09 800 goes down

[AndrettiDog]

The d8 is not the first sled Polaris has had problems with, you guys should not be surprised did any one read all the posts on the 900 before they purchased a D8.

Really?

 

[440dart]

If your to scared to go to Alaska and ride, then come up to Colorado and I will show you a D8 that runs. All it has is a slp pipe, gearing and clutching.

But if you do go to Alaska take a set of ball joints for your dodge, there not alot of places open this time of year across the Yukon Territory.

ok you bring the balljoints i will bring the tow strap

 

[dragonfire]

my 08 800 with latest polaris update lost mag side piston today, third motor in 1300 miles. it didn't seize this time , just went bog,bog, coast , blah. was cruising down trail and started to get on it a bit an the more i gave the more the r's dropped. sled has always had a bit of a low rpm issue, but i must say has ran the best with latest update. has slp single pipe an can v force reeds, 19/42 gears 155 track. i like the way the sled handles, the suspension, ect. BUT i have a 01 700 yammy with 9000 miles has almost every hop up doo dad you can do an the ol girl is dependable as hell. i hope polaris figures this out cause i can't take much more gettin toed out. luckily today we were on the road! just my 2 cents i'll get off my soap box now.

It wil always go down at part throttle on the trail unless you add fuel or vary the throttle position often. hop up the polaris with a pc5.

 

[dragonfire]

440 dart

You have a list a mile long of stuff you have added to your D7 down by your name under your posts! Did you need all that to make the D7 run? NO. So what is the complaint about buying something your sled actually needs?
There is obviously a fuel mapping problem on the D8's so the best thing to do is deal with it. A Power commander is CHEAP compared to all the other crap we put on our sleds we don't need. PC3 is cheaper than a pipe,cheaper than a set of aftermarket skis, and not that much more than a can. No one is *****ing about buying all those items. IF YOU DON"T ADDRESS THE FUEL MAP ISSUE YOUR GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM SOME TIME! My 08 D8 is bone stock with the original 08 single ring pistons and 08 original map. I do have a SLP power commander, SLP pipe and air intake venting. My sled has run perfect so far and I am on the start of the 3rd season. Not one single issue and still the original belt. I have replaced 1 spark plug in all this time. Checked yesterday the compression and it was perfect and both the same still as day 1.
Now you ask why doesn't Polaris just give everyone a PC3 or PC5. THEY CAN"T because of the EPA emmision laws and they can't go around them. As a manufacturer they can't make a safe enough map that can still pass the tough emmision laws without getting very lean. I highly doubt the SLP PC3 map would pass the newer recent tough emmisions. Polaris has to meet these laws to be legal to sell the sleds. Every new map they try must meet these stupid new rules and they are having to get the maps so lean for emmisions they are having problems.

You are not going to hear from all the good running D8's because most people come here to Snowest when they have an issue not so much when they are running great. It is actually a small percent in the bigger picture of sled sales.

So if all of you still can't justify a Power commander sell all the other aftermarket crap we all put on [skis, pipe, can, wraps, lightweight pieces, colored do dads, scratchers, sno bungees, tunnel bags, bumpers, etc.] here on Snowest forums and then use that money to buy the PC3 or PC5 controller.

So far I haven't even had the voltage regulator problem either. I guess now that I admitted all this I may have jinxed myself but I doubt it. And what are the odds when the same sled keeps going thru voltage regulators. I am betting something else electrical is going on in these cases.

Unfortunatly this is the situation we have been dealt so DEAL WITH IT!

Sorry to unload but enough is enough. This situation does suck when you are spending big money for a new sled. IF you want to blame some one blame the EPA emmisions laws and how they are getting tougher each year.

EXCELLENT POST YOU SAID IT ALL. That is what this is all about.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

[



Oh, I'm sure they want them fixed. Lol And you have to admire the way they seem to be standing behind these sleds. However, there is something to be said about doing it right the first time too. Honestly though not everyone has had a good experience with their sled. For me and many others on here it has been 3yrs of headaches. No consumer should spend that kind of money and get a lemon that just sits in a shop constantly waiting for parts. I wouldn't doubt Skibreeze sled alone has $5000 worth of warranty work done to it.
By the way, I want to say how much I appreciate the inside info that both you and Ron provide. We may not always get answers from Polaris, but you really come through. Keep up the good work.

