VR Ghosts

[Pownar]

I think my voltage regulator might be possessed, what do you think??? (08 D7 163 1800 miles, no electric start)

Symptoms:

Went sledding this weekend worked great the first day. Woke up started sled and was idling low gauge flashing(first thought, TPS). Re-started sled idled fine with no instrument panel. Unplugged all three heater elements and the IP came on only above 3000 rpms. Then I realized that whenever I tapped the brake, the IP would shut off till I released brake. Messed around with heater elements and found I could use any two but not all three or else the IP would not come on. Also, the battery gauge that is normally full bars, was blinking with only one bar.


Resolution:

Ran it for 20 min(without using the brake). Re-started sled, everything worked fine. Plugged back in all three heater elements, no problems. Battery gauge thing back to full power put 60 more miles on it.

WTF???

 

[xc6rider]

It's on the way out...

I had my warmers on LOW, and headlight on LOW for all 45 miles before mine fried.

Something is causing them to burn up.

 

[fhillman1]

I think my voltage regulator might be possessed, what do you think??? (08 D7 163 1800 miles, no electric start)

Symptoms:

Went sledding this weekend worked great the first day. Woke up started sled and was idling low gauge flashing(first thought, TPS). Re-started sled idled fine with no instrument panel. Unplugged all three heater elements and the IP came on only above 3000 rpms. Then I realized that whenever I tapped the brake, the IP would shut off till I released brake. Messed around with heater elements and found I could use any two but not all three or else the IP would not come on. Also, the battery gauge that is normally full bars, was blinking with only one bar.


Resolution:

Ran it for 20 min(without using the brake). Re-started sled, everything worked fine. Plugged back in all three heater elements, no problems. Battery gauge thing back to full power put 60 more miles on it.

WTF???

Dude, Same exact thing with my 10 600 IQ 185 miles. Nice huh. Back at the dealer as we speak. Called them first said never heard of that before, I'm sure. Thanks. good info. Originally thought VR after reading dozens and dozens of posts. I'll see what they say 1st.

 

[jzanc532]

No no, you guys have it all wrong, the VR operates off of good karma. I helped an old lady out today before I went sledding, and my VR never acted up. Last week after a night of partying we went riding, and it was doing the same thing as your guy's. So try to get some good karma points before you ride.

 

[fhillman1]

I gotta tell you guys after reading countless threads, I'm sort of thinking capacitor (AKA Chassis relay??). VR from what I gather would cause rough idle/running, not the case with mine. Capacitor harnesses that voltage and if it can't hold the charge all electrical options, i.e dash gauges, lights, hand warmers cease to function but will run as ignition is a different circuit. Could be a short or ground disconnect as it seems to flutter (meaning the instrument panel, elect functions). What do you all think???

 

[HUNDO]

No no, you guys have it all wrong, the VR operates off of good karma. I helped an old lady out today before I went sledding, and my VR never acted up. Last week after a night of partying we went riding, and it was doing the same thing as your guy's. So try to get some good karma points before you ride.

I think you may be on to something here...I cussed my sled a couple times last Friday and ended up losing the VR, the ECU, and having to leave the sled on the mountain for the night. Guess I should talk nicer to it next ride.

 

[429dhm]

Make sure to tape off all spare connectors (especially the two accessory connectors near the steering hoop and at the front near the exhaust shield). The male end of the plug has +12VDC on it. If that touches the chassis (or ground) anywhere you have a short circuit. The VR has no fuses so something has to fail.

 

[Pownar]

Went through all the heating elements, loose accessory wires, brakes etc and no shorts. I'm thinking there is either something loose in the VR that comes disconnected at times, maybe the capacitor or the whole Karma thing.

 

[xc6rider]

I also think it's something in conjunction with the VR/entire electrical system. It's evident everyone has been pretty instant to change the VR, but how well has everything else been checked?

Could easily be a inconsistent problem while running that can't be replicated...

I have a really hard time believing that it is just bad VR's, and two/three years later a "FIX" hasn't been found.

 

[fhillman1]

I can't believe these problems are just a ghost in the machine type anomolies. There has got tot be a cause for the all the "common" electrical problems. I'll stick with Occam's Razor theory on this one.

 

[Pownar]

Yeah, it really hurts buying a VR just hoping that's the problem here. With my symptoms of the battery display flashing at only one bar, you would think that it's almost tied in to the stator, maybe not getting enough voltage. Maybe it is the VR not sending the voltage out to the accessories.

I would have run down to the nearest dealer if this was a consistent problem but being so sporadic I'm not convinced shelling out some money for the VR is the fix.

 

[HUNDO]

Yeah, it really hurts buying a VR just hoping that's the problem here. With my symptoms of the battery display flashing at only one bar, you would think that it's almost tied in to the stator, maybe not getting enough voltage. Maybe it is the VR not sending the voltage out to the accessories.

I would have run down to the nearest dealer if this was a consistent problem but being so sporadic I'm not convinced shelling out some money for the VR is the fix.

If not, sell it to me. I need one

 

[Sled169]

My 09 D8 is having these same issues, so I put in a brand new VR and it seems a little better, but not 100% yet. Next I am going to put in a new Capacitor and see if that it the issue.