Don’t let losing or forgetting your ATV key stop you from enjoying your quad. In this article, I’ll show you a few ways to start your ATV or UTV without the key. You can do any of these methods with basic hand tools found in most garages.
Your ignition switch is simply a break in a circuit telling your electrical box when it’s ok to start or not. When there’s no key in the ignition, no power can be sent to the rest of the needed components to start the engine. There are some pretty simple ways to get around this though.
Of course the easiest way is if your machine has a pull start or kick starter on it. A lot of the newer quads being made don’t have this functionality anymore unfortunately. If you do have this option, simply unhook the ignition switch from the cdi or electrical box. That way the engine will start without needing a key inserted, then start the engine.
This method may work without a pull start or kick start if you can push your machine to a good pace and pop it into gear. Your other options are:
This is my preferred method to starting an ATV without the key. Most ignition switches will only have two wires going into it. On wire is sending power in, and the other wire sends power to the electrical box if the key is inserted. Telling the machine that it’s ok to start.
Simply remove the ignition switch from the equation. You can disassemble the switch or just cut the two wires leading to it. Be sure to leave enough slack in the wire just in case you want replace the ignition switch later on.
Now connect the two wires and your electric start should work like always. Remember to connect the wires on the side leading to the engine not the side leading to the ignition.
You have to remember to disconnect the two wires when you’re done riding or you’ll drain the battery dead.
I would recommend you put a simple switch here in place of the ignition, a simple on/off switch will work perfect.
Some of the newer quads have more than two wires coming out of the ignition switch, not to worry. A lot of times there will also be a ground wire or something like that. The two wires you should focus on are red and black. Cut those two wires and tape them together. Make sure you tape together the ends of the wire leading to the engine not to the ignition.
You may also see a black with white stripe and green wire. These two wires are shorted together when the key is in the off position. You will need to open that short by cutting the black with white stripe wire and tapping off the end.
Once the black with white stripe is cut and taped, and the red and black wires and spliced together and taped. You should have power to your quad as if the key was turned on. You can use your normal electric start and everything the way it is.
Remember to disconnect the black and red wires when you’re done to avoid killing the battery.
You could also tape the black with white stripe wire back together to prevent anyone from easily starting the quad.
This doesn’t work on all ATVs, only machines with an electric start option only. Your solenoid should be near your battery and wiring harness. On some quads you have to remove a side panel to access it.
Your solenoid will have two main wires coming out of it and possibly some other smaller ones, we only care about the two big wires. You need to lay a wrench or something metal across the two connectors of the main wires. Then, you should be able to start the quad.
I don’t use this method myself because you have to be real careful the wrench or piece of metal is not touching anything else that could short it out. If you accidentally touch the frame or something when doing this, you could cause damage to your electrical parts of the engine.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and that’s what this method is.
This trick is mostly used by thieves, so if you’re driving around the trails with a screw driver sticking out of the ignition and get stopped by trail enforcement, be ready to get asked some questions.
Basically you just hammer a screwdriver into the ignition and turn it on as if it were the key. The screwdriver will brake the pins in the lock allowing you to turn the ignition on.
I don’t recommend this method because you could damage the ignition and not get the quad to start anyway. And even if you are successful, you’re now riding around with a screwdriver sticking out.
This is obviously the best method in the list. Of course if you forgot your key and you’re already way out on the trail, then there’s no way you can order a part and do the replacement. This is more for someone who lost their key, or broke their ignition trying the screwdriver method.
Here’s a decent Replacement Ignition Switch found on Amazon to help get your search started.
If you can find a replacement from the manufacturer for your specific machine, that would be the best route, but probably a lot more expensive.
One thing I want to mention is that it’s always best practice to tape up any wires you cut and exposed. You may have gotten the hotwire job done correctly, but if any of those wires hit the frame and short out you could have bigger problems.
