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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The ignition switch is responsible for turning on the circuits or signals that get the vehicle to start.
Replacing the ignition switch becomes imperative when it becomes difficult to turn on the vehicle’s electrical system or say the starter motor does not stop turning even after the motor is on. You never know when it might fail, so you need to understand how to wire ignition switch.
Thankfully, it is not a complicated process to handle once you have the know-how. This article will walk you through the steps needed to wire your vehicle’s ignition switch.
Read on.
Here are the steps you need to take to wire the ignition switch yourself. However, depending on the vehicle in question, you might need a push-button starter switch wiring diagram.
Ensure that your vehicle is parked on level ground before turning off the engine.
Ascertain and locate and ascertain the pins on the back of the vehicle’s ignition switch.
Depending on the car, you’d find four terminals that are marked as “BATT”(Battery), “ST” (Start), “IGN”(Ignition), and “ACC”(Accessory).To be on the safe side, get some confirmation from your car’s repair manual or the manufacturer.
Disconnect the negative terminal on the battery. There are two terminals marked positive (+) and negative (-) on your vehicle’s battery. Use a wrench to loosen the bolt before disconnecting the battery terminals. Ensure that you secure the negative cable safely to prevent it from coming in contact with any of the terminals in the course of wiring the ignition.
Take away any trim that might be around the steering wheel. You might have to remove them by taking off the plastic clips, securing them, or unfastening any bolts or screws. Once you have taken them off, keep them somewhere safe where they won’t get damaged.
Remove the steering wheel.
Some vehicles have their ignition switch in the dashboard, while others might have it along the steering column. Regardless of its location, removing the steering column will make your job a lot easier. You might need to do this using a steer wheel puller to make your task easier for you. It is important that you consult the repair manual for your vehicle before undergoing this step. Or better still get a racing ignition switch panel wiring diagram
Unlock the hooks on the ignition module cover. This allows you to take away the cover so that you can access the ignition switch. There should be some releases on the clips. You might need a screwdriver to be able to press down the release mechanism on the hooks.
Set the key in the ignition and turn it to the “accessory” position. It is necessary to do this because this is the only way to release it from the ignition module. If you don’t have access to your car key at the moment, you might need to use a flathead screwdriver instead.
If you have to use a flathead screwdriver, then you’d need to be careful. Start by pressing the release pin inside the hole on the ignition module with the screwdriver. There should be a tiny hole to insert the screwdriver and press down on the release pin inside.
Once the release pin that secures the ignition switch is released, you can pull it out from its position. If you got all the steps right up to this point, you should be able to pull it out easily. If, however, you encounter some resistance, ensure that you are pressing the release pin firmly enough.
Check the switch to ascertain what is wrong with it. You’d need a test light to do this. Depending on the manufacturer, the dealership involved, and your needs, you might need to rebuild the ignition or get a new one.
Ascertain the positive power lead from the battery to the vehicle’s ignition switch.
It is often a thick red wire that is always energized. Once you have identified it, fit the right terminal end on the power lead wire and secure it with a terminal multi-tool. You then connect the power lead to the “BATT” terminal of the switch.
Install the accessory lead wire to the “ACC” terminal of the ignition switch. This wire is responsible for energizing the car’s accessories when the ignition switch is turned to the “ACC” position.
Fit the starter relay wire to the “ST” terminal of the ignition switch. The “ST” terminal only starts when the ignition switch is turned to the “START” position.
Attach the ignition wire to the “IGN” terminal of the vehicle’s ignition switch. The central terminal serves the car’s ignition, wipers, accessories, and other operating features. It is essentially the default “run” position of the ignition switch.
To install the newly rewired switch, you’d need to apply some pressure on the release pin so that you can put the new ignition switch in. Once that is done, you put the new(or rebuilt) ignition switch in the steering column.
You want to line up the shape of the cylinder, the position of the release pin, and the coinciding grooves in the ignition module. You will hear the click of the release pin as the ignition switch sets into place. Don’t stop pushing the ignition switch in until you hear the click from the release pin.
Once you have secured the ignition switch, it is time to test the newly wired ignition switch. To do this, you’d have to reconnect the battery. There is no need to reassemble any of the components until you are sure that the new ignition switch is appropriately working.
