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Posted by: homer
I like my cats, but I HATE the company response to the customers. I too made a call to Arctic Cat, enclosed a letter in with the survey for my 650 regarding a faulty master cylinder on my 2002, 375. I also left a voice mail with the warranty dept, sent a letter to the CEO, and talked with someone in the survey dept. After all that I finally got a call from someone on my answering machine to go to my dealer with all kinds of info and they would see if Arctic Cat would do some "goodwill" about it. I have heard that they had defective master cylinders on many of these. What is "goodwill" about replacing faulty equipment. The guy on the message had a real attitude, ticked me off, and being a month and a half after this started I of course had already bought a new one and put it on. I guess the 3 Arctic Cats I have bought have been "goodwill" guestures on my part. I like my cats, but unless Arctic Cat's attitude changes towards its customer service my next purchase will not be A/C and I will not be recommending them to any of my friends.
Posted by: homer
oldcrow, I was more referring to how Arctic Cat responds to the customers more than complaining about them not covering the master cylinder. That seems to be the general opinion of most people's complaint. And in my letters and calls I gave imformation such as 308 miles, etc. As for thinking Arctic Cat should fix it or not, there was a lot of people with master cylinder failures on this model. Maybe you and Arctic Cat don't think that master cylinder failures are a saftey issue. I am sure that if it was on other motorized vehicles there would be no problem getting something done. No I am not broke so I could afford a master cylinder and as I stated it is the customer service of A/C that is an issue with me. I work for one of the few textile machinery suppliers that are left in the US, and one of the main reasons we are still here is that when we have a problem that is a manufacturing problem we suck it up and resolve it for the customer. I have seen it done for problems on machines that were 7 years old. Customer service makes loyal customers.
Posted by: DanW
Does anyone have a part number for the reset plug? Fortunately, I have not had the problem yet, but I want to be ready.
I'd like to see A/C at least communicate that the fix is coming. Silence is what is damaging them right now.
Does A/C customer service have an e-mail address?
Posted by: bfb750BF
Jerico1 is correct & my 2 cents worth is about the same as Jerico1. Allot of you are making out this Limp-Home-Mode a bigger bad deal than it really is. Don't leave for a trail ride w/o the reset plug, which you can get from your Cat dealer "Free". I have a extra reset plug That I can sell to anyone who wants it, as I bought 3 of them but only needed 2. You can have it for $14.00 including shipping charges, the same price I paid for it thru Alpha-sports. The 1st time the limp-mode happens it may take you 10 minutes to fix but the 2nd time you will beable to do it in less than 3 minutes, it is that easy. It can happen at any miles, the statement that it won't if you have over 100 miles is "False". I rode my LE650 hard for 3 days at Moab this past April, charged thru the 50 or so stream crossings to the point where I was soaked head to toe & never did my LE650 go into the limp-mode, not once on the entire Moab Trip. The following weekend while back home & out on a trail ride, I tripped the Limp-mode after splashing thru a few stream crossings. My 1st limp-mode was at 50 miles & my 2nd limp-mode was at 325 miles. Have gone additional 165 miles since the last one & no new limp-mode failures.
Cat does have a fix for us ALL who have bought the Cat 650 VTwins, shouldn't be too much longer & Cat will have enough of the RF filters made up, so if Cat does the right thing here & has a Recall, we all will get the RF filter to fix the Limp-mode problem on the '04 Cat 650s.
Posted by: bfb750BF
Biggercat;
Nope, don't know but you may want to check the high-lifter forums in the cat section, someone there may have a solution for you. You may have to go back a ways in the pages but I do recall seeing something there on it. Since I am not having the Limp-Home-Mode problem as a every day occurance, I'm just waiting for Arctic Cat to get their act together & fix up all of us 650 owners with their RF Filter or give me a NEW '05 CDI unit for my '04 650 unit, as the '05 CDI has the fix in it.
Posted by: bfb750BF
DanW
The part # is 0486-161.
