2022 Coleman 550 Battery issues

[Raider Rich]

I bought my Coleman 550 in 2022 from TSC, and the original battery worked fine until a month ago. I replaced it with a Super Start from O'Relly and have had trouble ever since.  Like a fool, I never looked at the maker or specs of the original battery.  I just asked for a replacement and left the old battery with O'Reilly. Can anyone tell me what battery they were putting in the Coleman 550's in 2022 or Where I can get a battery that is an exact replacement for original? 

[Jaygyver]

Help them out here.........

 What issue's are you having exactly?.......What have you tried or done?

 What's your exact model?..... Not familiar with Coleman myself but some brands may have similar model but one may have a carb and the other may have EFI. (Fuel injection)

Did YOU charge the battery just to make sure it was charged?..... Some times they will lose their charge when sitting on the shelf for long periods and the person behind the desk doesn't always know when it was put there and assume because it's on the shelf everything is honkey dorey.

Does the engine turn over but not start?......  Battery is good.

 Do you hear a "clicking" sound when you try to start it?....... Either the battery is mostly dead or both the battery cables may need to be cleaned up on both ends.

Is it completely silent when you turn the key?......Battery is dead or both the battery cables may need to be cleaned up on both ends. Starter relay?

Do your lights come on but it won't turn over?......You have enough voltage for the lights but not enough amps to start it, both the battery cables need to be cleaned up on both ends.

Check the connections from the battery to the starter relay, the bolt may have loosened up there also.

Do you have something to jump start it to see if it will turn over?

Try going back to TSC and look at another one and see if they will get the model number off the battery.  Some of the numbers/letters on a battery are the code for the size/dimensions of the battery and the others are the amperages of the battery.

[Alien10]

I have a Coleman 550 from TSC new to me early 2022. The Coleman manual says "Battery Type": 12v 32Ah.  No other info on it.

[Alien10]

Did you try to reach Coleman Motor Sports via their web site contact us page?  They might just give you the specs quickly.

[Raider Rich]

My 2022 Coleman 550 actually runs great once it starts, however .the starter was very sluggish.  I use this UTV everyday on the ranch, and have been able to get it started by jumping to a car (still sluggish and difficult but got me by).  Here are the things that have transpired since my last post.

Nov 29.    Installed a new battery from TSC.  This is an AGM Interstate battery. 30 AH. 385 CCA, and is supposed to be a replacement for my original battery.  Starting is still sluggish, but at least now the battery would not run down, so I could eventually start it.

Yesterday (12/11):  Still very concerned about starting when we are out on the ranch, so replaced the starter solenoid  with an exact replacement from Ebay.  Now, I can't even get the starter to try.  The solenoid clicks, but the starter makes no sound at all.  I put the old solenoid back on, it clicks but the starter won't even try to run.  Seems like things are getting worse.

Today I am going to check connection at starter and the ground connection on the frame or engine.

Any suggestions, Anybody????

 

[Jaygyver]

What I've read on some issues, and I don't remember what makes or motors they were, that some engines will get such a high compression that it is really hard to start. Something about a compression release that goes bad. It automatically releases some of the compression just before it starts so it will turn over faster. Kinda like you can do manually on some of the middle and larger chain saws.

 if it has the rope starter still on it can you turn it by hand? It should be hard but doable if normal. If you take the plugs out and try to start it normally does it turn over really really easy?

 I have no idea on the smaller engines and how they work exactly so can't explain it. There are similar topics on different makes that go into more detail. Maybe do a search on "Hard starting" or something like that?

 If it's an everyday user I would think about finding a dealer that will check it out for you. There are just so many cheap parts out there that it's getting harder and harder to fix stuff. Ask TSC as they may have a dealer that is "sponsoring" the SxS like some of the box stores do with their equipment.

 Sorry I can't help more, I just cruise the forums every so often to get an idea on if my Landmaster ever goes poo poo.

[Alien10]

 New battery, and was still sluggish.  With a new solenoid now only clicks.   Its sounding like the starter has bit the dust or is almost done for.

Can you remove the starter and bench test it? That will tell you if it is shot or not.   On a bench test a good starter should instantly snap to life aggressively kicking the gear out on the shaft.  If it isn't get a new starter. 

Keep us posted on what you are finding.  Not only helps you but may help others reading these posts. 

Good Luck. 

 

[Alien10]

By the way if you need a new starter you can go to Coleman Motor Sports and order one but they are $190 as of today.

There is another supplier, Alpha parts that uses the same parts look up (Hisun's no doubt) and was $149 today.

Just a heads up, prices vary, so do some research.    Hisun Vector 550, same as Coleman Outfitter 550.

I see there are other Amazon sellers in the $60 to $80 range but you never know about these knock offs, they may fail when you cant' afford them to fail, like at the back of the ranch and a mile walk back to the barn.

 

 

 

[Jaygyver]

 One thing I would also do now while the SxS is newer is go on their website and see if you can download the service manual for both the engine and the SXS. Some of the manufacturers tend to drop support after about 10 yrs or so. They're usually free.