[/I][/QUOTE]


I hear you monte...when I bought mine I was in the dreaded low elevation area that had the most amount of problems...dealer didnt know what to do , polaris didnt...so I went to work 1 at a time on the problems..sled got better and better...then came the update(09),,and back to square 1 with new problems....and now so far mine is pretty good with the 10 update..but I do feel for everyone who has a d-8 that doesnt rip..thats why I posted my clutching and chime in on these post to help those with issues...the bottom line is all these sleds are assembled with the same parts..the majority of them run good..some have a few issues..some have alot of issues..there is no one fix all(such as a pc -3 or pc 5 ) thats gonna fix them...each one needs to be taken and looked at on its own..what is it doing that others arnt? figure out the issues..then fix them..if the local dealer wont/cant..then find a good dealer and take it too them..I can say this..if I lived anywhere on the west coast and my sled was having issues..I would be beggeing chris at carls cycle to get it in and take a look at it..even if I had to spend a weekend getting it to him and another picking it up....its worth doing to have a sled that rips(regardless weather you should have to do it or not) other wise you might as well throw a for sale sign onit..get whatever you can and cut your loses...ride time is far to valuable to waste it on a sled your dealer cant figure out.....and for those with no dealer..well...you have us here on snowest to help..cant be that hard to find a decent running sled in the area to do some parts testing on..swap ecms,regulators,capacitor, clutches....see what makes a difference..and what doesnt...

really ????? you want me to come all the way up to alaska. i really wanted a d8 thats what i wanted my dealer didnt have one now that ive rode a 5 or 6 of them i think i will stick with my 7

well all I can say is it took a D-7 with porting,twins, good clutching, gears and a way better rider to come close to my stock D-8.and he could climb on my sled and do even more then he could on his sled.....I just wish you would adjust your aproach to talking to these guys about their sleds...it sucks when your stuff doesnt do what it should..let alone have someone getting in your face about it every day..

 

[440dart]

[



Oh, I'm sure they want them fixed. Lol And you have to admire the way they seem to be standing behind these sleds. However, there is something to be said about doing it right the first time too. Honestly though not everyone has had a good experience with their sled. For me and many others on here it has been 3yrs of headaches. No consumer should spend that kind of money and get a lemon that just sits in a shop constantly waiting for parts. I wouldn't doubt Skibreeze sled alone has $5000 worth of warranty work done to it.
By the way, I want to say how much I appreciate the inside info that both you and Ron provide. We may not always get answers from Polaris, but you really come through. Keep up the good work.

[/I]

I hear you monte...when I bought mine I was in the dreaded low elevation area that had the most amount of problems...dealer didnt know what to do , polaris didnt...so I went to work 1 at a time on the problems..sled got better and better...then came the update(09),,and back to square 1 with new problems....and now so far mine is pretty good with the 10 update..but I do feel for everyone who has a d-8 that doesnt rip..thats why I posted my clutching and chime in on these post to help those with issues...the bottom line is all these sleds are assembled with the same parts..the majority of them run good..some have a few issues..some have alot of issues..there is no one fix all(such as a pc -3 or pc 5 ) thats gonna fix them...each one needs to be taken and looked at on its own..what is it doing that others arnt? figure out the issues..then fix them..if the local dealer wont/cant..then find a good dealer and take it too them..I can say this..if I lived anywhere on the west coast and my sled was having issues..I would be beggeing chris at carls cycle to get it in and take a look at it..even if I had to spend a weekend getting it to him and another picking it up....its worth doing to have a sled that rips(regardless weather you should have to do it or not) other wise you might as well throw a for sale sign onit..get whatever you can and cut your loses...ride time is far to valuable to waste it on a sled your dealer cant figure out.....and for those with no dealer..well...you have us here on snowest to help..cant be that hard to find a decent running sled in the area to do some parts testing on..swap ecms,regulators,capacitor, clutches....see what makes a difference..and what doesnt...




