[pat2bears]

My neighbor is a 90 years old woman who is somewhat crippled and uses her ATV to get the mail and see her farm. It is a Honda 1999.
It will not start and I have no way to get it to a shop but I am handy enough to do most any repair.
There is a round device in the battery case left of the battery that clicks loudly when I try to start the ATV.
What is this and does this sound like the problem.
What is necessary to replace it other than a new part.
Thanks For your help,
Pat

 

[submarine 300]

Hello and welcome. Are you sure the batt. has a good charge and cables have a good connection? This is where I'd start.

 

[Billy250X]

Thats the sileiod clicking.If your battery isn't good or isn't charged they will click.But it could also be a bad one if the battery is good.

 

[Helmut]

I agree with Submarine and Billy. Make sure you have a good battery and it is charged up. Make sure the battery cables and battery terminals are clean and tight. If it still won't start, take an old screwdriver and cross over the two terminal posts on the solenoid. If the solenoid is bad, it should start, providing the starter is good and the key is on. When you cross the solenoid over with the screwdriver, it will arc, so don't have any flammable liquids around. More than likely, the battery or solenoid is the problem, but if not, then it is probably the starter.

 

[Helmut]

By the way, to answer your last question, all that is needed to replace the solenoid is a wrench to fit the nuts that hold the cables on the solenoid. I can't remember the size, but I think it's a 12mm.

 

[pat2bears]

Thanks for all your help and kindness

I have tightened the cables to the battery but no help.
I have tried to jump the solenoid but that does not help either it still just clicks.
I have put the battery on a 10 amp charger over night and shortly I will see if that helped and if not I will take the battery to the parts house to have it tested.
I assume at this point it it is not any of the above then it has something to do with the starter? If that is the case I will need some more detailed suggestions from you folks but I will keep you posted.
It's amazing to see the look in her face at the thought that soon she will have some mobility to check the mail and also to have some independence. I guess we all think of ATV's as either work tools or toys but in her case it is actually her ability to have so quality and independence in her life. Brings a whole new meaning to the value of an ATV.
Pat

 

[ptac]

Cables, Battery, or Starter

Its usually the cables are loose---or (especially after winter) the battery being dead..or shot. If you are getting clicking from the solinoid---its a good indication that it is performing its job of transfering power to the starter when the key/button is switched on. If the above 2 are ruled out--then worse case is that the starter is DOA. If thats the case (being that its a '99) --it could just require disassembly and a good cleanage of the armature and brushes.(rather than a new one) I would only do this after the cables and battery have been ruled out. Non starting issues are never fun!:r_c:

 

[TRX2fiveO]

Another thing that is commonly missed is the battery ground connection to the frame-end over time rust will present itself under the eyelet ring thus weakening the contact point you can have all the voltage in the world but one little bad ground will kill the whole system. I would check the grounds and check the wires AT the starter? vibration tends to play a toll on these old beast.

 

[submarine 300]

Another thing that is commonly missed is the battery ground connection to the frame-end over time rust will present itself under the eyelet ring thus weakening the contact point you can have all the voltage in the world but one little bad ground will kill the whole system. I would check the grounds and check the wires AT the starter? vibration tends to play a toll on these old beast.

^^^^^Very much agreed!

 

[Helmut]

I agree. You have to have a good ground. By the way, the main ground wire, on these models, grounds on one of the starter mounting bolts.

 

[rspcmb]

i have a similar but i have put a brand new battery and starter in and bypassed the solenoid and it just clicks any suggestions? i also pulled the starter out to make sure it has power and it spins

 

[Helmut]

i have a similar but i have put a brand new battery and starter in and bypassed the solenoid and it just clicks any suggestions? i also pulled the starter out to make sure it has power and it spins

Check your ground cable at the battery and where it bolts on to one of the starter mounting bolts. If you bypassed the solenoid by jumping the posts and if your battery and starter are both good, it would have to be a bad connection. When you bypass the solenoid, by jumping the two posts on the solenoid, it sends power directly from the battery to the starter. If that's what you did and it still won't turn over, check your ground and all your connections. Also, make sure the engine isn't locked up, by turning it over with the kick starter.

 

[dmr]

I had a similar problem last winter - solenoid click, but no start. Took the starter off and discovered one of the brushes was stuck and not making proper contact on the commutator. Freed it up and Presto - works like a charm. Best of all, cost $00.00.
Dave
Note, one thing I did before taking the starter off was to jump it direct from a known good battery. Negative to starter case, positive to red wire terminal on starter. It should spin if it's good.
Dave

 

[rspcmb]

Thanks for the help but i think i have an internal prob. my kick start unfortunatly isnt working

 

[Helmut]

Thanks for the help but i think i have an internal prob. my kick start unfortunatly isnt working

Is the kick starter stuck or does it move without turning the engine over or what does it do?

 

[EddieM]

I replaced the solenoid and battery and when I connected the positive to the battery, the atv tried to turn over...... any advise....

 

[Goober]

Hey @EddieM
Do you have a service manual? Download from the link in my sig block. Start a new thread so we can get you started. If it’s not turning over it could be several simple things

 

[retro]

Its either wired up wrong, the solenoid is stuck or junk (cheap china part?), or the starter button switch is stuck down. You didn't mention which year & model bike you have... so check out the Stickys pinned HERE for some general wiring/solenoid troubleshooting advice. You can also follow the troubleshooting steps in the starting section of the service manual. You can get a copy HERE.

This is a very old thread... Start a thread of your own listing all that you know about your issue for best luck...

Welcome to the forums!

 

[EddieM]

atv turns over as soon as you connect the positive post on the battery

thank you for the service manual.

I will start a new thread.

 

[Accordlayingkit]

I agree with Submarine and Billy. Make sure you have a good battery and it is charged up. Make sure the battery cables and battery terminals are clean and tight. If it still won't start, take an old screwdriver and cross over the two terminal posts on the solenoid. If the solenoid is bad, it should start, providing the starter is good and the key is on. When you cross the solenoid over with the screwdriver, it will arc, so don't have any flammable liquids around. More than likely, the battery or solenoid is the problem, but if not, then it is probably the starter.

Guys I'm finally giving up and asking for help! Haha have a 2002 Sport Trac 250 EX. Been sitting a while in my parents pole barn so I brought to my property to mess with for my kids. It's been very well taken care of just been sitting a while. Over the year I would replace battery because I would always get a sylnoid clicking. Well after the many things I have replaced below, I am still getting the sylnoid clicking but faster this time and still won't start.

Replaced....
Air filter
New carb
New battery(on this battery jumper I have it says 15.4v once I plug it to new battery)
New starter sylnoid
Just replaced new starter this morning thinking that was finally the fix but still the fast clicking when trying to start. Lights green in neutral, headlights/taillights working fine. 15a fuse below the sylnoid in battery compartment area is fine.

What the heck am I missing here?!?

Very much appreciation ahead of time for future input!

Just changed spark plug too... Charger my battery jumper for a bit before I try after spark plug change. Once I hook the jumper up and it registers the volts, I could get it to turn over a few time but it would run full throttle and wouldn't changed even when adjusting the white screw on the side of the carb