New Pro burns

[Ult680]

I was recently riding in the UP of Michigan with some good riding friends. One of which just bought a left over 2014 Pro from a dealer in Iowa. He picked up the new machine and headed riding. We rode about 70 miles the first day, mostly off trail with some jumping on and off the trail. The second day we made our way the trees before crossing a small snow covered lake.
Once on the lake the new pro started to miss. He rode about a 1/2 mile before stopping to investigate. By this time flames were pouring out of the hood. We tried to throw snow on it but it was too late.


Now I am sure everyone has their own take on this and I have yet to hear about any of these sleds burning. My concern lays with the reaction of the dealership and Polaris. This happened 2 weeks ago and nothing has been done. The proper channels have been taken, and followed up multiple times. As a devoted Polaris owner myself it makes my riding buddy's and myself second guess ever buying another Polaris. A sled that left the dealership 2 days earlier and had under 100 miles on it not covered? The dealer made mention it was a insurance issue not theirs.
I don't know the cause of the fire, but the lack of response from Polaris isn't sitting well with us at all!

If anyone has a direction for us to head, I would really appreciate it.

 

[Jaynelson]

Translation?

 

[gmustangt]

Cliffhanger...

 

[Reg2view]

Hope he had insurance. They'll have to prove the issue was dealer or mfg negligence, or a design defect. It would be tough with a solid first day under the sled, so to speak. A burn like that sounds fuel system enabled or a major short, possibly from a battery ground connection, to set things off. Maybe he'll get some satisfaction, but don't have high expectations. If he's insured, pay the deductible, and move on. Anything he gets from the dealer or Poo is a gift. That's why they call it insurance. Not being an intentional jack, just stating the facts. Best of luck to all, and good that no one was injured.

 

[Jaynelson]

The dealer is correct that it's an insurance thing. I'd be blown away if you had a different response from any other vehicle manufacturer.....snowmobile, motorcycle, automotive, etc. Agreed with Reg - anything you get from Pol or the dealer is a gift, or dumb luck. No offense intended - that's just the way it is.

9 out of 10 sled fires are from leaving the parking brake on, or the brake having some snow/ice in it and dragging a little....not saying that's what happened, but that's why it's pretty tough for the manufacturer to do anything.

 

[LoudHandle]

I agree it is an insurance issue currently. It is also the insurance companies responsibility to prove it whether it was or was not a manufacturing defect and go after the manufacture if they can prove it and want their money back, after taking care of you / your friend. The Dealer / manufacture are free and clear until proven otherwise, Even a truly awesome dealer would be hard pressed to gamble the cost of fronting him a new sled without proof of where the responsibility truly lays. As stated if it was caused by operator error they are out the cost of the replacement sled.

He should have turned it over to the insurance company and be badgering them for updates / get them to follow through. That is why most of you insure these things, make them earn that fee and provide the service you're paying for.

 

[bkpa]

The question is did he have insurance?

There is no discussion until that is answered. There is no concern with the reaction of the dealership and Polaris.

 

[Ult680]

If you buy a new truck and it burst into flames 2 days old, do you call it a manufacture defect or neglect?

 

[dboivin]

betting he forgot to put his oil cap back on. don't ask me how i know this....





i rode across a lake leading to the trails. get to other side and buddy pulls up and hands me my oil cap. it had fallen to my running boards and then kicked off as i started across the lake. So i laugh and put my cap back on. little oil had spilled out but didn't look horrible. Capped it and on we went. Rode 150 miles that day. One of our sleds blew a track and i towed him back into town. As i pull into town everyones pointing at me nad screaming..lol. fire under the hood that i couldn't see from my pov. It all stemmed back to the spilled oil in the belly pan....that eventually made it to the exhaust.

 

[Jaynelson]

Call it whatever you want - you contact your insurance company and they deal with it.

There's 100 different ways it could happen - from defects, to operator error, to damage caused by collisions, to malicious acts. You could ride it 5 miles and burn it to the ground if the brake was left on, or oil cap not on.

I'm guessing he doesn't have insurance....and if that's the case, he took that gamble. I wouldn't blame him or anyone else to TRY getting something from the dealer/manufacturer - but odds are, he is SOL without insurance. Tough, expensive lesson if that's the case.

