Polaris Sportsman 500 HO Owner's Manual page 119

Engine Pings or Knocks
Possible Cause
Poor quality or low octane fuel
Incorrect ignition timing
Incorrect spark plug gap or heat range
Engine Runs Irregularly, Stalls or Misfires
Possible Cause
Fouled or defective spark plug(s)
Worn or defective spark plug wires
Incorrect spark plug gap or heat range
Loose ignition connections
Water present in fuel
Low battery voltage
Kinked or plugged fuel tank vent line
Incorrect fuel
Clogged air filter
Reverse speed limiter malfunction
Electronic throttle control malfunction
Other mechanical failure
Possible Lean Fuel Cause
Low or contaminated fuel
Kinked or plugged fuel tank vent line
Low octane fuel
Clogged fuel filter
Incorrect fuel
Incorrect jetting
Possible Rich Fuel Cause
Fuel is very high octane
Overuse of choke
Stopping/starting without adequate
warm-up
Incorrect fuel
Clogged air filter
Incorrect jetting
TROUBLESHOOTING
Solution
Replace with recommended fuel
See your dealer
Set gap to specs or replace plugs
Solution
Inspect, clean and/or replace spark
plug(s)
See your dealer
Set gap to specs or replace plugs
Check all connections and tighten
Replace with new fuel
Recharge battery to 12.8 VDC
Inspect and replace
Replace with recommended fuel
Inspect and clean or replace
See your dealer
See your dealer
See your dealer
Solution
Add or change fuel, clean the fuel system
Inspect and replace
Replace with recommended fuel
Replace filter
Replace with recommended fuel
See your Polaris dealer
Solution
Replace with lower octane fuel
Inspect, clean and/or replace spark plugs
Allow engine to warm up before operat-
ing and/or stopping
Replace with recommended fuel
Inspect and clean or replace
See your Polaris dealer
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