What kind of problems does a Polaris Sportsman 110 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 Sportsman 110. 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 ATVs Reliable, Check Your Model Here!
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1. EFI System
The EFI or electronic fuel injection in the Sportsman 110 is both genius and controversial at the same time. It eliminates the need for a carburetor to mix fuel and air. As the name suggests, the EFI directly injects fuel into the engine’s manifold or cylinders using electricity.
The EFI system kicks on when you turn your key. The injectors instantly start working and pressurize the system to deliver fuel as you start the engine. The EFI system can be controlled directly by the ignition switch or the ECU.
This system lets you fire up the engine exceptionally easily. This unit will start your engine without any issues even during freezing temperatures. For YouTube riders, this feature makes all the difference.
Problems with the EFI start when its fuse blows. This is not a rare issue, either. The EFI fuse in the Polaris Sportsman is known to blow prematurely.
In the Sportsman 110, if you repeatedly keep blowing the EFI fuse, it could be one of these reasons,
- Poor connection on the fuse itself
- Poor ground connection somewhere else
- Too much charge going through the fuse
- Faulty ECU
Usually, it is the connections that cause the fuse to blow up. So, first, make sure all your electrical connections are secure. If the issue persists, swap out a 15 amp fuse and see if it blows.
If you still keep blowing your fuse, the issue could be somewhere else. You would have to seek a professional to get the problem solved.
2. Starter Issues
According to one user, the Sportsman surfaced starter issues with only four rides on it. It had been ridden less than 8 hours. His exact words are,
“We tried to start it this morning. It made a strange noise. Now the starter is just free spinning”.
This is a typical case of a free-spinning starter motor. This happens when the starter gear spins when it is not in contact with anything else. The sound is similar to a small drill spinning.
This issue could either be caused by an issue with the flywheel or the motor. In the case of the flywheel, the teeth are often the component that suffers damage. Resulting in a flywheel that cannot engage.
On the other hand, the issue could be with the starter engaging motor. This is responsible for pushing gears onto the flywheel. When this malfunctions, the flywheel will spin without a gear to cling onto.
If your starter is damaged, you would have to consider going for a replacement. The cost for parts varies according to the manufacturer you choose. Usually, it costs anywhere between $100 to $200.
Also read: 6 x Polaris Starter (Solenoid) Problems!
3. Fuel Pump Issues
Does your Sportsman 110 idle fine, but does it die when you go for the throttle? There are a bunch of problems that show the same symptoms. In the case of the Sportsman 110, the problem is likely to be caused by a failing fuel pump.
The fuel pump in your car has a simple task. To pump fuel from the tank into the carburetor. When this component fails, your Polaris will die when you try to give it some gas, since the fuel pump is unable to provide the engine with the required amount of gasoline.
Usually, a faulty fuel pump tends to affect only ride performance. This means you will only have issues at high RPMs. In severe cases, you won’t be able to pull your Polaris out of your driveway.
Fuel pumps can fail due to a few different reasons. In the Slingshot 110, the fuel pump primarily fails due to,
- Contaminated fuel
- Dirty air filter
- Loose wiring
These reasons can be easily avoided or fixed. So more often than not, a simple repair could solve your problem. But if your fuel pump has suffered irreparable damage, you would have to replace it.
After-market fuel pump kits for the Polaris 110 aren’t costly. You could buy a fuel pump kit and replace it with no hassle.
Also read: 5 x Most Common Polaris Fuel Pump Problems!
4. Cheap Build Quality
The 110 is made for youth riders. But this is no excuse for the cheap build quality of the ride. When Polaris charges upwards of $3000, customers expect decent quality.
The plastic is so fragile that if you tighten a bolt too hard, it would rip right through the plastic. According to some owners, the Polaris rolls off the factory floor with a damaged body. The paint used on the Polaris is also not the best.
Another issue is the cheap stickers they cover the Polaris with. The headlight between the handlebars is just a sticker. Similarly, the odometer nor the fuel gauge works.
Loose electronics, premature oxidization, and a weak frame all seem to plague the Polaris 110. Overall, it seems that Polaris doesn’t put a lot of thought into the Sportsman 110.
5. Small Battery
This is another issue that a ton of users have been facing. The Polaris Sportsman battery can barely sustain itself. This means that you cannot add any additional electronic accessories to make your ride a bit fancier.
The battery consists of only 4.5 amp-hours. So, if you want to get more power to your Sportsman, you would have to swap it out for a bigger battery or a dual battery system. This can be tricky as the room allocated for the battery is quite limited. Therefore, you might have to consider doing some modifications.
But this is not the main issue with the Polaris Sportsman 110 battery. The Polaris battery doesn’t seem to hold a charge. If this were to happen, it could result in a sputtering engine.
Try running your engine at higher RPMs. In the meanwhile, switch off the lights to allow the battery to charge more efficiently. Even if this works, this is not a solution for the issue you are facing. Eventually, you’d have to invest in a new battery.
This problem is more commonly seen in newer rides. Keep in mind, the battery comes with a 6-month warranty. So, you can visit the local Polaris dealer to get your battery swapped.
6. Starting Issues At Low Temperatures
As a customer mentioned,
“We bought two of these 110’s Sportsman for our girls for Christmas. It was 29 degrees in the morning and both machines didn’t start. Brought them in the heated garage for a few hours, then they would run.”
You shouldn’t be required to bring your Polaris into a heated garage every time you need to start it. So, what exactly is the problem here?
The owner who faced this specific issue took his Sportsman to the dealer. There they figured out the issue was, in fact, with the engine oil. They swapped out the Polaris oil for Amsoil. If not Amsoil, Polaris Extreme will also work in low temperatures.
Also read: 6 x Polaris Starter (Solenoid) Problems and how to Fix It!
With either of these oils, you should have no trouble firing up your Sportsman even at 0 degrees.
This is not exactly a problem. You need to choose engine oil depending on the area you live in. If you live in a place with constant low temperatures, you should choose an engine oil with low viscosity. On the other hand, if you’re facing warm temperatures, you should go for engine oil with high viscosity.
