2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 Problems : 4 Common Issues (Explained)

In the extreme world of ATVs (and UTVs) no other brand is as recognized as Polaris. This is because Polaris Inc is always looking for ways to better the conventional ATV and most of the time they succeed in doing that without fail. Nineteen years ago the company released the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 to the world and it was an ATV ahead of its time to say the least. It was the first ATV in the entire world to feature an electronic fuel injector which meant fuel would be saved significantly and riders could get on the most demanding of trails. That was nineteen years ago however, today (presently) users of the exact same ATV complain about having problems with the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 and here they are.

Table of Contents

1. The Carburetor Intake Valve of This ATV Tends To Crack

When riding an ATV like the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700, you may want to push it as far as you can take it which means going or riding on the roughest trails/ terrains just to embrace the power of the ATV. However some parts on the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 may not take it too well, parts like the carburetor (a device in the engine of the ATV responsible for vaporizing fuel and then mixing it with air before ignition) intake valve. Rough terrains or trails cause the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 to vibrate quite a lot and this in part causes the problem of the cracking carburetor intake valve. Even how Polaris Inc decided to design how the carburetor intake valve is mounted to the chassis of the ATV is questionable.

What You Can Do

  • This problem was fixed by Polaris Inc on their 2005 model of the Sportsman 700 which is basically identical to the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 but with minor adjustments like the carburetor intake valve for instance.
  • You can try getting a 2005 Polaris Sportsman 700’s carburetor intake valve and replace the one on your 2004 model with that one. It is in fact better suited to handle all manner of vibrations/ shocked that will come your way.

2. The Electronics of This ATV Are Quite Delicate

Delicate is no exception for something that is meant to be rugged and tough even for parts like electronics. But the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 is built that way, one of the more delicate electronics is the ATV’s charging system that is responsible for transporting and converting electrical current from the battery. If you run the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 with a loosely connected battery, you run the risk of burning out all of the electrical components on the ATV. These include the lights, the rev limiter and the AWD system amongst many others. You may be faced with the serious problem that all of these components on the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 completely stop working if you make the mistake of not connecting your battery properly.

What You Can Do

  • Before you start the engine of your 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700, you need to make sure that the battery is charged and connected properly to avoid the above problem.
  • You are better of purchasing a battery management system for your ATV’s battery since it may not even adhere to modern standard regulations for batteries in the first place.

3. The ATV Backfires Quite A Lot

And that’s understandable, the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 is not as new as it was when it first launched in 2004. This also means that its engine is not as new as it used to be as well. When an engine ‘backfires’ it experiences a premature (very early) ignition of fuel causing it to make a popping sound. Most users of the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 have reported that most of the problems they have with this ATV are engine related like this one here.

What You Can Do

  • To make sure that your 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 engine doesn’t not backfire, you have to make sure that your fuel tank is full or half full before you take a ride on it.
  • This problem on the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 can also be caused by leakage in openings. So you need to make sure that none of the openings (vents or intakes) are closed off if they should be in anyway.
  • If you notice any leaks on your 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 or its engine, be sure to seek professional help in order to patch the problem up and close the leaking off. Everything on your ATV should be in place, so consult your user manual before you start riding on it.

4. The 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 Lacks Power

Sadly in today’s climate of modern ATVs, the once amazing 72-mph of the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 is no longer as groundbreaking as it used to be. There are more powerful, more rugged and overall generally better ATVs out there than the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 and that can be a very big problem for other users. To top it all off, the once never before seen electrical fuel injector just adds on to the problems of this ATV because the 2004 Polaris Sportsman consumes fuel like it is nothing.

What You Can Do

  • Perhaps as a relic of the past (or just to store it as a collectable for future generations) , it would be good to have the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 but in terms of its functionality you are better served buying a newer ATV model.
  • With ATVs like the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 you have to know from the very beginning that you might be compromising on speed, power and overall quality for the obvious price drop.

Conclusion

However many the problems the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 may have, some riders have even gone as far as calling this particular ATV reliable. Of course when people purchase items they may not be looking for the same things as yourself. Some may look for speed from an ATV, whilst others look for comfort and luxury from the ATV. So the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 may not be for everyone, but somebody out there would have the time of their lives on the 2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 and that’s who this ATV is for.