[Raider]

Hello everyone. I am very new to this forum but I read it on a regular basis in order to get info about problems I am having or to learn about modifications, accessories, etc.

I own a 2013 Polaris Ranger Crew 800 LE. The other day I replaced the battery with a battery I purchased from the Polaris dealership. Due to flooding here in southern WV I left my Crew parked outside across the creek to ensure I would not get trapped if we lost our bridge. (We lost our bridge.) I went out two days ago to start my Polaris and it fired right up. I let the machine warm up for about five minutes or so while I removed snow/ice from the windshield. I got in the machine and I drove for approximately 100 yards or so and it began to spurt and sputter like an old car running out of gas. The machine suddenly quit running. I kept starting it back up thinking that it might be water in the gas lines frozen or whatever, but the problem became worse. I ended up having to coast the side by side off the road and I have not been able to get it started since.

While setting beside the road immediately after it happened, the machine would start if I put my foot on the gas (like an old carburated motor) but it had no power and it would shut off. Eventually it wouldn't even do that.

The next day I did the following to attempt to fix the problem:

1. Added Seam Foam.
2. Added a de-ice/water remover to the gas tank
3. Removed my gas line to confirm that the fuel pump was still working. It is still pumping gas from the tank as soon as I turn the key on.
4. removed the plugs to confirm if they were firing or not. Both are firing.
5. Checked and cleaned the following sensors:
* Throttle position sensor
* Air Intake Temp-Barometric Air Pressure Sensor
* Crank Shaft position sensor
6. Checked all fuses under the hood (I cannot tell if the large four pronged ones are bad or not, so I switched them around several times to make sure they were working)
7. Checked and cleared any/all debris from the gas tank vent line.
8. Lastly, I sprayed a little ether into the air filter and the machine started up. It ran/idled for approximately 10 seconds then quite again after the ether burned off.

The machine has roughly 1,800 miles. Garage kept. Never submerged in water. Never submerged in mud.

I have purchased plugs to replace the originals as of today but I didn't have time to tonight. My nearest Polaris dealer is well over one hour from me and I want to make every effort to diagnose and fix the problem on my own before I go through an act of Congress to get it to a shop. Without a way to drive to and from my home I am desperately needing the machine fixed.

Thanks for any advice or input anyone might have.

 

[POS POLARIS]

If you suspect bad fuel, and I would in your situation, the best way to remove a large quantity of water is to unhook and remove the fuel tank and dump it. If you take the fuel pump out of the top of the tank you'll be able to look in there and see the water in the fuel if there's any before you did that. it'll take a large channel lock or oil filter plier to remove the fuel pump collar that holds it down ( it threads off).

It sounds like it's getting spark otherwise it wouldn't be firing up. I could be possible that you're fuel pump is trying to quit you. Does you'r fuel pump sound normal when you turn the key on and hear it pump up?

Aside from verifiying that the fuel/fuel pump system is up and working good, I'm not sure what else it could be based off of what you've described.

let us know!

 

[Raider]

Thanks for the reply. I got home from work tonight and I went back to the place where my Ranger is parked. I changed out the plugs and when I turned the ignition the Crew started right up, ran smoothly for an instant and then it quit again. I checked the various wires, etc. around the plugs that I might have caused to come unplugged but I didn't find anything. After approximately five minutes the Crew started for just a brief moment again. I am almost certain that I can hear the fuel pump kicking on when I first turn the key. It sounds like a low pitched whine for a brief moment. On a side note, the other night when I was checking all the wires, connections, etc. I found a small rub mark on one of the wires leading to the fuel injection. After closer examination I could see bare wire. I wrapped the wire in regular black tape then I wrapped the black tape with the high temperature silver tape. The best I could tell, the bare wire was rubbing against an area of the air intake box that was plastic but I was theorizing that maybe one of the relays, etc. may have shorted out from this? Would you recommend that I empty out my fuel tank?

 

[joshtb06]

If you suspect bad fuel you could go get some water indicating paste and dip it down into the tank it should tell you if there is water.


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[POS POLARIS]

I'd pull the fuel pump out of the top of the tank, and take a flash light and look down the hole. if there's water in there, you'll see it.

 

[Expat]

Or take the line loose and pump some fuel into a clean container like a white 5 gallon bucket or glass jar, if there is water you will see it easily that way.

 

[alloutdoors]

I agree with all said and would begin like POS suggested, pull the fuel pump, inspect for water and I would also verify it is working properly.

 

[POS POLARIS]

The 800 fuel pumps are the only ones that I have actually seen run and make noise, but won't build fuel pressure when failing. Had this happen on my 800 last year out in the middle of nowhere. it'd run 30 seconds and die. I'd roll to a stop, cycle the key until the fuel pump sounded like it was pumped up, hit the key and would run another 30 seconds.

Just because the fuel line was unhooked an it pumped some fuel doesn't necessarily mean it will pump 40 psi to the injectors.

Like I said before, you already know that you have spark and compression, we need to find out why you don't have any fuel.

 

[Raider]

What you are explaining is exactly what happened to my Crew.

I will pull the fuel pump, check the tank, etc. I just got home from work this evening so it might be late before I can post anything. I keep getting a feeling that it is the pump too. Even though fuel was coming out of the fuel line when I disconnected it. I believe it might be working for a brief moment then quitting. I will hopefully know more soon. Thanks everyone.

