over heating

Comport

Comport

New member
Joined
Apr 1, 2008
Messages
22
Age
48
Location
Milton Ontario
Hey, he is my problem.. my 03 Viper seems to over heat but only when its way below freezing, it was -22C and i kept getting the over heat light on. Every thing seems to be good, lots of coolant, coolant is tested good, i even have the rear heat exchanger installed. And it didn't matter how i was ridding hard, easy still kept coming on.. any ideas?
 
Comport I had the same problem this weekend. Riding in the Haliburton area, probably -20C or so, good dusting of snow on top of hardpack, probably a couple inches and I was also having the temp light on multiple times. Checked the coolant it was fine, I could touch the right side running board heat exchanger wasn't above temperature. I also had a couple hickups with it. I couldn't turn my carb warmers on, so ran them off. Seamed like the TORS was kicking in if I was coming to a complete stop. Opened the Hood after over an hour of riding and there was still frost on my carbs. After the outside temp warmed up a bit it was okay. Came back at night.

I'm lost at the overheating issue, I'm going to do a pressure test even though I don't see any leaks. I also installed a rear heat exchanger a couple of years ago, haven't had an issue since. I'm starting to wonder if it is a moisture/ cold temperature problem although I've never had this problem before.
 
First check that your anti freeze is good down to the colder temps, it could be slushing up in the coolers + lines.

Its possible you have a stuck thermostat, remove it and check for damage.
If it looks OK, place it in a pot of water heating on the stove to check that it actually starts to open as the water heats up.

If the thermostat is OK, I would check/replace the temp sensor.
 
SRXSRULE2 were you up in the haliburton forest? or just in the haliburton area?

I stopped a couple of times, and both runners were hot, motor was hot, parked on the side of the trail in the deep stuff for about 5 mins and i was good to go again for another 15-30 k's. Then sunday was mild and it ran fine and never had the light come on.

Coolant is good, it was checked at the at the start of the year. Stuck Tstat would cause the same problem on a mild day wouldn't it? What about air in the system would that cause problems on cold days and not warm days?
 
Has anyone ever tried to drill a 1/8" weep hole in the thermostat? We have these in many higher rpm marine engines. I have also done this on my own suburban 454. Seems to help with overheating issues. Al
 
alswagg said:
Has anyone ever tried to drill a 1/8" weep hole in the thermostat? We have these in many higher rpm marine engines. I have also done this on my own suburban 454. Seems to help with overheating issues. Al
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I don't know about the Vipers but the SRX thermostat/housing has a bypass...but it is quite a small passage.
 
SRXSRULE2 said:
Comport I had the same problem this weekend. Riding in the Haliburton area, probably -20C
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LOL!
-20C...Thats warm for my part of Ontario!!!

I think that in Eastern Ontario, your sleds anti freeze mixes are rarely put to the test and has now shown up as an issue in the abnormally,[for your area], cold weather.
If you don't have an anti freeze tester, pick one up at Canadian Tire and ensure its good for -40c.

JM.02c
 
Haven't checked it since I last did a flush when I put my cooler in. It wasn't slush in the reservoir. I would imagine it is fine but I will obviously check. I think its an electrical issue because in my case the motor wasn't overly hot and neither was the heat exchangers. Ususally when it is overheating, I can't touch the heat exchangers.
 
I posted this before and not sure if it was on this site.My nephew and I both had 02 Vipers(purchased new).He had a belly pan protector installed at the dealer when it was in for the first service.After that it started overheating when really cold out even in good riding conditions.It turns out that the protector if installed the way you buy it will fit right back to where the front exchanger is.For some reason this would cause a wall of ice to build up between the front of the track and the exchanger.Next time it happens to you flip the sled over and have a look.We trimmed about 3 inches off of the back of the protector and never had another problem and that was without the rear exchanger mod.Very easy to check and rule out when the time comes again.

PS I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself.
 
