Honda 300 4TRAX help needed, PLS

[Riceburner]

Need some help with a friends 2000 4 wheeler--When it's cold outside, the oil sensor light indicating overheating will come on for no apparent reason, and thus the machine cannot be shifted. If this happens while moving, the machine will likely backfire, sputter, and act like some control is causing a change in timing or ??.....He tried running with the sensor disconnected, sometimes good-other times poor performance. Always poor starting. Anybody know Hondas, or have similar trouble/solution?? We cannot depend on it--so can't venture too far for icefishing...THX.

[Fishoil]

I had a similar problem. The wires connecting the ignition switch were loose, they had slid back inside the connector. It acted like you momentarily shut the machine off. I tightened up the wires and it's been running great ever since, and that was 2 or 3 years ago.