500 sportsman question ???

[JoePalermo]

my 2000 polaris 500 speedometer took a dump and apparently the 4wheel drive is tied to it because when it went i lost 4 wheel drive when i talked to a shop they stated i can re route the ground to get the 4 wheel back but i still wont have the speedo "which i dont care about" but i would like the 4 wheel back . has anyone else heard of doing that ?

[arctic_scrap1]

Yeah that will work. Basically, your front hubs need 12v to engage the AWD. I'm not sure where or how it works but the hubs just aren't getting a ground while in 2wd. When the speedo goes bad the open circuit can't get closed. Another common problem is just the hall effect sensor could be bad but I'm not sure if a 2000 model had them, I know 2002 did because I replaced it on one of my old Sportsmans. If it is a hall effect sensor make sure you replace your front brake pads because too worn of pads is what causes them to go bad.

Found this on how to get the hubs a ground...

"open up the AWD switch, unhook the wire harness plug from the swich, take a small piece of wire and jump the brown and brown/white wires together. Plug it back in and you should Have AWD again."

[pike79]

Joe P, you might want to check the kill switch on the left handle bar. My 2004 Spotrsman 400 had the same problem. If the switch is moved one way it only kills the battery power and not the motor. Don't know if yours is wired the same but it would be a cheap fix if it was.

[1lessdog]

I have a 600 sportsman that has the same problem with the 4x4.

The speedo took a dump.

Artic-scrap1 say to jump the brown and brown and white.

Can I just crimp them together outside the wiring harness.

Thanks for the help

[Scupper]

My son recently had the same symptoms your describing with his 2001 Sportsman 500.

It turned out to be a corroded connection in the speedo/awd wiring. I do not know where the wires connect but his friend had it taken care of in about 10 minutes and claimed it is a common problem on these units.

[1lessdog]

Artic-scrap1 Is right about jumping the brown/brown-white. I did it to mine and it works great.

Thanks

And it only took me 10 months to get back to this forum

[LindellProStaf]

I had a thread about this a while back. I have a 700 Sportsman. My speedo would come on and off and then finally stayed off full time. Yes it does also control the 4 wheel drive. There are 3 self resetting circuit breakers under the front cowling. One of them could be bad. I checked all of mine and they were fine. I called my Polaris dealer and he said I must have a broken wire somewhere. I couldn't find it. I brought it to him and he had it fixed in no time. It was a broken wire. Got off lucky. Works like a charm now.