 

[Pro-8250]

Good Luck!

A call to your state insurance commissioner maybe a start. I brought up this exact question to my insurance agent sometime ago. I was told that if it is the fault of the dealer or manufacturer they will not cover it. If you accidentally spilled gas on it and that started it on fire then your insurance would cover it.
If it is a manufactures defect, it won't be covered by insurance. At least that is my understanding. Now the blame game begins.
I believe AKSNOWRIDER had the same issue sometime ago. Maybe he will chime in.

 

[mickyd32]

I had something similar happen in 05 backing my brand new rmk 800 into the shop. It started on fire. The only thing that saved the shop was the truck was close enough to hook onto it with a rope and drag it outside quickly

5 minutes and it was gone. The fire department never even made it in time to roast a hot dog on the smouldering seat

I don't know about down in 'Murica but here in Canada it was covered. That year there was more than one brand new 800 that burnt. Was something to do with he brand new to polaris perc system.

There was a recall from polaris who never paid me a dime. My insurance sure did

 

[Jaynelson]

I brought up this exact question to my insurance agent sometime ago. I was told that if it is the fault of the dealer or manufacturer they will not cover it. If you accidentally spilled gas on it and that started it on fire then your insurance would cover it.

True, but if the thing is a smoldering pile of molten aluminum, the chances of assigning fault are marginal at best. Unless it's a documented issue with other similar models.

 

[snopromod]

My advice, stop riding mountain specific sleds on the trail and on lakes! You flatlanders just don't get it. What do you think is going to happen when you ride a 163" track on a lake with a sled that has minimal cooling based on the fact it's built for being rode in 6ft of snow not 6".

 

[SnowWay]

My advice, stop riding mountain specific sleds on the trail and on lakes! You flatlanders just don't get it. What do you think is going to happen when you ride a 163" track on a lake with a sled that has minimal cooling based on the fact it's built for being rode in 6ft of snow not 6".

Lol...what the heck does that have to do with the guys sled catching on fire???


.

 

[snopromod]

Lol...what the heck does that have to do with the guys sled catching on fire???


.

Try to keep up genius.
1) hot high fax
2)hot belt drive
3)hot clutches/belt
4) hot coolant Temps
5) warmer pipe
All causing heat which can lead to something starting on fire, which comes from low snow, riding trails and lakes.
not saying this is cause of this sled but have seen many sleds not just a pro rmk start on fire from something getting hot or spilled oil/gas igniting. May have something to do with it

 

[LongHorn XC]

You better not be riding in the mountains right now either then!! It's sounds like you think a mountain sled should be in 6' of fresh or on the trailer. Give me a break. Never heard of hyfax burning up a sled. Melting to a track, yes. Hot pipe, you need to keep yours on the trailer to keep it cool. You crack me up. Lol

 

[SnowWay]

Try to keep up genius.
1) hot high fax
2)hot belt drive
3)hot clutches/belt
4) hot coolant Temps
5) warmer pipe
All causing heat which can lead to something starting on fire, which comes from low snow, riding trails and lakes.
not saying this is cause of this sled but have seen many sleds not just a pro rmk start on fire from something getting hot or spilled oil/gas igniting. May have something to do with it

Haha...Really??????
All of the things you listed are absurd.
Have you ever heard of hot hyfax causing a fire?? Lmao.
Why would you think the belt drive be any hotter on a trail vs mountian?? It wouldn't.
Why would you think the clutch would be hotter on the trail vs mountian?? It wouldn't.
Have you ever heard of hot engine coolant starting a fire...?
Why would you think the pipe would be warmer on the trail vs the mountian?? It wouldn't.

Who is the genius here????????

 

[snopromod]

Truth hurts sometimes boys, live with it. I'm not going to go rounds with you, guess sleds just start on fire because they are not getting hot? Must be all that snow and ice starting them on fire.

 

[icr]

Could be a stuck injector over fueling and the excess fuel lit off in the pipe. But I agree insurance will be the easiest way to get a replacement. If no insurance hire a lawyer, Polaris will fight to the end to deny any responsibility.