ATV just 'clicks' when I turn the key - is it this loose wire?
 

When I turn the key on my atv, all it does is make one quiet click sound. I had to look at the CDI box to see if it was a problem, and I noticed that one of the wires coming out of it was disconnected (pictured). The other wire is connected to something that looks like a heat sink. What is that other wire supposed to be attached to? And could this be all the starter motor isn't turning?
https://i.ibb.co/hdSNvQt/atv1.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/VxJqdYQ/atv2.jpg

Probably it is the starter making a single click and not turning over.

1. Are you sure your batter has an acceptable charge level?

2. Try tapping on your starter with a metal tool as you are pushing the start button. It might get it to turn over. Light taps, don't beat on it.

Thanks!
 

Okay, I'll try that. Also the pictures I posted didn't upload, but I did them again - so now you can see the wire I am talking about.

I updated the pictures
 

I updated the pictures.

Beating on electrics generally does not help. They do not understand what they have done wrong and therefore are difficult to train.

That round thing with a positive and negative terminal you show in the photo is your solenoid. It connects and disconnects battery to starter. Take a heavy lead and jump from + to - on that solenoid and see if your starter turns over.

If it does your solenoid, the starter switch, the Bendix in the starter or the wiring is at fault.

If it still clicks and does nothing your battery is low and needs a full charge or replacement.

9 of 10 times it is the battery or corroded connections at the battery. These machines have a low tolerance for low battery power and the difference between working and not working is only a fraction of a volt.

Your wiring looks monkey rigged. The solenoid needs big wire from the battery in one side positive, big wire out to starter positive other side. Small yellow and red hanging there I believe is hot from key or push button, the small green and red is for ground. The two smaller wires are supposed to connect to the solenoid to energize it for start. The big black wire that’s connected on the right-side in the picture is why I said monkey rigged. It is stranded with no end connector. That’s what I was looking at? Again hope I Made myself clearer on my thoughts as that wire was confusing me why its there…

Loose wire
 

What about that red and yellow wire coming out, that isn't connected to anything?

Q
 

Aren't they coming out of the solenoid?

As mentioned before. Check all connections for corrosion and having good connection. Make sure you have a good fully charged battery. Checking voltage will not tell you if the battery is good or not. Your local auto parts will do a free load test for you on the battery.

Your solenoid is rubber mounted and the two smaller wires as mentioned are there to energize it. There should be contact points for them on the solenoid. If not look and see where they broke off. You may need a new solenoid if the spades are broken or however yours are attached.

Yep the two smaller wires come right out of the solenoid to a connector. I’m looking at mine as we speak.

THIS PIC shows a typical solenoid connector with the same wire colors as yours.


As stated above, there should be a red wire from the battery to the solenoid, and then a second red wire from the solenoid directly to the starter motor terminal. I have no clue what the extra white and black wires attached to the solenoid terminals are for, or where they go, can you tell?

Q
 

But what do those 2 colored wires connect to? On mine 1 is attached to a heat sink looking thing, and the other one is hanging loose.

They are supposed to plug into the harness, the yellow/red tracer usually comes from the starter button on the handlebars, the green goes to the common ground in the harness. Yours isn't hooked to that "heat sink" (regulator/rectifier), it is just using the mounting screw as a grounding point.

Oh, I see. I assume it would be a problem that its cut?

Also would that explain why it makes 1 soft click but doesn't turn?

If it's cut, it isn't getting any power from the starter button, and can't make the solenoid click.

Thanks dirtbkr188, my post # 6 may make more sense after a few corrections. I think you new what I was thinking!…

Have any idea where the black & white wires hooked to the solenoid terminals go to? Looks like someone used a household extension cord to do some half-assed wiring job for something. It might be in your best interest to see what's at the other end, it may explain and be a part of your problem.

You need to look at the harness plug where the starter button plugs into the main harness and see if the yellow/red tracer wire is one of the wires in the plug, and then locate that wire where it exits the harness to go to the solenoid.

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/6721/yPbNzT.gif

hooked to the starter ejector seat...

Shouldn't that loose red wire go to the battery? The two main poles on the solenoid are connected in the solenoid when you press the starter. This connects the battery directly to the starter. The battery ground is connected to the engine case to complete the circuit (this connection would be a good one to check-possible bad ground).

You can test the starter, and the solenoid independently.

1. Test the starter (bypass the starter button). The solenoid completes the circuit from (connects) the battery to the starter when you press the starter button.

That is, it connects the thick wire from the battery to the thick wire that goes to the starter. These are connected to the solenoid main posts. So you can simply connect the two by using a heavy copper wire and touch (connect) these two terminals on the solenoid (or use a screwdriver!). Make sure transmission is in neutral first.

If there is enough juice in the battery, the starter will run...turn over the engine when you bypass the solenoid. No need to have the key turned on (or the engine might start!).

2. Test the solenoid. The starter button may provide 12V to the solenoid or it grounds the solenoid. You can test for either of these. Press the starter button with a charged battery in place. Use an ohmeter to see if pressing the starter button gives 12V to the solenoid. Then test if the solenoid is grounded when you press the starter button.

You mentioned that your solenoid clicks when you press the button, so presumably that starter circuit is intact.

Either way, connect an ohmeter to the two poles that have the heavy wires (one to the battery, the other to the starter). Press the starter button. When you do, the solenoid should click and the posts with the two heavy wires will be connnected if the solenoid works. Ohmeter goes to zero ohms if the solenoid works (connects the two posts...)

If the starter and the solenoid both work, you have a wiring problem, probably a weak ground since it does click when you press the starter button.

Bump

What was the results of the testing spoon fed to you in post 20 above by Thumper ?

Bump

Bump

What's with the Bump? https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img924/1031/J5Okc5.gif


Apparently, everyone who has replied with advice and information hasn't told you what you want to hear, is that correct?