my 05 sportsman has been acting up and not wanting to start. charged the battery the other day and went to ride and i had to pull start. rode for awhile and was sitting idle and it died. had to pull start it again overtime id shut it off. got home and checked the battery was still charged. tried using the winch while riding and it didn't have enough power to work

where do i start trying isolate the problem ?

 

5 will get you 10 the battery is toast. Did you load test the battery? Or just check the voltage?

 

Could be another ecm issue if while running voltage back to the battery isn't at least 14-14.5 volts. Plus it can still charge and still have some ecm related electrical problems.Have the battery load tested first to see if it alone could be the problem and not another ecm gone wacky. ATV :*Polaris Ind. expands recall of ATVs
OPT

 

i just tested the voltage while the machine was off...... i quick looked during my lunch brake for the model number but all i could find the VIN

 

If the winch didn't have enough power for it to operate properly it could be just the battery as mentioned even though you may show 12 volts at the battery! Could have a shorted cell,etc loosing amperage. Still crank the machine up and with a volt meter check that it's charging at least 14 volts back to the battery,if not could be another ecm problem that may have drained the battery. Simple to just have the battery load tested at any auto store to see if it's ok or needs to be replaced. "IF" your 2005 Sportsman 500 is a carb model it was on the recall list. Not abnormal for even the replacement ecms to go out if you've already had the recall done. Just check the charging first then have the battery load tested. Could just be the battery is bad or both the battery and ecm module need replacing? OPT

 

thanks for the info..
yes its a carb model
still cant find the model number anywhere on it

 

If you're not even sure what you have,just log your vin # located on the lower left frame behind the a-arm here:http://www.purepolaris.com/en-us/ATV...earch-VIN.aspx
OPT

 

well got a new battery and got it charged and it fired right up.... now i have noticed 2 issues

#1
was running about 50mph for about a mile then let off for a turn and it started to pop and backfire and didnt want to move. would give it a little bit of throttle to keep moving and it would work its way out. did this twice.

#2
on my short little trip i noticed the battery light kept flashing on the dash. dont think it did while sitting idle..... battery connections were tight.


OPT - thank you for the link i was trying to find that online and could seem to locate it.
looks like A05MH50AG is my model number. doesnt appearmine is on the recall list as far as i can see

 

You might want to look again on you model being affected. A05MH50AG is the eleventh number down this list. Plus if the battery symbol is flashing then somethings wrong! Did you check charging while idling. Should be 14 volts going in to the battery at idle. ATV : Polaris Ind. expands recall of ATVs
OPT

 

guess i should have waited till i got home to check over the list, missed it on my phone. ill check the charge at idle tomm. say i do need an ecm, do i just call local dealer a.d have them order one free of charge or do they need to have it in the shop to check out normaly ? thanks for all the help btw