Like you, when I picked up my LE 650, the limp-mode problem wasn't a known thing. My LE 650 did not come with an reset-plug & my dealer was no help at all in getting one thru him as he said the part # 0486-161 were on back order. So I ordered 3 thru Alpha sprorts, 1 for me & 2 others for 2 other 650 owners. It turned out that 1 of the Cat 650s came w/the reset plug, so I still have a extra reset plug if anyone needs one. I paid $14 for it w/shipping & that is exactly what I will sell it for.
FYI: Your Dealer Is Suppose To Give You One Free & he shoould have them in stock by now.
Posted by: Jerico1
Catrep,
You are very mistaken about what's causing the limp mode in most situations. You guys are being misled by his remarks, especially about not having any problems after 100 miles. It's all been posted many times on many forums, just do a search. Jerico1
Posted by: Jerico1
Hi Guys,
I had my dealer call AC this morning about the limp mode problem some of us are having due to an electrical spike. It's as York has stated, they do have a fix ( capasitor ), but at this time none are available, according to AC. They will probably have a recall when they get enough of them , but that could be a while yet, maybe a month or so away. Don't leave home without your reset plug, & for those of you who haven't had to use it yet, it's no biggy, very simple. Limp mode can hit at any mileage, as one of my buddies found out while we were in Moab. No need to pull the cover unless it is a belt issue & the switch inside the cover has been tripped. I still wouldn't trade my 650 for anything out there, but thats just my opinion. Regards, Jerico1
Posted by: yort
Their is a fix for the limp mode, contact your dealer.
Posted by: yort
The fix is simple and quick, a small plug plugs into your wiring harness, thats it, takes about 2 min. We have done this and it is a 100% cure.
Posted by: yort
If you are slipping your belt put in spring clutch kit (like the one from Dalton Industries) and when it gets put in make sure your belt deflection (tension) is on the lower end of spec, and you will no longer slip your belt even with 27" tires. if you do not want to put the kit in use low range in all situations except road use.
Posted by: yort
The limp mode fix is free from your dealer,
The belt slip issue is primarly for people who put larger tires on, if you run the stock tires, and when you go off trail use low range (you can go 50 mph in low) you will not have belt slip issues. As any belt wears it will losen and you will have keep the deflection in spec for optimum performance, and this will also minimize the possibility of slipping the belt. If you are stuck in a mud hole and you gas it in high range, yes you can slip the belt but you have know one to blame but yourself, put it in low.
The Dalton kit is about $50 we have installed many with every customer very happy with it, well worth the money if you have big tires or ride aggresivly.
Posted by: yort
At first they wanted to target the machines that were going into limp mode very regularly, we installed it on our worst offenders first and it is 100% cure, and the others when they have more kits to fix the limp mode available, tell your dealer you are experiencing problems and you will get your kit sooner, but tell them this only if you are experienceing problems, as others who need the kits may not get them right away.
The Dalton kit is one they put together for the AC 650, check their web site, $75 CND + freight.
Posted by: oldcrow
BIGGERCAT in case you haven't noticed you have no issue. You haven't gone into limp mode.
Stop making excuses because you're afraid to go out and having a good time.
Posted by: oldcrow
mistangoriverrat, did you actually go into limp-mode or are you only getting a check belt light.
Posted by: oldcrow
You have to give more details. You are asking for warrenty work on a 2002 machine. I'm assuming got a 6 month warrenty like everyone else? 2002's came out in fall of 2001 so it is potentionaly 3 years old and you think Arctic Cat should fix that?
I don't understand some of you guys.
You should be happy AC would even consider "Good Will" and if you think the grass is greener on the otherside of the fence your blind.
Posted by: NLWarrior01
welcome to the forums BTW!!!
Posted by: kwc
My 650 only has a little over 200 miles on it and limp mode has struck 3 times. I cleaned and put dielectric grease in all the connections and installed the extra ground between the engine and frame. Still got limp mode... When I saw the AC letter in the mail I thought it would be about a recall regarding limp mode, instead it was BS. This company has alot to learn about customer relations.
I got tired of waiting for them and ordered the Dynatek CDI which arrived yesterday. Yes, it sucks to have to shell out $ 247.00 to fix AC's screwup, but I'm going to Hatfield McCoy for a week in August. I don't want limp mode to hit in a very dangerous place and ruin my vacation, and who knows when AC will get around to announcing a fix for it.
