Yes it’s real. No it isn’t the same as the CDI. Dear ATVC: I have a 2002 Yamaha Big Bear 400 with electrical problems. I am trying to find out the purpose of the Motor Control Unit. It is different from the CDI box and I am trying to determine whether or not it’s functioning […] More »

Weak, yellow spark from a fouled plug. Dear ATVC: I think I have a problem with the coil on my Suzuki LTZ. I have viewed a lot of pages but can’t find an exact answer or advice on how to check somehow. The sparks off the plug is yellow and seems weak. The engine doesn’t […] More »

Blame it on the cam? Dear ATVC: My son bought a 2009 Polaris Ranger 500 EFI. It needed an engine. He found a 2014 Sportsman 500 HO carbureted. We switched the mag coil because the harness was different. It starts and runs but stalls after a minute or if given throttle. He is trying to […] More »

Yamawires. Dear ATVC: Picked up a 2002 Yamaha Kodiak today (haven’t found the VIN to verify that yet). It supposedly had no spark. A prior owner tried to troubleshoot this thing and pulled off all the harness covering exposing all wiring! We removed the plastics and this thing is a total mess. Upon inspection, before […] More »

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Dear ATVC: I picked up a 2011 Can-Am DS90x and it’s got an engine knock. Funny thing is that it doesn’t do it in neutral. I checked the clutch and it looks normal, I tightened the chain, I topped off the fluids. Starts right up, runs strong but only in forward […] More »

When it comes to missing spark, grab the meter and start checking. Dear ATVC: I have a 2001 Suzuki LTF160 with electric start, brand new battery, and new solenoid. When I use the electric starter, the engine will just keep turning over. I pulled the plug during and its not getting spark. However when I […] More »

A simpler design from a simpler era. Dear ATVC: I bought a 85 Suzuki Quadrunner 230 that had an amateur switch wire up.. I would like to know what it would take to just add a flip switch to power up and what wires to use and keep. If there’s one good thing to be […] More »