[Mshelly31]

I have a 2006 Honda Trx500fm 4x4.. It started not wanting to start at times and by accident I found it would occasionally start if I held the starter switch down at all times while going from 4th gear down to neutral or even from reverse to neutral as long as I held the starter switch. It even occasionally started from neutral to 2nd gear. I had to keep the starter switch on at all times when I was changing gears tho. Sometimes it would start like it should in neutral and others only by doing the other. The neutral light is on when it is in neutral and always comes on when I hit neutral. Now it won’t start at all. All I get is a click every time I hit the starter button. Neutral light still is green when in neutral.
Can anyone help me figure out why this is happening and what it could be? Where I live there isn’t any help and I’m disabled and need this to check my field, I’m willing to attempt to fix this myself if someone can guide me to the correct problem and how to do it. I don’t have any experience in mechanics and I’m a single mother trying to fix this! Please help!

 

[subzerosoundman]

Pull the right brake and try to start it.

Then try to short the starter relay with a screwdriver to see if the starter turns.

 

[Mshelly31]

Pull the right brake and try to start it.

Then try to short the starter relay with a screwdriver to see if the starter turns.

View attachment 154000

Ok. I did what you recommended and it still wouldn’t start. When I used the screwdriver to touch the two posts, it wouldn’t spark or do anything.

 

[Mechanicmatt]

If your battery is good then it sounds like your starter motor. Try putting a jump lead from positive on your battery to the positive terminal on the starter motor. If the starter does not spin then it'll probably need the sterter brushes replacing.

 

[subzerosoundman]

If your battery is bad then you can try jumper cables from your car battery, or a battery charger in start mode.

If the voltage regulator went bad, it could damage a new battery with too much voltage.

 

[dadstillsurfs]

I have a 2006 Honda Trx500fm 4x4.. It started not wanting to start at times and by accident I found it would occasionally start if I held the starter switch down at all times while going from 4th gear down to neutral or even from reverse to neutral as long as I held the starter switch. It even occasionally started from neutral to 2nd gear. I had to keep the starter switch on at all times when I was changing gears tho. Sometimes it would start like it should in neutral and others only by doing the other. The neutral light is on when it is in neutral and always comes on when I hit neutral. Now it won’t start at all. All I get is a click every time I hit the starter button. Neutral light still is green when in neutral.
Can anyone help me figure out why this is happening and what it could be? Where I live there isn’t any help and I’m disabled and need this to check my field, I’m willing to attempt to fix this myself if someone can guide me to the correct problem and how to do it. I don’t have any experience in mechanics and I’m a single mother trying to fix this! Please help!

I usually refer questions like this to the folks on ATVHonda
I get more definite answers from them

 

[dadstillsurfs]

The symptoms sound like something goofy with the Gear Position Switch.
Have you looked in your manual yet?
I've got a 2015 500 FM, so my manual is only kinda helpful.

 

[dadstillsurfs]

Your manual should be here.

https://************/topic/92-service-manual-downloads/?tab=comments#comment-1410

Similar complaint

No neutral light

I have a 2006 Honda Foreman 500 It shifts fine but does not show neutral when am in neutral. If I pull the brake handle while in gear it well start but that’s the only way. Drive gears show on the display just not “N” any ideas? Checked neutral switch all wiring connections and the manual...

www.hondaatvforums.net

Good luck

 

[Mechanicmatt]

When the machine is in neutral and you press the start button you should hear a click from the starter relay next to the battery. If that is clicking chances are it's the starter worn out and needs repairing. You crossed the relay and got no sparks meaning it's not drawing a current so would say there is nowhere for the power to ground to meaning the starter is at fault. When starter Wear out they tend to become intermittent before they stop working all together. Sounds to me like what you've described.

 

[subzerosoundman]

Mechanicmatt is right.

dadstillsurfs is a salesman for another site that gives out mostly expensive advice. They typically have you replace one part after another until it starts working again - the shoot in the dark method.

 

[Mshelly31]

Yes, I kinda figured that out. I have followed your advise and mechanicmatts advice and I am down to thinking it has to be the starter as y’all are advising. I found a you tube video with same ATV, year and model with same issue. I watched him change out the starter and it started right up and in neutral. Lol I followed his advice and just bought a cheaper starter off Amazon and not thru Honda. Based on all of y’all helping me verify how to check, and for what, I’m leaning more toward thinking the brushes in the starter could be the issue as has been mentioned.
I’m sorry I haven’t answered and say thank you to everyone helping, but me and my two girls are fighting COVID right now so I kinda put the atv on the back burner for now. I can’t wait to get outside and attempt changing the starter myself. It has arrived and I was too weak to loosen the screw on the starter cover so I’m waiting. I hope I didn’t strip it. Any advice if I striped it how to get it off?
Once I’m better and able, this starter will be on and I will let you know how it went. If it doesn’t work maybe y’all can walk me thru what to check next. With y’all’s help you made it easy for someone like me with limited knowledge of mechanics to do this! Thank you! I’ll keep you informed of whether the starter works once I can get out there to put it on.

Thank you!!!!

Mechanicmatt is right.

dadstillsurfs is a salesman for another site that gives out mostly expensive advice. They typically have you replace one part after another until it starts working again - the shoot in the dark method.

 

[Mshelly31]

Yes, I kinda figured that out. I have followed your advise and mechanicmatts advice and I am down to thinking it has to be the starter as y’all are advising. I found a you tube video with same ATV, year and model with same issue. I watched him change out the starter and it started right up and in neutral. Lol I followed his advice and just bought a cheaper starter off Amazon and not thru Honda. Based on all of y’all helping me verify how to check, and for what, I’m leaning more toward thinking the brushes in the starter could be the issue as has been mentioned.
I’m sorry I haven’t answered and say thank you to everyone helping, but me and my two girls are fighting COVID right now so I kinda put the atv on the back burner for now. I can’t wait to get outside and attempt changing the starter myself. It has arrived and I was too weak to loosen the screw on the starter cover so I’m waiting. I hope I didn’t strip it. Any advice if I striped it how to get it off?
Once I’m better and able, this starter will be on and I will let you know how it went. If it doesn’t work maybe y’all can walk me thru what to check next. With y’all’s help you made it easy for someone like me with limited knowledge of mechanics to do this! Thank you! I’ll keep you informed of whether the starter works once I can get out there to put it on.

Thank you!!!!

Just want to say thank you for helping walk me thru how to check things what could be wrong. I appreciate everything! I’m up and running again. It was the starter. I actually changed it myself and it starts right up without the problems I was having! Thanks for all your help.

 

[Mshelly31]

Ok my four wheeler worked for a few days and now is dead again. Only thing now is that it won’t even click or make any noise when I try to start it. Any ideas what I need to do now?