Leave enough slack in the wires to work on them again later on. Try to avoid cutting the wires to the ignition real close to the ignition itself, or somewhere that makes it hard to get to the wires. You may want to work on it later on, like putting in a new ignition switch or on/off switch.
Don’t tell everyone how easy you hot wired your quad and how you did it. Maybe you’ll be safe to do this, but I lean a little more to the cautious side when it comes to my machines.
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So you have driven five hours to ride a great ATV trail through some beautiful mountains, you get the campsite set up and you go to unload the ATV and realize you left the key at home.
The ten-hour round trip drive is off the table, so you have two choices: You can spend the weekend camping with the ATV on the trailer, or you can find a way to start the ATV without the key.
Here is what you need to know. As a disclaimer, don’t go stealing someone’s ATV using this advice. Only use it on an ATV you legally own for which you do not have a key.
How do you start an ATV without a key? Here are 7 ways you can try.
Your ATV key is not some magic trigger that makes everything in the engine work. Turning the key in the ignition opens and closes a circuit that allows a spark to ignite the engine.
Once that spark ignites the engine, assuming your engine is good, then you are good to go, with or without a key.
The real dilemma in the situation where you don’t have a key to your ATV us whether you want a permanent solution or something just for the weekend. The other issue is how much you are willing to risk damage to the ATV and how much you are willing to spend.
I am going to start with the less ideal methods that should probably only be used when you really need it or just don’t care because it is an old machine or because you are going to get an new ignition anyway.
This one will not work on all ATVs, but if your ATV has an alternative start method that permits you to do a pull or kick start, this is going to be your best option by far.
Hopefully you have your owner’s manual or can locate an owner’s manual online so you can look at the exact directions for your ATV model, but here are the basic steps.
Okay, hot wiring an ATV is going to depend on the type of ATV you own. Basically, the goal behind it is to change the wires so they bypass the ignition switch, leaving the circuit open so that a spark can start the ATV’s engine.
I am going to list the different hot wiring guides I have found so you can hopefully determine which one will work best for your ATV.
This option is probably the best and easiest of the hot wiring methods if is available to you. Just remember to leave some extra wire from the ignition so you can rewire it if you find or replace your key.
This should cause your instrument panel to light up.This method is not going to work on most ATVs, but you may get lucky. It will only work on certain ATVs that have an electric starter without an alternative start method.
You might as well give it a try and see if you are able to do it before moving on to the more advanced hot wiring discussed above.
First, you need to locate the ATV’s starter relay or solenoid. It is usually located on the outside of the plastic right next to or under the battery and near the wiring harness.
A starter solenoid is a switch that controls a high amp load with a low amp. Starter solenoids come in all different shapes and sizes, but normally they have a round or square body with two larger and two smaller wires. The larger wires are for the high amp load and the smaller wires are for the low amp switch.
Your ATV’s solenoid may only have one smaller wire if the ground is coming from the frame where it is mounted. It may be sitting in a plastic or rubber cover, but it’s not uncommon for it to be on the outside.
Once you have located the starter solenoid, you should see two big main wires. Hopefully, it will be set up so you can jump those two main wires using a wrench.
If you can jump the wires, you should be able to start the ATV.
This method requires you to take apart the ignition so I would only use it if you are planning to get a new ignition to install or if you are comfortable enough with getting the ignition back together if you plan on it.
The point of this method is to basically line up the ignition the same way turning your key would. Follow these 5 steps to give it a try.
This is the first method I saw used to start a vehicle when I was 13 or 14. My friend wanted to take our his parent’s spare vehicle, but didn’t have a key so he took a screwdriver, jammed it into the ignition, turned it and the van started right up. While this method works, it is not ideal.
Once you have jammed a screwdriver into your ignition, there is no point in a key because anything you jam in there will turn the ignition. There is also a good chance of damaging your ATV’s ignition to the point where you need to buy a new one anyway.
