How to charge a ATV & Side-by-Side battery on my Can-Am vehicle?

Just like any other part of your Can-Am Off-Road vehicle, your battery needs periodic servicing or replacement. Removing your battery from your ride and using a battery tender or trickle charger to keep it fresh is a great way to extend the life of the battery and always keep it juiced for that next ride.

However, if you find your battery does not hold a charge, it’s time to replace it. The steps will help you get the job done in a snap. Regardless of which Can-Am Off-Road vehicle you own, the process outlined here will be very similar.

The first important piece of must-know info is you should never charge your battery while it’s installed in your vehicle. So, to begin the process of either servicing or replacing your battery, you’ll want to remove it.

STEP 1:

Park the vehicle on a level surface. Set the parking brake, turn the engine off and remove the key to avoid any surprises.

STEP 2:

For the Can-Am Outlander ATV, you’ll find the battery under the seat. You’ll need to remove that. You’ll see a battery safety clip held in by three screws. Take your 10 mm socket, remove those screws and set the battery holder aside.

For the Can-Am Defender SSV, the battery is located under the passenger seat. Flip the seat up and remove the toolbox if you have one. You’ll see an access panel. There’s a groove for your hand to simply pull the panel off. The battery is held in place by a battery holder with two 10 mm bolts that you can quickly remove. Note: for Defender PRO models, the battery is located in the cargo storage box on the passenger side.

STEP 3:

Disconnect the battery. Although it’s just two simple screws, pay careful attention to the order you remove them. Disconnect the BLACK negative connection first. Be sure it’s not touching anything metal when it’s disconnected. Then remove the RED positive connection. Now you’re able to just pull the battery out of the vehicle.

STEP 4:

Test your battery with a battery tender. You can find them at almost any hardware store or at your local BRP dealer. Most of today’s battery tenders will analyze the battery first and tell you right off the bat if your battery can take and hold a charge. If not, it’s time to replace it.

STEP 5:

Reinstall your battery. Place the battery back in the vehicle and reconnect the wires in the opposite order as you removed them. Start with the RED positive cable, followed by the BLACK negative cable. Make sure the connections are tight.

STEP 6:

For the Can-Am Outlander, reinstall the battery holder with the three screws previously removed and reinstall the seat.

For the Can-Am Defender, reinstall the battery holder with the two screws previously removed, and reinstall the access panel.

STEP 7:

Return to your regularly scheduled adventures!

Remember, if you think of any questions along the way, your Can-Am dealer is always ready to lend a hand. Be sure to check out the Can-Am Off-Road Owner Zone for more vehicle maintenance tips and how-tos.