Batteries
About Batteries
A dead battery is the usual reason a UTV or ATV will not start, and batteries lose charge even while the machine sits. Owners shop here to replace an old battery, to move to a lighter type, or to fix a battery that keeps going flat after a long off-season.
Three types are listed. Conventional batteries listed with acid come with the acid to be added before use, as the maker describes. Sealed factory-activated batteries arrive filled and sealed, so there is no acid to handle. Lithium batteries are lighter, and the maker's charging instructions matter more. Match the physical size, the terminal positions and the voltage, which is 12 volts for most machines and 6 volts on some older ones. Listings often show the standard code in parentheses, such as YTX, YT or YIX, and these match the code in your manual or on the old battery. Pick your machine in the Ride Finder at the top of the page.
Brands here include Antigravity, Parts Unlimited, Fire Power, Yuasa and Motobatt. If a new battery goes flat, check Voltage Regulators & Rectifiers and Stators & Magnetos. Starting problems may also involve Starter Motors, and Fuses & Fuse Boxes protect the circuits. The whole group is Electrical & Ignition Components.
FAQs on UTV and ATV batteries
What do battery codes like YTX or CTZ mean in a listing?
They are standard battery size codes that describe the case size and terminal layout. A listing often shows the code in parentheses. Match it to the code in your manual or on your old battery, or use the Ride Finder, instead of guessing from the size.
What does factory activated mean on a battery?
A factory-activated battery arrives filled with electrolyte and sealed, so no acid has to be added. It usually still needs a charge before use, so follow the maker's instructions and fit it only when it has been charged as described.
Can I replace a lead-acid battery with a lithium one?
Only if the battery maker lists it for your model, with the right size, terminals and voltage. Lithium batteries need a charger and charging setup that suit them, so follow the maker's notes and do not guess.
How should I store a battery through the off-season?
Charge it fully, keep it clean and dry, and connect a maintainer that matches the battery type, or take it off the machine and charge it from time to time. Follow the battery maker's storage instructions.
Why does my new battery keep going flat?
The battery is often not the cause. A charging fault in the stator or the regulator and rectifier, or an accessory that stays on and drains power, can flatten a new battery. Test the charging voltage as your manual describes.
