[goatherder99]

Just to be clear we're talking about a TRX400FA7 here. If I shift the bike into "D", it will intermittently show "--" on the dash. If I play with the shift lever a little it will go into "D" most of the time. I can always feel the hondamatic shift into "D", but when the dash doesn't show the "D" it won't shift out of first. It also won't allow me to use the electronic manual shift when "D" isn't showing on the dash. I'm not getting any ESP codes flashing. I feel like there is a shift sensor somewhere but I'm not sure which sensor is responsible for this. Honda dealer said there is only a nuetral switch sensor and shift motor..... they were a lot of help.....

 

[wheelsquad]

Just to be clear we're talking about a TRX400FA7 here. If I shift the bike into "D", it will intermittently show "--" on the dash. If I play with the shift lever a little it will go into "D" most of the time. I can always feel the hondamatic shift into "D", but when the dash doesn't show the "D" it won't shift out of first. It also won't allow me to use the electronic manual shift when "D" isn't showing on the dash. I'm not getting any ESP codes flashing. I feel like there is a shift sensor somewhere but I'm not sure which sensor is responsible for this. Honda dealer said there is only a nuetral switch sensor and shift motor..... they were a lot of help.....

The 400AT was made for such a short run, unless the specific guy at the dealer has specific experience with it, they don't know jack squat about it...

And these ones have THREE sensors, one for each D-N-R, item #9: https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/honda/atv/2004/trx400fa-a-fourtrax-rancher-at/rear-crankcase-cover

They are called the neutral switch cause that was their original use, but are used for the 3 positions on ours. You need to replace the forward most one it sounds like. Check your wire and connector to it first though before buying a new switch. Jeft need to remove the left side plastic engine cover.

 

[wheelsquad]

Just to be clear we're talking about a TRX400FA7 here. If I shift the bike into "D", it will intermittently show "--" on the dash. If I play with the shift lever a little it will go into "D" most of the time. I can always feel the hondamatic shift into "D", but when the dash doesn't show the "D" it won't shift out of first. It also won't allow me to use the electronic manual shift when "D" isn't showing on the dash. I'm not getting any ESP codes flashing. I feel like there is a shift sensor somewhere but I'm not sure which sensor is responsible for this. Honda dealer said there is only a nuetral switch sensor and shift motor..... they were a lot of help.....

The 400AT was made for such a short run, unless the specific guy at the dealer has specific experience with it, they don't know jack squat about it...

And these ones have THREE sensors, one for each D-N-R, item #9: https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/honda/atv/2004/trx400fa-a-fourtrax-rancher-at/rear-crankcase-cover

They are called the neutral switch cause that was their original use, but are used for the 3 positions on ours. You need to replace the forward most one it sounds like. Check your wire and connector to it first though before buying a new switch. Jeft need to remove the left side plastic engine cover.

Correction, the sensors are in a line left to right, not front to back like I said above. You D position switch is either the left one, or the right one. The middle one is neutral, for sure. When I replaced my neutral switch I think either the cables themselves or somewhere right near each switch said which did what. Remove your cover and check yours out. Another thing you can do for diagnostic purposes is switch your left and rights ones with each other. If the problem is now getting it to sense in R and you get the -- when it is in R, it is 100% a bad switch. Then go educate your dealer...

 

[ATC4ever]

How is the cable condition between the shifter & linkage on the trans?

 

[ClutchTFS]

Follow ATC4ever's tips as that would be the simplest solution! However if that doesn't work here is some more info

Firstly ill tell you wheelsquad is 100% correct on this one... these bikes (04-07 Rancher 400AT/FGA/FA) take alot of patience and messing around with. Reason being is the hondamatic; now to your question. Shift sensors; there are technically 4 sensors to do with shifting in a hondamatic system - the angle sensor for determining the position of the gear lever (D,N,R Lever), and the D, N, and R gear position indicators for each gear position. However, there are more components that should be of concern if your running into said issue, things like the ECM and shift motor can also have issues.

I had the same problem back about a year ago. It happened when I started riding in water, and I ended up frying the shift circuit in my ECM (basically when a shift signal is sent to the ECM(computer) to tell the motor to shift the bike, it wouldn't do anything but display an error code because the circuit was shorted out.

My best advice (same advice I followed to fix my problem) is refer to the last manual section "Hondamatic" and follow all the steps for the "--" blink code that your getting. Its a process of elimination. Best of luck!

Sidenote - If you don't have the manual look up "Honda Rancher 400 AT 04-07 manual" you should be able to find a downloadable pdf, or message me directly and I can get you a copy.