ATV Maintenance

Your four wheeler gets you where you want to go, whether it’s around the track or through the woods and over the hills on an off-roading adventure. If you want your ATV to run smoothly and keep powering through and over the worst obstacles, though, you’ll have to perform a little routine maintenance to keep it in great shape. You might not know exactly what you need to do, though, and that’s where America's Motorsports Nashville comes in. Not only do we have the know-how to provide you with this handy list of maintenance tips, but we’ve got a killer service department with certified mechanics who can fix everything you can’t. If you come across something in your weekly checks that you’re concerned about, don’t hesitate to give us a call to schedule a service appointment.

Tire Pressure

Your tires take the most beating when you’re riding your ATV, so they need to be checked on a regular basis for low pressure, embedded objects, slow leaks and balding or uneven wear. You should use a tire pressure gauge like the one you’d use on your passenger vehicle to check that the pressure of all four tires is up to the manufacturer’s standards, and if you consistently find yourself filling up one tire over the others, then you may need to get it professionally serviced.

Battery

The battery of your ATV provides all the power for the electronics and signals, which are vital to keep you and those around you safe as you ride. You don’t want your battery to die in the middle of a ride, so make sure that you address any performance issues as soon as you notice them. Batteries do lose their ability to hold a charge as they age and are exposed to extreme weather conditions, so keep an eye on yours if you’ve had your ATV a while. A dead battery could be one that’s worn out or corroded, or it could mean that the magneto (the part that recharges your battery, analogous to a car’s alternator) is broken.

Fluids

Your engine’s fluids keep it in great shape and ensure it runs smoothly and doesn’t sputter to a stop, so topping them up and ensuring that they’re clean is an essential part of ATV maintenance. Just as you would check your oil and get it changed every few months in a passenger car, you need to get your ATV’s oil changed every few months and check it weekly by removing the dipstick, wiping it off, inserting it into the tank and pulling it out to see that the oil flows smoothly and is evenly colored. Your engine’s coolant is another fluid you should keep topped up, as it prevents your engine from overheating. If your engine is suffering, look at the coolant tank next to your ATV’s radiator, and make sure the coolant level within is at an acceptable range. Check the cap for leaks and if you find yourself low on coolant, then your radiator might have a leak in it. You can see this if there are fluids pooling under your parked ATV.

Spark Plugs

The internal combustion engine of your ATV needs spark plugs to provide it with power. Weak plugs won’t burn gas efficiently, and broken ones do nothing at all. If your engine won’t turn over no matter how many times you start your ATV or you notice that the performance of your ATV suffers, it may be a spark plug issue. To check these, disconnect your battery and remove the covers or body panels over your engine. Remove the ignition cables from your spark plugs and take out a spark plug with a socket or spark plug wrench. You need to check the metal gaps to see that they are clean, dry and in an unbroken housing. Spark plug replacement will require some technical know-how that’s a little too in-depth to explain here, but if you don’t want to deal with it, then bring in your ATV to our service department.

Need parts or service on your 4 wheeler? Call us or come down to our Nashville showroom to talk to our mechanics in person about anything your ATV might need. If you’re in the market for a new or used ATV, whether it’s an upgrade, a first-time purchase or an addition to your current family of quads, we’ve got a great selection of them we can show you while you’re here. America’s Powersports Nashville serves the greater Nashville metro area, as well as the cities of Brentwood, Franklin, Columbia & Murfreesboro, Tennessee.