Winter is a great time for ATV owners to get out and have fun! Even in South Carolina’s mild winter climate, you may find yourself able to do some “dashing through the snow”… and even if you don’t, the cool temperatures make it easy to stay out and enjoy the day for longer!

It’s not unusual to have trouble getting your All-Terrain Vehicles to start up when the temperature drops below 30 degrees. Since we’ve already gone through one cold snap here in the Upstate, we thought it’d be a good time to take a look at what to do when your ATV won’t start.

To help you make sure that your ATV has no issue starting up this winter, we’re going to discuss 3 common causes for why your ATV won’t start in the cold, and how to remedy the issue.

Your ATV won’t start because you have bad gas

If the fuel you put into your ATV is contaminated with dirt or water, it can cause all sorts of issues during the winter months.

Almost all gasoline that you purchase from the gas station will have some level of water in it. This can be due to refineries that use water in their pipeline maintenance or because the gas station you’re purchasing from does a poor job taking care of their in-ground gas tanks.

When purchasing gas, try to buy from a good quality gas station.

The problem with having water mixed with gas is that the water will freeze in cold temperatures and cause all sorts of issues for your gas tank. Most of the time when an ATV won’t start, it’s because the condensation in the tank has frozen and is causing a blockage. There are several great products available that help remove water from your gas tank. Specialty funnels that separate water out as you’re filling the ATV and then fuel additives that help remove moisture. Talk to your local ATV dealer to find out which product is best for your specific ATV!

 Your ATV won’t start because the cold has sapped the battery 

Another very common cause for difficulty when starting your ATV is that your battery is just too cold. The science behind why batteries work is too complicated to get into now, but essentially, they create chemical reactions that provide the power your ATV needs to start. Temperatures that approach the lower 30s and below can be enough to slow down the reactions that need to take place in order to transfer power, and will cause the ATV not to start.

The easiest and simplest way to take care of this problem is to remove the battery from the ATV and store it inside when not in use. This will keep the battery at a temperature where the proper reactions can take place to give your ATV the juice it needs to start up.

Your ATV is having a hard time starting because the air filter is dirty

Air filters in any vehicle are just one of those things that almost everyone forgets to check on. They seem like such an insignificant part of your machine that it isn’t even worth a check-up. However, having a clogged air filter can cause all kinds of issues for your ATV, from difficulty starting, to choppy acceleration, a dirty air filter can be a big pain. Simply swap out your ATV’s air filter at the end of every quarter and you should be good to go!

If you try all these fixes and your ATV still won’t start, it might be a good idea to have your local dealer take a look. Go With Garrett’s has professional technicians that can handle any repairs you need, and provide professional advice on how to care for you ATV this winter.

give us a call at (864) 862 7709 for Greenville, (803) 407 2687 for Columbia, (843) 881 8894 for Charleston, or contact us online at any time! You can also visit our showroom locations in Greenville, Columbia, or Charleston SC!