Hello all,

I just recently got a 2003 Polaris Scrambler 500. I have ridden it on my road for a couple of hours off and on over the last few months. The guy I got it from told me it needed coolant and he gave me a bottle of coolant. This weekend I rode it a bit with my kids and the temperature light came on. This was after maybe 20 minutes of riding. I took it out the next day and the light came on again. Is it possible he gave me the wrong coolant and now I have to drain it out? Being at work and not real good with the mechanics of these things I can't remember what I put in.

Any help would be appreciated.

Mike

 

Welcome to the forum! Add coolant,leave cap off and run until fan comes on (this removes any trapped air) top off radiator,replace cap and top off coolant bottle.
If fan does NOT come on and still shows hot,could be a bad radiator sensor OR fan motor (check fan motor with 12volts to see if its ok) Also check for any leaks on right bottom side at bottom of water pump housing,if loosing coolant. OPT

 

it wouldn't need any coolant unless it has a hole some where and it's draining out or the bike was over heated form maybe a plugged radaitor or fan not working. find out why it needed coolant added as well. it takes a minum of a 50/50 mix.

 

Thanks for all the help.

Is there a specific type of coolant I should try? I am hoping that I have put the wrong stuff in and draining it and putting the correct stuff will clear up my issues.

Thanks

Mike

 

Most antifreeze available today is for aluminum radiators and usually is fine for atv use. It may say 50/50 but still ok as Polaris recommends 60/40. OPT

 

OK all, I ran it hard this weekend and it is definitely overheating. I thought it might have been just the light, but it spit most of the coolant out of it on the way back. There was no power lacking and no sputtering it just was really hot.

Any advise?

 

Did you, by process of elimination do as Old Polaris Tech instructed...it's the best place to start. As mentioned...Burb the air out of the system, make sure your fan is coming on. As Stendori mentioned...are the radiator fins plugged up with mud? Check these simple things first, do as instructed to eliminate potential causes.

Wenty

 

Another culprit can be the radiator cap. We had an overheating problem with my son's Polaris ATP 500 (same engine as Scrambler) and it ended up being a faulty radiator cap after they checked everything else mentioned. Was nice in that it was a cheap fix too.

 

I believe I did do everything on here suggested. 1 question about Old Techs post Does this mean Add coolant, leave "coolant reservoir" cap off? I'm sorry I'm not 100% sure what was meant.

Thanks

 

Add coolant to the radiator. Leave the radiator cap off to burp the system.