2001 Arctic Cat Snowmobile Will Not Start Or Hard To Start

2001 Arctic Cat snowmobile will not start or is hard to start refers to when the skimobile’s engine will not activate and begin to work, or when the motor is having difficulty turning on. This article details why the snowmobile’s engine will not start or what’s causing the starting problem. Keep in mind that there may be more than one malfunction that is preventing the vehicle to fire up.

Engine Will Not Start or is Hard to Start (Low Compression)

1. Valve clearance out of adjustment. Adjust valve clearance. Refer to download factory repair manual for step-by-step adjustment procedures.
2. Valve guides worn or seated poorly. Repair or replace valve guides.
3. Piston rings worn excessively. Replace piston rings with a new set of piston rings.
4. Worn cylinder bore. If possible, rebore cylinder or replace unit.
5. Spark pug seating poorly. Tighten spark plug to factory specification.

Engine Will Not Start or is Hard to Start (No Spark)

1. Fouled spark plug. Clean or replace spark plug, whichever is needed.
2. Spark plug wet. Dry and clean spark plug. Replace if necessary.
3. Defective magneto. Replace magneto with a new part.
4. Defective ignition coil assembly. Replace ignition coil assembly with a new assembly.
5. Spark plug cap shorted. Replace spark plug cap.

Engine Will Not Start or is Hard to Start (No Fuel Reaching Carburetor)

1. Gas tank vent blockage. Remove obstruction from gas tank vent.
2. Gas tank shut-off valve blockage or not turned. Either turn on valve or clear obstruction, whichever is needed.
3. Carburetor inlet needle defective. Replace inlet needle with a new part. Refer to graph/chart for needle sizes in the download repair manual.
4. Fuel hose blocked. Clean hose to remove obstruction.
5. Fuel filter clogged. Clean or replace fuel filter.

Engine Does Not Start (No Spark at Spark Plugs)

1. Ignition switch defective or not in RUN position. Replace the ignition switch with a new part or turn the ignition switch to RUN position, whichever is necessary.
2. Wiring harness is shorting. Repair frayed, cut, damaged wires or replace wiring harness, whichever is necessary.
3. Emergency stop switch knob in DOWN position or defective. Either move the knob to the UP position or replace the throttle switch, whichever is necessary.
4. Throttle/ignition monitor switch (TM-style) adjusted too lose or defective. Replace the throttle switch or adjust (tighten) the throttle cable.
5. Throttle/ignition monitor switch (VM-style) adjusted too tight or defective. Either replace the throttle switch or adjust (loosen) throttle cable.
6. Carburetor safety switches (VM-style) adjusted improperly or defective. Either replace carburetor safety switches or adjust it, whichever is needed.
7. Damaged or fouled spark plugs. Either re-gap spark plugs, clean them or replace them, whichever is needed.
8. Spark plug caps shorting, damaged or leaking. Replace spark plug caps with new caps.
9. High tension wires/coil loose, grounded or malfunctioning. Either replace the high tension coil/wires or service it.
10. Faulty CDI unit. Replace the CDI unit with a new part.
11. Charge coil (1) or (2) faulty. Replace coil.
12. Weak flywheel magnets. Replace flywheel with a new part.
13. Sheared flywheel key. Replace key.

Engine Does Not Start (No Fuel at Cylinders)

1. Gasoline tank empty. Add fuel to the tank.
2. Shut-off valve close. Open the shut-off valve.
3. Broken or pinched fuel hose. Either remove kinked fuel hose or replace it, whichever is needed.
4. Obstructed gas tank vent or hose. Either replace vent, remove blockage or replace hose.
5. In-line fuel filter damaged or obstructed. Either replace the in-line fuel filter or remove blockage, whichever is needed.
6. Fuel pump defective or malfunctioning. Either service fuel pump or replace it, whichever is needed.
7. Impulse hose disconnected, pinched, broken or cracked. Inspect impulse hose and replace if needed.
8. Carburetors adjusted incorrectly, damaged or contaminated with debris. Refer to download repair manual “carburetor cleaning,” “carburetor troubleshooting” and “carburetor tuning.”
9. Primary compression (crankcase) absent. Replace worn engine components, replace damaged components or repair them, whichever is needed.

Engine Does Not Start (Fuel Does Not Ignite)

1. Carburetor-to-cylinder air leak. Either service intake ports, service/replace gaskets, connect oil deliver hose or replace intake flanges, whichever is needed.
2. Carburetors adjusted improperly, damaged or dirty. Refer to the troubleshooting guide in the download repair manual, clean or replace carburetors, whichever is necessary.
3. Contaminated fuel. Empty fuel tank and clean fuel system. Add new fuel.
4. Engine flooded. Refer to download repair manual “troubleshooting carburetors.” Also, it might be necessary to clean carbs, replace air-intake silencer, install new spark plugs or clear engine by pulling recoil several times.
5. Secondary compression (cylinder) low. Replace worn or damaged engine components.
6. Choke cable(s) not adjusted properly. Check and adjust choke cable(s) to factory specification.

Always refer to the downloadable factory service manual when performing maintenance or repair to the 2001 Arctic Cat snowmobile. The manual contains easy-to-understand, step-by-step servicing procedures, pictures, diagrams and critical specifications.