ATV Battery Not Charging While Running? Here’s the Fixes!
You may never want to see your ATV out of charge while riding it. And that’s why it is crucial to ensure the ATV is charged at the time of riding. But things can happen otherwise, and you see the ATV battery not charging while running!
A bad stator is one of the key reasons ATV won’t charge during riding. Also, chances are that the battery itself is faulty or damaged. You should also check the regulator and wiring harness to determine any issues.
But no worries! If you can go through proper troubleshooting steps, you are supposed to fix the issue quickly.
Troubleshooting and Fixes for an ATV Battery Not Charging Issue While Running
Now you know what can go wrong to help with the issue of ATVs not charging during riding. The troubleshooting process is simple.
You just need to check the components involved in charging your ATV and resolve them gradually.
1. Check and Replace the Faulty Stator
The stator on your ATV is an essential electrical component. Its primary duty is to generate power for the battery from the engine of your ATV while you ride it.
Now, it makes perfect sense that your ATV won’t charge while riding when the stator goes bad. There won’t be sufficient voltage available for your ATV battery.
In most cases, the stator can become damaged or broken. Chances are, electrical short circuits cause your ATV stator to go bad.
In this case, you need to replace the stator with a new one suitable for your ATV after checking it with a multimeter. It will cost you around $100-$150.
2. Check and Replace the Defective Regulator
Similar to the stator, the voltage regulator of your RV plays a prominent role in charging the battery.
It regulates the direct current (DC) needed for the ATV battery. In this way, the component always ensures sufficient DC for the battery. Not more or less.
And when the voltage regulator goes bad due to a lack of DC voltage, the battery of your ATV won’t charge while running.
So, you should check the voltage regulator with a digital multimeter. And if the voltage regulator turns out to be defective, you need to replace it ASAP.
Here, you can check out this YouTube video in order to check the voltage regulator of your ATV.
3. Check and Fix the Damaged or Shorted Wiring Harness
The components that come into play when it comes to charging your ATV while running have a lot of wiring harnesses. Moreover, with the help of the wiring harness, the components connect.
So, you need to check the stator, regulator, and battery wiring harness and determine whether they are damaged or broken. If yes, then replacing the wiring harness is the best thing you can do.
4. Check and Replace the Damaged Charging Port
The charging port of your ATV is prone to malfunctioning as well. This can make it difficult for the battery to stay charged.
So, you should also check the charging port. Sometimes, the charging port can be corroded. In this case, you have to clean the charging port.
But if the charging port is defective or broken, you have to replace it. Repairing the charging port of your ATV won’t provide you with long-term service. In order to perform the task, you need to spend $50-$100.
5. Check and Replace the Bad Battery
How can you ever expect your ATV battery to stay charged when it goes bad? No way! But unfortunately, this can happen.
A damaged or worn-out ATV battery can’t be changed, no matter if all the other components work fine.
So, first, you need to visually check the battery to see if there is any sign of damage or worn-out.
Then, you should also check the battery with a digital volt meter. This will let you know the voltage of your battery. The battery should be above 12 volts.
Besides, you should clear the battery’s terminals. Now, if the battery goes bad, you need to replace it. Replacing your ATV battery will cost you around $40-$80.
How Do I Know if My Voltage Regulator Is Bad on My ATV?
Multiple reasons can let you know that the voltage regulator of your ATV has gone bad, and that it’s time to replace it. That’s the critical troubleshooting step if ATV won’t charge while running.
- Inappropriate multimeter readings.
- Weak charging of the battery.
- Dimmed headlights.
- Overcharging.
FAQs
We have encountered some common questions about why an ATV battery is not charging while running. And here, we will let you know the answers to some questions.
How Long Does an ATV Battery Last?
The battery on your ATV should last around 3-6 years if maintained properly. But, the battery won’t last for that long if there are any major issues with it and you feel shy about fixing it.
What Is the Best Way to Maintain an ATV Battery?
You should inspect the condition of your ATV’s battery regularly. In addition, you should be entirely up to date on charging the battery correctly. Beyond that, you need to check the battery terminal for corrosion as a key maintenance process.
Can You Run Your ATV Without a Voltage Regulator?
Yes, you can ride your ATV without a voltage regulator in an emergency. However, this is not recommended. If your ATV has no voltage regulator, the battery won’t charge as expected. And this can cause some major issues.
Final Words
If you don’t have enough technical knowledge to fix the charging issue with your ATV, you should go to a professional mechanic.
And by becoming a bit more careful about your ATV, you can avoid major issues like the battery not charging while running and more.