I have a Polaris Sportsman 500, 1999 year model. I bought it new in January 2000, it has less than 400 miles use because of this issue. The current problem is when you turn on the ignition switch there is no power.

I have taken the atv to authorized Polaris repair facilities (Metro Cycles, Freewheeling Honda, both in Georgia). -- They all do something different, none can recall what they did exactly. One facility said it was the speedometer so they replaced it. The next time I went there they said it was discharge capacitor.. so they replaced that, too. The last repair guys said I needed new lights & fuses then broke the pull-start recoil so I can no longer manually start it. (Pulling the rope to crank the atv didn't work 100% of the time, anyway, as it still sometimes would not fire).

I have tried:
-new battery
-new battery post, cleaned terminals
-new ignition switch

Repair facilities tried:
-new ignition switch, spark plug
-new speedometer
-new discharge capacitor
-new lights, fuses

Starter doesn't turnover
Lights don't come on
Battery won't stay charged (tried 2 new batteries)


There's a 30amp fuse between the battery and ignition switch. It's good. All other fuses are good. There is voltage on the switch. Power stops there.

What am I overlooking?

Any suggestions?

 

Have you check the grounds?

 

yes, connected securely.

 

Take your power wire off the battery and check for continuity from this wire(+) to ground(-)...............This will tell you if there is any short in the hot 12 volt battery wire...........After this test come back and post the results!!!.........Caper...............

If the battery will not stay charged.........Then you may have leakage to ground!!!!!

 

if the battery drains just from sitting and no use then caper is right there must be a short. when its running, check the voltage atthe battery and see how much there is w/ it idled up a little. should be at least 13.5 volt area.