2008 d8 163 big let down

[pthfndr]

first of all let me just say that when my sled is running it is awesome to ride, the problem is that it never runs for very long I have not been able to go through a season without at least 3 engines being rebuilt in it ( I run good fuel , good oil , and never let it overheat or anything like that ) I just ride it.
I've had electrical problems ,throttlebody problems, and of course the piston problems. Everytime I have taken it out of town on a sled trip it has let me down after spending all the money to go on these trips. I got to the point where I just don't take it to far away and just ride local, It has become a bit of a joke with my riding buddy's on how long it will run everytime it is fixed. none of the problems are a result of anything I have done, and Polaris has fixed it everytime but now the warranty is up. and it is now my responsibility to take care this continuing problem. it was suggested to me that I should buy a new one, I thought that I did!! if I would have at least got one whole season out of this machine any of the years i have rode it I could probably swallow that, but I have not even been able to get a quarter of one, it seems to me that Polaris is just washing their hands of the problem and moving on, as a long time buyer and rider of Polaris I feel very let down by the company.

Just felt like venting as i know there is not much I can do about it

 

[rocket]

A couple things to think about: First, some dealers are often satisfied to "throw parts" at a problem as long at it's under warranty and never actually diagnose anything (or sometimes owners never give them a chance to diagnose anything). Are you sure neither of those is the case? Has the dealer done everything he is supposed to when it comes to updates? Some dealers can be great people, excellent to deal with, but the mechanic still may not know his left hand from his right or may be under so much pressure to get sleds in and out of the shop that corners are cut. Are your problems the same thing over and over (like the engine) or is the question "what will break this time"? If the problem repeats, you may be dealing with an undiagnosed (or improperly diagnosed or improperly repaired) problem. Next, you never do mention what you've done to the sled. Maybe it's nothing, but then again, maybe it IS something. Have a fuel controller and a map appropriate for your sled? These sleds have had issues - no argument about that, but true "lemons" that nobody can seem to make right just aren't that common.

 

[thefullmonte]

The problem is that Polaris is telling the mechanics that they have to throw the OEM parts at them while they are under warranty. Polaris obviously knows the issues at this point, but are sweeping these sleds under the rug. They had three years to do it right and chose not to. That is taking the low road and hanging your customer out to dry.

Most mechanics will tell you that the motor is wore out when it leaves the showroom floor due to the poor piston/ cylinder tolerances. Some will just ask if you want to keep the warranty and keep bringing it in or spend the money, void the warranty and fix it right.

There are so many compounding issues I'm not sure I can name them all. First Wiseco has a piston that will bring the tolerance into spec. Adding a Power Commander is a no brainer at this point. The motor is not being properly fueled no matter what reflash you are using. Depending on riding style this can show it's ugly head at the worst times and repeatedly. There are also problems inherant to the guillitine style exhaust valve that doesn't allow coolant flow to that area. It is aggravated by the solenoid holding them shut. Plug them off. There are precautions you should take with your electronics too. Namely helping the Voltage regulator to cool and adding a ground strap. Check the throttle body boots for delamination as well since they will suck in all kinds of crud if not seen.

It's a headache, and it costs money. I went through all of this with mine. The problem is that you are either going to sell it at a big loss or throw a little more cash at it and have a fun reliable sled.

 

[bretton_s]

I sympathize with you, pathfinder. I read about the problems and bought a 700 instead (thankully) but would be soooooo dissappointed to have a new sled that fails repeatedly - without some serious troubleshooting/dollars anyway. I'm not going to flame Polaris or anything, all I am saying is that I can feel your pain. It would kill me to have a lemon like that, especially since I am not (and perhaps you aren't either) the kind of guy who buys a new sled every other year. I want it too last a few years! Hope you can figure something out, but I would suggest bite the bullet and get a premium used sled (half price of new) of a model that has a sterling reputation (like the 700 or even M7). You'll thank yourself once you get through a full season breakdown free I am sure.

 

[knoba]

Polaris

You should sell the sled,and buy a different make.I had an 05 900 and thought the same thing about Polaris that they had not backed up thier product so i will never buy Polaris again! Fool me once...........

 

[MNSLEDNECK56308]

Get a PC5 and smile away..or until your voltage reg goes! I'm still smiling with my 09 so far!

 

[Zrider]

I sympathize with you, pathfinder. I read about the problems and bought a 700 instead (thankully) but would be soooooo dissappointed to have a new sled that fails repeatedly - without some serious troubleshooting/dollars anyway. I'm not going to flame Polaris or anything, all I am saying is that I can feel your pain. It would kill me to have a lemon like that, especially since I am not (and perhaps you aren't either) the kind of guy who buys a new sled every other year. I want it too last a few years! Hope you can figure something out, but I would suggest bite the bullet and get a premium used sled (half price of new) of a model that has a sterling reputation (like the 700 or even M7). You'll thank yourself once you get through a full season breakdown free I am sure.

X2 on this one. Bought a new '08 D7. Put 2100 trouble-free miles on it. Picked up a used '09 700 RMK(200 miles) last March from a riding buddy of mine. It was his wife's sled. Runs great. He was also selling his '09 800 RMK, but I chose the 700 instead. Stock for stock there really isn't a whole lot of difference between the 7 and 8. The 8 has a little more grunt, when it's running. I just didn't want the hassles that some of the 8's were experiencing.

The fellow that bought by D7 moved up from a '07 600 RMK. He didn't even consider the 800 because of the problems a lot of folks were having. His 600 ran great. Had over 3500 miles on it.

I just hope that Poo has cleaned up the 800 motor for the Pro. Too bad they didn't slip a 700 in that chassis.

 

[pthfndr]

I have a great dealer here and they have done a good job with my machine as far as trying to figure out the problem some they could and some like the engine all they can do is put it back together with the same parts, Polaris even sent a box of pre set throttle bodies to try on my machine to fix a starting and idle problem it had for 2 seasons and I am an experienced rider and i do not "beat on" my sled I ride it, I ride with another 08 that was picked up on the same day and it has not had all the problems.

so I would call it a lemon

 

[AKCoop]

Same issues here, bought snowcheck 08 and had 1 good ride on it before it basically became a 5000'+ sled. Anything below that and it sucked a$$. It bogged all of the time. I became a "test dummy" for polaris low alt. rmk riders.

Save yourself any additional headaches and just buy a PCV from dyno tech. I held out for a while and now insist this is a required item for the sled. Night and day, and no bog issues since.

Still deciding what to do for the Exhaust valves, snowtech did have an article on the EV gasket mod to increase the size of the vacuum hole in the gasket material. Obviously more controlled modulation of these valves is needed, along with some VR protection.