What to do if the ATV won't start?

The ATV can be used in a variety of conditions, which increases the load on all its systems. This is especially noticeable when driving on severe off-road conditions, when you have to overcome significant obstacles. It is not uncommon for the ATV to not start for various reasons. Both newbies and experienced drivers encounter this problem. There are several common reasons why an ATV won't start. Perhaps this situation is caused by a breakdown in some components of the vehicle. However, sometimes it happens that the all-terrain vehicle does not start due to incorrect actions by the driver.

If the ATV was purchased recently and the driver does not have sufficient experience and certain driving skills, similar problems may arise. If a children's or adult ATV does not start, you must first understand the intricacies of starting it. Having purchased a four-wheeler, it is recommended to read the manufacturer’s instructions.

Newer models are usually equipped with an electric starter. This makes starting the vehicle much easier. Starting the engine is somewhat more difficult in older models that have a kick starter installed. In this case, difficulties arise for beginners more often. You will need to gain sufficient experience, for which you should consider the starting procedure in theory:

Before driving, be sure to check the fuel level in the gas tank. The ignition key is turned to the “on” position. The switch on the control panel should be in the same position.
The transmission is moved to neutral. If there is a clutch, it is squeezed out, after which the lever is moved to neutral. On the panel in most models at this moment the corresponding indicator lights up. To check if your actions are correct, you can push the ATV. If the wheels spin, then everything is done correctly.
When starting in the cold season, it is recommended to pull the choke lever towards you. This will enrich the fuel mixture with air, which will facilitate the starting procedure. In the warm season, such a procedure is not necessary.
In the model with an electronic starter, you simply press the button and hold it until the engine starts. If the ATV does not start with the electronic starter, you can use the kick starter. To do this, the driver must sit on the ATV and press the lever until the engine starts. The gas must be squeezed out before performing this action in both cases.
Next, the lever is pressed back, closing the air damper. After the above steps, the ATV should start.

The ATV does not start: frequent breakdowns

If even after the above steps the ATV does not start, it is necessary to carry out a technical inspection, check the wiring, spark plugs and other components of the equipment. You can do it yourself. There is a list of the most common faults.

There is no fuel in the tank

Beginners are wondering what to do if the ATV won’t start? One of the common reasons is the lack of gasoline in the fuel tank. Sometimes the driver simply forgets to pour it. But sometimes the reason for the lack of gasoline in the tank is a leak. If this is the case, you need to repair the fuel supply system to the engine.

Stop button pressed

Many ATVs have a red stop button on their handlebars. She turns off the ignition. Before starting the engine, you must press this button, otherwise the system will be locked.

Low battery

If the battery is low, the ATV will not start. The battery may drain if the driver forgets to turn off the headlights or other electrical appliance. A similar situation can also arise when the all-terrain vehicle is idle for a long time. You can charge the battery yourself at home using a special device.

Broken contacts

If the fuel system or battery is working properly, the starter may not operate. In this case, you will need to close the contacts located on the starter relay. This procedure is performed using a screwdriver. The relay in most models is located under the seat. There are 2 wires connected to it. They are quite thick, so they are not difficult to find.

This method will allow you to start the vehicle without a key if the system does not have a central control unit, otherwise such an action will trigger the lock.

If after such a procedure the engine starts, this indicates a breakdown in the starting system. In this case, you need to find the place where the circuit breaks.

Check

Another reason why the engine may not start is a loose pin. This is an element of the ATV's safety system. The check is a cable that is attached at one end to the driver and at the other to a special socket on the four-wheeler. If the owner of the ATV falls out of the saddle while driving off-road, the ignition will turn off. The pin, which at this moment falls out of its socket, blocks the system. Therefore, if the driver forgot to fasten it before driving, the engine will not start. If you lose the pin, you will have to close the contacts manually.

Fuse

It happens that the ATV does not start due to a failed fuse. This type of breakdown most often occurs on children's or small four-wheelers. There is only one fuse, which is located next to the battery. You can purely visually determine whether this part needs to be replaced. The fuse is relatively inexpensive, so it is better to replace it at the slightest suspicion of failure.

Children's ATV, scooter or moped will not start. Nothing happens. Let's figure it out.

Switch

The fault may be detected in the switch. It is located under the saddle of the ATV or next to the engine. The switch looks like a small box to which the wires from the ignition coil are connected. Diagnosis of this node is quite complicated, so most often this work is entrusted to professionals.

