NHTSA Complaint #10166254 — 2005 YAMAHA WARRIOR

THESE ARE EXCERPTS FROM THE LETTER THAT I SENT TO YAMAHA ON JAN 15TH, 2006: THE VALVES BEGAN STICKING ON THE ENGINE, RESULTING IN SEVERE POWER LOSS AND MAKING THE BIKE DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I TRANSPORTED THE BIKE BACK TO SYLACAUGA ON NOV 15TH, AND EXPLAINED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER THE SYMPTOMS. I ALSO TOLD HIM THAT BASED ON WHAT I HAD EXPERIENCED, THAT I WAS FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT IT WAS THE EXHAUST VALVES THAT WERE STICKING'.. HE SAID THAT THEY WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE BIKE. ON DECEMBER 13TH, 29 DAYS LATER, HE CALLED TO SAY THAT THE BIKE WAS READY. HE CLAIMED THAT MY IGNITION MODULE WAS FAULTY, AND HAD BURNED OUT MY FUEL PUMP. HE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND THE IGNITION MODULE WITH A SPEEDSTAR UNIT, AND CHARGED ME NOTHING. HE ALSO REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS, CLAIMING THAT THEY WERE THE WRONG ONES. THIS CURED NONE OF THE SYMPTOMS THAT I WAS EXPERIENCING. AFTER RIDING THE BIKE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, AND HAVING IT STALL, BACKFIRE, AND UNABLE TO PULL A HILL, I AGAIN TOOK IT BACK. I LEFT IT ON DECEMBER 20TH. I AGAIN TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT I WAS REASONABLY CERTAIN THAT THE EXHAUST VALVES WERE STICKING. I PICKED UP THE BIKE AGAIN ON JANUARY 7TH. THE SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMED THAT THEY HAD ''CURED'' THE PROBLEMS BY RICHENING THE MIXTURE ON THE CARBURETOR. HE ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAD RIDDEN IT SEVERAL TIMES, AND THAT IT WAS RUNNING FINE. WHEN I GOT HOME, I UNLOADED THE BIKE, AND TRIED TO CRANK IT. IT WAS EXTREMELY RICH, AND BLACK SMOKE BELCHED FROM THE EXHAUST. HOWEVER, I REASONED, I WILL LET IT WARM UP, GO FOR A RIDE AND SEE IF THEY INDEED FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH THESE SIMPLE ADJUSTMENTS. IT RAN OK FOR A COUPLE OF MILES, THEN A VALVE STUCK AGAIN, WITH THE ASSOCIATED BACKFIRING, BUCKING, AND LACK OF POWER. I BARELY GOT THE BIKE HOME, RUNNING AT 45 MPH, ON WHAT FELT LIKE ONE CYLINDER. SO, AFTER 48 DAYS IN THE SHOP, I STILL DID NOT HAVE A SAFE, PERFORMING MOTORCYCLE. I DECIDED TO FIX THE BIKE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *JB