Honda 400 ESP/Auto shifting problem

Mikey

Active member
Joined
Nov 29, 2006
Messages
52
Reaction score
0
Location
Edson, AB
I have a Honda TRX 400 FGA with both ESP and Auto. It seems to get stuck in a gear and won't get out, then won't shift, and if you go to reverse it acts like it's in high gear with no power. Do the hondamatic transmission have oil in them? If you turn it off and back on a few times it seems to stop doing it and then it work great for a bit. I also noticed tonight everything around the engine seems to be a lot hotter than usual it smelt a bit funny too when parked back in the garage. Any suggestions before I call honda?
 

Garryese

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2007
Messages
624
Reaction score
35
Location
Edson, Alberta
Is your gear indicator flashing? If so, how many fast flashes between the long one(s)?

Honda transmissions share oil with the engine.
 

plumbum

Active VIP Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2007
Messages
415
Reaction score
2
Location
morinville
Website
www.outlawatvclub.com
with the hondamatic there is no gears to stick and yes it uses oil, shares it with the motor. for the esp option it basically uses a pressure limiter to feel like gears. with the hotter feel. i would be looking at the oil color etc... might be worth it to just change the oil and filter and check for shaving etc... as well. check your oil cooler rad. it may look clean but be very dirty. can you see light through it. is the metal shiney or dull. now when it acts up does it make sputtering awful sounds. there wouldnt be a flashing code, but it is very obvious. this is the safe or limp mode. mine was going into safe mode every now and again. di electric greased the connectors and the safe mode hasnt happened since. anyway there are lots of things that can cuase what you have described but i would defintely not ride it until somebody looks at it or you figure it out.those honda matics are extremely expensive to replace and typically when they go they take the motor with them and vice versa.
 

Mikey

Active member
Joined
Nov 29, 2006
Messages
52
Reaction score
0
Location
Edson, AB
Thanks for all the advice so far, my meter was part of the problem and I finally got that repaired wishing that might solve the other problem as well. No Luck!.... it's still doing the samething as before but at least now I can read the codes, I thought I counted four the first time but now I am counting five for sure. does anybody know what each number of flashed stand for?
 

Garryese

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2007
Messages
624
Reaction score
35
Location
Edson, Alberta
Three and Five is most often an angle sensor; the weak link in the whole system. If the angle sensor and wiring check out okay, then most likely a ECM fault.

Here are all the codes:

1 flash, euc (writing and recording circuit) , probable faulty part ECU

2 flashes ES shift switch system (up and down) probable faulty part, shift switch, related wiring harness, or ECU

3 flashes,angle sensor system, probable faulty part, angle sensor, or incorrectly installed,related wiring, or ECU

4 flashes,gear position switch system, probable faulty part,gear position switch or related wiring or ECU

5 flashes,ECU motor driver circuit, probable faulty part,ECU

6 flashes, ECU fail safe relay circuit, probable faulty part,ECU

7 flashes, ECU voltage convent system, probable faulty part, ECU

8 flashes, angle sensor system, probable faulty part,angle sensor, or control motor, or related wiring, or ECU

9 flashes, angle sensor system, probable faulty part,angle sensor(short or open), or related wiring , or ECU

10 flashes, ignition pulse generator system, probable faulty part, ignition pulse generator or related wiring

11 flashes,speed sensor system(vehicle speed), probable faulty part speed sensor or related wiring or ECU

12 flashes, gear position switch system, probable faulty partgear position switch or related wiring, or ECU
 

Mikey

Active member
Joined
Nov 29, 2006
Messages
52
Reaction score
0
Location
Edson, AB
Thanks for the answers, I noticed again last night that it works fine when I am running in the ESP mode but it starts acting up when I either shift to reverse or switch to Auto..... you think I should start with the angle sensor. I believe I know which one that is, it should be a fairly easy fix if I can remove it with out wrecking the wiring. Is it the one on the left side of the transmission?
 