No spark

If the wire from the spark plug breaks or there is a breakdown in the ignition coil, there will be no spark. It's quite simple to check, for which you need to unscrew the spark plug and insert it into the cap. This element of the system is applied to the engine with the metal side, and then the starter button is pressed. If a spark does not appear, the reason for the inability to start the engine lies precisely in this system. If there is a spark, it is recommended to replace either the cap or the spark plug itself.

Cold generator won't start

Hi all. Good people, maybe someone knows what needs to be turned in the carburetor of a five kilowatt generator. It doesn't want to start at least at -10, or even at 0. Gasoline, ignition and air damper (closing) are swept aside, when pouring 5 cubes into the cylinder, it rumbles on the third attempt. Plugging the carb with a rag without a breather also helps, albeit with the stem. But you understand, all this does not bring pleasure. There is an 8-9 mm hole in the air damper, I thought that the Chinese forgot to supply the spare part, but in the photos on the Internet the hole is also empty. Gene WOLSH GB6500E 5 kW, motor 188F clone GX-390. The carb brand is not filled and there is no label, there are no wires. I'll post pictures one of these days. Hello everyone and thank you in advance. Sincerely. Victor.

Victor, hello. Go to the forum of Mobloc manufacturers of Dviglov Honda, everything is sorted out there. They seem to recommend installing the A17 DVR spark plug, sometimes it helps.

Thank you dear, I'll come in now. Good health to you. Victor

Yesterday I sat up past midnight, but apparently I’m the only one with this problem. I'll try to change the spark plug now, although there's little hope. It's already -13 outside. Apparently I was very “lucky” in the lottery, because no one else has such a carburetor and is also on sale.

Thanks again and best regards. Victor.

And more history: how much did you earn, how did you behave, and then began to fool around? what kind of oil is in it? How does it start when hot? is there a fuel filter? Has the carburetor ever drained the sediment? condition of the original spark plug? is there compression? etc. more information if available.

First, I’ll confess, I lied a little, that the carburetor is without delays and mine is unique. Today I took a photo in the sun and realized that I’ve seen something like this before. But I didn’t find any inscriptions. Today I saw the wires from the bottom. I used 2 tanks of gasoline, 40 liters exactly. Once there was 8 hours without a smoke break, there was no light in the village for a long time, the rest was minor things. The gene does not have a counter. When it’s warm and you cover the air vent with a rag, after several attempts with short smoke breaks it starts. Naturally, the suction has to be removed; it begins to slurp. After a little warming up, the load pulls without problems, including welding, I loaded it with two heating elements of 2.5 kW each, the voltage dropped from 230 to 215 according to the built-in voltmeter. He strains but works cleanly, there are no coughs or sneezes. Of course, it makes quite a lot of noise inside, especially when you turn it off. It started to stall from 0, with an electric starter it’s better, but also not from the first push and it’s still warm. In the cold of 0 and below, you don’t have to twitch; I’ve already broken my fourth rope. There is compression, you bring it under the starting point and pull, then there is a chance to start it. I have never touched the carburetor, because the tank is as clean as new. Top. There is no filter, although you should try to insert it. When it’s hot, if you just turn it off, it starts up well, but if it cools down a little, it starts with suction from the first to the second poke from the rope. The starter is lazy, and it charges at 20 volts, it’s good that I noticed this glitch in time. I measured the voltage on the battery and almost fell - over 15 volts. The candle is gray and clean, although I understand it should be brown. But I took it as a fashion to close the tap, burn gasoline out of the carburetor, cover the air vent with my hand and wait for it to start dying. I turn off the ignition. By this I seem to ensure that there is fresh gasoline in the carb the next time I start it due to long breaks. Castrol oil, semi-synthetic, like in Bibi, is quite clean, I don’t remember the viscosity. I took some photos today, I'll edit them and post them. By the way, the first time I was able to start it after buying it only from the starter, but it was already cool, it was 100 km away to take it to Murlen, especially since it started, I thought it would roll around. Gasoline 92 as in Bibi. My heart feels like the starting system is dull, but I don’t know what to turn without disrupting the working stroke. Since it holds the load well. And yet, a diaphragm with a rod to the carb and a tube to the gasket behind the carb hangs on a separate piece of hardware. I tried to create a vacuum in the diaphragm with my mouth, but it could barely move. But this is more of a type of accelerator for better performance during sudden load changes. In any case, I will be grateful for any advice. I changed gasoline not so long ago - a month or two ago. The oil level was normal that year. When tilted towards the cylinder, the engine stalls, as it should, the level system works. Now I'll try to make the photos smaller. Health to you and with respect. Victor.

