Solenoid question (yes I know it is not related to 2-strokes Sea-Doos...)

[benjilafouine]

Hello,

I know this question is not about a Sea-Doo but I know lots of people here have the knowledge to answer my question with their 2-stroke Sea-Doos.

Question:

What happens when you try to jump a solenoid?

Background:

My friend has a Polaris ATV that wouldn't start. Lights come on on the dash but starter looks dead. He tried recharging his battery with no luck (we know the battery is gone because the winch drains it in less than 20 seconds).

So I suspected the solenoid (this model has one). We located the solenoid quickly using the manual and he decided to try it (I wouldn't have personally but it was his decision).

Result:

With the ignition turned on, he tried jumping the solenoid. We never engaged the starter (turning the key).

There was a spark but we heard the starter/crank turn one turn and he let go of the jumping wire because he got surprised by the spark!

So:

Was that a normal result indicating that the solenoid is fried? Was that spark normal? This is obviously not a Sea-Doo but I believe that all these gizmos have the same behavior. My solenoid died last year on my ski but I didn't know at the time how to do that procedure.

In the end:

I connected his battery to my battery pack and we winched the beast on his trailer... back to the dealer...

Thanks.

Benji

 

[howie099]

That baby will spark. If it turned over time for a new one.

 

[howie099]

Need good size wire or screw driver to do it

 

[benjilafouine]

Wire was not very big (not enough I believe), but it turned all right. It is so hard to reach (to remove) that we are sending it to the dealer (unless my friend would have lots of time to remove the back seat console, it is a side by side). I could see the removing screws but there was no way to reach them without removing some guards and the console or the battery seat.

At least we were on the right direction...

Thanks.

Benji

 

[benjilafouine]

Wish I could put my ski in the lake, but that would rather be, well, on the top of the lake... Still frozen hard except for 10% of the surface. And I thought it was going to be an El Nino year... This is why we are still riding out our ATVs...




Yes my ski is that little bulge left of the wood chord... And this is today... You don't want to view the lake (boring).

Benji.

 

[Coastiejoe]

The wire needs to be the size of Battery Cable. And or use pliers.

Yes, no matter the ignition or anything else, if you jump the solenoid it should engage the starter. You MUST have a good battery as turning an engine over is the most challenging thing to do..

 

[benjilafouine]

We are pretty sure that it is the solenoid because it started as an intermittent problem. And weak battery didn't help.

Benji.