I usually get a new quad every 2 years. I have 4 words for Arctic Cat- King Quad, Brute Force. My next quad won't be an Arctic Cat. I won't put up with poor customer service from a manufacturer and this is not the dealer's fault.
Posted by: kwc
You shouldn't need a part #.. they know what it is and your dealer should give you one.
Don't hold your breath waiting for AC to tell you what is going on. I called customer service for a week, leaving my name and number on their voice mail. Took 3 weeks for them to call back. They did talk to me for 10-15 minutes and promised to call back with answers to questions I had. That was April, still no call back. Someone gave me the number for Cat Care, got right through to Jim Baldwin (hope I got his name right).. a real nice guy who I talked to for 10 minutes about various AC things. He works in the extended warranty dept. though, and couldn't help with new ATV problems. A good friend (who also bought a 650 the same day I did, and has similar problems) ran into a Arctic Cat rep. who is the liason between the factory and dealers while on vacation in Deep Creek Lake, MD 3 weeks ago. They had a nice chat, got the guy's business card, was told he'd get a call back ASAP about the limp mode problem and other issues.. Guess what? No call or anything yet. He's disgusted too.
The Japanese have a saying- "a fish stinks from the head down".. Does this apply to Arctic Cat? I hope not, but it's looking that way.
Sorry 'bout the long rant, but between the limp mode thing, no communication from AC about it, and that Bullsh*t letter, I'm d*mned pissed!
Posted by: ng
What is the fix for the belt.I'm going to get one in the next week or so and I'd like to have it taken care of.Thanks
Posted by: heyyou
yort,
is that Dalton kit the blue,purple springs?I think that will be my next mod if I can sneak it by my wife.The limp mode fix is not something they are giving out too freely as of yet,at least thats what my dealer is telling me,I'm going to see him tomorrow to get my tie rod,anything I can pass on to him so I can be the first in my neck of the woods to have one?
Posted by: heyyou
I agree with oldcrow,just get out and drive,I do and I have actually had limp mode.You have a great bike,enjoy it.
Posted by: heyyou
The first time gimp mode hit me it was black flies,and they were thick!That plug was hard,really hard to get apart,and with clouds of black flies in your eyes,nose,ears,mouth,and crawling everywhere else,its a little harder.I tell everyone that will listen to take it apart at home before you have to,to make it a little easier when it hits in the woods.
Posted by: heyyou
I really like my module,a cheap and easy mod,can't punch the throttle from a stop and hold it,if she hooks up ya gotta let off.Their cdi sounds like it will be cool,turn all the options on or off,the dynatec one is like 500 clams up here so I won't be getting it,could get a new set of tires or something else for that.If we could get one thats made in Canada it should be in reach,I hope.I may not bother anyway if I can get the fix from a/c before then,ya right!
Posted by: MistangoRiverRat
Limp mode virgin no more!!
278km's on the bike, wife on the back, 4 year old daughter on the front doing about 15km/hr on a nice flat smooth trail and there she was, flashing like a nun out of convent.
Much like the poor clutch setup, I think someone (other than AC) is going to have to come up with a permanent fix for this problem as well.
And please don't say Dyna-Tech CDI cause that sucker is almost $500.00 up here in monopoly money land.
Don't even get me started on AC's proper use of hi-lo transmission letter. img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif" border="0">img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif" border="0">
Posted by: MistangoRiverRat
OldCrow,
Full blown limp mode with all the frustrations of a motor that sputters above 13km/hr that come with it.
Luckily it happened only about 2 miles from my cottage but still sucked because my wife and daughter got eaten alive by mosquitos waiting for me to reset it.
Couldn't get the dam 4 pin plug apart without a small screwdriver so ended up driving it back in gimp mode.
Talk about embarassing pulling in to a yard full of relatives 20 minutes after you left with a brand new $11,000 quad and trying to explain to them that this is just something that happens with these bikes and its something that apparantly we have to live with.
Posted by: MistangoRiverRat
Yeah by the time I got mine apart the locking tabs were in pretty rough shape. Now it'll come apart easy but hopefully it won't come apart when I don't want it to!
How do you like your VDI module?
I was talking to a guy on HL who works for them he says they're version of the Dyna CDI should be out by late October or early November.
