How to troubleshoot a WINCH that has stopped getting power

I show you how to diagnose and troubleshoot when something is wrong in your winch circuit. I cover how to check your battery, winch, winch controller, winch switch, and wiring. In this video I am working on a winch attached to an ATV, but the process is the same for a winch on a Jeep or Truck
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We hope you enjoyed this video and will keep in mind that all information included is intended to be purely academic and in fact is only the opinion of D&E. We are not professionals, nor are we qualified to knight you a professional. D&E want to ensure that anyone modify or fixing their own vehicle does so in a safe manner which leaves the vehicle in a legal, roadworthy state. In short, DON'T BE A MONKEY WITH A TOOL BOX! If you don't know what you are doing, leave it the professionals!

[@dionwolfinbarger9908]

Thanks For the video. This helps a lot. I hate when someone does a video and puts words up instead of talking and explaining it.

[@dkay6264]

Great video to help me understand more about the winch. Ran an electricity flow exam and tried going straight from the battery to the winch.

[@123chestercheetah]

Straight band to the point. THANK YOU!!

[@moomba2009]

Nice video for the DIYer. At least helps to get us going in the right direction to troubleshoot the problem.

[@Roadglidedave-du9rh]

Thanks saved me in mass with same problem with snowbear plow used the brute force750 in the freezing rain instead 👍

[@stevesarkees1953]

Awesome bro! Process of elimination. Fixed my cheap winch. Saved me from buying an expensive one.

[@larc625]

Great information from this video. Helped me alot. Thanks

[@ronyoung4724]

Great video answers all the questions 👏

[@outdoorfrk6432]

Hey thanks for the video. I went and trickle charged my battery and that did the trick. My winch button stopped working and i found this video. Did the trick so thank you. I’m not a handy guy so this pinpointed a few causes

[@islandboy447]

Excellent video bro. This was very helpful. I have the same quad so that worked out even better. Same wiring.

[@DEInTheGarage]

Thanks for the feedback.. glad it helped!

[@Cjdanks448]

Didn't expect to learn something but I did thanks bro

[@artbowers9327]

good job I think your video will help me thank you

[@Carcajoo121]

Great explanatory vid thanks for sharing 😃

[@ryanlatini395]

Thank you, That was very helpful. 👍🏻

[@jamessucilla7962]

Good video! Thanks!

[@kamulholland8581]

Thanks brother. Clear. Even for me.

[@ahood1]

Very helpful. ThAnk you!

[@youngSTP651]

Dude, covered what i needed to hear. Basic problems sometimes need some basic explaining. thx

[@DEInTheGarage]

Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for the feedback!

[@cranberry3257]

Thanks for the Info . !

[@richardkelley2254]

helpful-thanks!

[@zetasong]

nice vid...thanks man

[@alexessholt8202]

Awesome thanks!

[@LarsVibstad]

Just got this problem today on my polaris 500, my plow would not get up, Turns out my switch was bad. Thanks alot👍

[@russellnelson9400]

Good job, thanks

[@LilyoftheValeyrising]

Great video! Not a ton of chit chat gets right to the point. No voltage drop between battery power and winch control box connection is a good thing. Means there’s not excess corrosion in the black and red cables. You are absolutely correct about the solenoid or relay clicking. I did not know about the reverse polarity in the switch and that’s basically what it does. That’s cool. Now I am going to attempt repairing my popup camper (roof lift) winch. My husband put the battery in backwards and it blew the in line fuse. The camper is his job to take care of. He put in a new one and it still blows. My brother in law looks at it and he says what the heck. So something is wrong.

[@DEInTheGarage]

Interesting.. good luck with it!

[@LilyoftheValeyrising]

D&E In The Garage thanks!

[@mainenorthwoodshunter3265]

Thank you. I hear a click sometimes. My winch has been going down but not up but suddenly it has switched and will go up but not down. I was told by a friend the selenoid was under the seat. We took it out with a lot of work on my 2018 can am outlander. After watching your video and a couple more, I think we have taken the wrong selenoid out. We took the starter one out not realizing the winch would have its own. According to another video warn should have one for the can am tucked behind a fender somewhere. So off I go again to see if that is where the right one is. Thanks for the video. Here in Maine we plow quite a bit of snow and I am a paraplegic so shoveling isn't so easy.

