Bone head mistake on XP

[H2O]

All, really bone head mistake on XP and will give you a little background. Was riding with my son and the xp just died. Got it back in and couldn't turn the engine. Noticed that the temperature wire and fallen off the sensor. So thought I fried the engine. Pulled the plugs and was able to turn the engine manually. Put the plugs back in and just had a click from the starter. Like the starter was trying to engage but not enough power. So pulled a good battery and put it in. This is the bone head part. Dropped it in and wasn't paying attention and hooked up positive to negative and so on. Noticed once I tightened down the negative and immediately undid both and reinstalled correctly. Didn't have the key on during the bone head move so shouldn't have been getting any power(assuming here). So put they key on and nothing from the starter now but the instrument panel lights up. Suggestions please?

Thanks
H2O

 

[Thumper3322]

Make sure the battery is fully charged.

Pull the starter check the gear (probably stuck, mine has done it twice, on an older starter and a brand new one), try to turn by hand, if so, put the starter back in and away you go!

 

[Dr Honda]

If I'm reading it right......


NOW: Hook up the battery, and the gauges come on, without the lanyard... and no beeps or starter function with the lanyard???

If that's right... you need a new MPEM. (sorry)

Is this a 720 or 800 XP?

 

[Thumper3322]

Oops missed part of your message, if you can turn it by hand with the plugs out, then the starter is not stuck. My bad.

What doc said.

Btw... How can you test the engine heat wire/sensor to make sure it is working? run the engine, pull the wire and put a lighter on it?

 

[Dr Honda]

Btw... How can you test the engine heat wire/sensor to make sure it is working? run the engine, pull the wire and put a lighter on it?

You mean the temp sender??

first... gound the wire, and that shoudl sound the buzzer. (that's the first part of the test)


Then... you need a meter, a pot of water... and a thermometer. Hook the meter to the sender, and it should be "Open". Then, put it in the pot of water, and put some heat to that. Watch the thermometer, and it should go closed between 195 and 210 Deg F.

If you put a lighter to it... it will get VERY hot, very quick. And... you could hurt the internals of the sender. Not to mention... you won't know what temp it actually switched at.

 

[Thumper3322]

Huh thx doc... Need a meter... I'm guessing any voltage meter would work?

maybe a dumb question, how would I ground it? an alligator clip on the wire an ground it to the block?