Coolant in TPS connector?

[Oregonsledder]

Good comments guys. I have checked everywhere on and around the head, and as I said I can't find any sign of coolant except on and below the TPS. I have dried it off and run the sled to 125 degrees and increased RPM to increase coolant system pressure, I just can't see where it's coming from???
I never see any sign of coolant after I dry it off and run it. It has only shown up after a day of riding.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

oregon, do you have any mechanic friends? if so, see if they have an automotive coolant system pressure tester...will allow you to bring the coolant system up to pressure(even over what the cap is rated for) and show any leakage...its got to be coming from somewhere...

 

[Oregonsledder]

oregon, do you have any mechanic friends? if so, see if they have an automotive coolant system pressure tester...will allow you to bring the coolant system up to pressure(even over what the cap is rated for) and show any leakage...its got to be coming from somewhere...

AK I have been thinking the same thing. I suspect I can put something together in my shop to do the job. It may be a heat related issue, so I might have to test it cold and hot. It's not a huge issue, but it shouldn't leak and I'm VERY picky LOL

 

[xc6rider]

Shouldnt is the key word! Check at a local auto parts store for a coolant pressure tester. If they dont have one, they should be able to get one at a reasonable price. Be careful if you try to rig something up, very easy to over pressurize!

 

[Oregonsledder]

Shouldnt is the key word! Check at a local auto parts store for a coolant pressure tester. If they dont have one, they should be able to get one at a reasonable price. Be careful if you try to rig something up, very easy to over pressurize!

Good comments, but I have pressure tested many things over the years. A good coupling... "T" with a shrader valve and pressure gauge and an air source. Since we are talking low pressure and hand pump, like what's used to pump up air shocks would work nicely. I have several air compressors with high quality regulators, but doubt I need to go that route.

 

[Zrider]

Hey Larry:

Ya better unload the Pro and buy yourself a Ski Turd and you'll be guaranteed not to have anymore problems(heh! heh!). Sure hope you find the gremlin.

And ya had to throw in the bit about 5' of new snow. Makes an old man cry. What we got last week is just about gone. Went bike riding yesterday and today. What a lame winter.

Keep us posted.

z

 

[Oregonsledder]

Hey Larry:

Ya better unload the Pro and buy yourself a Ski Turd and you'll be guaranteed not to have anymore problems(heh! heh!). Sure hope you find the gremlin.

And ya had to throw in the bit about 5' of new snow. Makes an old man cry. What we got last week is just about gone. Went bike riding yesterday and today. What a lame winter.

Keep us posted.

z

Hey Z! Man I hate to hear that the snow hasn't been better for you guys. You need to make a little road trip up North, me and my leaky PRO will show you a good time!

 

[mountainhorse]

Coolant dye checker... ???

 

[Oregonsledder]

Coolant dye checker... ???

MH, I may have to do something like that. I'm now thinking the next step is (if I'm to lazy to pressure check) is to take some white tissue and wrap some around each end of the coolant hose above the TPS (cable tie in place) If either end is leaking even a little bit I sould see the green color in the tissue after a ride. Might be a way to narrow it down. It doesn't take much coolant to show some color. Thanks for the input.

 

[Creek Chub]

I really hate to over think this troubleshooting. Of everyting posted so far the simplest solution has not been mentioned. I'll get to this shortly. I spent a week of riding and yesturday while checking over my sled for next weeks trip to I.P. I also noticed my coolent bottle had dropped to about 1 1/4" below the full cold level 341 miles. During checks during the trip a couple of weeks ago the bottle level was just above the full cold mark. On one day during the last trip the sled was running fine, stopped on a down hill to help a partner dig out and when I started up and was running like on one cylinder (possible limp mode) twice on start up. Shut it down. Switched the nonethonal resister back to ethonal. Thought was just to break the connection to get rid of stray trons (current). Don't think it really had anything to do with it but on start up ran fine rest of the trip. Now reading everyone is finding coolant in the TPS and below on the bulkhead. I checked there and found the same coolant residue. I noticed the coolant overflow and thought if it discharging would have caused this. Now has anyone added a nipple fitting and extended the coolant overflow to a lower and out of way position? It hit me tonight being the easiest and sure way to rule out the overflow discharge from the coolant bottle. I am willing to bet this is where the coolant is coming from.