To reconnect the disconnected negative battery terminal, insert the key and try to turn the ignition.
If the ignition is in good condition and you have done an excellent job, the car should turn quickly. If it doesn’t, then you might have to repeat the process.
Once you have verified that the ignition switch is in good working condition, the next step would be to reassemble the parts. Shut down the engine before disconnecting the battery as you did at the start of the procedure.
You might need to consult your vehicle’s repair manual to get the vehicle’s pieces to fit back correctly again. Whatever you do, ensure that you put the right components in the right place with the screws, bolts, and clips attached as suggested in the car’s repair manual, especially if you have to deal with any of the installed devices in newer car models.
If you follow these steps to this point, you will be able to wire your ignition switch successfully with little or no hassles.
Most cars are set up differently, but depending on the vehicle, you’d find four terminals.
These terminals are marked as “BATT”(Battery), “ST” (Start), “IGN”(Ignition), and “ACC”(Accessory).To be on the safe side, get some confirmation from your car’s repair manual or the manufacturer. That way, you avoid making unnecessary errors. Another great idea would be to consult a 4 wire ignition switch diagram.
The vehicle’s ignition wire goes to the “IGN” terminal of the ignition switch. This is an essential terminal because it serves the vehicle ignition, wipers, accessories, and other operating features. It is also the normal “run” position of the switch.
The colors of the wires that go to the ignition switch are red, black, white-Red, and white black.
No. Your vehicle’s ignition switch won’t need to be grounded to start your car. This is because all the terminals in the car’s ignition switch should be isolated from the grounds.
Once these terminals have been separated from the grounds, the rest of the car’s ignition switch serves mechanical functions.
Yes. It is one of the problems associated with car starting issues. This is because any issues with the ignition switch could be due to electrical problems. Once your car battery is in good condition and your car refuses to turn after a few tries, you might have some issues with the ignition switch.
Yes, you might be able to handle it if you have the training and experience. Without any of these things, you might not be able to do it yourself because it is a technical procedure that requires more than a manual and a can-do spirit.
Your best bet would be to get professional help to avoid any complications that might arise.
The ignition switch of vehicles is arguably the most essential part of the car’s electrical system.
Like all vehicle components, they fail after repeated use. A failed ignition switch can be inconvenient, which is why you need to know how to wire an ignition switch.
This article has provided a sequence of steps that should help you wire your vehicle’s ignition switch whenever the need arises. All you need to do is to follow them to the letter. We also recommend that you get a universal ignition switch wiring diagram.
ATTENTION!!! DO NOT SWITCH ON THE IGNITION WITHOUT THE HIGH WIRE, THE PLUG, OR IF THE PLUG IS NOT TWISTED INTO ITS PLACE OR IS NOT RELIABLELY EARTHED TO THE ENGINE BODY!!!
THE COIL WILL COME WITH A PROBABILITY OF MORE THAN 50 PERCENT!!!
IN THIS COIL, THERE IS A BREAKDOWN INSIDE THE COIL AND THE INTERTURN SHORT CAN APPEAR!!! THE PRESENCE OF THE INTERTURN CLOSURE OFTEN DOES NOT INTERFERE TO WORK AND THE SPARK IS PRESENT, BUT NOT FOR LONG - AT THE END OF THE END THE COIL DIES AT ALL.
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To connect the ignition control unit (BUZ) to the ATV's on-board network (only connector 1 is used), disconnect the standard CDI unit from its connector (on some models, the standard unit is not disconnected, see clarifications in the descriptions) or disconnect the DPK connector, disconnect the BB wire of the standard ignition coil from the spark plug, to the “signal” wire (most often it is a blue or white-blue wire) of the DPK, connect the input of the BUZ (blue wire) ,)
the DPK wire (let's call it "-" DPK) (most often green) is connected to ground (sometimes it is connected to ground only in the CDI unit, sometimes directly in the generator itself, if not, we connect it to the "-" battery, the yellow wire of the BUZ to + Battery after the ignition switch (most often it is a black wire), white wire to the “-” terminal of the ignition coil, Terminal “+” of the ignition coil through a 15 amp fuse to + battery, BB wire to the coil and spark plug.