well all I can say is it took a D-7 with porting,twins, good clutching, gears and a way better rider to come close to my stock D-8.and he could climb on my sled and do even more then he could on his sled.....I just wish you would adjust your aproach to talking to these guys about their sleds...it sucks when your stuff doesnt do what it should..let alone have someone getting in your face about it every day..[/QUOTE]


thanks AK that was a much better aproach yourself, point taken. but i can tell you all day long also that d8s dont even come close my 7 like i said i have no reason to lie i really dont care either way if its better its better but i honestly have not seen a d8 around here that runs. if your sled runs like the ones around here and now yours will beat my 7 will you please tune my 7 lol

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

I hear you monte...when I bought mine I was in the dreaded low elevation area that had the most amount of problems...dealer didnt know what to do , polaris didnt...so I went to work 1 at a time on the problems..sled got better and better...then came the update(09),,and back to square 1 with new problems....and now so far mine is pretty good with the 10 update..but I do feel for everyone who has a d-8 that doesnt rip..thats why I posted my clutching and chime in on these post to help those with issues...the bottom line is all these sleds are assembled with the same parts..the majority of them run good..some have a few issues..some have alot of issues..there is no one fix all(such as a pc -3 or pc 5 ) thats gonna fix them...each one needs to be taken and looked at on its own..what is it doing that others arnt? figure out the issues..then fix them..if the local dealer wont/cant..then find a good dealer and take it too them..I can say this..if I lived anywhere on the west coast and my sled was having issues..I would be beggeing chris at carls cycle to get it in and take a look at it..even if I had to spend a weekend getting it to him and another picking it up....its worth doing to have a sled that rips(regardless weather you should have to do it or not) other wise you might as well throw a for sale sign onit..get whatever you can and cut your loses...ride time is far to valuable to waste it on a sled your dealer cant figure out.....and for those with no dealer..well...you have us here on snowest to help..cant be that hard to find a decent running sled in the area to do some parts testing on..swap ecms,regulators,capacitor, clutches....see what makes a difference..and what doesnt...




well all I can say is it took a D-7 with porting,twins, good clutching, gears and a way better rider to come close to my stock D-8.and he could climb on my sled and do even more then he could on his sled.....I just wish you would adjust your aproach to talking to these guys about their sleds...it sucks when your stuff doesnt do what it should..let alone have someone getting in your face about it every day..

thanks AK that was a much better aproach yourself, point taken. but i can tell you all day long also that d8s dont even come close my 7 like i said i have no reason to lie i really dont care either way if its better its better but i honestly have not seen a d8 around here that runs. if your sled runs like the ones around here and now yours will beat my 7 will you please tune my 7 lol[/QUOTE]

I have spent better then 30 years tuning stuff...its not hard..you just have to be attentive to what its telling you...as to whose is faster/better..I dont care either..I am here to chat with friends..and to help any that I can.....As any of my good friends can tell you..I quit competing years ago...I ride for fun..to enjoy the outdoors, friends and family....

 

[ndsleddealer]

What the ____ Batman!!!

Holy crap! Polaris made a 900? Really? And it had some problems of some kind also? You're kidding me! I would have thought I would have read about that here somewhere before.
I guess the other bulletproof sled in my shop a stock 05 900 rmk with only a can that has never had a breakdown is junk now too.
One of the strongest better sleds I have ridden except for the handlebar vibration.

The d8 is not the first sled Polaris has had problems with, you guys should not be surprised did any one read all the posts on the 900 before they purchased a D8.