Snowsnake said:
I posted this before and not sure if it was on this site.My nephew and I both had 02 Vipers(purchased new).He had a belly pan protector installed at the dealer when it was in for the first service.After that it started overheating when really cold out even in good riding conditions.It turns out that the protector if installed the way you buy it will fit right back to where the front exchanger is.For some reason this would cause a wall of ice to build up between the front of the track and the exchanger.Next time it happens to you flip the sled over and have a look.We trimmed about 3 inches off of the back of the protector and never had another problem and that was without the rear exchanger mod.Very easy to check and rule out when the time comes again.

PS I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself.
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Very interesting!
 
Yea that is interesting, and I do Have a belly pan protector that is made by Yamaha that extends right to the edge of the front heat exchanger. But I don't understand why It wouldn't overheat before? Something I could look into though.
 
Like I said it is very easy to tell if that is the problem when it happens.The days that it would do it the worst was when the temp was approx. -25 to -35 C.Total wall of ice between track and exchanger.

Our dealer knew about the problem,but his mech. didn't trim it on installation.We borrowed tools from a Cat dealer in Mattawa(we were on a week long trip at the time)and trimmed it right on the sled.No more problems after.He kept it until 05 and bought a Vector.the Viper ended up in NLD.
 
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A quick fix while riding is to dump a bunch of snow on your running boards... this helps get more cold to the exchanges which are mounted on the underside of the running boards.

PS- Snowsnake your display looks very much like where I ride. Is that in the Parry Sound area. Just across that bridge is some serious steep hills right?
 
Snowsnake - My sled builds this ice shelf too. The temps have to be very cold. The ice builds over the front and rear coolers so that no snow hits the coolers. When I pull over I use my fist and smash the shelf off. The same problem will happen again within 20-30 minutes. I have not found a way to prevent this. Thank god it doesnt happen often.
 
Snowsnake said:
I posted this before and not sure if it was on this site.My nephew and I both had 02 Vipers(purchased new).He had a belly pan protector installed at the dealer when it was in for the first service.After that it started overheating when really cold out even in good riding conditions.It turns out that the protector if installed the way you buy it will fit right back to where the front exchanger is.For some reason this would cause a wall of ice to build up between the front of the track and the exchanger.Next time it happens to you flip the sled over and have a look.We trimmed about 3 inches off of the back of the protector and never had another problem and that was without the rear exchanger mod.Very easy to check and rule out when the time comes again.

PS I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself.
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You hit the nail right on the head.. i have had this sled since new and never had this problem before. I changed my track to a 1 3/8 lug and for some reason not only does it build a ice shelf at the front heat exchanger, but it packs up snow and ice at the rear heat exchanger. Next time it does it i will have to take a picture. Now i just need to figure out how to prevent this.

Thanks for the advice
 
Cut 2-3 inches off of the back of the belly pan will cure the front and if you cure it you won't even need the rear exchanger.I've also had mine since new(without belly pan or rear exchanger)and mine didn't do it in the identical conditions.

Yes that is the Seguin River(trail from Jolly Rodger to HWY #124).Used to love that trail,but they took out a couple of the real good hills.
 
something cheap to try is to coat it with pam/silicone spray when it is clean and dry. works on my snowplw and shovel. only starts sticking again when it is all worn off.

brothers viper and dads venture both do this. we noticed it on the viper after we 136"d it and it had both coolers iced over. just need to keep one clear and you will have no problems. we usually check the rear one and make shure it is clear every time we stop for a couple of minutes for a break. viperdave will confirm this as he was accusing me of doing rude things to bros viper in muni in jan when i was riding it.
 
Maim said:
something cheap to try is to coat it with pam/silicone spray when it is clean and dry. works on my snowplw and shovel. only starts sticking again when it is all worn off.

brothers viper and dads venture both do this. we noticed it on the viper after we 136"d it and it had both coolers iced over. just need to keep one clear and you will have no problems. we usually check the rear one and make shure it is clear every time we stop for a couple of minutes for a break. viperdave will confirm this as he was accusing me of doing rude things to bros viper in muni in jan when i was riding it.
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Oh ya thats all i need to do, I already get bugged about being the only Yami rider. Last thing they need is more material to use for their jokes.
Buts its a good idea, i will have to try it
 
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