2004 Yamaha Kodiak 450 gear indicator lights.

[e.p.]

Hi all;

New to the site. I have a 2004 Yamaha Kodiak 450 YFM45FAR that I'm having issues with the gear indicator lights. I'm having intermittent park and neutral lights and when they are not lit the starter will not work. It will start by the pull cord . Anybody else have this issue. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[Ajmboy]

It's possible your neutral safety switch is bad.

[garysaul]

where is the neutral switch or position indicator sensor--I have 2004 yamaha 450

[Gwbarm]

Front of engine on left side.

[garysaul]

Any more description as Im not even sure what it looks like-when googling I come up with 3 different parts

Your describing where the shifter is?

[Gwbarm]

I maybe thinking of the 400 Kodiak should be close to the same place it would be a little sensor that screws into the engine with a wire that attaches to a little nub looks similar to coolant temp sensor.

[garysaul]

Why would it screw into engine-it should attach to trans

DOES ANYONE HAVE A PIC OF THIS PART OR WHERE IT IS

 

[Mech]

Not exactly...

https://www.yamahapartshouse.com/oemparts/a/yam/50045124f8700209bc791eef/electrical-1

Or these guys list more models... Still vague pictures though.

https://www.yamahapart.com/oemparts/c/yamaha_atv_2004/parts

[Gwbarm]

It should be close to the bottom of the engine on left side, this is the part im referring to

 

[Mech]

The parts show there being four of those switches on the bike Gw.. do you know if that's right ?

[Gwbarm]

The photo I posted was the part listed for neutral switch for 2004 Kodiak 450, it also fit numerous other bikes, I did see there was 4 on parts schematic not really sure what the other 3 do but I think they are under the air box. 

[Gwbarm]

Just thinking, the 450 has lights for each gear on the console, maybe these are the sensors for the gear lights that work with the neutral switch.

[garysaul]

Thanx  for all the info---OK I know where those are--If they are for each gear why is there only 4--L H N R P--I  was looking for a sensor that did all 5 

Now if I could figure out how to get the air box off without breaking it--the mounting tabs are under the body panels (unlike my 400 that the box comes off in 2 min)

All I was able to do is get 1 out and cracked the box-I cant imagine I have to take off the body panels to get to everything else.

[Mech]

Removing the body work is a common thing to get access on most quads.. As long as the screws and bolts aren't rusted up it's normally a fairly simple job.

Because the bolts do rust, I always strip the body and fix all the bolts and grease them early in my association with the vehicles. It saves a lot of problems and swearing in subsequent jobs.

[Mech]

I'm not sure that we are all talking about the same model of quad here. Apparently kodiaks come in water cooled and air cooled, and some I think have manual gearboxes with five speeds and some are auto/2speed like yours... Your neutral switch might not be on the motor, but either on the gear shift lever or the transmission..  If you do have the four switches I'd guess it's one each for high, low, reverse and neutral..

I'm not real familiar with yamahas though.. they aren't so popular around here.. 

 

[Gwbarm]

The early Kodiaks had a foot shifter and were air/oil cooled but I think since 2000 all Kodiaks were automatic and water cooled, and they were so similar to the Big Bear if you wanted manual transmission you got the big bear, but it was geared lower with more pulling power and slower top speed. On yours I was thinking the 4 sensors were for H,L.N,R I didnt think about park.

[SilverLaker]

Hey e.p,

I have n 03 and an 06 kodiak 450. My 2006 does the same thing...sometimes in park rocking the bike back and forth turns the light on, and for neutral its hot or miss. Moving the lever left and right in park also had worked for me. I have shifted between high and N a few times in a row as it requires no braking and the light works.  I havent bothered too much with it as the bikes can be started on gear as long as the rear brake is on. May just be a minor adjustment in the shift linkage...my 2003 never acts up the way the 06 does. Not too much help I know, bit a common issue I suspect.

[Oldbear]

I see their is a little time on this post.  I have the same machine but its a 2005.  As already said rocking it in park does help but probably a little fine tuning the shift rod will cure it.  There is a nut on each end of the`shift rod so just play with it a little, shorten or lenthen each way a little.  Yes it has to be in neutral or park for the starter to  work.

[SilverLaker]

Good to know about the adjustment, I still havent had time to take a look at at. Thanks for the info Oldbear, will make the job a bit quicker for me! 

[spock58]

Another trick is to delete the reverse lockout that the Kodiak's came with. Pretty easy to remove the cable that connects to the shifter. Once this is gone, you can find the sweet spot where the light comes on a lot better.

[SilverLaker]

Awesome! Thanks again! 

[Krominator]

I have a 2003 kodiak 450 and I was having the same problem with my indicator lights......I had to readjust my shifter and shift linkage but it seemed to work just fine.......It is a fincky system and it seems you have to get it just right to work.......That was my experience anyway.