[@mkloppel]

Thanks dude.

[@charlesdefreitas8699]

Nice you saved me

[@russellnelson9400]

Thanks

[@neotech40]

"Why the heck not" indeed. lol - Love that DIY spirit. Thanks for the video and information!

[@rylanemery1238]

i realize I am quite off topic but do anybody know a good website to watch new tv shows online?

[@colbylucian6749]

@Rylan Emery Flixportal :P

[@rylanemery1238]

@Colby Lucian Thank you, I went there and it seems to work :) I appreciate it!!

[@colbylucian6749]

@Rylan Emery Glad I could help xD

[@gregoryb2999]

Good video but that's not everything that can go bad but at least by bypassing you know if its switch or wires. If one gets hot sometimes a wire on the internal trace breaks connection or a capacitor is blown. But most people aren't going to go inside one but I can't afford not to. I try everything because usually its not that complicated. Still good enough video for average and common issue that happens frequently.

[@mkloppel]

I think the contacts inside my 12k badlands seized up. I used yr idea to manually activate the winch with jumpers. At first nothing but I heard it try. I repeated this and eventually it came loose. There is another video I saw explainingnthat the graphite contacts sometimes become corroded and sieze. I think this is what occured, but I'm not certain. That or perhaps something inside the solenoid is being bad and this is temporary. Either way I was able to get the cable back in so I could actually use the truck. So thanks!

[@MCINpallet]

Question. I have a brand new warn winch it goes up but nothing for down. Any idea what that would be ? Thanks

[@mongolioose]

thanks buddy

[@Chevy-hw6lw]

The video was very helpful but I’m curious what was the problem in your case the switch or controller box? What did you do to fix your problem?

[@DEInTheGarage]

It was the winch controller box. I got a new one off ebay for $50 and everything was good to go.

[@Shanestrapping]

ok so at 12.09 volts your battery is almost fully discharged a full charged battery is 12.6 volts not sure it mattered here but just so people know. also if jumping to winch with cables you MUST disconnect the winch wiring as the winch rest as ground that why you were sparking and smoking so bad you made a dead short and any duration could burn all those parts out

[@9graff9]

I was off roading and pulling a lot of people out of the Mudd, next thing I know my winch just clicks now.. someone was telling me it could be the fuses, what do you think

[@strafto04]

I know this is 4 years old, but I have the same problem. Can the solenoid work intermittently? Or does it just die? I have intermittent use of my winch and it’s killing me. Great vid, thank you.

[@echabot2721]

I tried this. First I checked my battery with a meter and im at 12v then i tried by passing the switch and i heard a faint humming noise the winch wouldnt work like normal. I know i had good power because my jumper cable started to melt and burn on the winch terminals.. im assuming this means the motor is no more good?

[@DoMorewLess]

my 😕 1 year old kfi has nothing pisses me off.. u got the Zac Brown look goin on bro good deal

[@DEInTheGarage]

there are certainly worse looks to have

[@user-lh4xq2ju6k]

Andy enjoyed the video however this hyper ough2500 winch has never been on a atv like bran d new never been in weather it's like it's locked up makes a noise in and out it's not the correct noise as if it's turning over don't know what it's doing I can pull the knob out to engage clutch but lie it's not activating gear motion it jumps when hits in and out no movement had it for awhile think something inside is like frozn hasn't been in the shop b but not in the elements either just wanting your opinion, Does the winch need to be grounded to metal at the moment it not just on the original bracket plate it comes with thanks ahead of time peace

[@jamessands2190]

Need help anyone at all I took a Ramsey 8000lb (4ton) winch apart to change spool shaft seal bow my winch only winds in (rolling the cable on to spool). Any ideas or anyone know where I wemt wrong. please help and thank you in advance

[@AZHerps]

So if I try and use switch and I hear the clicking very loud relace it? Because mines doing this but occasionally it will engage the motor but will only go acouple inches Question #2 - my battery reads 12 plus volts but the winch is struggling to work...what can I do to diagnose

[@jamesjohnson6239]

