2001 Honda Rubicon no go

blinwmiaol.com · Nov 25, 2009

I have a 2001 Rubicon that I started about 3 days ago, it ran for less than a minute and died, just like someone shut the key off. It will turn over and turn over but never fires. I have spoken to the Honda dealer who really didn't want to help me unless I am going to bring it to him to spend a couple hundred bucks. Does anyone know of what is likely to be causing the problem? All the electrical, lights, starter and such work but it won't run.

Russ from MN · Nov 25, 2009

Make sure the kill switch and the fuel valve are both on!

Leland2 · Nov 25, 2009

dirty carb plugged filter bad gas bad coil start with everything that makes the motor go and work your way down the list ,as it's hard to work on something on the WWW

IH2444 · Nov 25, 2009

Does it have spark?
is so It must be a fuel supply problem.

Tom in TN · Nov 25, 2009

blin,

Please don't take this the wrong way - I'm just saying what problems I've had in the past with my old Honda FourTrax. I have a bunch of grandchildren, and every once in a while they "Help" their old grandfather with things I'm not expecting.

1. Is the petcock on the output of the fuel tank in the proper position?

2. My old FourTrax actually has a knob built into the gas cap that says "off" or "on". It creates a vacuum in the gas tank when it's in the "off" position so no gas will flow from the tank.

3. Kill switch setting?

4. Fuel filter allowing flow of gas to carburetor?

Etc.

Good luck with your Rubicon. My FourTrax looks awful, but I use it almost every day on my farm. It runs well.

Tom in TN

blinwmiaol.com · Nov 25, 2009

Yea, the kill switch is in the center position, the gas tank is full and I have tried it with the gas switch on normal and reserve. Still no go. I have not got the spark tester on it but the way it acted, I am almost sure it is a spark problem. I was wondering if there was some little electrical doohicky that was known to go bad.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 25, 2009

Did you go to the Honda dealer or just call them? I know a couple dealerships and with the amount of calls they get from people who have no clue, it is frustrating for them to try and diagnose what's wrong over the phone. It's much better to go in person and talk to the service manager. They should be able to give some idea of things to check before you have to bring it to them. If they refuse to give you any ideas, I'd complain to the general manager and/or Honda. That's certainly not good customer service. Also see if there is another Honda dealer locally. Check the spark plug cap and try a new plug first. Take the cover off the flywheel and see if it got moisture inside(spray with WD40). Check all electrical connections and unplug the wires for the kill switch to see if that's the problem. It should run without the kill switch connected. Dave

Sparktrician · Nov 25, 2009

A while back, my JD gator would do the same thing....found to be a bad "spark exciter" I dont know if your honda has the same thing or not....but might check for it....
The goofy thing on my gator was about one inch square, quarter inch thick....good luck

blinwmiaol.com · Nov 25, 2009

Yes, I was at the dealership myself, they also sell BillyGoat lot blowers and I was there purchasing a new cable for the discharge diverter. I asked about a new plug but they are 19 bucks so I didn't buy one that day. I will have to do some more playing around with things. I am the head mechanic for a landscaping company with 5 crews so I am used to trouble shooting those type of machines but have never had an problems with the Honda so wasn't sure where to start.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 25, 2009

You dident turn the fuel switch off and forget to turn it back on did you?

cd1 · Nov 25, 2009

i have a motorcycle/atv repair shop so i can tell you a little- they aren't far off on the price on that spark plug, they are iridium plugs and the price is high but they last what seems like forever. the first thing you need do is see if you have spark. a rubicon is pretty dependable as far as ignition goes. broken wire would be about the most common for a no-start if it is not fuel related

VADAVE · Nov 25, 2009

I know you know this!! There are only 3 things required for a gas motor to run AIR; FUEL; SPARK.
I always just start down the list; starting with the most obvious gas. Pull the hose off the carb and look for a flow and/or look into the carb throat and pump the throttle-the acclerator pump will push fuel into the throat. Now you have the air filter off leave it off. Now if it doesn't start it has to be spark.
Get your former buddy to hold the end of the plug wire while you spin the starter--if he/she jumps it got spark. Alternatively pull the plug and hold it down on the head and look for spark.
After all this I usually realize I flooded it with all the trouble-shooting.

DScott · Nov 25, 2009

It's hard to diagnose one over the web but I have a Honda Foreman and it went dead one day and had no spark. Everything else electrical looked good. I couldn't figure out what was going on and thought I'd have to take it to the dealer for some high dollar service and parts. Reading the manual I saw that it had a fusible link to the ignition system back near the battery. I pulled it out and it was shot. I installed a new one and we were back in action.

tlak · Nov 25, 2009

"There are only 3 things required for a gas motor to run AIR; FUEL; SPARK"
That's the old way, now you have to ask the computer to start the car.