Murminator

Timber King
Moderator
Joined
May 22, 2007
Messages
5,615
Reaction score
2,498
Location
NE Edmonton
Steveo's Honda did the same thing just don't shut it off in gear, when he stopped doing that all was fine
 

Hondarider75

New member
Joined
Jan 10, 2009
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Location
Concord, OH
I actually have the same problem with my rancher at. I have all the problems you have described but mine will not ch!t in esp or go into auto at all. I have a buddy that has had the same problem, he said to take the angle sensor out clean it and reset the instrument pannel. How to reset the instrument pannel is in the users manuel.
 

Mr Mouse

New member
Joined
Jan 25, 2009
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Location
NB
Hi
I have an 04 Honda fourtrax 400, When the bike had 1500 KM on it i started having the same trouble seemed to get stuck in high gear, I took it to the dealer and a month later they replaced something in the clutch and wanted to charge me $700.00. I called Honda canada and they ended up paying for it. How at 4000 KM it is starting to do the same thing as well when it goes below deg C It will take 10 to 20 min before i can get it to go into gear. All this talk about sencors sounds like a place for me to start. Any other ideas?
Thanks
 

Double K

New member
Joined
May 7, 2009
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Location
SJ, New Brunswick
Hi
I have an 04 Honda fourtrax 400, When the bike had 1500 KM on it i started having the same trouble seemed to get stuck in high gear, I took it to the dealer and a month later they replaced something in the clutch and wanted to charge me $700.00. I called Honda canada and they ended up paying for it. How at 4000 KM it is starting to do the same thing as well when it goes below deg C It will take 10 to 20 min before i can get it to go into gear. All this talk about sencors sounds like a place for me to start. Any other ideas?
Thanks

My 2004 Honda 400 with 1252km is having the same problem. Have you had any luck finding/fixing the problem?

Double K
 

rubirose

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jul 27, 2008
Messages
1,196
Reaction score
593
Location
North of Stony Plain
Website
www.flickr.com
If I remember right, a lot of people have complained about the 400 machines. I have had a 450 ES never a problem and now have a 500 RubiconCTE and no problems. A lot of miles on these babies.
 

peterk

New member
Joined
May 19, 2009
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Location
Toronto
If I remember right, a lot of people have complained about the 400 machines. I have had a 450 ES never a problem and now have a 500 RubiconCTE and no problems. A lot of miles on these babies.

We have two 2005 500 Rubicons (one is CTE and one is not) and both began exhibiting the flashing code thing a couple of weeks ago. Mine cleared up on its own, but then went back into limp mode in the middle of a ride yesterday. They're both on their way to a dealer. Clearly this is a significant problem with Hondas.

Very weird that two machines would have the same malfunction at the same time ... only common element was extremely deep water that we probably shouldn't have gone through ... problems started shortly after that. The two Yamahas and other Honda (a Fourtrax) didn't have any problems with that water though.
 

Garryese

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2007
Messages
624
Reaction score
35
Location
Edson, Alberta
All the auto shift honda models have sensor problems sooner or later. It is not uncommon.

Keep in mind the codes I listed above is for the ES type. Rubicons have similar, but different codes. I'll do a separate post with both set of codes and see if Ron will sticky it in the honda forum.
 

imn2poo

New member
Joined
Oct 24, 2009
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Location
winston-salem, nc
im having simular problems on my 07 trx400 AT...in automatic it seems like it does not want to go into gear properly between 1 and 2nd...but does fine in manual. does this sound like the angle sensor or what?

it only does it when im in first gear going slow....when i go up hills slow...turn slow? any help......:(
 

imn2poo

New member
Joined
Oct 24, 2009
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Location
winston-salem, nc
i did that like you said and it seems like it blinks 3 times... if it is the angle sensor where do i find it on the left side of transmission because my owners manul does not show it what does it look like it also showed the 4 wheel lite came on
 
Last edited:
Top Bottom