Anyone else try this yet?

 

[xc6rider]

As far as i know it seems hes looked into that, and believes its running down the line that feeds the throttle bodies.

It would also be very hard to have coolant making it all the way to the tps without it being sprayed all over everything else, with a large loss of coolant. Possible, but unlikely.

 

[Oregonsledder]

Guys, thanks for your interest in this little issue. I'm glad I'm not having anything more to troubleshoot than this! I will isolate this issue and figure it out one way or the other. If it turns out to be a small leak by one of those spring hose clamps then... no biggie, but if there are others with coolant on thier TPS there might something more, it would seem unlikey to have the same clamp on other sleds leak unless there is something else going on, like a burr on the nipple or something... dang that sounded kind of nasty!

 

[Oregonsledder]

Fixed... I think

Okay, it appears it was the bottom hose end clamp above the TPS.
I used a different type that clamps tighter without cutting the hose.

I found the leak by tying some white tissue around each hose end and then running the sled. I finally got some color on the bottom hose end.

This should be the end of it.

 

[Murph]

Nice. Fingers crossed that is the fix you need.

Thanks for the pics.

Update us again after the next ride.

 

[Oregonsledder]

Nice. Fingers crossed that is the fix you need.

Thanks for the pics.

Update us again after the next ride.

Thanks Murp, I'm pretty confident it's fixed. Normally I wouldn't post a small issue like this, but because it’s a new sled and it seems there are patterns of issues that many new sleds will encounter, I thought maybe I could help some one else who finds the same issue. The biggest concern with the location of this particular leak, is the fact that it’s directly above the TPS and that’s one component you don't want to have problems with.

 

[Murph]

Exactly.

My 2012 is in the shop now for an apparent TPS malfunction.

Sled won't go into reverse. TSS has been over ridden (taped shut just like my 2011) no free play in throttle, belt set a little loose at just over 1 1/4 inches.

Typically it will go into reverse off the sled deck in the morning (after sitting out all night) when warmed up, then if you shut it off it will not go back into reverse. Ride all day and the reverse will maybe work once out of thirty times you push the button.

TPS voltage checks out on digital wrench and it varies as you open the throttle.

Thinking maybe condensation is developing in the boot after sitting out all night and then warming up.

 

[Oregonsledder]

Exactly.

My 2012 is in the shop now for an apparent TPS malfunction.

Sled won't go into reverse. TSS has been over ridden (taped shut just like my 2011) no free play in throttle, belt set a little loose at just over 1 1/4 inches.

Typically it will go into reverse off the sled deck in the morning (after sitting out all night) when warmed up, then if you shut it off it will not go back into reverse. Ride all day and the reverse will maybe work once out of thirty times you push the button.

TPS voltage checks out on digital wrench and it varies as you open the throttle.

Thinking maybe condensation is developing in the boot after sitting out all night and then warming up.

Good luck with your issues. When my issue first showed up, it really affected the way the sled ran. I was lucky and it finally dried out and ran good, otherwise I would have spent the day in the parking lot and my friends and wife would have had all the fun!

 

[xc6rider]

Good luck with your issues. When my issue first showed up, it really affected the way the sled ran. I was lucky and it finally dried out and ran good, otherwise I would have spent the day in the parking lot and my friends and wife would have had all the fun!

Good deal! Hopefully that takes care of it, it's never a good thing when your friends are having fun with your wife!!


I hate those cheesy clamps that come on the sled.

 

[Skeld]

Good deal! Hopefully that takes care of it, it's never a good thing when your friends are having fun with your wife!!
.

Lol.

 

[Oregonsledder]

Lol.

No kidding, and she can be a good time!!