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Washed my bike now radio messed up

4K views 16 replies 12 participants last post by  BR3TT'S DMZ 
#1 ·
So hoping I didn't really mess things up. I washed my bike today. First time I've done this on my XC and when I got done my radio, cruise and some of the dash lights are messed up. The cruise won't work but light comes on the dash, the high beam light on the dash is dimly lit with lights on low beam and radio will just continuously scan and not stop. It's been a few hours now and the radio will at least play a station now but then will randomly just start scanning on its own. Was I supposed to cover the controls or something when I washed it? I figured it would be ok in the water since I should be able to ride in the rain. Hoping everything goes back to normal as it dries out. Anyone else had this happen before?

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#2 ·
This summer I was parked at work and it was supposed to be an all sunny day...which turns out was yet another weatherman's lies LOL and it poured about 3 hours...my bike has been rode in the rain but teeming storms I usually grab shelter and wait it out....my iphone connection in the saddle bag stopped working....all dash was fine...but the iphone wouldn't come thru the speakers even though I could open the bag and see the iphone was still playing...radio worked fine but radio up where I am is pretty disgusting....that stayed like that about 4 days then just magically started working again and has been fine til I typed this.....gonna go out to the garage and just try it now...LOL

Ride safe, hope your problem solves itself with drying..

Rob
 
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#3 ·
Should eventually dry out. Might have water in your handlebar controls.
 
#4 ·
Did you use a high pressure washer? I wash my scooter at a car wash with high pressure but do not pull the hand trigger in. I spray it first with soapy water and stand back a ways. Then rinse the soap off with spot free rinse water never pulling the trigger to get the high pressure water. A lot of people knock electronics and wheel bearings out using high pressure sprayers. I have ridden my scooter in a few bad storms and had it rained on many times. Never an issue other than my cruse control would not work one time after a hard rain one night. That was only once and right after I got it, like in 2011. It started working in a short time. Knock on wood...…….
 
#5 ·
I did but stayed way back with my dinky little washer. Hoped it will be ok. Guess I'll just be using the hose from now on and hope everything dries out. Probably start covering the controls to just to make sure.

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#6 ·
Never wash a Victory, and if you must after riding through mud only wash the lower reaches ,
the electrical components dont like water under pressure!
Rain is ok it washes it fine as nature intended.
Leave it out in the hot sun for a few days and hope it dries out and comes good,

I use detail spray and a mictofibre cloth to wipe over, usually before I go for a ride, though last night I went over both bikes as the XC had collected a lot of bugs.
Good Luck
 
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#8 ·
Never had any issues with hose but I keep it on more of a mist spray.
I only really wash the bike once a year before covering since it sits outside. Rest of year pledge when I feel like making it pretty.
 
#9 ·
Bikes can be washed but just careful where you directly point your hose.. Traveling on the road I have stopped for the night because the rain was so bad couldn't see and poured like crazy for several hours with no bad results .. But that particular time I did wish I had a Cover for the Bike but it still survived, and was bright and Sunny the next day at a clip of 80=85 MPH just in case was damp anywhere ..
 
#11 ·
The car wash I go to has hot water, unless every bay is full. The hot water really does help cut the road grime. I only use it when the scooter has the road grime on it after riding in the rain or wet roads after a rain. Other wish I use a detailing spray and micro fiber towel.
 
#13 ·
Polaris used inferior parts in the electrical controls. Ever wonder WHY they stopped building them? It wasn't JUST because they wanted to cash in on the Indian name that they bought, although that was a huge part. They had some flaws that they have not been willing to acknowledge, Shitty electronic controls, and the transmissions that self destruct when a small little cir-clip breaks, lock latches that prematurely wear out, etc. Don't get me wrong, I love my Cross Country, BUT, I will NEVER EVER buy ANYTHING from Puke-aris again, especially their FAKE indians. Just more overpriced junk.

That said, I too use a couple sandwich bags and rubber bands to keep water out of my controls when washing it. And before you rty, there is NO point in taking the switches apart to try and seal them up better, I already went down that road and will save you the headache, there is NOTHING that can be done to fix them except to find BETTER QUALITY switches (good luck with that) and replace the garbage Puke-aris used.
 
#14 ·
I always use a high powered air bike dryer called Metro Air Force Blaster after washing trike and it does an awesome job of removing the water from the controls and everywhere else you point it. Never a problem with electronics and best part, no water spots! Maybe some forced air in and around the radio / controls might help cure it..
 
#16 ·
Yes, it appears to have dried out and everything is working properly again. I will not make that mistake again. I don't wash often but it needed a bath. Next time no power washer, light water pressure and covering the controls. Thanks for all the input.

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