The Axis 700 UTV is looked at as a solid value in the industry thanks to the performance it provides at a reasonable price tag.
And while it comes with a number of standard accessories, adding a few more from the list of best Axis 700 accessories will transform these models into quite capable off-roaders.
But there are some drawbacks with this model, some of which come in the form of seven common Axis 700 UTV problems that bother owners.
Axis 700 UTV Problems
Owners of the Axis 700 UTV report the following seven issues as the most common Axis 700 UV problems.
- Assembly Issues
- Rattling & Squeaking
- Shifting Difficulty
- Excessive Cabin Heat
- Engine Overheating
- Engine Won’t Start
- Lack of Service Options
In this guide, we will explore these issues in more detail, including the most common causes and proven fixes for each.
Assembly Issues
Like most UTVs sold through retail stores, the Axis 700 is not shipped to Lowe’s fully assembled, meaning it is up to employees of Lowe’s to make the final assembly on these machines. As these employees simply don’t have the same expertise as a mechanic at an official dealer would, this can lead to minor issues during the assembly process.
A number of owners report getting their Axis 700 home to find loose screws, nuts, and bolts. Some have found hoses or other parts installed incorrectly. Others have reported their oil and coolant levels not being filled adequately.
Though most of these are minor issues, they can be a nuisance, and in extreme cases can cause a major headache for the owner if not quickly corrected. It is highly recommended that owners thoroughly inspect their machines on their own for any of these issues before use.
Rattling and Squeaking
One of the main effects of a poorly assembled machine is the tendency for the dump bed or body to rattle or squeak when driving. Loose screws, nuts, and bolts are the most likely cause of this rattling or squeaking.
A best practice for owners of the Axis 700 is to meticulously examine every last screw, nut, and bolt on the machine to ensure they are tightened. Once done, apply grease to all available fittings and zerks, as this is rarely taken care of during the assembly process at retail stores. For owners experiencing squeaking, pay special attention to the bolts around the seats and frame of the machine as those are typically the main culprits.
Shifting Difficulty
If you own an Axis 700 UTV, you may experience the gear shift sticking when attempting to change gears. This is likely a sign that your shift linkage needs an adjustment. This problem generally occurs due to one or both of the lock nuts that hold the turnbuckle in place vibrating loose, resulting in the shift linkage transferring to an incorrect position. You’ll need to readjust it back into place.
Locate the turnbuckle shift linkage within the engine bay. Using a wrench, hold the turnbuckle in place while using another wrench to loosen the two locking nuts on both ends as needed. Once fully loosened, rotate the turnbuckle counter clockwise shifting it to the left until it kicks into low gear.
You can then test it out by turning on the ignition switch and attempting to shift gears to ensure it’s in the correct position. The gear shift should not stick if the positioning is right. Once you’ve confirmed it to be in the correct position, tighten your locking nuts to hold it in place.
Excessive Cabin Heat
Another common issue with the Axis 700 UTV is heat from the radiator blowing into the cabin and heat from the engine warming the seats to an uncomfortable degree.
The cabin heat occurs due to the radiator venting under the dash, which blows warm/hot air out through the driver side footwell in the direction of the feet and legs of the driver. The heat also flows in from spaces around the steering column and gear shift.
The heat affecting the seats generally blows up from behind and between the seats, but also warms the seats from the underside. This heating of the cab and seats can be incredibly uncomfortable, especially during summer months. Luckily, owners have identified a couple of different fixes for these issues.
Remove the Doors
Removing the doors on each side of your UTV can help to resolve the heat issue as well. This may not be ideal for some owners, but it will make a noticeable difference as the added airflow helps to disperse the heat in the cab.
Heat Shields
To combat both the seat and cabin heat, you can purchase a heat shield online. Many owners will buy a heat shield/sound deadening mat from Amazon along with an actual sheet of aluminum from somewhere like the local welding shop. There are a number of different options to choose from. Once fitted in your UTV, these heat shields can reduce the cabin/seat heat by up to 75%.
While most heat shields live up to their name and cut down the heat in the cabin and warming of the seats, they also bring the added benefit of cutting down on engine noise and cabin dust for occupants as well.
Engine Overheating
The engines used in the Axis 700 UTV are prone to overheating, which tends to occur due to issues with the temperature sensor, an air blockage in the coolant system, or a blown head gasket.
Temperature Sensor
The Axis 700 UTV uses a Hisun engine. A major flaw with Hisun engines is they are factory-set so the temperature sensor on the radiator will not trigger the fan until reaching temperatures that are oftentimes too high for the engine to withstand, especially in warm weather. As such, the fan may not trigger in time to stop the engine from overheating.
