Alright, just like the thousands I've read about, I hooked up backup lights on my ATV. Its a 2000 or 2001 (not sure yet) Polaris 500 sportsman. I wired up the backup lights to the Reverse indicator wire that ran to the tranny in the harness. They worked great for a while. Then I noticed one day they failed to come on. "Expert" me had ran one of the wires over the frame under the seat and it caused it to be pinched and short out. Being the genius I was, I hadn't put a fuse in the line yet.

Now, nothing in reverse works right. The indicator light doesn't come on, The override doesn't kick in now. I can go as fast as possible in reverse without holding the OR switch. But the main prob, I have absolutely no 4wheel-drive in reverse! OR switch in or not. Nothing!!! I can however get the indicator light and backup lights to come on if I hold the OR switch in in forward (High or Low). What do you suppose I do. I really hate to have to take it to the dealer, we don't get along too well.

Any help would be greatly apprieciated.

 

you really need to find a wiring diagram if you can to see if theres a in line breaker/fuse or maybe a relay gone. hopefully you didnt do damage to the tranny switch. you could test that though.is the awd light working at all anywhere?

 

Yes, the AWD switch lights up and works in HI and LOW, just not in Reverse. Where would I find a good wiring diagram??

 

your service manual will have a wiring diagram, on some quads, i've even seen a diagram in the owners manual

 

I looked up the wiring diagram on polaris.com and I have a hard time finding everything. There is one of those pouches with red wires in the cluster of wires. Is that the circut breaker?? If so, can anything be done to it or will I have to replace it?? I really wish these things had a fuse box!!!

 

I really hope you used a relay, if not, use one when you get it fixxed.

 

What do you all mean by a 'relay'?????? Sorry, I'm not to bright on this issue.

 

Sorry, are these aftermarket lights? I just assumed.

 

Yes, they were aftermarket lights. Is there a place on the four wheeler that I was supposed to hook up the lights, like a wiring harness designated to this, or not?? And what about those darn circut breakers, replacable??, fixable??

 

I am sorry that I don't know what to fix. When you hook up the lights straight to the switch, all the power going to the lights has to go through the switch too. So, if you hooked them up straight to the indicator light, then your lights when trying to get all the juice that was designed to just light up a little light. Way too much draw. Once it is fixed, run the wire from you indicator light to a relay, then you run a wire from your battery (with an inline fuse right next to your battery) to the relay, then one from the relay to the lights. Then all the big draw from the lights goes through your relay. It is just a heavy duty switch. I don't know if any of this makes sense but...