They're hoping for Sub $200.00 US price tag which is a little better for us Canucks!
Maybe soon I wont have to unplug connectors in the black flies anymore!
Posted by: catrep
If you are past 100 miles you proably will not have any problems, plus if you are stuck or pulling a heavy load shift into low range. The limp mode comes from slipping the belt and w/ the torque of the 650 motor you will have better performance if using low range for heavy pulling.
Posted by: catrep
You asked about the new 650 H1 motor? It is due to start being produced this fall. It is similiar in design to the current AC 400 & 500 belt drive. Which means it has an interal wet multiclutch, the varible belt never releases so there is never any belt slip to engage a load or start machine. The 650 V2 (Kawasaki design)
is similiar to the way Polaris engages. ( When engine is running clutch is spinning,w/ AC var.cluch only turns when ATV is moving plus it is supported by bearings on outside and inside of clutch)Today I saw a 2002 375 auto with over 14,000 miles in a dealer for a new belt. Dealer said it is only the second belt they have sold since becoming a AC dealer in 1999.
Posted by: weez440
after you set the limp mode once you can do it again in about 30 seconds but i get scared when i get in the mud and water over the reset plugs for it but for the most part it is a minor thing but like yort said i heard arctic has a solution to the problem
Posted by: BIGGERCAT
Just wanted to chime in on the LIMP MODE problem so many have you have experienced. I am new to the forum but i wish i would have read the info. before i bought my AC 650 v-twin. Don't get me wrong, i love the 650 so far it has out performed my yamaha 660 in every category. The grizzly i gave to my wife, she is 105 lbs soaking wet and she handles without a problem, but she is afraid of my BIG CAT. Anyway, i must admit that every mud puddle, every steep hill, and pretty much anywhere i ride i always have the LIMP MODE problem in the back of my mind!!!! I have 180 miles and 30 hours on my machine and have been lucky so far!!!! I have not done any modifications to prevent limp mode, however i did just buy it about one month ago. The dealer gave me the reset plug so i always carry it. I hope i never have to deal with the problem i feel bad for those who have. I am thinking about trading in the v-twin for the new 2005 h1 hemi. has anybody heard anything good or bad about the hemi??????
thanks
biggercat
Posted by: BIGGERCAT
wow, great stuff!!! thanks for the info. once in a while i notice a burning smell when i have a heavy load. What you said makes perfect sense about the way the belt is configured!!!! Never even thought to compare or look at the belt configuration!!! thanks for the info
biggercat
Posted by: BIGGERCAT
BR>
NO HELP FROM DEALERS NO HELP FORM AC AND I WILL BE DAMNED IF I SPEND MORE MONEY TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT THEY SHOULD FIX. LIKE I SAID BEFOR EVERYTIME I RIDE DOWN A TRAIL I FEAR HAVING THE LIMP MODE ISSUE AT A BAD TIME LIKE UP A HILL OR IN THE MUD. ANYWAY, IF ANYBODY HAS A KNOWN FIX THAT DOESN'T COST MONEY LET ME KNOW CAUSE I WILL BE DAMNED WHEN I SPENT OVER 7000.00 ON A MACHINE.
Posted by: BIGGERCAT
OLD CROW,
I am not making any excuses and i ride my quad harder than most!!!! this i am sure of, i was only hoping to find something preventative so that i dont have a limp mode issue when i am in the middle of some nasty mud hole or climbing some crazy hill or launching over some insane jump. Seeing all the problems others have it is a concern to me, but thanks for the constructive input.
ride fast, ride hard and if u aint bleeding u aint riding hard enough!!!!!!!!!
