1988 Honda fourtrax 350 power issue
 

Hello everyone,
Im having a issue with my Honda 350 fourtrax. I tried starting it yesterday. It originally tried to start like it should. But once it started it shut off and the starter automatically tried to start it without me pushing the start button. It did this twice, then I lost all power to the cluster pod. I've checked the battery and fuses. They are good. Any ideas?

The starter trying to work without you pressing the start button can only be three things, start button stuck down, solenoid stuck in the engaged position, or wiring shorted out in the start button circuit. As you have lost all power, my guess would be a wiring short. Not sure about the 1980s Hondas, but most have a yellow with red tracer wire from start button to solenoid, check that wire wherever you can for damage. I would also check that you haven't missed a fuse, as it is likely the subsequent loss of all power is due to a fuse blowing somewhere.

So I found that if you ground the green and red wire from the starter solenoid, all my lights come on. If you hit the starter. Lights go out. If you ground the wire again. Lights come back on. It does it if you hit the headlight switch as well.

Bad earth from battery to frame and/or to engine. Or your battery now flat.