OK, I posted something on this once and got ZERO, the big goose egg in replys. I was running my SP335 in some water splashing around and the fan started running and oil temp light came on. After cleaning the machine, and I mean cleaning (Taking the nose piece plastic section off and cleaning ALL electrical connections between the fan and the oil temp sending unit and the box that both are connected to. Now instead of the fan running ALL the time, it just kicks on ocassionally. The bike is NOT hot, I have changed the oil, the oil that came out was flawless it looked like new. (It should have this is a 2000 model with maybe 25 hours on it)
I am ready to start replacing electrical parts, which should be first? The oil temp sending unit or the "box" (Sorry don't have the techy term for it) to which it is connected. Also, the oil temp light does not come on now, just the fan. It doesn't stay on either, kicks on, kicks back off.
??????

 

well if its anything like my sp500 it will kick on and stay on till the temp goes down,i dont think anything is wrong with it i think it just trying to cool the oil down.its ok it was designed to do that.

 

The machine is not hot. I can roll it out of the garage after sitting for 3 days, start it up, and within 10 seconds of it starting, the fan will kick on. The first 20+ hours of hard riding the fan NEVER kicked on. It's not hot and it is NOT working as designed.

 

Sounds like temp sensor problems.

Have you hauled any deer with the thing yet??

SP500 in NS

 

I have 2000 SP335 and the fan hardly ever kicks on when riding. I suggest you get a service manual from your dealer, it has tips on how to check out fans and tempature resistor. The manual is only $32.00. I think the last time I read about fan operation, the book states that the tempature resistor has a high value until the heat goes up and the resistence falls. I would say that you have a short across that resistor.

 

If it runs a while before the fan kicks on I would say the sensor. My guess is it screwed up somehow and 'thinks' the engine is way hotter than it really is. From my limited experience, if the box (brain) goes bad the fan is either on whenever the seitch is on or else it doesn't come on at all. Just my best guess, haven't had hardly anyone else with this sort of problem around here.
If it is still warrantied, call your dealer if he will look at it for you for free. That might save you getting the wrong part. Sometimes with electronic doo-hikkies, they will only take them back if defective.

 

Your dealer will admit that Polaris did have a batch of defective temperature sensors which were installed during a certain production run during 2000 and is aware of this problem. In fact it even happened before that in '98

Even if your machine is out of warranty he should stand behind a defective sensor.

Did you spray all of the connections with WD-40? That usually helps to displace any moisture. Then when "the board" is all dried out cover all of the connections with dielectric grease.

 

SERIOUSLY, I called my dealership, of course they haven't heard of any such problem with the sensors. If I take it in and they don't find anything wrong with it, I'm going to be charged labor. I did dry with WD40 and apply the dielectric grease.

 

Maybe get this big 10 pointer I'm getting a pattern on right now. I'll keep ya posted. His pattern will have to change a little to get him with a bow, but I think it will with the rut.

 

Our family owns a Magnum 500, a Sportsman HO and a Victory motorcycle. My son is a regular visitor to a local dealership in the Twin Cities area. Tom our technician is one of the best techs in the country on Victory Motorcycles and Polaris ATV's.
Trust me the average dealer knows about the defective sensor problem.

It is really a shame that some of these dealers (of all brands) don't wake up, smell the coffee and start treating their customers right.

I had a 95 Sportsman 400 with a bad temperature sensor and had to buy a new one. I bought it from "The Hitching Post." and was told that there were no returns on electrical parts. Guess what? That sensor was also defective. Talk about up the creek without a paddle.

Needless to say, The Hitching Post never saw any more of my parts dollars.

I know your predicament. I feel for you man.