 

[440dart]

Holy crap! Polaris made a 900? Really? And it had some problems of some kind also? You're kidding me! I would have thought I would have read about that here somewhere before.
I guess the other bulletproof sled in my shop a stock 05 900 rmk with only a can that has never had a breakdown is junk now too.
One of the strongest better sleds I have ridden except for the handlebar vibration.

guess your one of the lucky few

 

[440dart]

thanks AK that was a much better aproach yourself, point taken. but i can tell you all day long also that d8s dont even come close my 7 like i said i have no reason to lie i really dont care either way if its better its better but i honestly have not seen a d8 around here that runs. if your sled runs like the ones around here and now yours will beat my 7 will you please tune my 7 lol

I have spent better then 30 years tuning stuff...its not hard..you just have to be attentive to what its telling you...as to whose is faster/better..I dont care either..I am here to chat with friends..and to help any that I can.....As any of my good friends can tell you..I quit competing years ago...I ride for fun..to enjoy the outdoors, friends and family....[/QUOTE]



atleast were on a somewhat level chat, iam 22 didnt really get into "actual" sleding about 3 years ago never tuned anything just rode it, now figured out you can have all the power in the world but it all wont get to the ground if its not clutched right, there is an xp here running stock can stock everything but a 174 3in and that sled is flatout nasty the guy that rides it is one of the best also and has clutching down to the science and has won jackson hole 3-4 times. ive been really trying to figure out clutching, engine issues i have no problem makeing them run right. ive read clutching books such as cutlers book iam picking up another tomarrow. the cutlers book didnt really give me the info i needed basicly told me how the clutches works i will send you a pm if you would go through it with me.

 

[440dart]

Holy crap! Polaris made a 900? Really? And it had some problems of some kind also? You're kidding me! I would have thought I would have read about that here somewhere before.
I guess the other bulletproof sled in my shop a stock 05 900 rmk with only a can that has never had a breakdown is junk now too.
One of the strongest better sleds I have ridden except for the handlebar vibration.

or is this some bad sarcasm

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

I have spent better then 30 years tuning stuff...its not hard..you just have to be attentive to what its telling you...as to whose is faster/better..I dont care either..I am here to chat with friends..and to help any that I can.....As any of my good friends can tell you..I quit competing years ago...I ride for fun..to enjoy the outdoors, friends and family....

atleast were on a somewhat level chat, iam 22 didnt really get into "actual" sleding about 3 years ago never tuned anything just rode it, now figured out you can have all the power in the world but it all wont get to the ground if its not clutched right, there is an xp here running stock can stock everything but a 174 3in and that sled is flatout nasty the guy that rides it is one of the best also and has clutching down to the science and has won jackson hole 3-4 times. ive been really trying to figure out clutching, engine issues i have no problem makeing them run right. ive read clutching books such as cutlers book iam picking up another tomarrow. the cutlers book didnt really give me the info i needed basicly told me how the clutches works i will send you a pm if you would go through it with me.[/QUOTE]

pm me..will help as i can...its what I do..

 

[ndsleddealer]

Now its making sense.

440 dart QUOTE "iam 22 didnt really get into "actual" sleding about 3 years ago never tuned anything just rode it"


Sorry I didn't know this earlier. Now I understand.

 

[440dart]

good you understand now

 

[deepdiver]

but still you SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BUY anything just to ride the darn sled, yeah its a small price to pay to make it right. i guess its to exspected for us consumers to put money into our polaris to make it rite, even though you just spent 10k.

i guess what i mean "us" as the people who buy these sleds give way to much leway to polaris almost as we exspect them to need aftermarket parts "just" to ride them. iam not saying they should be clutched perfect ect, but you should be able to ride the hell out of them out of the box and not haveing to worry if you brought a tow strap just in case

Just think what you have to put into a Yamaha Nitro to get it right..not to think they are a thousand or more right from the start. Get a new Harley and you need 5000.00 to get it right. I feel your pain..I have went thru two seasons on dropped dead sleds with no parts.

This is nothing unique to Polaris, unfortunatly OEM support and lack of parts inventory at dealers due to low budget business practices only amplifies the problems. If Polaris/dealers communicated better, had parts and if they ordered them from the OEM and shipped them fast I think many of these problems could have flown under the radar.

goood luck and hopefully all will work out for you.

 

[deepdiver]

Holy crap! Polaris made a 900? Really? And it had some problems of some kind also? You're kidding me! I would have thought I would have read about that here somewhere before.
I guess the other bulletproof sled in my shop a stock 05 900 rmk with only a can that has never had a breakdown is junk now too.
One of the strongest better sleds I have ridden except for the handlebar vibration.

