I have a 1999 Xplorer 400 that the speedo just went out on me last week, so I used the bypass trick to get the AWD working and everything was fine.

Well tonight I did a lot of plowing and eventually my winch stopped working, I though the winch was dying, but the lights were very dim also. I let the machine run for a little while and the winch still didn't hardly move and the lights barely came on. I shut off the machine and took out the battery to put it on the charger. I then started the machine with the pull rope and it started fine, but the lights did not come on at all. I would expect the lights to come on while it's running even with a dead battery? Is that normal? Could all this be caused by a dead battery, or is it more than likely an issue with the voltage regulator/CDI/Stator? I did hit some snowbanks pretty hard to maybe something got jarred loose.

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the motor needs to run at about 2500RPM for it to charge the battery. if its just idling it does not charge at all if any. a lot of folx buy a battery tender and plug it in when its sitting. it allows it to keep the battery topped off and doesnt hurt to just leave it plugged in whenever the bike is not in use.

 

I heard the battery needs to be in the Quad............The lights should work then..........not sure on the older 1999 models though!!..........Caper..........

 

you dont have to have the battery in for the lights to work. they just go out when its not reved up.