Engine idles rough

Valve clearance is too large or too small: Set the valve clearance correctly according to your motorcycle manual.
Incorrect setting of the mixture ignition timing: adjust.
Spark plug sockets or wires are not touching the spark plugs properly: Pull/unscrew the ignition wires, cut them piece by piece, and reinstall/screw them in again.
Malfunctioning ignition module: You will find if you try how the equipment talks to a properly working module from another motorcycle of the same type; Make sure the ground is properly connected.
Unsynchronized carburetors: Adjust the carburetors using a vacuum gauge.
Incorrect idle speed adjustment: adjust.

Launch in the field

Breakdowns often occur when the ATV is located far from home or even the highway. In this case, you will need a set of simple hand tools and a few spare parts. In most cases, the car can be started.

Some owners of such equipment are interested in how to start an ATV from a pusher. It should be said right away that this will not be possible with an automatic transmission. Only for models with a manual transmission, you can try to start the engine from the pushrod. In other cases, it is recommended to look for the cause of the breakdown using the points listed above. You can fix many problems and start the ATV even in the forest.

Other reasons why the car won't start

Having thus checked all the main car systems that could affect the car’s engine starting, you, dear motorists, should know that there are still a number of specific tips that you can resort to and perform them yourself to find out why your car does not start. If you have patience and time to do this kind of troubleshooting, you can do the following yourself:

– Loose starter mounts: Sometimes the starter mounts become loose, which can cause the ignition to fail.

– Bad injectors: A faulty injector affects the entire fuel system, which can cause the engine to fail to start. Especially when starting when the engine is still warm.

– Faulty starting valve: If this part of the car is in a faulty condition, then when starting the engine (especially in cold weather), a malfunction may occur and the car simply will not start. This faulty valve can also cause uneven operation of the engine after it warms up.

– Chips on the flywheel: The starter not only ignites the car, but also transmits torque to the flywheel, which is connected to the transmission. If the flywheel teeth are chipped or damaged, when the starter rotates, you can hear a characteristic sound (squealing, creaking) produced by the flywheel itself which has a defect. It is noteworthy that a similar problem can also be the reason for the engine failure to start.

– Malfunctioning immobilizer or engine control unit (ECU): If your vehicle's main computer is malfunctioning, it can significantly affect the performance of the ignition system itself and fuel injection. Including, if any electronic system malfunctions, then in many modern cars the engine management system can simply block the engine from starting itself. Also, a common reason for failure to start the engine is a specific malfunction in the electronic anti-theft system (immobilizer).

When it breaks down, as a rule, this electronic unit simply does not recognize your key, which contains a chip with an electronic code that disables the security system.

Unfortunately for us, you simply cannot check all these electronic systems yourself, since expensive equipment is needed to diagnose the electronics of the machine.

Starter failure

One of the reasons why a children's ATV will not start may be a broken starter. Perhaps only some of its elements have failed or the electrical contacts have been broken. You need to check the following:

Contact status. If there are traces of oxidation, you need to clean them and properly connect them to the starter.
Relay check. If water has entered the assembly through microcracks, there may also be traces of rust. The unit needs to be cleaned or a new component installed.

If the starter works normally, you need to look for a breakdown in other systems.

Causes of ATV breakdowns and troubleshooting

No starter after turning the key

The shut-off valve is closed: open it or set it to the “reserve” position. There is old and/or contaminated fuel in the tank: empty the float chambers (the small screw at the bottom of them), check if necessary if they are dirty and add new fuel.
The fuel vacuum valve does not open: remove the hose from it and crank the engine. If fuel is not flowing, the vacuum diaphragm at the valve or the vacuum suction line is likely to blame. Turn the tap to the PRI or Reserve position.
Clogged fuel tap pipe or filter: Remove the pipe from the tap and check if fuel flows when you open it. If so, the secondary fuel filter is clogged and needs to be replaced. If not, remove and clean the faucet.
Flooded engine: Remove the spark plugs and dry them, close the fuel valve, turn off the lights if you can. Turn the throttle fully and engage the starter - the spark plugs should be on the wires and on the engine. Don't touch the candles. Put them on and start the engine.