POLARIS question- thermostat

[vabuckbuster]

2004 Polaris sportsman 500. My cooling fan will work one day, then the next time you ride it, it won't....and the engine overheats. My question is if the thermostat were to not be working.....could that somehow effect the fan kicking on? I know that doesn't sound right to me, but I thought I would check the thermostat, and I let it run for about 15 minutes with the radiator cap off. and the water never circulated. Thermostat or water pump?

 

[ShaneHallum]

If the water isn't circulating it's the water pump. Have you ever took the water pump out of the 4 wheeler?

I'd say bearing is going on on impeller shaft, making it get stuck some days, and some days still work. I'd replace water pump and thermo to be safe.

 

[vabuckbuster]

if it is the waterpump not pumping.......would that make that fan not work? Thanks

 

[Viper (tp)]

I have a 03 sportsman 500 rhat had a problem getting hot and the reason was the radiator, it needed to be washed out, the fins were stopped up, air wasn't passing thru like it needed to.

 

[JohnnyDollar]

if the water pump isn't working then the fan may not come on because the water in the radiator is still relatively cool. On the polaris that I had the thermostat that turned on the fan was in the radiator so if the water didn't get hot enough or was to low and didn't make contact with the thermostat then the fan wouldn't come on.