2003 Kodiak won't turn over.

[MIKE IN lINO III]

I've been having an intermittent problem with the electric start on my Kodiak. Hit the button and sometimes nothing will happen.

Now it is completely dead.

I can pull start it and it runs like a champ.

I tried to trace the wires from the button to the starter to see if mice had chewed thru somewhere, but I did not see any damage.

Any ideas before I bring it to the shop at $85 hr?

Mike

[Macgyver55]

When you say its "completely dead" are you talking about everything, lights and all, or just the cranking system? If the lights work, do they dim or flicker when you hit the starter? Has the wiring been modified by adding any accessories?

The first thing to look at in any intermittent electrical problem is the connections. Start at the battery and make sure both terminals are clean and tight. Then move on to the ground connection on the frame or engine and to the main battery cable connection at the solenoid. If all of those check out, you can jump the solenoid to eliminate that circuit. If the solenoid functions properly (hear it click)by jumping it then you know the button or wiring is the culprit. If the starter still doesnt work when you hear the solenoid, you can use jumpers to test the starter itself.

[MIKE IN lINO III]

The lights do come on and do not dim when I hit the starter.

I'll check what you listed.

Thx,

Mike

[CatchPhotoFilet]

sounds like a bad starter drive to me... had the same prob with a 02 polaris sportsman.... the bendix drive needed to be replaced

[Macgyver55]

I forgot to mention the possibility of the brake or neutral safety switch being bad, but jumping the solenoid will bypass all of that too.

The starter drive/bendix does not come into play until after the starter is energized. Its my understanding from the description (I could be wrong) that this is an electrical issue and the starter is not doing anything?