Hi everyone!!

Yesterday I was out with the guys riding trails and my sportsman wanted to give me some trouble. We were about 12 miles into the woods when my over heat light came on, so we stopped, and talked to let it cool down. After about 30 or 40 min. I got back on and hit the starter and it would not start, and I also noticed my cooling fan was not running. I thought I would try the pull start, and it fired right up, so we took a short cut back to the parking lot, about 3 miles. On the way back I did not over heat, but it was close. When I went to load the atv up, again it would not start, I had to pull start it again. After I got home I charged the battery, and it fired right up like there was nothing wrong.
What I am wanting to know is why do you think this happed? I know very little about working on atv's, so any info you have will be great!!! Also just let everyone know, I had the atv serviced just two days ago, and the battery I got last month. Also, my atv is a 96 sportsman 500 4x4 if this helps any one out. Thank you!!!!

 

Did it turn over when it did not start with the electric start? If it turns over with the electric start but does not start,but starts with the pull start it usually means the battery is to weak to rotate starter fast enough or the pluse coil gap at fly wheel needs cleaning or adjusting.

 

^ No it did'nt turn over. It just made a clicking sound.

 

Mine did that , had to tap on the starter sometimes to get it to spin, turned out to be a dirty sticking starter bush. I took the starter apart and cleaned and lubed the brush and got the the brush moving freely again. Abit of labour but a free fix.

 

^ Would that also make the cooling fan not run?

 

No thats another problem. Put a direct 12v to the fan to see if the fan is good. If its good then its either a bad connection or the Rad temp sensor that tell the fan to come on and off is bad. If your 96 is like our 97 there are a wack of fuses under the front nose hatch below front rack that you could check also.

 

I know the fan is good. After I charged the battery and turned the key on the fan started like always.

 

Check and clean any fan wirring connections.

 

Is your charging system charging the battery?? If not those 12 miles will run the battery dead with the fan running the hole time. Put a VOM on the battery and see if it gets between 13-15VDC. This may be your issue. Or loose/corroded connections on battery.

 

^ I was also thinking that it might be the charging system, but I don't know what to check or what to look for.