To alleviate this, some owners have resorted to bypassing the temperature sensor altogether in a couple of different ways.
Some have installed a toggle switch on their dash, which runs between the wires of the temperature sensor and essentially bypasses it, enabling them to turn on the fan with a flip of the toggle switch as they see fit.
Others have gone to the extent of rigging their machines so that the fan automatically engages and runs constantly whenever the engine is on.
Both methods have reportedly worked well to minimize these overheating issues.
Air Blockage In Coolant System
Your Axis 700 UTV may also be overheating due to an air pocket blockage somewhere in the coolant system. Many times if the cooling fan is not triggering correctly, your engine will overheat and allow air into the system. The air will usually find its way to the water pump, which won’t pump air. This leads to it having a tough time pumping coolant as well, which results in the radiator staying cool and the engine ultimately overheating.
Once this air pocket is in the system, your engine will continue to overheat until the air is bled out. To bleed the air from the coolant system, follow the steps below.
- Raise the front end of your vehicle about a foot higher than the back end by parking on a hill or via a jack
- Ensure the engine is cold
- Remove any bleeder bolt from the radiator
- Remove radiator cap
- Fill it until coolant comes out of the bleeder
- Reinstall the bleeder bolt
- Continue filling radiator until it overflows
- You’ll need to repeat steps above for any overflow reservoir as well
- Start the engine and let idle – you’ll most likely see bubbles
- Once the bubbles stop, shut off engine and replenish coolant if necessary
- Repeat this process until you no longer see bubbles
- Reinstall radiator cap (and reservoir cap if applicable)
Your coolant system should be free of any air blockage at this point. However, if you see excessive bubbling out of the radiator fill area that won’t subside, you likely have a blown head gasket.
Blown Head Gaskets
Blown head gaskets are a common occurrence in the Axis 700 UTV due to the tendency for the Hisun engine to overheat. Each time the engine overheats, the head gaskets are at risk of blowing. The maddening part is that blown head gaskets will then lead to additional overheating. A head gasket test kit can confirm whether either of the head gaskets are blown and will need to be replaced.
Engine Won’t Start
If your Axis 700 will turn over but won’t start, or shows no sign of life, it’s likely due to an issue with one of the following:
- Valves
- Battery
- Spark Plugs
- Degraded Fuel
Valves
The Axis 700 UTV has two valves – the intake valve and exhaust valve. The most common occurrence is that these valves tighten too much creating an issue, but they can also loosen too much. Both tightening and loosening affects your valve clearance, which if not maintained at the proper level, can result in your machine not starting.
The proper valve clearances are generally listed on a tab under the driver’s side fender of your machine, or in the service manual. Check to ensure both valves are set at their proper clearances, and make the proper adjustments if not.
Battery
Axis 700 stock batteries are prone to draining fairly quickly, especially if supporting any added electronics. If your vehicle has been sitting without use for a bit, or isn’t used frequently in general, you should hook it up to a battery tender when not in use to prevent it from draining.
You should also test your battery’s voltage to ensure it is at 12+ volts. The Axis 700’s fuel injection is heavily reliant upon the battery getting at least 12 volts to run properly.
You can also try recharging your battery and checking to ensure all of the battery cables are tightly secured in place.
Spark Plugs
The stock spark plugs in the Axis 700 UTV are prone to fouling rather quickly, as they are not of the best quality.
Check your spark plugs to ensure they are not coated with a foreign substance such as fuel, oil, or coolant. You can also inspect the color to ensure the tips look normal and have not turned to a gray or black which would indicate fouling.
If your spark plugs appear to be fouled, that is most likely your issue and you should replace them. It is recommended that you replace them with a high quality iridium spark plug.
Degraded Fuel
Another reason for your Axis 700 engine not starting can be old fuel that has degraded after sitting for more than 90 days. If you suspect this to be the case for your machine, replace it with new fuel and add some Sea Foam Motor Oil to your fuel tank in order to flush any remnants
Lack of Service Options
Another issue with the Axis 700 UTV is the perceived lack of support owners are able to get when attempting to troubleshoot issues. The lack of customer support is one thing, but there also seems to be a lack of options to actually service and make repairs to these machines as well. Many repair shops and mechanics simply will not work on these machines. And some of those who would are just not familiar enough with them.
If considering purchasing an Axis 700, it’s important to research potential repair shops in your area to know whether this may be a problem for you. Depending upon where you live, you may need to be fairly self reliant when it comes to servicing and troubleshooting issues with these
Conclusion
While adhering to the recommended maintenance schedule in the owner’s manual and ensuring proper preventative care should help owners steer clear of some of these Axis 700 UTV problems, others may be completely out of their hands.