 

[Raider]

I checked the fuel tank tonight. I might be crazy but it looked like I had a large layer of water setting at the bottom of the tank. The layer looked about two inches thick and all the way across the tank. I removed my fuel pump and the strainer was dirty too. To make sure that I wasn't seeing things, I looked into the tank again. I could see clearly through the gasoline all the way to the bottom of the tank. At the bottom of the tank I could see some dirt here and there but I could clearly see what looked like a large layer of another type of liquid at the bottom. I stuck my hand down into the gas tank through the hole where I had removed the pump. Immediately the clear gasoline became very cloudy/milky looking. I have cleaned the strainer out as best as possible using carb/choke cleaner. Tomorrow I plan on draining the tank and cleaning it before putting in some hi-test gasoline. Hopefully I might get my vehicle to run. I don't know.

Would water in the tank and a dirty strainer cause my Ranger not to fire?

 

[alloutdoors]

I checked the fuel tank tonight. I might be crazy but it looked like I had a large layer of water setting at the bottom of the tank. The layer looked about two inches thick and all the way across the tank. I removed my fuel pump and the strainer was dirty too. To make sure that I wasn't seeing things, I looked into the tank again. I could see clearly through the gasoline all the way to the bottom of the tank. At the bottom of the tank I could see some dirt here and there but I could clearly see what looked like a large layer of another type of liquid at the bottom. I stuck my hand down into the gas tank through the hole where I had removed the pump. Immediately the clear gasoline became very cloudy/milky looking. I have cleaned the strainer out as best as possible using carb/choke cleaner. Tomorrow I plan on draining the tank and cleaning it before putting in some hi-test gasoline. Hopefully I might get my vehicle to run. I don't know.

Would water in the tank and a dirty strainer cause my Ranger not to fire?

Chances are when the machine sits, the water settles so when you start it the unit picks up "good" fuel, but quickly the fuel is mixed and thus pushing a mixture of gas/water into the fuel line causing problems.

 

[POS POLARIS]

Don't bother putting in any fresh gas until you've removed the fuel tank and dumped out it's contents. Water is easily visable when it's present in the tank. Wheather or not it's been enough to ruin the fuel pump will be yet to be seen. if you can make the gas milky, then there's no way the engine can fire on that stuff.

Dump the gas, re-fill with new gas, soak the fuel pump in some gas in a bucket to help clean it off or spray it down with cleaner. Then re-install the pump. Before hooking up the fuel line, I'd cycle the key a few times to let the fuel pump "purge" any water that still might be in the pump. Then hook up the fuel line and give it a go. it may still start hard if there's some water in the fuel rail above the injectors.

Best of luck!

 

[bookumdanno]

Might also want to reroute the vent line from tank and install an inline filter. The factory runs it into the frame where it will suck in water and dirt.

 

[Raider]

Thanks everyone for the advice and input. I am planning on taking all the advice and using it this evening. I just came home from work. I plan on removing the fuel from the tank and then actually removing the tank and cleaning it. I will then let the pump cycle thru a couple times to purge the system. I'll put some gas in the tank and see what happens. hopefully I'll get the machine started before I turn in tonight. I'll post my results.

 

[Raider]

Update. Or should I say UPDATE! I'm back on the road again. The information that you guys gave me was spot on. I removed the tank tonight and drained/cleaned/dried it. I made sure that the strainer was clean/dry on the fuel pump too. I reinstalled the tank, plugged the pump in and let it kick on a couple times. I then poured about 1/2 gallon of gas into the tank and I left the gas line disconnected. The first couple times the fuel came out sparingly. The third time I turned the key to the "on" position, the fuel shot out of the tank through the pump with much, much more force. I looked around the white cap located on top of the fuel tank that holds the pump to the tank and the gasoline that came out of the fuel pump was filthy and full of dirt. I let the fuel pump cycle through a few more times to purge the system good and I then reconnected my fuel line. The machine started up and after a few seconds was running stronger than ever. I realize now how much power I had lost from the gummed up fuel pump.

This could not have came at a better time for me. This site is awesome and the info. here is priceless. I saved myself several hundred dollars worth of garage costs and I can now get across our large stream to take my kids to school (we still are w/o a bridge due to flooding in southern WV) by following your advice. Thanks again.

 

[POS POLARIS]

Glad to hear you're up and running again!

Most times, it's the simple things that cause the most trouble. The important part is you stuck with it and saved YOURSELF several hundred dollars.! Glad you're able to get your kids to school and get on with life as much as your situation allows.

Wouldn't hurt to maybe throw a can of "sea foam" gas treatment in the tank next time you have a chance to help finish cleaning the system out.

Take care of yourself and those kids!

Adam

 

[rowe doo]

Glad to see your up and running again,What do you think caused your situation.

 

[alloutdoors]

That is fantastic news and glad to see you are up and running again

 

[JJaxon]

Glad to see your up and running again,What do you think caused your situation.

Very good question, as identifying the cause now may prevent it from happening again.

 

[Raider]

What is causing the problem

Glad to see your up and running again,What do you think caused your situation.

I think the problem arose from several issues. The vent line being one of them. I will redirect the line to a better location w/o the chance of picking up debris from the rear wheel. Also, there has been times when I have used gas from a can. Regardless of how cautious I have been with using a gas can, I am sure that I end up getting dirt in my tank. I also need to start using higher octane gas in the winter and regularly add some Sea Foam to my tank. I think that it is just the nature of the machine, its design and purpose that the purpose for why/where I operate the machine that aids in causing problems like this.