What kind of problems does a Polaris RZR 900 normally have? In this blog, we’ve outlined all the most important things you should watch for when you’re in the market for a Polaris RZR 900. In the rest of the article, we’ll discuss every single problem in detail. Furthermore, we’ll tell you how to identify it, fix it and how much it costs to fix. Read on!
Also read: Are Polaris UTVs Reliable, Check Your Model Here!
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1. Worn-Out Fuel Pump
In UTVs, fuel pumps usually last around 100,000 miles. So, it is unlikely that you’d run into any problems associated with fuel pumps in a standard UTV. The same cannot be said if you own a Polaris RZR 900.
In this particular Polaris production, the fuel pump wears out exceptionally quickly. There are cases with worn fuel pumps with less than 2000 miles.
There are a few different symptoms that you need to look out for to identify a failing fuel pump.
- High RPM drops
- Reduced top speed
- Poor acceleration
These are the typical symptoms you’d see in an RZR 900 with a worn-out fuel pump.
After the fuel pump wears out, the pressure at which it injects fuel into the engine drops. Rather than having pressure in the upper 40s, the pressure drops to around 39psi. In severe cases, it could drop to the lower 30s. To test the fuel pump pressure, attach a pressure gauge and look at the pressure at high RPMs.
Once your fuel pump wears out, you have no option but to replace it. The replacement doesn’t come cheap. Expect to spend around $600 on a new fuel pump.
Thankfully, installing the new fuel pump is easy. It plugs right in and it requires no wiring. By following the instructions, you should be able to get it done in around 30 minutes.
Also read: 5 x Most Common Polaris Fuel Pump Problems!
2. Starter Problems
There can be many reasons why your RZR 900 won’t start. If you take a peek at the forums, you’d see an endless list of possible causes for your starter to fail. But the most common issue is the battery.
Many Polaris RZR owners suffer from a drained battery. There are many reasons why you might end up with a dead battery. Usual suspects are: exposure to high temperatures, incorrect wiring resulting in a constant drain, low electrolyte levels, etc…
Often, this is not the case with the RZR 900. The RZR battery fails when overloaded. Meaning, that if you have aftermarket auxiliary accessories such as coolers, light bars, or stereo systems you might be in trouble.
The single battery that comes with the RZR is barely enough to run the necessities. When you start attaching extensions to be powered via the battery, you start draining it. This could result in issues when you try to start your ride.
But what if you desire to have a light bar or a stereo in your UTV. Is there a solution? You can easily find a way around this issue by attaching a Polaris dual battery kit. So, your essentials can run from one battery, while your accessories can use another.
3. Engine Overheating
RZR 900 manufactured between 2013 and 2016 were recalled due to this problem. The recall was issued due to overheating engine that could possibly burst into flames. If your engine was sorted out during the recall, you have nothing to worry about.
But this is not the main issue when it comes to an overheating engine. When your engine temperatures spike over 220°, you need to get it sorted out.
Your fan kicks in at 199°. This is the first thing to look into. If it doesn’t kick in, inspect the thermostat. A faulty thermostat will not be able to read the temperature of the engine accurately and inform the fan to kick in.
Another common issue is a dirty radiator. You wouldn’t believe the amount of dirt that could be in a seemingly cool radiator. A dirty radiator will not effectively reduce the temperature of the coolant.
Before you settle to any conclusion, try cleaning your radiator. A jet of high-pressure water should do the trick.
4. Engine Misfires
Engine misfires can be scary. Though you might be able to drive with misfires, it constantly damages the engine. Continuous driving with misfires will lead to major engine damage.
In RZR 900, oftentimes when you encounter misfires, it is caused by the spark plugs. It is not necessarily an issue with the spark plugs. It is possible that it can be caused by damaged, corroded, or broken spark plugs. But, usually, it is because of the dirt that accumulates around the spark plug.
Due to the terrain, in which these UTVs are driven in, there is a high chance for dirt to carve its path inside the nooks and crannies of your RZR 900.
As you might have guessed, the fix is also pretty easy. Inspect all your spark plugs and clean them if necessary.
If your spark plugs are damaged or corroded, you would have to replace them. This is not a costly procedure. Polaris OEM spark plugs cost less than $10.
5. Worn Suspension
UTVs are built to run through rough terrain. The RZR 900 is no exception. It can expertly tackle unmaintained back roads filled with potholes. It can trek through any trail you throw at it and absorb a lot of abuse.
But ultimately, the suspension and the axle will start to give out. There is no exact number of miles your suspension might last because it heavily depends on the terrain you drive in. However, in rough terrain, you should expect your suspension to last around 5000 miles.
After your axle, ball joints, and suspension show signs of wear, you need to think about replacing them. This is not going to be cheap. If you are looking for quality parts, you should definitely have a budget of at least a couple of thousand dollars.
6. Drive Belt Issues
Polaris is known for sending out machines that can take a beating. Though it seems valid for the most parts, there are some exceptions. The Polaris RZR 900 is one of those.
There are many complaints mentioning a prematurely shredded drive belt. But, is this any truth to this accusation?
The issue with the RZR drive belt is complicated. If you can get 5,000 miles out of your drive belt in a UTV, it is pretty good.
In the RZR 900, there are users with a ripped drive belt with less than 200 miles on the UTV. At the same time, some users have mentioned that their drive belts are still functioning with 5,000+ miles on them.
Though there are 2 sides to the RZR 900 drive belt, it is to be considered an issue. The drive belt is an essential component to keep the vehicle running. When such an important component fails prematurely fails, it is unacceptable.
Replacing a driving belt costs around $200.
Also read: 5 x Most Common Polaris Clutch Problems!
7. Voltage Regulator Failure
This is an issue that Polaris itself facing for a while. Quite a few different Polaris manufactured rides face this issue. Among those is the Polaris RZR 900.
The voltage regulator is a crucial component in the electrical system of the UTV. It makes sure the ideal amount of power is supplied. With a failing voltage regulator, you could end up having some major issues. Some issues are,
Also read: 7 x Most Common Polaris Voltage Regulator Problems!
- Dimming or pulsing lights
- Dead battery
- Loss of power steering
- Unpredictable engine performance
- Burnt out lights
- Basically, all electrical components can malfunction
The voltage regulator needs to be replaced when it fails. Voltage regulator replacements aren’t going to blow a hole through your pocket. But if you are unlucky, you would have to spend a fortune on the damage done by a failing voltage regulator.
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