Are you a dealer for real? Your tone is interesting to say the least. you think a 900 is one of the better sleds you have ridden? what did you ride on ND wind blown snow...I have ridden it side by side with others in deep arse snow and that it is a better sled is a long stretch of a claim and we all know it. Pulled hard (power wise)thats for sure..thats as far as i will go.

As far as your so called bullet proof 900 you have ( I think you only had one in your claim so good for you) what is your trade in value on it? If you are a dealer then just maybe you should put yourself in the customers shoes. That 22 year old may have spent every cent he had on a new toy with not much left for anything else. It may be all he has...then it craps out and he goes to a dealer that has no parts...then they dont seem to really care...(And most likely he sees dealers that dont give a rats ar=se after the sale...if that is the case at least act like you do.) Then the dealer puts in a parts order..maybe the same day..maybe later in the week after he has enough orders to get discounted shipping...opps Polaris doesnt have any parts...the owner is the one getting the screws...the dealer only has to listen yet still gets the same payment wether the service was efficient or not!

This is a hypothetical..if it doesnt apply to you then please disregard..if it does do some soul searching.

Do you make it a "BEST Practise" to follow up with your customer after a repair?
I wonder what it would be like if Polaris offered an uptime garrantee with extended service contracts.

I saw what dealers were giving 900 owners on trades. I got more for a 01Skidoo 800 than my friend did on his 900 that was 4 years newer at the same Polaris dealer.!

Then I went into a dealer in Eastern WA last week and the sales person there said he had not heard of any 09 D8 motor issues. I couldnt believe i had heard this. He also said he had a VIP program that for extra money I could get head of the line privledges for service...so the poor guy that spent all he had could wait another weekend.

 

[440dart]

Are you a dealer for real? Your tone is interesting to say the least. you think a 900 is one of the better sleds you have ridden? what did you ride on ND wind blown snow...I have ridden it side by side with others in deep arse snow and that it is a better sled is a long stretch of a claim and we all know it. Pulled hard (power wise)thats for sure..thats as far as i will go.

As far as your so called bullet proof 900 you have ( I think you only had one in your claim so good for you) what is your trade in value on it? If you are a dealer then just maybe you should put yourself in the customers shoes. That 22 year old may have spent every cent he had on a new toy with not much left for anything else. It may be all he has...then it craps out and he goes to a dealer that has no parts...then they dont seem to really care...(And most likely he sees dealers that dont give a rats ar=se after the sale...if that is the case at least act like you do.) Then the dealer puts in a parts order..maybe the same day..maybe later in the week after he has enough orders to get discounted shipping...opps Polaris doesnt have any parts...the owner is the one getting the screws...the dealer only has to listen yet still gets the same payment wether the service was efficient or not!

This is a hypothetical..if it doesnt apply to you then please disregard..if it does do some soul searching.

Do you make it a "BEST Practise" to follow up with your customer after a repair?
I wonder what it would be like if Polaris offered an uptime garrantee with extended service contracts.

I saw what dealers were giving 900 owners on trades. I got more for a 01Skidoo 800 than my friend did on his 900 that was 4 years newer at the same Polaris dealer.!

Then I went into a dealer in Eastern WA last week and the sales person there said he had not heard of any 09 D8 motor issues. I couldnt believe i had heard this. He also said he had a VIP program that for extra money I could get head of the line privledges for service...so the poor guy that spent all he had could wait another weekend.

lol are you serious they have a VIP program

 

[ndsleddealer]

You may be right on Polaris's wrong direction?