Thanks for video isnt it funny how these things happen just as its SNOWing !! My winch will only go up not down reverse polarity it will go down mot up . Is that the controller or switch ??? Thanks again

[@DEInTheGarage]

That is always the way, right?... worst timing...Well your winch is definitely fine. that is goo. Sounds like it could be either your switch or controller. If you get a miltimeter on the connection into your switch, you can see if the controller is sending the voltage or not. Many times a new controller and switch are sold together anyway so it might be easier to just redo the whole system except the winch

[@mattandkatchristie2552]

Did you ever figure it out?? I hooked mine up its doing exactly same as you said

[@jamesjohnson6239]

@@mattandkatchristie2552 yes it was one of the relays inside the control box . I opened the control box ,swapped the relays to figure out which one was bad .I was able to buy a new one on ebay .

[@mattandkatchristie2552]

@@jamesjohnson6239 thanks!

[@BradleyBeeksAdventures]

Mine worked when I jump it, but I can’t seem to find the wire probably

[@Chevy-hw6lw]

Ok question . My winch slowly stopped working it would let out line with the control switch, but would not pull in , then it stopped letting line out or in and now it just clicked when you push button. So tested battery , good. Tested voltage at the winch connections, good. Tried to jump winch... just sparked and got real hot but no line in or out. Took winch apart completely, cleaned out old dried grease and cleaned motor . Put back together . Tried switch it let line in and out for like 15 seconds of testing then nothing again. Just clicking . Tested winch again but trying to jump it. This time nothing at all no spark no in or out . Zero. Just clicks again. Also verified voltage power is good. I’m thinking bad motor right? It does free spool fine and no grinding noise. Gotta be motor right?

[@DEInTheGarage]

Yea, sounds like the winch is toast. If putting direct power to it does not energize the spool then something is definitely wrong inside

[@juliorobles2047]

My atv is brand new like 4months old and winch stop working you hit the switch and it click just dosent do anything

[@chrisgore9700]

how do you tell if your winch is stripped

[@DEInTheGarage]

The sinch itself or the brake? It will be relatively obvious either way. If you are putting power to it and hear the motor running, but it is not spinning then it is probably stripped. If you put a load on the winch cable, but it does not hold that load once power is off the brake is probably stripped

[@newwavepressure6478]

My wench slowly lets out Cable when my plows hooked up any suggestions or what's wrong

[@DEInTheGarage]

Yea, you cable break is either weak or broken. Is it a cheap winch?

[@newwavepressure6478]

@@DEInTheGarage not sure it was on the atv when i bought it a buddy said i have to put a pully on it so its not pullung stright down

[@GusgusA1]

1- it's a winch not wench 2- probably something wrong with the brake in the winch. The part that stops it letting out if you winch up hill

[@newwavepressure6478]

@@GusgusA1 i was usin voice to txt dont get ur pantys in a bunch i guess ur one of them dumbass that looks thru peoples comments to spell check get a life

[@DEInTheGarage]

I have had a few winches where the brake either goes bad or is weak from the beginning. What brand is it?

[@usarmy500]

When I try my winch all it does is get really hot and spark and smoke

[@RolandPrivate-sc5qc]

👍🏻👌

[@trevorglenny2227]

Do u put a fuse on a winch?? dum question I no

[@DEInTheGarage]

The lead from the battery to the winch controller should be fused, yea

[@trevorglenny2227]

@@DEInTheGarage ok lol just checking when I wired it i I blown the fuse like 3 times 🤦‍♂️

[@mattgreen9323]

So what was wrong with yours

[@DEInTheGarage]

Winch Controller was bad. That was illustrated by the fact that the battery was good and when I went around the winch controller and put voltage directly to the winch it moved.

[@joegarwood8089]

One simple comment was all I needed to check...."Reverse polarity."

[@TechMechRandom]

I am having issue with mine. The solenoid clicks when I press the button out/in but I was not sure if connecting directly to the motor would cause any issues. Once it sparked a couple times I came inside to verify I was doing it correctly. Thank you for easing my mind on the sparks! Here is my video of what it is doing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIDPYoadfZyfjrM

[@skoinksvillusa3557]

This was a waste of my time.