brian(MN) · Nov 25, 2009

I have a 2005 Honda foreman.It is a good runner but it has caught me a couple of times. Check for simple problems.
Enough fuel?, It can be out of fuel when you can still see fuel in the tank.
The 'KILL" switch could be slightly "off".
If you have been cranking it a bit, it could be just flooded, check for spark.
It is probably just something simple.
I bought mine new, never had to fix anything, my only complaint is the carb is set too lean for cold weather use. I never tried to adjust it, figured I'd just screw it up if I tried. When it gets that cold it is time to put it in the shed and use the pick-up anyway.
Brian(MN)

Too Far Gone · Nov 25, 2009

Back when I was riding the old Honda Big Reds and such I always carried a couple extra NGK plugs in the tool box.Ive had them just quit firing before.Ive also had the same plug problem on the 400 2 stroke Polaris(just shut off for no apparent reason,change plug and go.I also had the stator on our 500 Polaris quit.I think it was a $500 deal on it.I havent looked at my newer Honda to see,but the older ones have a little coil looking deal that the plug wire hooks onto.They go bad sometimes.Parts stores carry matches for your plug,and a lot cheaper too.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 25, 2009

Put some gas in the tank.

brian(MN) · Nov 25, 2009

Could you have acidently turned off the fuel like I Have?
Brian(MN)

barn E · Nov 25, 2009

New gas less than 90 days old.

cd1 · Nov 25, 2009

air, spark, fuel, and you can add compression to that

Anonymous-0 · Nov 25, 2009

You could see if a regular NGK plug will also work. I've seen fowled iridium plugs and the worst plugs I've seen in bikes were the split fires. Not even worth buying splitfires. Have the best luck with the basic NGK's. Dave

james rumph · Nov 26, 2009

Everyone has given you valid points to check.

I would order a manual first. If your going to check for spark make sure the spark plug is grounded to the head or frame.

I have a Foreman in the rack for repairs at this very minute. There are alot of switches and sensors on these machines now days .

The one in the rack runs great but won't move !

There is no less then "5" sensors that if one is bad it won't run or move. In this one the "TPS" sensor is blown.

So do the basic test "start with a fresh plug" and not a NGK they are crap. [ Autolite]

Get a manual if after everones suggestions it doesn't run. You will require a volt meter and some time and you will find the problem.

It could be just a bad on/off switch. There isn't any test for the CDI , you test everthing else first when that's all that's left you buy it.

If this is beyond your ability i would take it to a dealer. This is not a shot at you , i don't know you.

james rumph · Nov 26, 2009

I just had another thought does yours have the Hodamatic trans ? If it does it has a on board computer/ CDI that when it has a problem it puts it in a safe mode.

Depending on the model and if that one has the small digital screen on the handle bars it will give you the code.

The ones with the Hondamatic trans have alot of sensors. [Hydra static drive- big oil pump]

james rumph · Nov 26, 2009

Shelf life on gas before it starts breaking down is 11 days "fact".

This was a service bulliten issued by Mercury Marine.

Even the new Evenrude E-teck out board [2-stroke] are having problems with fuel because it goes bad so fast.

E-teck is the EPA freindly 2 stroke motor.

"Stable" is your friend.

Over this last summer the wife and i were laughing at the fact i rebuilt over 100 carbs for motorcycles, atvs, snowmobiles etc etc.

It all comes down to keeping it clean and fresh, good air filters help to.

Hobo,NC · Nov 26, 2009

(quoted from post at 19:39:17 11/25/09) I have a 2001 Rubicon that I started about 3 days ago, it ran for less than a minute and died, just like someone shut the key off. It will turn over and turn over but never fires. I have spoken to the Honda dealer who really didn't want to help me unless I am going to bring it to him to spend a couple hundred bucks. Does anyone know of what is likely to be causing the problem? All the electrical, lights, starter and such work but it won't run.

Had one no start one time,,, the plug wire end were it fits on to the spark plug burned into,,, the end just screws onto the plug wire remove it and check for spark again..

blinwmiaol.com · Nov 26, 2009

Yes, it has the Hondamatic and the full digital monitor between the handlebars.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 26, 2009

Never thought of it but I know certain Kawasaki quads have a cutout, if the machine rolls over, that has to be reset in order for the quad to start. Maybe Honda has something similar? Dave

james rumph · Nov 27, 2009

I don"t remember the procedure off the top of my head but there is a combination of things you do and it will give a problem code .

This is a very tough machine to work on, there is alot of electral things that can cause your problem.

Most of the sensors are on the left side of the motor. Do you get the indicator on the dash showing you what gear your in ?

If this switch is bad it won"t start, this one is easy to check.

On the side of the trans there is also a sensor for transmission gear position.

This is a hard machine to talk about due to the # of things it could be.

You need a "HONDA" manual not after market or take it in.

I work on most of them and can fix almost all of them, but this machine requires someone who deals with these on a regular basis.

For me to offer anymore help i would really have to have the machine.

Jim

You could pull the carb and take it to the dealer and have them check the TPS sensor.

Just unplug the carb do not remove the sensor from it , its position is set.

TPS - throttle. position . sensor if this is bad it won"t start or allow the trans to work not knowing the throttle position.

2001 Honda Rubicon no go

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