Experiencing intermittent engine stalling in your 2016 Honda Pioneer 1000-5 can be frustrating and disrupt your off-road adventures. One owner reached out seeking assistance with this exact issue, detailing a series of troubleshooting steps already undertaken. This article will delve into the problem, the diagnostic journey so far, and potential next steps to resolve the stalling issue in a 2016 Honda Pioneer 1000-5.
The owner initially reported a perplexing problem: the Honda Pioneer 1000-5 would randomly shut down, often when the engine temperature gauge was at just one or two bars out of four. This intermittent nature made it difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. The stalling could occur after just two miles or after twenty miles from a cold start. Sometimes, restarting was immediate, allowing for another five miles of travel, while other times, it might only manage fifty feet before stalling again.
To address the issue, the owner began with the electrical system, suspecting battery problems that have been reported by other users. A new battery was installed, yet the stalling persisted. Measurements showed a healthy battery state: 12.68V off for the main battery and 12.61V for the accessory battery. When running, the voltage was a robust 14.24V. Cranking and load tests further confirmed the battery’s good condition. Even disconnecting all accessories and the accessory battery failed to eliminate the stalling.
Starting the 2016 Honda Pioneer 1000-5 after stalling was generally not a problem. The engine would crank and restart about 95% of the time. On the few occasions it hesitated, waiting a couple of minutes always resulted in a successful restart.
A systematic troubleshooting approach was undertaken, covering various potential culprits:
- Injector Pigtails: Knowing injector pigtail issues were a previous concern (replaced two years prior), these were wiggled during idling and driving, but no impact was observed. Solder joints were even resoldered as a precaution, again without resolving the stalling.
- Spark and Plugs: Spark was confirmed to be strong, and spark plugs appeared in good condition. Despite this, new OEM spark plugs were installed, but the stalling continued unchanged.
- Air Filter: While the air filter was only slightly dirty, it was replaced with an OEM filter to rule it out. This also had no effect on the stalling problem.
- Battery (Again): Even after replacing the battery with a larger, stronger unit, the problem remained, confirming the issue was likely elsewhere.
- Shift Solenoid: Based on forum suggestions, the shift solenoid was replaced with an OEM part, but unfortunately, this did not resolve the intermittent stalling.
- Engine Grounds: The three engine grounds were inspected and found to be in good condition. Nevertheless, they were removed, sanded, and re-tightened to ensure proper grounding, but the stalling issue persisted.
- Wiring Harness Wiggle Test: With the machine elevated, the wiring harness underneath was vigorously wiggled while the machine was running and under load (wife flooring and stopping), but no stalling was induced, suggesting the main harness wasn’t the primary fault point for movement-induced stalling.
- Sensor Cleaning and Dielectric Grease: Every sensor connector on the harness was disconnected, cleaned, treated with dielectric grease, and reconnected. One oil pressure sensor on the transmission showed signs of being oily. After cleaning this sensor and a 20-mile test drive without issues, there was hope the problem was solved.
Initially, it seemed the oily oil pressure sensor might have been the cause. For two weeks and 30 miles of leisure driving, the 2016 Honda Pioneer 1000-5 performed flawlessly. However, during a mountain trail ride, approximately 20 miles in, the stalling returned. It restarted, but then stalled again after just five minutes, followed by another four stalls in quick succession. Then, inexplicably, it ran smoothly for the remaining 15 miles back to the trailer.
Upon returning home, the fuel system was investigated. The fuel pump was pulled, and the filter was found to be remarkably clean. The fuel itself was fresh (two weeks old), and the tank was clean, with no signs of water or debris contamination.
The troubleshooting process has been thorough, eliminating many common issues. Based on the persistent stalling and the previous observation of an oily transmission oil pressure sensor, the next diagnostic steps are focused on potential sensor or fuel delivery problems:
- Re-inspect and Replace Oily Oil Pressure Switch: The skid plate will be removed to re-examine the oil pressure switch that was previously oily. If oil is present again, replacement is planned. This sensor’s intermittent malfunction could be a possible cause of the stalling, especially under trail riding conditions.
- Fuel Pump Pressure Test Under Load: The possibility of inconsistent fuel pump output pressure, particularly when driving, will be investigated. Testing fuel pressure while driving or inducing conditions that lead to stalling could reveal if the fuel pump is failing intermittently.
- Wiring Harness Replacement (Last Resort): If the sensor and fuel pump tests do not uncover the issue, replacing the entire wiring harness is considered as a last resort. While harness wiggling didn’t initially replicate the problem, an intermittent wiring fault within the harness is still a possibility in such cases.
This detailed account of troubleshooting a 2016 Honda Pioneer 1000-5 experiencing intermittent stalling provides valuable insights for other owners facing similar issues. By systematically eliminating potential causes and focusing on areas like sensors and fuel delivery, the owner is moving closer to identifying and resolving the root cause of the problem.