Your right about the screwed up dealership relations between Polaris and its dealer network and the other 3 also. I have been involved in the very recent past as a Polaris dealer [and Cat 18 years ago and Skidoo till recently also.] They [Polaris] have went a new direction and made it clear to all their dealers. In the old days the smaller mom and pop dealers that were in every little town are what made these companys and now they are treated like "crap" and being forced out. They let it be known at previous dealer meetings their vision is to be like "Harley" in that they no longer want small mom and pop dealerships and want to focus on only the large "Superstore destination" dealerships in the major cities that they think they should be in. They want fewer and fewer dealers in each state but they all have to be the large big box stores that they can dictate to on what you "will order and how many" sleds,parts, and clothing if you want to get any of the decent incentives or be a part of the promotions or even get a better floor plan rate. They will also tell you now what the outside and inside of your dealership will look like. Polaris could care less how far you may have to travel to get to these large supersize dealerships also. Pretty much on the same order the big car companys are doing in closing all the small town dealerships. They say with less dealers it will be easier to control everything and the prices because the fewer dealers will stick together. Who do you think is paying for that large "Walmart" size dealership when you walk in and just how much cheaper would everything be if you as the customer were not paying for that superstore everytime you bought something. The owner or owner group of these jumbo stores doesn't care and probably doesn't even ride or could tell you what models are better for you as long as they have a good "bottom line". You are no longer getting the one on one personal relationship with the actual smaller owner that maybe does the sales,parts,service and floor sweeping. Now you get to go threw a salesman and a sales manager to see if the sales man can give a better deal and then the general manager and so on. You probably will never see the owner.
Its very easy to put off the customers problems when you can just pass the buck. Harder to do when it is small dealership with a one on one which is what I prefered to do and still do.

All 4 companies are doing this now so don't expect much personal service when you have problems with any of the brands like you are used to getting 10-20 years ago. It will be getting worse I'm afraid.

And yes I do know of the 900's. That was what you would call a sarcastic remark.

 

[thefullmonte]

Your right about the screwed up dealership relations between Polaris and its dealer network and the other 3 also. I have been involved in the very recent past as a Polaris dealer [and Cat 18 years ago and Skidoo till recently also.] They [Polaris] have went a new direction and made it clear to all their dealers. In the old days the smaller mom and pop dealers that were in every little town are what made these companys and now they are treated like "crap" and being forced out. They let it be known at previous dealer meetings their vision is to be like "Harley" in that they no longer want small mom and pop dealerships and want to focus on only the large "Superstore destination" dealerships in the major cities that they think they should be in. They want fewer and fewer dealers in each state but they all have to be the large big box stores that they can dictate to on what you "will order and how many" sleds,parts, and clothing if you want to get any of the decent incentives or be a part of the promotions or even get a better sloor plan rate. Polaris could care less how far you may have to travel to get to these large supersize dealerships also. Pretty much on the same order the big car companys are doing in closing all the small town dealerships. They say with less dealers it will be easier to control everything and the prices because the fewer dealers will stick together. Who do you think is paying for that large "Walmart" size dealership when you walk in and just how much cheaper would everything be if you as the customer were not paying for that superstore everytime you bought something. The owner or owner group doesn't care and probably doesn't even ride or could tell you what models are better for you as long as the have a good "bottom line". You are no longer getting the one on one personal relationship with the actual smaller owner that maybe does the sales,parts,service and floor sweeping. Now you get to go threw a salesman and a sales manager to see if the sales man can give a better deal and then the general manager and so on. You probably will never see the owner.
Its very easy to put off the customers problems when you can just pass the buck. Harder to do when it is small dealership with a one on one which is what I prefered to do and still do.

All 4 companies are doing this now so don't expect much personal service when you have problems with any of the brands like you are used to getting 10-20 years ago. It will be getting worse I'm afraid.

That would be American Greed you are describing. Companies that were founded by enthusiasts are now being run by bankers. They design their entire business plan around what looks good on paper rather than what is going to keep a loyal customer.
I'm not sure Harley is a company I would be wanting to model anything after. I guess they have the unreliable part down to a science. Lol JK everyone. Seriously though, Harley is now seeing the end result of the strain they put on their market. They are selling off divisions and showing sales decreases like most companies. Overpricing an inferior product can only be sustained for so long.
The economy is going to bring these companies back in line or they will no longer exist. People are demanding more for their dollar. Putting out an inferior product is no longer an option for American companies. The quality must be there or people won't buy.

 

[Ron]

The demise of the smaller dealer got some publicity recently in the automotive business. There are advantages to a small dealer-convenience, customer service and the personal touch. But many small dealers can't/don't keep up with the increasing technical skills required. You can see it on the forum when members have dealer issues with setup, product expertise, and parts availabilty.