I have a 99' Big Bear that is an absolute tank.  No trouble since the day it was purchased over a decade ago besides the electric start.  It just quit about 4 months ago and I haven't really adressed the issue since the pull start works fine.  Now I have ambition to get this to work so I made a video to show what's wrong.

Here is the basics.

No clicking when trying to start.
Battery has juice.  (Powers lights, and winch)  Not the greatest energy output, but enough to power the lights and winch some.
A local replaced the solenoid in the battery department (I have no idea where it's located but he is a trustworthy guy) and still no clicking.


I looked over the manual and most of the electrical stuff might as well be written in Japanese because I don't understand any of it.  I do have offroad knowledge though, I've rebuilt top ends, shocks, forks, ect...ect.. so hopefully it isn't too hard to learn.

Video will be up shortly.

Didn't realize the atv section was this dead on TT.  Come on boys, anyone?

You may have to take a course on basic electric circuits to resolve your  problem. Probably available for free on the internet.
It could be a nuetral switch or parking brake that interupts the start circuit or a loose connection or broken wire or bad start button.
The solenoid should have 12 volts at the control wire when you hit the start button.
But youi will need  a basic understanding to troubleshoot. You are correct in thinking it is not that hard, just takes some time and desire to learn.
Roger

Aside from the obvious (blown fuse), chances are good there's a bad electrical connection somewhere in the circuit to the starter solenoid.

Try cleaning the dirt off, and then going from the battery through each wire, and pull the connectors, look for corrosion and reset them with a little dielectric grease.

Hi

I also have a '99 big bear. Had it since new, absolute tank!!

You may find the battery is not holding enough charge to engage the starter at all, maybe try use jumper cables from another battery and see what happens? I recently (this year) replaced my original battery because of a similar problem, lights worked and the bat seemed to hold a charge but couldn't start it and it eventually got bored having to pull start it.

Does the red light come on when you push the start button? I think its the red engine overheat / oil temp light that usually comes on when the starter is pushed?? I don't have mine with me to check... May lead you to a switch issue, or a dry contact btw the battery and the starter button. Seems unlikely though, I haven't managed to break anything electrical or blow a fuse before and mine has had a VERY hard life to date. Try jump it from another battery before you spend any more money replacing parts.

Aside from fuel, minor services, and a new battery; mine is perfect.

If it will start with the pull start then I would look at the key switch, it is very common for these to fail.
Your dealer will have at least 5 of these in stock...and for good reason
If your battery is a few years old at least have it load tested..might just be the battery
If the battery is good you can check the started motor by just running leads from the battery to the starter posts....if nothing spins then the starter is in need of a rebuild
   You did not say but is your 99 a hi lo range version or just the 5 sp edition.

Edited by nsman, 28 September 2012 - 06:23 PM.