Checking everything before I take off this weekend and everything else is good except the winch isn't working.

I've followed the wires back and there doesn't seem to be any wore spots and all the connections seem to be good. It's a Smittybilt 10k, I've used it maybe a dozen times and has worked fine each time. There is dirt up in the solenoid box but it's not caked or anything. I've sprayed all the connections with cleaner. Still stumped and rather pissed off that it isn't working.

Anyone had a similar problem? Or have any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

Does it click at all when you try to spool it in or out.

 

could be the switch itself, couldve burnt up. or just the winch is a POS and decided to quit.

 

Have you checked to see you have power at the winch connection?

 

Prolly internal in the winch. They are not that hard to clean up. If you have a local altenator/starter shop around the house take it there. They can do it for you for under $50 and maybe 20 minutes.

 

It spools free.

I don't have a test light to test it. Maybe I'll pick one up.

 

You could use a multimeter. You do have one of those, right? Otherwise you can hack together a test light with a normal 12V light bulb and some extra pieces of wire...it'd won't be pretty but get the job done.

 

I sure don't and I'm a total noob when it comes to electrical stuff. But I've tried reworking the connections and still don't get anything.

I've still got tommorrow to mess with it when I get some daylight because I'm about tired of messing with it. Hopefully I can get it working tommorrow.

 

Haha, its okay. I'd suggest buying a good digital multimeter. They'll do wonders for you. You would probably already have your problem solved by now! lol.

 

its prolly the solenoid that failed.. thats the most common thing that goes dead on the winched on atvs... even on warn ones...

 

That not what I am asking. When you plug your controller in and try and use it what does it do?

 

Did you buy it new or used(I cant remember)?

 

Let's hope not.

It does nothing. Almost like it's not getting any power.

I bought it new, it's only been on the truck 4 months or so.


I'm gonna rework all the connections again when I get home and see what happens.

 

bah don't tell me your smittybilt broke! i cant fit any other kind of winch in that spot haha

good luck man.

 

Make sure the big AND the small ground wires are hooked up good. Check positive conection at battery. If all those are good you need to pull the plastic cover off the control box and see if any of the wires in there are melted,dirty or corroded. Give all the poles on the solenoids a little wiggle to see if any are loose. I had a loose pole on a solenoid on my old Champion winch that would only work half the time. I bought two new solenoids from NEW WINCH GOLF CART SOLENOID 6 TERM 12 Volt HEAVY DUTY SPL6016: SPL6016 / 15-323 SOLENOID 6-TERM DB Electrical Starter-Alternator and it worked perfect from then on. They are very easy to work on so jump right in.

 

you do know the controller will plug in 2 ways. you need to make sure you have it plugged in the right way.

i continually plug mine in the wrong way and it doesnt work either. I flip the plug around and it works fine. Just make sure you have it right.

 

i forgot about that.
when i was at spring creek a few months ago, destroyed the t-case, alternator acting up, p/s out... tehn we tried to winch and they were like "its plugged in!" and it wasn't working... realllly pissed me off, then i got to the top of the hill and noticed it was upside down.

 

Let's hope I wasn't that stupid. lol I'm pretty sure I was putting in there right, but I'll make sure.

Only 1 more hour of work left and I can get home to mess with it.

 

it was my buddies who were hooking it up for me.

 

We did get it working before we took off, even though we didn't use it all weekend. lol I reworked all the connections, cleaned up the box some more, and it started working. So everything was all good.