420 Electric Shift Problem Code List: 6 Reasons Your ESP’s In Trouble - Honda The Other Side (2024)

Electrical vehicles (EVs) have been a revolution in the automotive industry. It was not very long ago when the first electrical Rancher from Honda came to life.

It is obvious that automatic vehicles are significantly better with smaller carbon footprints and are more environmentally friendly. But, it is also true that no form of vehicle is free of technical issues.

It will help you put the right solution to the right problem. And so, let’s begin!

What is the 420 Electric Shift Problem?

To learn what the 420 electric shift problem is, first, you have to understand what electric shifting is.

Traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles use mechanical shifting and gearboxes to control the power delivery to the wheels. And, EVs like the 420 Honda Rancher Series, use electric shift systems to achieve the same output.

It is, as you can guess by the name, an automatic clutch system in electrical vehicles. The electric shifting system is responsible for a smooth transition between different gears and modes. Also, allows all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to move efficiently and smoothly.

As for results, electric shifting is faster and delivers more efficiency than mechanical shifting. And not only for the Honda Series.

Campagnolo states that “shift times are now 25% faster that than the mechanical rear derailleur (taking just 0.352 seconds to swap sprockets)”.

So, what happens when there is a problem with the electric shift? A malfunction or a technical error in the electrical shift can result in an error in the shifting gears, loss of power, or even completely immobilize your vehicle.

In the next part, we will learn the common causes of the 420 electric shift problem.

Reasons Behind 420 Electric Shift Problem

When does the 420 Electric Shifting System fail in your favorite EV? In 420 Honda Rancher, the most common causes are,

1) Shift Angle Sensor (SAS) Issues

One critical component of the Honda Rancher is the Angle Sensor. It helps the ATV’s electronic control module (ECM) have an ideal gear selection. You can learn more about Honda Rancher Angle Sensor here.

When the SAS becomes faulty or malfunctions, you have incorrect gear readings, which will lead to electric shift problems.

2) Issues with The Battery

A faulty battery is an ideal candidate for malfunction in the 420 Electric Shift.

Every electric shift system needs the power to run the motor, to charge and discharge gears. With a faulty battery, your EV’s electric shift system will run short of power. If you have rusty battery terminals, a dead battery, or a blown fuse it is time to replace the battery.

3) Shift Motor Problems

There is a shift motor in every Honda Rancher to engage different gears. The shift motor automatically shifts the transmission. When the shift motor fails or experiences issues, it can prevent the ATV from shifting properly.

The most common causes behind shift motor failures are a faulty shift motor, a faulty fuse of the shift motor, and sometimes, a leakage in the motor.

4) Wiring and Connection Problems

A ride on ATV is not always a pleasure. ATV rides tend to be more uneven and often off-road. The uneven terrains often leave the electrical connections vulnerable to wear and damage.

And, we all know damaged wiring can disturb the communication between different components of the shifting system, leading to electric shift errors.

5) The Relay

Every shift motor has an electric shift relay. It activates the electric shift motor in order to change gears in your Rancher 420.

A faulty relay can often lead to problems in shifting gears. Other problems causing a malfunction in the relay can be either loose or corroded connections, or, shortened and damaged wiring.

6) Environmental Factors

Rough weather – harsh riding conditions, heavy water exposure, or extreme temperatures can affect the electrical components of the shifting system.

And, experience says, the electric shifting system is more vulnerable to hostile weather. We are not advising you to stop your off-road tours on rainy days.

But make sure to check and re-check your ATV after a long rusty tour in hectic weather conditions.

Other issues such as mechanical blockage or improper calibration in the sensor can lead to the malfunction of the electric shift system.

420 Electric Shift Problem Code List

Manufacturers attach a list of codes to identify what kind of electric shift problem you are dealing with.

Take a sneak peek at the list here,

Code 8(1): Low voltage in the sensor circuit (less than 0.22V).

Code 8(2): High voltage in the sensor circuit (higher than 4.93V).

Code 11: No signal in the VS sensor.

Code 21(1): Low voltage in the shift circuit sensor (less than 0.37V)

Code 21(2): High voltage in the shift circuit sensor (more than 4.62V)

Code 22(1): The electric shift not working due to the control motor lock.

Code 22(2): The electric shift not working due to the control motor being stuck.

Code 23: Voltage variation in the shift sensor response.

Code 24: Control motor circuit or the drive circuit malfunction.

Code 32: Fail safety relay circuit malfunction.

Code 33: EEPROM (user-modifiable ROM) is facing a malfunction.

Code 41(1): Gear position switch circuit malfunction (short).

Code 41(2): Gear position switch circuit malfunction (open).

Code 42: Gearshift (Up/Down) switch circuit malfunction (short).

Honda Rancher 420 Electric Shift Problem Code List we have provided here, all result in the electric shift problem (ESP).

If nothing else works out or you can not fix the problem by yourself, by any means, it’s time you take your Honda Rancher 420 to an official mechanic.

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