BIGGERCAT
Posted by: BIGGERCAT
hey bfb,
do you know the manufaturer and part number of the capicitor required!!!!! i might be able to do some research and see if i can come up with it or a cross for it on my own!!!!! i realize you probably dont know but i thought i would take a stab in the dark... thanks for input it was helpful!!!!
you still aint bleeding RIDE HARDER
BIGGERCAT
Posted by: BIGGERCAT
WELL FELLA'S I TOOK THE 650 OUT THIS WEEKEND AND PUT IT TO THE TEST. I WENT WITH MY BUDDY WHO HAS A BRUTE FORCE AND MY WIFE ON HER GRIZZLEY. WE CAME ACROSS A NICE "LITTLE" PUDDLE. THE BRUTE FORCE WENT FIRST AND ENDED UP FLOATING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PUDDLE LIKE A BIG GREEN BOBBER. (MY AC PULLED HIM OUT) THEN WENT THE GRIZZLY, ANOTHER BIG GREEN BOBBER. (AC PULLED HER OUT TOO!!!!) THEN CAME ME ON MY AC 650, WHICH I REFER TO AS MY "BIG CAT" TOOK HER RIGHT ON THROUGH THE PUDDLE WITH OUT A PROBLEM. NEEDLESS TO SAY I GOT HI FIVES AND BRAGGING RIGHTS TO BOOT!!!!! ONE THING THOUGH, AFTER THAT PUDDLE WE ALL EXPERIENCED OVER HEATING PROBLEMS. THIS WAS DUE TO THE PAINT LIKE COATING OF MUD ON OUR RADIATORS. LUCKILY WE WERE SOMEWHAT CLOSE TO A HOUSE AND THEY WERE NICE ENOUGH TO LET US USE THEIR HOSE TO CLEAN OF THE RADIATORS!!!!! OTHER THAN THAT IT WAS ANOTHER GREAT WEEKEND OF RIDING AND MOST IMPORTANTLY NO LIMP MODE YET. WE DID ANOTHER 167 MILES OF TRAILS THIS WEEKEND AND SO FAR THE "BIG CAT" HAS BEEN VERY IMPRESSIVE. AC HAS MADE ONE HELL OF A MACHINE THEY JUST NEED TO GET THE "BUGS" FIXED AND START TAKING CARE OF THERE CUSTOMERS BETTER.
THANKS FOR ALL THE RESPONSES, IT HAS BEEN INFORMATIVE AND INSTRUCTIONAL
BIGGER CAT
Posted by: BIGGERCAT
hmmmmm! i see my old pal SWAZFORCE on the brute force or should i say the (HOOPED FORCE) decided to try and save face and spin his little web!!!!!!!! i kind of remember the HOOPED FARCE going around the puddle the next time we came to it!!!! and i also remember sitting in the middle of the trail while the HOOPED FARCE had to have its tie rod removed and then suprisingly that very tie rod was straightened using the BIG CATS racks cause somebody did not want to scratch their delicate little HOOPED FARCE.
Hey swaz, bottom line your little maching could not hang with the BIG CAT so stop crying and ride harder!!!!
i just have to say this about the HOOPED FARCE
*LESS CLEARENCE
*SMALLER WHEEL WHEEL BASE
*SMALLER TIRES
*SMALLER SMALLER SMALLER
OK YOU HAVE A BIGGER MOTOR SO YOU ARE BE A LITTLE FASTER ON THE STRAIGHTAWAYS BUT BIG DEAL, WHAT FUN WILL YOU HAVE IF YOU HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND ALL THE MUD PUDDLES!!!!!!!!!
BIGGER CAT
Posted by: BIGGERCAT
Swazforce,
what are you talking about brother??? There was one time out of the countless times that we rode this year that i did not go!!!!!! and why? according to you i am some kind of wuss, but this is just not so, you know i blew out my hamstring and there is no way i could ride! I COULD NOT EVEN WALK why are you spewing these fabrications? and what is with all the fat cat references, listen here bro!!!! don't make the BIG CAT pull a monster truck on your HOOPED FARCE, i will roll over you like church on sunday moring. As far as you riding so hard, maybe you should just pay attention to the trail, and stop looking for margy wanna plants, you hion and you will stop breaking things on the your HOOPED FARCE. Oh, and by the way, you should have just went and bought an Arcitc Cat instead of the LITTLE TYKE HOOPED FORCE, you seem to display such envy that maybe you bought the wrong machine.
