If you’re having an issue with your ATV, there is a good chance that the starter solenoid will be to blame. However, it can be tricky to know for certain where the problem is and how to best deal with it.
Check out the information below to understand more about your ATV and how to detect an issue with the starter solenoid. Hopefully, after reading this, your ATV will be back in working order in no time!
Contents
What Is The Starter Solenoid?
A starter solenoid is a switch that creates a point of contact between the starter and the battery. Once the starter button is pressed, the coil is energized. In turn, this completes the circuit by pushing a contactor, which transfers DC current from the battery to the starter. The starter solenoid also helps to ensure that start-up is stable.
On an ATV, the starter solenoid is generally located on the frame. Usually, it is found next to or under the battery, near the wiring harness, placed on the outside of the plastic. Though their size and shape can vary, you are generally looking for a round or square mechanism, with two small and two large wires attached.
How To Tell If Starter Solenoid Is Bad On ATV?
As an ATV owner, it’s likely that at one point or another, you’ve had a problem with your starter. If you haven’t yet, we’re sorry to let you know that you almost definitely will at some point!
As such, it’s best to educate yourself on how to detect a bad starter solenoid to ensure that as soon as something goes wrong, you know how to handle it. This is super important for your safety and peace of mind. There are a number of ways to test whether the starter solenoid is bad on your ATV. Check them out below!
Rule Out Battery Problems
First, even if you’re fairly certain that your battery is good, it’s always necessary to check! If you haven’t done this before, you should definitely learn how to, as regularly checking your battery is a necessity.
Here are some visible signs that your battery is the issue and should be replaced immediately:
- Bumps or lumps in outer casting.
- Loose or broken terminals.
- Visible cracks in the plastic casing.
- Melted or burnt plastic.
- Leaking battery fluids.
- Discoloration.
- Low electrolyte levels.
You may also want to test your battery for further confidence. If you are confident that your battery is definitely not the problem, you should now begin to look into the starter solenoid.
Signs Of A Bad Starter Solenoid On ATV
There are some easily noticeable symptoms of a bad starter solenoid. Here are some signs that the issue with your ATV is due to a bad starter solenoid:
The Vehicle Doesn’t Start
This is the most common sign which implies an issue with the starter solenoid. If your vehicle doesn’t turn on after engaging the ignition, it may be that your starter solenoid is faulty.
There Is A Clicking Sound Coming From The starter
This is a sign that the starter solenoid isn’t working properly. However, this is also a common issue caused by a battery that is low on amps. Therefore, if this is the only symptom, it may be worth checking the battery more thoroughly.
Starter Doesn’t Turn Off After The Engine Has Started
Once you have started your ATV engine and let go of the starter button, the circuit should close. This should then disconnect power to the starter motor. However, if your starter remains on after the engine has turned on, there might be an issue with the main contacts in the starter solenoid.
It is probably that the main contacts have welded together in the closed position.
Intermittent Issue When Starting The ATV
If a starter isn’t working as it should, it might result in a sporadic difficulty in starting the ATV. This may be due to damage caused by dirt, debris, or excessive heat. The starter should activate immediately after starting your ATV.
If you find that it takes a few times to get your ATV started, there is likely a problem with the starter solenoid. This might also be the case if you manage to start the ATV, move the vehicle a bit, but then find that the ATV stops working.
The Starter Keeps Spinning
This is a sign of a particularly dangerous issue with the starter. Bad cases will result in system damage or even explosion. Ensure that you disable and exit your ATV as soon as possible.
Testing an ATV Starter Solenoid
Once you know for sure that the issue with your ATV is likely a result of a bad starter solenoid, you will need to either purchase a new starter or attempt to fix yours yourself. However, before spending unnecessary money, you should try to detect the problem first, as it is likely that the issue is fixable.
Before testing your solenoid, as we detail below, we recommend that you understand the electronic components of your ATV well.
Understanding these, in addition to being confident in your knowledge of where the starter solenoid is and the location of its connections, is a necessity before testing the starter solenoid.
If you don’t have time to learn these, we recommend hiring an expert to ensure that the work is done as safely and correctly as possible.