Has it always been a hard starter even when new and just got worse? Maybe the manufacture just put in a bit too small of a starter and it and just got worn out from the hard starts? If you get the new starter and the old one turns out to be good then at least you have a spare.

I would still look in the forums for the compression problem, it's worth a shot. If it's not the starter then It just seems like that could be it. Basically all it does is automatically release some of the compression so they can put a smaller starter on it and make it turn over easier. 

Kind of a stretch here, but, you might not realize it but if you take a lot of short trips then turn it off the battery may not have time to recharge back up again. If it's been a hard starter all this time then maybe it took its toll on the battery and or starter? I'm not sure how good the charging circuits are on these. I lucked out as my SxS has just enough room to fit in my shed and my little solar trickle charger just reach's a window. I don't use mine everyday like you do but would be good for the times you don't? I have AC trickle chargers for the equipment in the shop not near a window and solar chargers in all my outdoor cars, trucks, mowers, etc, that may sit for long periods..

 Anyways that's all the knowledge I have, good luck.

[Alien10]

UTV manufacturers do what they can to waterproof their machines but using them for cross country, or even ranch work in wet areas exposes electrical connectors and electrical components to water intrusion.  Whomever manufactured the starters may not have a fully water proof unit and over time they succumb to corrosion or wetted bearings that gradually seize up.   

Always diagnose the problem before blowing money on a parts cannon.  Bench test your starter so you are not wasting money on a replacement if it isn't the issue. 

Also, re-reading your original post, you didn't mention what the cold cranking amps (CCA) spec is on the new battery you installed.  I doubt that is the issue but a starter that is failing will stop even a new battery if the CCA isn't high enough.   It still sounds like the starter is failing or failed.    

Its only 1 F outside and my barn is a long walk from the house, but if I get out there today, I'll have a look at my Coleman Outfitter 550's OEM battery and see if it has any good info on it.   By the way, mine is starting to struggle on very cold days too.  I doubt if Coleman, or  Hisun the manufacturer, used expensive batteries in a budget priced machine. Just saying. 

 

[Alien10]

Now its 8 degrees F so braved the walk to the barn and opened the battery compartment.  Its bolted down into its own well, and must be completely disconnected and pulled out to see anything but the top of the battery. The only thing I can see on the one side is "Maintenance Fr....." (Free).    There is no info visible without disassembly except an etched number on the top of the battery. HL1316S0851 and that produces nothing on an internet search.  Maybe its just my battery's serial number.  

These appear to be motorcycle type batteries, which is deeply disappointing given they have to start in cold weather, wet weather, run lights, and a winch.  I guess the only thing to do is take measurements, so a replacement will fit, and search for the strongest battery available that meets the measurements.  Or find a larger, alternative battery location elsewhere on the UTV and get a heavy duty automotive battery instead.

I'm now wondering if I might use the reciprocating saw and "create" more space to mount a larger, automotive type battery.  We'll see about that on warmer days. 

 

[Alien10]

Alpha sports came as close as any on a Hisun battery search.  But these are pathetically poor CCA rated at  275 CCA. Even a one cylinder engine,  I'd want to have at least 350 to 400 CCA for the duty these are expected to fill.

Disappointing is the word. 

Before you suspect your new battery, do the testing, my bet is the starter is failing, but the test will tell you for sure.

Good luck.

[Jaygyver]

He did say in a later post that the new battery is a 385cca so in theory it should be enough.

 It runs and when it does start he said it ran great, so that there says it just in the starter area, battery, starter, etc. If it's always been a hard starter then got worse with time kinda wonder if the manufacturer just under specked the starter or it missed the QC guy when they made it. I don't have a Coleman so I didn't really check the forums if anyone else mentioned theirs being a hard starter so not sure if it's a thing or not.

I have a 500 engine so it should be similar so I'm curious what size my battery is but not enough to take off a dozen screws or so to take the hood off to see what it is!

[Raider Rich]

As earlier said, I checked the connections on my Coleman 550 on Friday 12/12, and I believe mystery is solved.  The starter is definitely kaput, but the fault lies with me.  Upon examining - cleaning connections, I discovered a second ground connection at the starter, in addition to the ground connection on the frame.   The battery connection and wire for this second ground had fallen through the opening in the battery compartment and was just laying loose below the compartment out of site.  I believe this happened in my haste to replace the original battery with the O'Reilly battery and the OVERSIGHT continued with the installation of the second "higher cca" Interstate battery and the new solenoid. 

My continuing to start the UTV with a sluggish starter by jumping the battery or using a higher CCA battery burned the starter out. The starter was not getting enough voltage to it without that 2nd ground.  This happened to me once before with a tractor starter, but I guess I didn't learn.  I was desperate to keep the utv going feeding cattle, now we're feeding with the pickup and an extra hand.

The UTV is in the shop getting a new starter.  Thanks for all the imput!

[Jaygyver]

I've never had that luck. It either didn't work or was outright bad before I started looking, lol

Glad it was that easy.