[Dustin Rushing]

Hi guys new to the forum here. A couple weeks ago my starter kept trying to start the engine on my 1999 Honda trx300 2WD even after it was running until I disconnected the power wire from the top of the starter.. I decided I’d go ahead and change the starter and solenoid. After replacing both parts, I have no power to any of my lights ( headlights, neutral, reverse, oil pressure). The battery is fine it’s reading 12 volts and my winch is working fine because it’s wired directly to the battery.. kick start won’t even crank it.. I have continuity at the solenoid when I press the start button.. I unplugged the harness for the voltage regulator/rectifier and tested continuity on the three prongs on the wire going to the regulator and I have no continuity there at all.. does this pretty much mean I just need to replace the voltage regulator/rectifier, or can the ignition be the issue? Thanks in advance

 

[shadetree]

welcome. please check BOTH fuses at the battery !!. they must be in working order to let the ignition work !. also check all battery cable connections, and ground cable connections, last but not least...MAKE SURE YOU WIRED THE BATTERY UP CORRECTLY !! ( yes..i've seen it a million times on here..lol ).

 

[Dustin Rushing]

Both fuses are good. I hooked everything back up the way it was and it was working before all this.. my meter is telling me that the start button is sending a signal to the solenoid but it won’t turn over and none of my lights are coming on.. is there any way to test the ignition? I have the front rack and plastics off right now so that I can get to the ignition wires

 

[shadetree]

Both fuses are good. I hooked everything back up the way it was and it was working before all this.. my meter is telling me that the start button is sending a signal to the solenoid but it won’t turn over and none of my lights are coming on.. is there any way to test the ignition? I have the front rack and plastics off right now so that I can get to the ignition wires

two problems going on, one : your not getting lights on the dash to work ?, this tells me your not getting power to the ignition switch and dash. two: when you replaced the starter solenoid, is it oem ?, or some china junk you got off amazon or ebay ?. from your very first post ^^^, what your posted tells me your starter solenoid hung in the closed position, meaning in order to shut the starter down, you unhooked the power from the battery. this tells me your starter solenoid went bad. then you did some stuff to the battery cables, now I wonder if you connected the battery cables up right ?, or..you have other problems with not getting power to the ignition switch ?. with a 12 volt dc test light, check to see if your getting power from the battery, through both sides of both fuses ?, if so ?, then go to the ignition switch, look for the big red wire on the harness side, this is coming from the battery fuses, got power ?, if you do ?, plug the ignition switch back in, check for power coming back out of the ignition switch ?. my gut tells me, you either have the battery cables connected wrong ?, or, your ground cables are not tight/connected correctly ?.

 

[Dustin Rushing]

Ok here’s an update - I’m an idiot. Decided to trace ground wire to see where it bolts up so I could clean the connection. Found out I forgot to bolt it back into the new starter bolt hole..( I had tucked it out of the way when I removed the old starter).. anyways I got power and she fired right up but now I’m back to the old problem, the reason I changed the starter and solenoid in the first place- my starter keeps trying to crank the engine even after it’s running until I disconnect power from the battery? Thoughts?

 

[shadetree]

Ok here’s an update - I’m an idiot. Decided to trace ground wire to see where it bolts up so I could clean the connection. Found out I forgot to bolt it back into the new starter bolt hole..( I had tucked it out of the way when I removed the old starter).. anyways I got power and she fired right up but now I’m back to the old problem, the reason I changed the starter and solenoid in the first place- my starter keeps trying to crank the engine even after it’s running until I disconnect power from the battery? Thoughts?

ok, this tells me you bought a cheap after market solenoid from amazon or ebay...china junk !, because you did not want to pay the high price for an oem starter solenoid, correct ?..if I am correct ?, buy an oem from honda, and your problem will be solved.

 

[shadetree]

there is a reason they sell cheap starter solenoids on ebay and amazon ?..BECAUSE THEY ARE CHINA JUNK !!.

 

[retro]

If you replaced your original starter with cheap china you'll want to put that starter back on the motor ASAP. China starter will not last very long. Might kill other stuff when it goes too. You saved nothing... just have to buy them again, this time full price for OEM. China parts only make sense if you are super-wealthy and wish to destroy your stuff.

Welcome to the forums!

 

[fishfiles]

If you don't want to pay the $65 for an OEM 300 solenoid , then buy a 420 solenoid for $19

I would presume since you say it was spinning over till you disconnected the starter wire and then after you changed the starter and solenoid it did nothing , then the problem has to be a fuse , burned wire , you didn't put the wires back in the right spots when you changed the solenoid , or you replaced the parts with Chinese junk

 

[Goober]

Like the members above stated the solenoid you used has failed—it is not reopening after you release the button—pretty common with $10 solenoids. Two things for you to check:

Use OEM solenoid, ensure it’s wired correctly. Basically It’s a double pole single throw relay. The starter button circuit is the low amp control circuit—gets power thru the ignition circuit. it is used to energize the solenoid’s second circuit, the high amp starter circuit. If the starter continues to run after you release the button then there is something wrong with the control circuit or the relay.

Secondly are you toggling the compression release lever when you try to kick start it? If not, that’s why you can’t kick start it. Every time you cycle that kick lever you have to flip that lever up about 3/4”, or 20 degrees.