I have also seen people use one blade of a pair of scissors the same way. I am not sure if one is any better for your ignition, but I would have to assume there is not much difference.
This is definitely your best option if it is available.
If you are in the situation we described above where you are far from home and simply left your key behind, you may be able to buy a new key from a local dealer.
Assuming you can locate a dealer near you that can replace keys by the code, get in contact with someone back home that can access your ATV key.
There should be a code stamped onto the key. If you tell the local dealer that code, they should be able to make you a new one. Another alternative that may work is telling the dealer your ATV VIN and model. If they trust you didn’t steal the ATV, they may make you a new key.
If you don’t have the code stamped on your key, your best option is finding a lock smith that can hopefully cut you a new key. Note some locksmiths also have key codes so that may be an alternative if you can’t fine a local dealer that can make you a key from the code.
If you can’t get a locksmith to your ATV, you can hopefully remove the ignition from your ATV and get a key made.
If you aren’t in the situation where you are camping and need immediate access to the ATV, getting a new ignition switch is a good alternative, especially if you can’t get a new key made.
A new ignition switch is surprisingly inexpensive and should be easy to install. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, you can always take it to a dealer to have it done for you.
If you lose your key, that won’t help you much, but you could write that code down now and store it somewhere safe so you have it in the event you lose a key in the future. I recommend sending it to yourself in an email and storing it on your phone so you can access it wherever you may be with your ATV and no key. The loss of a motorcycle key, especially if it was the only one, will not please anyone. So, he walked around, fiddling with the keys in his hands, and then op ... where did he leave them? I checked all the pockets, shook all the bags, climbed around the bike . .. as if I had sunk into the water! Panic!
The problem of losing a key is not only the cost of replacing it, but also the impossibility of driving a motorcycle from the place where the loss was discovered. Sometimes there are even difficulties with signaling when a motorcycle without a key does not recognize you as the owner. Passers-by squint incredulously and think that a novice hijacker is operating. nine0003
By the way, some services may ask you to provide documents for the bike to prove ownership, and only after that they will agree to make a key.
Owners of age models in case of loss of keys with the right dexterity can start the engine bypassing. This is a useful skill for travelers. There are no worse breakdowns than those that occur when you are away from civilization. No one wants to “vote” on the highway and then look for a tow truck because of a stupid oversight. In this case, the motorcycle will have to be delivered not to its master, but where it will turn out.
So-so bonus in the distance. nine0003
For older motorcycles, key replacement is faster and much cheaper. It is enough to find an organization that can restore the key from the locks. The owner of the motorcycle will have to remove the ignition switch and another lock from the tank or case. This is done because the master key interacts with each of the locks in different ways. If you provide only one lock, there is a risk of getting a key that only one opens. It will be a shame if it turns out to be a wardrobe trunk lock.
Another option is to simply replace the corresponding blocks with new ones with a different set of keys. It is not a problem to find everything you need on the sites of shops and free ads, but you will have to wait for delivery and spend time / money on installation.
The worst thing is to lose the contactless key. It won’t be possible to start the engine just like that, and replacing the key will cost not just a pretty penny, but a lot of pennies . .. The contactless key is programmed only for a specific motorcycle, which means that for replacement you will have to program a new chip and change the corresponding unit that recognizes it. This work is troublesome, requires more time and, of course, money. nine0003
In order not to run around in a frantic search for specialists when the key is already lost, it is better to calculate this probability in advance. The information will not be superfluous and will save time or nerves if the worst scenario does happen. When the moment of humility comes that the search for the key was not successful, you will only have to dial the right numbers and arrive at the right address, and not sit on a bench and google options.
When buying a motorcycle, be sure to check whether it is possible to start it without a key if the main one suddenly turns out to be lost. nine0003
Why not make a duplicate in case of unforeseen circumstances? You can carry a spare key with you in the inside pocket of your jacket or backpack, or you can simply leave it with a loved one.
