Hey guys. I have a 2005 sportsman 500 ho. When first started and idling the battery light blinks. I can ride the bike but sometimes it will shutoff. It starts right back up but will die again if the lights flashing. If I turn the headlights on the light doesn't blink but if I ride to long with the headlights on after I shut it off the battery is too weak to start the bike. I have a newer battery that's been load tested and comes back good and I have power coming back to battery from my regulator. Please help me out if anyone has this issue. Please!!!

 

As so as its a 2004-2006 I have to ask did it have the ECM recall done?
I think it is a big mistake how they are changing once simple rugged ATVs into laptops on wheels.

 

Yes as TLC mentioned (misread that it was a 2005 model) ecms control the charging on this model.It must have between 14 to 14.5 volts back to the battery! Check the connections,have the battery load tested,if ok,then sounds like the old ecm issue even if its been replaced before! If it's the Black Chinese
ecm ,the recall is still in effect! .Huge ATV Recall by Polaris - Sportsman and Scrambler

 

Yes it has had the recall done. I also forgot to mention when I use the winch to pull myself 9 times out of 10 it will shut the bike right off and kill the battery when under load. I used the stock winch wiring in the bike though. No homemade wire rigging at all

 

This still shouldn't shut the atv off if the ecm is charging the battery(the battery is good) and connections are tight. Replacement Shure Power ecms have gone bad also.They mainly control the charging and fan operation along with other internal circuit breakers that can fail! I've replaced several ecms on the same machines.

 

I'm almost positive the ECM is green. I'll have to check when I get home from work but its my first polaris and I love the bike but this issue is frustrating as hell.

 

The ecm won't be GREEN it will be a Silver finned module if it's been replaced,a Black Chinese finned module if it hasn't.

 

Ok so I know for a fact it does have the finned ECM.

 

Check the charging back to the battery and also have someone check with a meter while under a load while using the winch. You can't over rule a battery that may show good on a load tester,but under real life conditions may have a shorted cell and may drain down quickly.Rarely does this occur,but I've had it happen on batteries,especially older ones. Still the ecms were the main problems on charging.

 

I was really wondering if the battery was in fact screwed. So does my bike have a separate voltage regulator or is it built into the ECM?