800 E-TEC won't start right

[Burston1]

My buddy's got this 2013 800 E-TEC that's super picky about starting, sometimes it takes 20 minutes of turning the key and tapping the button, it turns out it's only getting 4.5v at the solenoid

 

[lalalalala]

My buddy's got this 2013 800 E-TEC that's super picky about starting, sometimes it takes 20 minutes of turning the key and tapping the button, it turns out it's only getting 4.5v at the solenoid

I think this is a voltage drop issue. I mean at first sight that's what I see, so maybe start by checking all the grounds and battery cables for corrosion or looseness.

 

[rd4d_123]

My buddy's got this 2013 800 E-TEC that's super picky about starting, sometimes it takes 20 minutes of turning the key and tapping the button, it turns out it's only getting 4.5v at the solenoid

I'm with @lalalalala that it's concerns a massive voltage drop. A bad ground connection would be the most common cause for this issue so check your ground wires from the battery to the chassis and from the chassis to the engine. Clean up those connections with a wire brush and make sure they're tight. If that doesn't fix it, look at the starter relay and its wiring. The relay itself could be weak, or there could be a corroded pin in the harness connector.

 

[Burston1]

Hey all, we traced the issue to a weak connection and partially corroded wiring, which was dropping voltage at the solenoid. Fixing those connections restored proper voltage and resolved the long-start problem completely..Thanks

 

[crumble_k]

Hey all, we traced the issue to a weak connection and partially corroded wiring, which was dropping voltage at the solenoid. Fixing those connections restored proper voltage and resolved the long-start problem completely..Thanks

that's fantastic! now, here are a few tips to make sure it doesn't happen again.
first, make sure you clean and protect them thoroughly and apply a thin layer of dielectric grease to all the electrical connections you touched. This helps a lot.
you also need to inspect and route wires. take some time to inspect the entire wiring harness, especially where it's near the engine or frame. Use zip ties or plastic clips to properly route the wires away from any heat sources or sharp edges
and don't forget to have a regular check ups. make checking your battery terminals and main ground connections part of your regular pre-season maintenance