Battery went dead, all lights and most electrical switches went out. Solenoid clicks but doesn't power starter. Does this all have to be replaced, including solenoid? anybody else have this happen and what do i do to stop this from happening again.

 

Buy a new battery and then try to start, if no start, check the pos wire on the starter to see if getting power when start button is pressed if no bad solonoid if yes you probably have bad brushes in starter and they are replaceable. Also when you have the atv running do a voltage test of alternator output at the battery with the atv at about 3000 rpm, you should have 14 or so volts. Also check for a draw, unhook negative battery post and on dc volts prong the neg lead right to the negitave post of battery, can't remember what the spec is for this. Sorry for rambling on but it is probably one or a number of these issues.

 

if it actually blew the lights then you either have way to much voltage(bad rectifier) or maybe a live (hot) wire grounded out causing a short.

 

This is typical and just replace the bulbs dont forget the AWD bulb and the dash bulbs.
If your starter was working before it should after a new battry.

 

This is typical, the battery acts like a voltage regulater. When the battery fails, shorts out internally most of the time. The bulbs recieve a power surge and they blow. Replace your battery and bulbs and you will be fine. shop around for bulbs because Polaris bulbs are expensive. This happened to me, I used my 400sp for plowing and didn't recharge the battery between plows so it drained it and the cold froze it. When using the winch for lifting the plow it is wise to trickle charge your battery between plow jobs.

 

On my 95 xplorer 4x4 ,same thing happened to me, My battery was old and lost a cell
blew both low beam bulbs, light pod high beam bulb, and tail light bulb, luckly the rest
of the bulbs survived, changed my battery and good till this day, I replaced my battery
3 time over 12 years and no problems since, If your battery is dead dont attemp to turn your lights on or they will be gone even if you pull start it ..I think they changed the wiring on them in 98 or 99 to prevent this from happining ...

 

The wiring wasn't changed in 99. Both my low beams are out on my 99 Sportsman 500 due to a old and dead battery. I'll put some new bulbs in one day.