Help a brother out with a Chinese POS ATV problem??

[kioskguy]

Hey guys, normally it's all Honda CB's and BMW R series airheads. But I've been tasked with helping fix my 9 year old niece's TaoTao 110F ATV.

She used it several times over a period of months. One day it died and we could not get it to start. No starter movement at all. Tried the normal stuff like the rear kill switch, battery, etc.

So I figured one of the electrical components got shorted out. I replaced the CDI, the ignition coil and spark plug wire, the Starter Relay Solenoid Switch... nothing. (yeah, these parts are that cheap! and my brother in law is paying the bill so Phffttt!)

However, today I noticed that I could start it with the keyfob but not the handlebar switch.

I did find the controller box in the rear has one black wire that is hanging loose. It appeared to have some shrink wrap over the end so i think it was connected somewhere and came off. Its the last black wired on the end. Could that affect the starter switch?

Thank you for any help you can give, especially those DTT guys well versed in these ATVs. I hope to have her riding it this Thanksgiving weekend.
a few pics are on Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiosks/sets/72157627988152851/


Taotao 110F


Taotao 110F by Tim Burke Kiosk Guy, on Flickr

 

[kioskguy]

okay, I was told the loose black wire is the antenna for the remote. So thats good.
Now it comes down to why doesn't the starter switch work?

 

[Maritime]

Tim, I would check continuity on the wires going to and from the switch, they use some shoddy connections and the wire is pretty thin, it can get shorts in it from the vibrations. check them end to end and see if they pass current and it should find your problem.

 

[Maritime]

PS, I was going to buy one of these for William (the little guy you gave your I-Phone to play angry birds at Kiley's in 2010). but got a steal on a Suzuki. I just sold a chinese CR70 clone that I had to re-run half the wires cause they had intermitent shorts in them.

 

[kioskguy]

Good idea! I'll check them after lunch!
Also could check with a volt meter I suppose

 

[Maritime]

Yep, use your meter on ohms and if it goes to 0 or close, wire is good, if it stays at 1 bad.