[how to start a 400ex in the cold] - ATV Riders Forums - Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Polaris, CanAm, Arctic Cat, Kymco ATVs

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how to start a 400ex in the cold
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Posted by: usmarine0311

i have a 2006 400ex, WILL NOT start in the cold what can i do?

Posted by: firefighterjosh

I have a 416ex but I turn the choke on pump the gas twice and hit the starter and no problems yet.

Posted by: hks308

its a b*tch and a half to get mine started. i usually have to put the charger on the battery cuz it always dies. but i choke it half way.

Posted by: dirtmomma

Probably alot warner here than where you are but I just turn the choke all the way on, hit the gas, then the start button, as soon as it starts I put the choke to 1/2 way

never had an issue w/ ours!!

Posted by: slow

Mine in 0 degree weather i could still get started.

It would be a little hard. I would go full choke hit the throttle a little and hit the start button. Usually it would start after 2 secs the nstall then start again and i had to keep throtle on or it would stall. A larger pilot jet is said to help with cold starting. 400ex is one of the coldest blooded quads out.

Posted by: wilkin250r

I always pump the throttle a little bit to get the accelerator pump to shoot a squirt of fuel into the intake, then fire it up (no choke). It usually fires right away, then dies after a second. Repeat three or four times, and it's running.

Be careful with this method, though. TOO much gas, and you'll foul the plug and it will never start until you put a new plug in it. I've become an expert at swapping the plug on a 400EX, so it doesn't bother me none.

Posted by: quadrider400

IF you have an aftermarket CDI and its a Whites get rid of it...

If your stock I can only offer the idea of removal of the choke and changing the pilot jet to a 42 .... Mine worked fine after that ... it was a pain before even with the stock CDI...

Good Luck...

Posted by: mrnate400ex

42 pilot jet was an easy cure for mine. All I did was blip the throttle 3-4 times before starting, and she would start right up didn't even need the choke!!!

Posted by: LTZ400rider

starting fluid last resort, especially if ur battery is about to die. also if ur choke doesnt work u can take off ur air filter and cover the intake with a rag

Posted by: dirtmomma

quote:
Originally posted by quadrider400
IF you have an aftermarket CDI and its a Whites get rid of it...

If your stock I can only offer the idea of removal of the choke and changing the pilot jet to a 42 .... Mine worked fine after that ... it was a pain before even with the stock CDI...

Good Luck...

Ya know everyone says that but we've had the WB CDI box since about day 1(2000) & have NEVER had an issue w/ it!!!!!! Guess maybe we got a good one haha,

Posted by: Wildbrain

I also have a WB box and have never had any starting problems. I thought I must have just been lucky.

Posted by: blown331

its been in the 20-30's here lately and my bike was originally jetted for cali elevation (1,000 ft or less) and now we're @ 3,800 ft and mine still doesnt have a problem starting.

full choke... pump the throttle a few times fire up, give it a bit more throttle to keep it running go full choke off let it run for a few seconds and its warm enough to idle on its own

I love the reliability of these things, im sold on honda

Posted by: exrider008

quote:
Originally posted by dirtmomma
Ya know everyone says that but we've had the WB CDI box since about day 1(2000) & have NEVER had an issue w/ it!!!!!! Guess maybe we got a good one haha,

i gess u did get a good one cuz mine is a piece of **** and made my bike run like crap.

but all i do is hit the throttle 4 times choke it and it fires right up.
i would also go get a brand new battery.

Posted by: Kaleigh

same here. I have a WB CDI(bought it about 4 years ago and works great since... and mine starts everytime in the cold.. BTW i live in Canada so yea.. it gets pretty cold around here..

what W oil are you using?? that can make it harder to start..

Posted by: bfitz

number 42 pilot jet def will work

Posted by: 400excaleb

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bfitz
number 42 pilot jet def will work [/QUOTe
its 20 degrees down here all i have to do is pump throttle twice and fires right up and idles with not chokin and the stock pilot jet.

Posted by: anderson3064

my o3 is terrible to start wether its cold or warm. I have to blipp the throttle 4-5 times then it starts, but dies. I repeat process 4 or so times and then it stays running. cracks me up cause my sons 300 will fire right up and run smooth no matter what the temp is

Posted by: 400exridin121

I have to put the choke on full and start it and run the throttle a lil for about 30 sec then i go halfway for about a min or until i feel warm air from the muffler

Posted by: anderson3064

quote:
Originally posted by 400exridin121
I have to put the choke on full and start it and run the throttle a lil for about 30 sec then i go halfway for about a min or until i feel warm air from the muffler

Ive done that too, I see your just down the road we have the same weather and same year quad.

Posted by: Glocked2

I just bought an '07 450R and have a difficult time starting in the cold (30degrees or less). Does anyone else have this same problem and have you found a fix for it?

Posted by: nosliw

i started mine today (no choke) in 15*F weather by-

pump throttle approx 5 times
hit starter
feather gas to acheive slightly high-idle for no more than a minute

good to go then.

Posted by: chiaml

For everyone that put a 42 pilot jet in, do you rejet for summer? Does it have any effect when it gets warm out again?

Posted by: nosliw

no i keep mine in year round.

Posted by: 400exridin121

quote:
Originally posted by anderson3064
Ive done that too, I see your just down the road we have the same weather and same year quad.

cool, what city in central do you live in?