AND AS FOR YOUR REFERENCE TO MY WIFE, ALL I CAN SAY IS THIS: AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A BAD THING FOR MY WIFE TO HAVE A QUAD AND RIDE WITH US, BUT SO FAR IT HAS NOT BEEN TO BAD, AT LEAST I AM GETTING "SOME" EVERY TIME WE GO OUT RIDING!!!!!! NO CLOWN PUNCHING IN MY TENT LOL OK, OK I KNOW WHAT YOUR GONNA SAY, THE DAY SHE RAN 2 BIG LOGS OVER WITH MY MUSTANG WAS NOT A GOOD DAY!!! BUT YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE GOOD WITH THE BAD.
P.S. I WILL BE AT YOUR HOUSE NO LATER THAN 8:30AM FRIDAY, SO YOU BETTER BE READY YOU SHADOW IN THE DARK LOSER.
P.S.S. GET A JOB, NO REALLY, YOU NEED A JOB BRO!!!!!
P.S.S.S. OH YEA THE BIG CAT RULES AND SWAZFORCE DRUELS
P.S.S.S. AND BY THE WAY, YOU NEVER DID MAKE IT THROUGH THAT PUDDLE, NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY, THERE IS NO ANSWER TO THE FACT THAT THE HOOPED FARCE ABSOLUTELY DID NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE PAINT PUDDLE!!!!FACT, NOTHING ELSE FOR YOU TO SAY, SO STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR THE BIG GREEN BOBBER!!!!LOL BOTTOM LINE, END OF DISCUSSION, FINITO!!!!!!
RIDE HARD RIDE FAST, JUST STOP BREAKING YOUR STUFF SWAZO
Posted by: BIGGERCAT
swazforce,
i have no recollection of any big red bobber, you must have been stoned or something. if i told you once i'll tell you a million times "CRACK KILLS" brother!!!!!!lol and by the way, if correcting my spelling errors makes you feel good about yourself than i am happy to give you a few more. You stipud sas mohtre falker<<<lol i am a funny guy!!!!!! by the way, the big cat and i will be waiting for you at the end of the trail, i can smoke you with one leg, and one arm tied behind my back. You hooped farce riding pansy i got a little cut on my wrist baby. Better call and ask your women before we go this time if it is ok for you stay up north riding for the whole trip!!!! i dont want this, "i got to go home a day early, because my girlfriend said so" crap ever again. You know what, do me a favor and go in her purse and get you balls back, i hate seeing my boy walking around town like some kind of kept man!!!!!!!
p.s. The bickering will never stop, because i live for it!!!!! SO BICKER ON BRO BICKER ON
Posted by: SwazForce
WOW, I have never heard such a ridiculous story Biggercat or should I say Little Kitten.
It Just turns out I am Biggercats buddy with the Brute force and I am here to tell the story like it happened not this farce biggercat posted. First off when we got to this puddle I seem to recall that the Arctic Cat was leading and was to afraid to go through the puddle first so biggercat pulled aside to let the Brute Force go through first. When I entered the puddle it was deep and yes I began to float but the Arctic cat did not pull me out I backed out. Then biggercat went in and what happened he began to float and backed out also his wife was not with us till the next day when the puddle was lower then the arctic cat made it through and I did not even take mine through it because I was still breaking it in and the day before it was overheating because of the mud so I stayed out of it but needless to say both the arctic cat and the grizzly were overheating because of the puddle and mine was the day before so I did not want to do that again.
Now that is the TRUE story and biggercat next time tell the whole story the way it happened you Little kitten
Posted by: SwazForce
Yeah i bent my tie rod i guess that is what happens when you are riding in front and the little kitten is no where to be seen that what i get for riding fast i guess anyway there is nothing that your fat cat (since it weighs 100 pounds more and so do you) can get through that the force can't i didn't go throught that paint puddle by choice i did not want to overheat again like yours was doing after that. we will see if you ever come riding again it seems that you never want to go anymore are you scared of the force maybe you should just ride with your wife till she shows you up then you will be riding by yourself hahahahahahahah
Later man
Swaz Force
Posted by: SwazForce
There was no way you could even walk but you sure as hell walked your fat ass to the casino that night but anyway lets stop the bickering and we will see what the fat cat has to offer the next time we go out. And by the way the fat cat looked like a big red bobber like the force did the first day and you can&39;t deny that
PS.. Druels is not a word I think it is spelled “Drools” you dumb ass
