Dirt Wheels magazine recently received a question from a reader, Clay Moen of Grand Forks, ND, regarding a starting problem with his inherited 1988 Honda TRX300FW ATV. According to Moen, the ATV's electric starter is not functioning, and the kick starter appears to have seen considerable use. Despite replacing the battery with a new Li-Ion unit, the electric starter remains unresponsive.
When the starter button is pressed, the neutral light dims, suggesting a significant power draw or a short circuit. Here's a breakdown of the recommended troubleshooting steps, according to Dirt Wheels:
- Check the Starter Solenoid: Listen for a clicking sound when the starter button is pressed. A click indicates the solenoid might be working, while silence suggests it may be faulty.
- Test the Starter Motor: Use a jumper cable to connect the battery's positive terminal directly to the starter motor's power lug. A spark and immediate spinning of the motor indicate a functioning starter motor.
- Solenoid Troubleshooting: If the starter motor spins with a direct connection but not with the starter button, the solenoid is likely the issue.
To further diagnose the solenoid, Dirt Wheels suggests the following:
- Apply positive power to the small Yellow/Red striped wire (Y/R) on the starter solenoid and negative power to the Light Green/Red striped wire (Lg/R).
- If the solenoid functions correctly, the starter motor should spin.
Based on the results of these tests, the problem can be isolated:
- If the starter motor spins during the solenoid test: The solenoid is good, and the issue lies in the wiring on the Y/R wire between the solenoid and the starter button, or the Lg/R wire's ground connection.
- If the starter motor does not spin during the direct connection test: The starter motor is likely internally shorted or needs new brushes.
This systematic approach should help isolate the cause of the electric starter problem on the 1988 Honda TRX300FW.
Dirt Wheels encourages readers with ATV and UTV questions to submit them via email, including their name, city, and state.
