If you read a review of Odes UTVs, you’ll see that there are some major questions around the future of the company and the quality of their vehicles.
That said, Odes’ newest off-road vehicle – the Odes Jungle Cross 1000 – appears to be an exact replica of the old Dominator 800 and 1000 vehicles with some modern tweaks.
And a review of the Odes Desert Cross 1000, their most popular new UTV, seems to offer hope that the tide is turning for the better.
But a review of the Odes Dominator 800 itself shows that their older models still face some challenges.
Some of those challenges are present in the form of several common problems that tend to recur in the Odes 800 Dominator models.
The good news is many owners have found and shared solutions to overcoming these common issues.
Odes 800 Dominator Common Problems
Here are the most common Odes 800 Dominator Problems:
- Faulty Starter Solenoids
- Excessive Heat
- Excessive engine noise
- Dump bed doesn’t fully lift
- Overheating
This guide will explore each of these problems in detail, including likely causes and proven solutions.
Faulty Starter Solenoids
Problems with the starter solenoid are one of the more common issues found with the Odes Dominator 800. This stems from the factory solenoids not being well-built and prone to going bad.
If attempting to start the Dominator and there’s only the sound of a clicking noise instead of the engine firing as it should, this is most likely a sign of an issue with the starter solenoid.
Before moving to the solenoid itself in this situation, you should first check all of the connections on the solenoid to see if any of them may be loose.
Even if not, a best practice is to loosen and then retighten them to see if this solves the problem.
If the connections are all fine and the clicking persists, you can test the solenoid by laying a screwdriver across the two large lugs and attempting to start the vehicle.
If it fires up, it’s very likely the solenoid is bad. Luckily this is inexpensive and simple to replace as a new starter solenoid can be purchased online pretty cheap.
Excessive Heat
One of the biggest complaints among current Odes Dominator owners is heat from the radiator and engine warming the cab and seats to the point it can feel like riding in a sauna on hot days.
There are some ways to overcome this, though.
Remove Outer Doors
One of the perks of the Odes 800 Dominator is that it comes equipped standard with a number of accessories, including plastic outer doors. The only problem with these doors is that they tend to amplify this issue of heat in the cab.
Though it may not be ideal for most owners, removing these doors on either side will help to disperse the heat in the cab quicker and make a noticeable difference in reducing the heat.
Under seat Fans
You can also go the route of buying small automotive fan and intalling it under the seats.
This will increase the air circulation, help disperse the heat, and keep your legs and feet a good bit cooler.
Heat Shields
Installing a heat shield is the most effective way to combat the heat problems in the Odes Dominator 800.
There are a number of different heat shields available online that will fit under and up the backs of the seats to block some of the heat. These generally cost in the range of $100 and are said to cut out the heat issues with the seats and in the cab by 75%.
If you’re not into spending that much, you could also buy a heavy duty windshield sun deflector and install it in the same way as a heat shield, which should make a difference as well.
These heat shields also tend to cut down on the issue of cabin dust and muffle the engine noise for riders.
Excessive Engine Noise
One of the main drawbacks with the Odes 800 Dominator is that while the engine is plenty powerful, it’s also incredibly loud.
This makes it very hard to hear your passengers when out for a ride, especially near the vehicle’s top speed.
Not only that, but if you go for prolonged rides, the deafening roar of the engine in the cab can leave your ears ringing for some time after.
You can overcome this by wearing a helmet or ear plugs while riding, which will muffle the noise.
But the best way to limit the engine noise in the cab is to lay down some sound deadening mats and install them under the plastics around the cab area that amplify the noise.
Dump Bed Doesn’t Fully Lift
The rear cargo bed of the Odes 800 tilts up so that you can dump your cargo out.
But the Odes’ dump bed doesn’t quite tilt to a high enough angle that your cargo easily falls out.
So you’ll find yourself needing to tilt up the dump bed, and then scrape out the cargo manually to get it all out.
This isn’t so much of a problem as it is a nuisance, but it’s still something to note about this model.
Overheating
The Odes 800’s engine is prone to overheating, but much of that is due to the undersized radiators these vehicles come equipped with.
But it’s not just the radiators that are known to contribute to this issue, as the following do too:
- Temperature Sensor
- Air Blockage in Coolant System
- Blown Head Gasket
Temperature Sensor
The temperature sensor in these models is factory-set not to trigger the fan to engage and start cooling until the engine reaches temps of over 200 degrees.
The problem is that on warmer days or at higher elevations, this sometimes doesn’t give the fan enough time to keep the engine within safe temperature ranges and overheating occurs.
One way to overcome this is by tuning the ECU in these vehicles, which will re-set the temperature sensor to trigger the fan at lower temps.
But you can also go the route of installing a toggle switch on the dash that bypasses the temperature sensor and gives you the ability to flip on the fan whenever you need to.
Air Block In Coolant System
An air bubble blockage somewhere in your coolant system is another leading cause of overheating.
If your fan doesn’t cool the engine in time and it overheats or comes close, an air bubble can form and makes its way to your coolant system.
This will prevent it from pumping coolant properly and lead to more overheating until the air bubble is bled from the system.
You’ll need to follow a “bleeding process” whereby you bleed this air from your system, during which time you should see bubbling from the radiator fill area that eventually stops and signifies this air bubble is gone.
If the bubbling won’t seem to stop, it’s likely a blown head gasket issue leading to your overheating.
Blown Head Gasket
If you blow a head gasket, which can happen any time your engine comes close to overheating, you’ll likely see bubbling that won’t subside when attempting to bleed the coolant system.
A blown head gasket will lead to continued overheating until replaced.
Conclusion
As an owner or potential owner of this model, it is important to understand that aside from facing these common problems, you may need to be self reliant in overcoming them as it can be tough to find a dealer or mechanic to work on these less familiar machines depending upon your location.
Additionally, it’s important to keep in mind that there will be common issues with all UTV models, and that adhering to a proper maintenance schedule should help to prevent some of them with the Odes Dominator 800.
