Yellow Warning Light - Overheating

[monte1214]

- In low snow or ice conditions when the Yellow light comes on because it's warm...what's the "real" deal?

- Do I have to stop and let her cool or try and dip into some snow??

- A couple times today while running hard pack in slow tight trails, the light would come on. I'd stop and let her cool.

- what exactly is the yellow light telling me??

 

[grader]

on the rx1 a red lite flashes but not for long, then the motor shuts down. it will re start but it needs cooling to keep running. the apex will probably do the same. when you see the lite get in the snow asap. it will shut down before any damage is done, but its better not to run that hot if you dont have to. i have the scratchers that mount under the running boards and can run bare blue ice all day if needed.

 

[monte1214]

- Ive never seen it flash so I'm not sure it'd do that?
- I put the scratchers down and of course it cooled off.

- I just want to be sure what exactly the yellow means?
- I don't have a manual.

 

[ragdoll]

 

[APEX 06]

There should be a little icon too with the temp light on. Add a vent to the right side to help cool air pass by the fan.

 

[monte1214]

- I havent seen anything on the dash? Just the light.
- where would a vent go Apex?

 

[Irv]

- Ive never seen it flash so I'm not sure it'd do that?
- I put the scratchers down and of course it cooled off.

- I just want to be sure what exactly the yellow means?
- I don't have a manual.

Good idea re-installing them before the trip.

Hope you get the snow tonight you said they were calling for as I a sure that will help 10 fold.

How's your coolant level in your over flow bottle? I added about 1/2-3/4 litre to mine when I was checking one day.
Must have came low from the factory?

 

[APEX 06]

I have them on both side of my sleds, but cut it on the same are

 

[RTX]

on the rx1 a red lite flashes but not for long, then the motor shuts down. it will re start but it needs cooling to keep running. the apex will probably do the same. when you see the lite get in the snow asap. it will shut down before any damage is done, but its better not to run that hot if you dont have to. i have the scratchers that mount under the running boards and can run bare blue ice all day if needed.

I dont think this info is correct
i own an 06 apex and absolutely have run it with the red light on. it does not shut the sled down. if you run for extended periods of time with the light on you WILL overheat the motor and be sorry you took this advise

the apex has an overheat prevention system to prevent overheating when the engine has been "IDLING" over 3 minutes and the temp has risen above 212 degrees f.
this is clearly posted on page 5-2 of my manual

 

[02xtreme]

Two weekends ago my yellow light and warning light came on numerous times and it was -20 outside with good snow. I went home and swapped out the coolant and added 50/50 coolant with waterwetter. I went out this past weekend and it was about -5 outside and snow conditions were poor in some spots, some trails were dirt for hundreds of feet - actually the trails should have been open!! Anyway, the yellow light did not come on once.

When I changed the coolant the coolant in the sled was dark green, looked like straight coolant. If you do a search on here u will find it appears as though straight coolant came in the Apex's from the factory. Straight coolant does not release heat near as well as mixed.

My suggestion would be to change the coolant to 50/50 and add waterwetter.

 

[monte1214]

- Ive never seen it flash so I'm not sure it'd do that?
- I put the scratchers down and of course it cooled off.

- I just want to be sure what exactly the yellow means?
- I don't have a manual.

Good idea re-installing them before the trip.

Hope you get the snow tonight you said they were calling for as I a sure that will help 10 fold.

How's your coolant level in your over flow bottle? I added about 1/2-3/4 litre to mine when I was checking one day.
Must have came low from the factory?

I didn't put them on Dale. I'm testing a new thing.
I put a bolt on the back of my ski that I can take off and on in seconds!
No one else was overheating but twice the light came on, so I put the bolt in and was fine.

- what I want to know is how long I can go before I have to "really" worry.

 

[Irv]

Two weekends ago my yellow light and warning light came on numerous times and it was -20 outside with good snow. I went home and swapped out the coolant and added 50/50 coolant with waterwetter. I went out this past weekend and it was about -5 outside and snow conditions were poor in some spots, some trails were dirt for hundreds of feet - actually the trails should have been open!! Anyway, the yellow light did not come on once.

When I changed the coolant the coolant in the sled was dark green, looked like straight coolant. If you do a search on here u will find it appears as though straight coolant came in the Apex's from the factory. Straight coolant does not release heat near as well as mixed.

My suggestion would be to change the coolant to 50/50 and add waterwetter.

I assume the Vectors are/were probably just the same?

Regardless, and I have never had an overheat issue like Monte(he likes to ride in more crappy conditions than I do ) I still want to change mine out just to be sure it is correct.

 

[monte1214]

I'm guessing you dont remember North Bay when you were ready turn back and go home because your light was on eh!!

 

[Irv]

I'm guessing you dont remember North Bay when you were ready turn back and go home because your light was on eh!!

Yea, I do now and it was because of sh*tty conditions, the mainly lack of snow kind

Glad to hear the bolt trick works, does it put a lot of stress on the ski?

I would also check your overflow bottle and change your fluid when you get home as I have read countless times that the anti-freeze that came from the factory was straight glycol!

Not sure what to tell you if it happens again other than to try and find some soft snow asap or shut her down and try and get some snow on the running boards/heat exchangers

Hope tomorrow's better for you, ride safe

 

[Grimm]

Monte, you can view the owner's manual on Yamaha's website.