2001 SP 700, I bought new and always ran good. Last year in Utah it rained on it at night and the next day it ran crappy and backfired then was ok. This summer I washed it and went for a ride and it ran like crap and backfired loud in the exhaust and after a couple of miles cleared up. This weekend in Utah it downpoured and it quit 3 times trying to run to the cabin, it acted like it ran out of gas, no backfiring, waited a couple of minutes and it would start up and ran a while until it quit again. Next day took it for a med run for 10 minutes or so and ran great until I got back to the cabin and goosed it to try and jump and berm and it quit like the day before. Tried reserve and no change, and full of gas. Got home and rode around yard and ran great until I got on it and then drove into the garage where it quit and would not fire. All the other times it runs great, any ideas on where to start looking?

 

spark plugs and spark plug wires... make sure you check the wires all the way back to your Coil sometimes they can get a pinch in them

 

I will check the wires, thanks and I just looked at my book and its a 2003.

 

Does this thing have a fuel filter? Where is it?

 

yes they do have a fuel filter it looks like a white film canister, i think its located on the left side of the atv

 

Cool, I will take a look, any idea why my book says to have the dealer change it?

 

The fuel filter is white and on the Left side> you should be able to see it in the front wheel well above the radiator res.

If your going to pull the plug wires to check them do this. Get an ohm meter, and bucket of H2O. Put one lead from the meter in the bucket {water} and attach the other lead to the metal conection on your wire. Double the plug wire back apon itself so the two metal leads are in you hand then submerge your plug wire into the water until the metal conectors are almost in the water.... This way you will find out if there are any cracks in the plug wire insulation...Should read as an open, just like the leads aren't touching.. When you reinstall the plug wires use pleanty of dielectric grease to help seal the wires. Once your done doing this and you have your machine still pulled apart..., break out your garden hose. Start running a small but controlled stream of water over your electronics. Start low and work your way up... This may help you find were the problem is, you may even want to try doing this before tearing into your plug wires.

 

Check your carb boots very closely for cracks/air leaks, very common on the 700's.

 

I was going to tear into it today and thought what the heck I will see if it will start which it did and then I went on an hr ride and it ran great. In Utah I was at 8000 ft and here I am at 2500 ft elevation so its either that or the rain/water. I have to assume water is the problem so how in the heck do I find that?

 

Use a spray bottle and spray the plug wires and coils with it running, if thats it..it should act up. Look for spark jumping to ground and get some dielectric grease to coat any problem connections....