I have asked this before but here again. I have a 2004 Honda Rubicon ATV. Runs well when cold but if it gets worked harder or warmed up it loses power, growls and squeals and has no power to move especially up even a slight incline. Let it sit for 30 minutes and it is ready to go again until warmer. Works pretty well in the snow and flat ground but hills and heat create problems. Any thoughts at all? Thanks
Honda Rubicon
- Thread starter yanmars
- Start date
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nybirdman
Super Member
Sounds like a bad clutch.
atsah
Elite Member
Are you using it in auto or ES?
atsah
Elite Member
If the clutch is bad, the ES mode should work fine so if the problem is with the clutch and you start using the ES and the problem goes away you know your Hondamatic clutch is bad. If you switch over to ES and have the same issue it’s an engine problem.
The problem is when it is in D2. I can get up the hills when it is warm in ES but it certainly has less power and speed when it is cold than when in D2. The problem is once it gets warm it will not have power or climbing ability in D2 but it appears I can then limp it back in ES. In the winter really not a problem but when it is 90 F degrees it has little value.
I would think a clutch would be an expensive proposition and I do not want to put more money in an old machine for the limited things I use it for. I use my Kawasaki Mule 15 times more than the ATV.
I would think a clutch would be an expensive proposition and I do not want to put more money in an old machine for the limited things I use it for. I use my Kawasaki Mule 15 times more than the ATV.
atsah
Elite Member
How many hours and miles on it?
atsah
Elite Member
Check your spark plug, make sure it has no cracks.
The wire to the oil thurmo sensor is below the pullstarter on the bottom of the motor and i think it is blue.
Is the cooling fan working? If not it's possible the oil sensor wire (controls both the light and cooling fan) came unplugged and the machine is just getting hot.
I don’t think it’s transmission related..
The wire to the oil thurmo sensor is below the pullstarter on the bottom of the motor and i think it is blue.
Is the cooling fan working? If not it's possible the oil sensor wire (controls both the light and cooling fan) came unplugged and the machine is just getting hot.
I don’t think it’s transmission related..
When I last rode it about 2 weeks ago it acted up as before. I parked it and when I looked at it today it looks like it leaked a considerable amount of oil on the ground and it is now low on the dip stick. My motorcycle burnt up about a week ago in a shop I had it at, wish it would have been the Rubicon instead but that is life.