! The inner part was still there, so it was still running, but the outside part separated into small pieces, all over the place. That's not normal, is it?
The sled had only done 300 km, so my best guess is that it malfunctioned. Good thing I had a spare belt with me.
Will take it go to the dealer to see what they have to say about it.

 

[cannondale27]

Once you overheat a belt like happened on your first ride its doomed.Dont feel bad most of us have done it one time or another I know I did it this year on my SRX when I decided to drive it with parking brake on!Belt blew shortly after.

 

[jtl22002]

I have an 2009 vector also and my second time out the light came on and I shut it down right away, let it cool down for a good 10 minutes and started it up. My husband took it in some deep snow to cool it off and it hasn't come back on since. The snow conditions we were in the day it came on were not good. Warm weather, very hard packed trails....with little to no snow dust.

 

[Delta_T]

I have an 2009 vector also and my second time out the light came on and I shut it down right away, let it cool down for a good 10 minutes and started it up. My husband took it in some deep snow to cool it off and it hasn't come back on since. The snow conditions we were in the day it came on were not good. Warm weather, very hard packed trails....with little to no snow dust.

Hi there and welcome to this forum !

Don't you just love the machine?

There is not much snow here anymore, but I have been riding it as much as I can, putting on approx. 250 miles on it. The light hasn't come on anymore. I am pretty sure now that it was a sticky track that caused it.

By the way, I have replaced my carbides because it was darting a lot and really hard to steer. I have put some Cobra Heads on it: what a difference!

 

[apltx08]

They use to have a simular add on which I had on my '02 CAT and tend to wear quick and break right and the front bend, keep a close eye on them see how they tend to wear for you...

 

[Fredsdogdino]

Same EXACT thing happened to me! Funny (now). I posted a thread because with less than 30 miles on my new 09 Vector LTX GT the sliders were stuck and I didn't know what was wrong. Immediately looked through the owners manual five times over and didn't see anything there. Thanks to help on this site the problem was corrected. One hit from a rubber mallet and my sled moved again. At the time my sled was brand new and I wanted to ride it no matter what. The weather was surprisingly warm at the time and there were puddles of water on the trail but that didn't stop me. The overheating sensor came on and the sled was beeping. I turned it off and let it sit for 10-15 minutes and next thing I knew my sled wouldn't budge after I started it back up. Sliders were stuck but I didn't know it. Of course I smoked my belt in the process and it blew out a week later on the trails at night at 65mph~had a spare though. Since then its been smooth sailing and not a single problem for the rest of the season. I tell you at the time I was worried.