ATV & UTV Electrical & Winch Diagnostics

Electrical gremlins are common on machines that sit outdoors through Nova Scotia winters and see regular exposure to mud, water, and salt. From a Can-Am that won't crank after sitting all week to a winch that hums but won't pull, electrical and winch diagnostics get to the actual root cause rather than throwing parts at the problem.

What's Included

• Battery load test and charging system output check
• Full wiring harness visual inspection at common corrosion points (connectors, ground straps)
• Fault code scan on EFI-equipped models with manufacturer-compatible tools
• Winch motor, solenoid, and remote diagnostics
• Winch cable/rope and drum inspection
• Corroded connector cleaning and dielectric grease application

Common Issues We See

• Corroded battery terminals and ground straps from winter storage
• Winch solenoid failure — clicks but doesn't engage
• Water-intruded connectors causing intermittent electrical faults
• Stator or regulator/rectifier failure causing no-charge conditions

Storage Tip

Machines stored outdoors or in an unheated shed over winter benefit enormously from a trickle charger or battery tender rather than disconnecting the battery entirely. A battery that sits fully discharged through a Nova Scotia winter rarely comes back to full health — we see this every spring.