This is how i do it.
First of all i have an 06 800.
If i sit pointing down hill on fairly steep slope , shift into reverse and slowly let it creep downhill for a couple feet and then give it the gas it will engage into AWD all by itself while in 2WD and no override.
AMAZED? I was too when i about flew over the handle bars expecting it to spin , not switch into awd on its own.
Of course this is not normal. Has anyone else experianced this before?
Although the seal around the input shaft on the front diff has seeped from day one.....its still full. (If that would make any differance.)

 

wow that doesnt sound right. its an 06 calll the dealer for sure.

 

With out a doubt.......i can get more info on here then i can at my dealer.
I fugured i would ask around here to see what i can learn before calling a dealer.
Good thing i have the extended warranty.....the original 6 month warranty ran out about 3 weeks ago.

 

If I understood you correctly this happened when your switch was in the two wheel drive position. If this is the case that is definitely a problem and I would get it back to the dealer. You can also go into the diagnostic mode and check the awd voltage which should be zero in two wheel drive. However, if your switch was in awd then you discovered the trick to all wheel ebs braking going downhill but the lock occurs in the reverse quick spin of the wheels and stays if you put it in forward with no throttle and usually unlocks with a blip of the throttle.

 

Yes you understood correctly. The switch was in the two wheel drive position. It will not happen everytime , which of couse makes it hard to diagnose. With my luck , it probably wont happen when i take it to the dealer.
I dont know about your dealer , i hate the thought of going to any around here. Their not real inteligant. I may try to get ahold of polaris directly to find out a probable cause and then go from there.
I didnt use the diagnostic mode yet, but ill check it out today if a get a chance.
Also.....the "slow" did not flash when the awd engaged as it would under normal circumstances.

 

Sounds like it might possibly a prob with the awd switch. You should try flipping the switch repeatedly while just sitting and see if you can then duplicate he situation you described or if it cures the prob. If so you will know its the switch and have it replaced or get one yourself and install it. There's got to be a decent dealer near you somewhere in Penn. isn't there?

 

I tried flipping the switch repeatedly while in diagnostic mode and seems to be ok , although even if the switch was on all the time , you still have to push the override button to enable awd in reverse. When it does engage on its own , the 4wd icon does not light up and the "slow" does not flash either. This brings up another question.....are these icons activated be the switch/button itself , or by the actual engagement? If its just the switch/button , then perhaps i have a pinched wire allowing current to get to the front diff unknowingly. On the other hand , awd works normally in forward. Im definatly baffled.

As far as a decent dealer goes , ill be checkin out a 3rd one soon if i dont get this figured out on my own.

 

jeff hey it almost sounds like you have a problem with the hilliard in the front differential. make sure they check it as i have seen a few problems but not like what you are having.

 

There is a connector between the switch and the centralized hilliard that you can disconnect and place the probes of a voltmeter in each wire from the connector toward the switch to test the occurrence of voltage to the hilliard. Intermittent supply of juice in the manner you described, if that is occurring, would be difficult to catch unless it kept occurring in a consistent manner or condition. Like colt said the other possibility is a mechanical issue with the hilliard itself. For instance, has the front gearcase oil been replaced and if so with what as using heavier oil than is called for will cause the hilliard to lock unlock when it is not supposed to. The roller cage inside has been a weak link in the past and has been upgraded but still a point of concern. These are just thoughts.

 

After doing more research it seems that a simple gearcase oil change could solve this problem.
Apparently awd can engage without electrical current. Example: (oil in need of changing) . Ive heard of older quads having this issue , but i didnt know that the newer ones were like that too.
Let me know if this is true.