If you are confident in your understanding, you can move on to testing your starter solenoid. To do this, you will need two things:
- A multimeter
- A back probe kit
What Is A Multimeter?
A multimeter is a device that is used to measure a number of values, such as, but not limited to, electrical voltage, current, and resistance. They are very useful when you need to carry out simple tests or even if you need to detect complex faults.
They are a great tool for troubleshooting electrical issues on motors. There are two types of multimeter: analog and digital.
Analog multimeters are less costly than digital multimeters and so are preferred by some people. They are preferred in very specific situations, such as when you want to detect slow voltage changes or if you need to set the multimeter to an ammeter.
Although, they can be difficult to read accurately and must be handled with care. If they are dropped or not handled gently, they can easily become damaged. Also, they aren’t generally as accurate as digital multimeters, especially when you are measuring the general voltage.
Digital multimeters are more commonly used and are preferable for this task. You can purchase different types of digital multimeters, from very simple ones to very advanced ones. They are also easier to read than analog multimeters because they provide the readings on an LCD screen.
Digital multimeters are also better than their analog counterparts for measuring voltage.
They are, however, more costly than analog multimeters. Although, if you opt for a more basic version, the difference in price will be negligible. On the other hand, advanced digital multimeters can be very expensive.
What is a Back Probe Kit?
Often it is necessary to check the current without separating a connector, and you can do this using a method called back-probing. Essentially, it is the method of voltage drop testing, which measures the resistance in a circuit under a load by touching the probe to the electrical contact in the back of the connection.
To be able to do this, you will need a back probe kit. These kits are widely available online.
Testing Your Starter Solenoid
There are two tests you need to do to see if your solenoid is faulty.
Test 1
The first test is to see whether the starter and the solenoid are making the necessary connection. To perform this test, carry out the following steps.
1. Using the back probes, connect one of the solenoid wires that connect to the starter button to the battery. Begin with the negative side of the battery.
2. Next, again, using the back probe, connect the other solenoid wire to the positive side of the battery.
3. Once making these connections, there should be a ‘click’ sound. This sound tells you that the solenoid is working.
4. If you don’t hear the click, try the next test.
Test 2
If you did not hear the click sound, you would need to follow the steps below, to perform the second test.
1. As you did in the first test, connect one of the solenoid wires to the battery’s negative terminal.
2. For this step, you will need your digital multimeter. To perform a resistance test, connect your digital multimeter to the solenoid’s main connections.
3. Once you have set the multimeter to resistance test, an ‘OL’ should appear, which implies an open circuit.
4. Next, connect the back probe connection from step one to the positive battery terminal. This will complete the circuit, and as such, ‘Closed Circuit’ should appear. If this happens, the starter solenoid is in working order and is not faulty. If the circuit doesn’t close, the solenoid is faulty, and you need to purchase a new one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I start My ATV By Bypassing The Starter Solenoid?
If you have to start your ATV with a faulty starter solenoid, you will need to locate the starter solenoid and the two main wires protruding from the starter. Then, to short circuit the starter connections, jump these two wires.
Once this is done, give your ATV ignition in combination to this short circuit. This should start your ATV.
Is It Safe To Bypass The Faulty Starter Solenoid?
While you can do this if it is necessary, doing it consistently may cause problems. It is safest to get the issue fixed properly straight away if possible, as bypassing the faulty starter solenoid will likely cause more faults than you originally began with.
Are There Any Other Problems Which May Induce A Faulty Solenoid Starter?
Yes. If you have tested your starter solenoid, and it has shown up as faulty, you may want to check for these other problems too.
- A blown fuse.
- Corroded wiring.
- A faulty alternator.
- A faulty starter.
Final Thoughts
By educating yourself on the electrical components of your vehicle and learning how to test the battery and starter solenoid, issues with your ATV can be easily pinpointed. To prevent further problems from arising, it is important to get these issues fixed properly as soon as possible.
If you don’t feel confident troubleshooting or fixing the issues yourself, it is always a good idea to hire an expert to do so for you to ensure your vehicle remains in good condition and you are safe while you use it.
