MrSimmonsSr

I'm wondering if anyone can help me understand what is going on with this used 2002 (I think) Honda TRX250TE Recon ES that I purchased recently. When we're out riding, it will occasionally stop shifting gears. The 1st gear light will blink. I just noticed today that it was blinking 5 times, then pausing for a few seconds, then 5 blinks again. This is usually while the machine is in neutral, and the neutral light is on.

If I leave the machine alone for a while, it will usually start shifting again a few minutes later. I saw something on another forum that mentioned what the various number of blinks mean, although I'm not sure where the information came from. Here is what I saw:

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1 Blink ECU ( writing and recording circuit )
2 Blinks ES shift switch system ( up and down )
3 Blinks Angel sensor
4 Blinks Gear positiom switch system
5 Blinks ECU motor drive circuit
6 Blinks ECU fail safe relay circuit
7 Blinks ECU voltage converter circuit
8 Blinks Angle sensor system
9 Blinks Angle sensor system
10 Blinks ignition pulse generator system
11 Blinks speed sensor system ( vehicle speed )
12 Blinks gear positiom switch system

All blinks showen on the ES models are showen on the first gear indicator
--------------------------------

My ATV was blinking 5 times today. Could someone help me understand what a "ECU motor drive circuit" is? Is it something I can replace?

Thanks for any input you can give me!

MrSimmonsSr

2005hondarecones

Sorry for the late reply, I hope this helps.

Trouble codes and their specfic problem areas are:

Code 0 (no flashes) - The system is functioning normally
Code 1 (one flash) - Electronic control unit
Code 2 (two flashes) - Shift switch or it's circuit
Code 3 (three flashes) - Angle sensor or it's circuit
Code 4 (four flashes) - Gear position switch or it's circuit
Code 5 (five flashes) - ECU motor circuit (defective ECU)
Code 6 (six flashes) - ECU failsafe relay circuit (defective ECU)
Code 7 (seven flashes) - ECU voltage converter circuit (defective ECU)
Code 8 (eight flashes) - Angle sensor, control motor,ECU or circuit
Code 9 (nine flashes) - Angle sensor, it's circuit or ECU
Code 10 (ten flashes) - Pulse generator or it's circuit
Code 11 (eleven flashes) - Speed sensor, it's circuit or ECU
Code 12 (twelve flashes) - Gear position switch, it's circuit or ECU

__________________
2005 Honda Recon ES stock
Needs a motor
2000 Recon project runs and rides

MrSimmonsSr

Thanks for the reply. I went ahead and swapped out the angle sensor, on the advice of a guy at the local dealership. How expensive is the ECU and is that something I could likely change out myself as well?

Thanks for the info!

MrSimmonsSr

QUOTE (2005hondarecones @ May 23 2009, 10:22 PM)

2005hondarecones

I'm not real sure where the ecu is located. I have never had to go that far on the ES when I had problems with it. so far just a bad angle sensor and a loose wire. I would trace all the wires for the ES ssystem and check to make sure that there are no cuts or bad connections on the wiring. If not I would go through and take every connection apart and clean it and put dielectric(sp?) grease in it. The ES wires on mine are on the left side of the ATV behind the plastic on the frame going towards the swingarm. Check that area real closely as where the wires run through the frame by the swingarm are known to be cut sometimes. Did the angle sensor not fix yor problem?

Jordan

__________________
2005 Honda Recon ES stock
Needs a motor
2000 Recon project runs and rides

MrSimmonsSr

Hey, Jordan! Thanks for the info!

I'm not sure if the angle sensor has fixed it or not. It was only an intermittent problem and I haven't really gotten to go riding much since I swapped the sensor. I'm hoping to take it for a spin tomorrow..

I just asked since I was getting 5 blinks and that doesn't seem to be something that should be fixed with a new angle sensor, according to the list above.

Thanks again! I'll let everyone know how it behaves if I get to take it for a spin tomorrow..

MrSimmonsSr

QUOTE (2005hondarecones @ May 24 2009, 09:47 PM)

MrSimmonsSr

Well, bad news for me.. The problem with 5 blinks continues. It is somewhat intermittent and seems to occur after I have been riding it for a little bit. I took it for a short ride yesterday and when I got back to the truck and trailer, I shut the ATV off to go lower the ramps on the trailer. When I came back and restarted it, the 1st gear light was blinking 5 times and it wouldn't change gears, just as before. I guess the angle sensor wasn't the issue, which I figured because of the blinks.

I was afraid that would happen since the 5 blinks doesn't seem to have anything to do with the angle sensor. That's what I get for listening to the guy at the dealership. Oh well... $45 down the drain for an angle sensor I didn't need. At least I shouldn't have to worry about that going out any time soon.

So my next question for you guys is what to do about this: 5 blinks - ECU motor circuit (defective ECU)

What the heck is the ECU? How much does it usually cost and how hard is it to replace?

Thanks so much for all the valuable info!!!

MrSimmonsSr

QUOTE (MrSimmonsSr @ May 24 2009, 11:18 PM)

2005hondarecones

ECU= Electronic Control Unit, its basically the "brain" of the system. I'm not sure where its located, maybe your local honda shop can tell you. I would maybe swap it out with a ECU from a known good ES recon and see if it works, If it does its a bad ECU. It could be the wiring, check that first before dumping $$$$ into it. It could be something as simple as a bad wire or a bad ECU. Does it ever blink while your riding it? does it do it at certain speeds? does it blink after running through mud/water?

Jordan

__________________
2005 Honda Recon ES stock
Needs a motor
2000 Recon project runs and rides

MrSimmonsSr

I priced a replacement ECU today at the local dealer... $218.. Ouch!

I will see if I can find the thing tomorrow. I am going to take it out and clean it and see if I can find any issues with the wiring. The specific blink code 5 says something about the motor circuit.

I wish I knew another Recon owner that I could swap the thing with for testing, but alas I do not. Sounds like I might end up having to plunk the money down for a replacement ECU in order to get this resolved. I'll definitely try cleaning it and checking the wiring first, however.

The only time I have noticed it happening was when trying to restart the ATV after it had been ridden some. I'll have to start paying closer attention, however, and make sure that is the case.

And I almost always ride through mud and water, so it could be related to that. I know there have been times this thing has been ridden through some pretty deep creeks without any problems at all. (It is my oldest son's and he loves riding in the creeks.)

Thanks for all of the info! I guess I'll start inspecting the ECU and wiring next. Will try to make time for that tomorrow and will let you know what I find. I really have no clue on this stuff and all your input is most helpful! I'd hate to put another $218 into it and then still have the problem, if it was due to a wiring issue!

Thanks!

MrSimmonsSr

QUOTE (2005hondarecones @ May 26 2009, 09:24 PM)

MrSimmonsSr

So can anyone else here point me to where the ECU is on a 2002 TRX250TE Recon ES?

Thanks!

QUOTE (MrSimmonsSr @ May 26 2009, 11:00 PM)

MrSimmonsSr

I just found some great info that will likely save me a lot of pain. There is a PDF file over on ATV Nation that has the full diagnostics info for the Recon 350 ES. I'm assuming the 250 ES is very similar. It certainly looks like it.

http://www.atvnation.com/forum/index.php?a...mp;showfile=123

This doc has step by step trouble shooting guide for each of the various blink codes. And it also answers my question about where the ECU is, I believe. I'll have to go compare my machine to the diagrams in a minute, but I'm pretty sure it will be a fairly close match.

Hope this is helpful to someone!

MrSimmonsSr