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HELP! I washed my atv and now it won't start

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Old Aug 15, 2008 | 06:25 PM
  #1  
G.A.S.'s Avatar
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Default HELP! I washed my atv and now it won't start

I rolled my 2008 sportsman 800 efi touring out of the garage. Sprayed it off with the power washer and rolled it back into the garage. A few hours later i went to start it and there was no power. I check the battery with a meter and it is puttin out over 12 volts. When I turn the key nothing happens. The instrument cluster does not come on. No 12 volts to the to anything. I checked all the fuses under storage compartment. They were all ok.
Any suggestions?? I need help

Thanks
 
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Old Aug 15, 2008 | 06:40 PM
  #2  
G.A.S.'s Avatar
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Default HELP! I washed my atv and now it won't start

Well it turns out that i am just mildy retarted ( hope no one takes offence to the term). When wiping the controls down I turned the run switch to off. I never use this switch i always use the ignition to turn it off. Lesson learned.

Thanks
G.A.S.
 
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Old Aug 15, 2008 | 06:55 PM
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Mikka's Avatar
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Default HELP! I washed my atv and now it won't start

better find out in the garage than 20 miles into wilderness! wouldn't it be something to walk out 20 miles, return to recover the atv with a buddy and watch him flip the switch to run and look at you shaking his head.Lol!
 
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Old Aug 15, 2008 | 07:30 PM
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Default HELP! I washed my atv and now it won't start

I've done it to, that darn switch,,
 
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Old Aug 15, 2008 | 09:39 PM
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Default HELP! I washed my atv and now it won't start

Thats the first thing that came to my head after reading your post. Just the other day I rode down to the river and shut my bike off with the switch to talk to a fisherman. When I went to leave I'm turning my key and turning my key and nothing. I put it in Park and try, I'm squeezing the brake, thinking what the hell could have happened then low and behold I remember I used the switch to shut it off. What a dummy. I never use that kill switch so it's the last thing I check. Glad it was a simple mistake[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img]
 
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Old Aug 15, 2008 | 10:56 PM
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Default HELP! I washed my atv and now it won't start

went to the atv training coarse about 3 mos. ago. I've been riding all my life but this is my wifes first one plus we get 100.00 each in a check to spend on anything
at the dealership. Every time we stoped the motor the instructor made us use the kill switch instead of the keyswitch.
G.A.S. I did the same thing you did two weeks later. LOL
 
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Old Aug 16, 2008 | 03:57 AM
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Default HELP! I washed my atv and now it won't start

i ve seen that doen alot and people dont realize that kills all the power so it really throws ya if you dont catch it.
 
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Old Aug 16, 2008 | 09:52 AM
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Williebee's Avatar
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Default HELP! I washed my atv and now it won't start

The same thing happened to me the first time i went riding with my cousin/plus it was the first time i had ever riden a 4 wheeler , and it was at night and i kept hitting the kill switch all night long ; each time my cousin would have to turn around to see what was holding me up ; and each time he would ask me if i hit the kill switch !

Sure enough i had done it again , all it would do when i pushed the start botton was crank the engine over and over ; made me feel like an idiot but after i bought the idenical quad 3 yrs later i never did this again !.....
 
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Old Aug 16, 2008 | 10:07 AM
  #9  
ZAKAZIM's Avatar
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Default HELP! I washed my atv and now it won't start

See your not the only one.......... I have never done this....NOT!!!!! I give you a high five for fessing up.

I did this plowing 10" of snow when I lived up north and talk about a quick stop...
 
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Old Aug 16, 2008 | 10:16 AM
  #10  
G.A.S.'s Avatar
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Default HELP! I washed my atv and now it won't start

Glad to see I am not the only one. I spent a half an hour trying to figure it out. Looking for everything but the obvious. Hope this thread will save someone from the frustration in the future.
 
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