Everything, you can start. As wound up, you should adjust the speed of the twentieth.
To return to the standard ignition system: disconnect connector 1 BUZ, the standard CDI unit into its place in its socket, the BB wire from the standard coil to the spark plug.
Connector number 2 is optional, add. functions are activated by shorting the desired wire to MASS !!! If they are not needed, insert a chip into the connector anyway so that WATER does not get in !!! it is necessary !!! nine0006
There are a few things to pay attention to when installing and starting up the system. Here is a list of what caused the ignition to work poorly on different quadrics:
You don’t have to think much about this issue, if the engine starts but it immediately starts to sausage straight from idle - change the wires on the coil in places. nine0030 
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To tip the ATV over or fall off, it is enough to step on the gas inaccurately, for example, on a steep slope or during a sharp turn. Due to the high center of gravity, small width and short wheelbase, the equipment easily stands on 2 wheels. At the same time, a fall, even at low speed, threatens with fractures. Therefore, after buying an ATV, you need to familiarize yourself with the basics of control.
To start an electric start engine, turn the ignition key to the ON position, press the brake and press the green electric start button for no more than 5 seconds. nine0006
Typically, ATV gear shifts are automatic - the shift lever is needed to select high, low, neutral or reverse gears, as well as select the parking mode.
To start or increase speed, you need to press the thumb of your right hand on the throttle.
The gearbox must be in the “H” or “L” position. The middle finger of the right hand rests on the front brake lever while driving, and the middle and index fingers of the left hand rest on the rear brake lever. nine0006
Also on the steering wheel there are buttons for turning on the four-wheel drive and locking the differential. Four-wheel drive will be needed when driving off-road, slippery roads, transporting goods and towing. A differential lock is needed so that the wheels of the ATV spin synchronously - for example, it will help to drive out if one of the wheels is stuck in the mud, and the second remains on a stable surface. When the lock is off, in such a situation, only the wheel that is stuck will spin.
Whether it is possible to turn on the four-wheel drive and blocking on the go and at what speed - should be indicated in the instruction manual. At the same time, regardless of the model of the ATV, the lock cannot be turned on after a jam, since the differential gears must engage without load.
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1 - ignition key. 2 - starter button. 3 - light switch. 4 - signal.
1 - throttle lever. 2 - switch 2WD / 4WD. 4 - fuse.
1 - throttle lever. 3 - 4WD / LOCK differential lock switch. 4 - fuse.
Standing up makes it easier to avoid tipping the ATV by shifting your body weight. There are 3 main racks:
The worst stance is when the back is tense, the person leans on his hands, and his legs are straight. In this case, the body does not absorb shocks and shocks, and the bones, intervertebral discs and joints experience a strong load. In addition, control over technique worsens and fatigue increases. nine0006
middle rack
A-pillar
rear pillar
Climbing involves shifting into low gear, landing in the front strut and moving at medium engine speeds. It is impossible to sharply press the gas when driving up a slope or mountain - there is a risk of rolling over.
When stopping in the middle of a hill, drive off carefully, as a sudden start will be followed by tipping over. If the ATV rolls backwards, you need to press the front brake lever, and after stopping, turn off the engine, put the equipment on the handbrake, turn around manually, slide down and try again.
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To descend, you need to take the rear rack and shift into a lower gear. In order not to roll over, brake should be simultaneously front and rear brakes. To avoid skidding, you can not change the trajectory of movement and speed abruptly, as well as brake too hard. It is better not to touch the gas lever when descending.
To drive downhill, shift into low gear and shift your body weight towards the top. Don't hit the gas hard and don't brake hard. You can also fall when making a sharp turn. If the slope is steep and the ground on it is slippery, it is better not to risk it. nine0006
To enter a tight turn, lean on the outside footrest and tilt your upper body inward. On slippery surfaces, shifting forward will improve handling, and shifting back will improve the grip of the drive wheels with the road.
Before driving into deep mud, you need to make sure that there are no logs, large stones and other obstacles in it, and the soil is not marshy.
