Tao tao atv problems

Check your ignition switch electrical side
Check the relay
Or the starter motor itself must be playing up

Where is this car built?

Likely either the starter or solenoid. Solenoid is a combination of relay and actuator, pushing the starter's gear into engagement with your flywheel.

3 posibilies:

1. Plain old bad starter
2. Low battery (not enough power to fully engage starter)
3. Frozen (iced) starter (ATV's are often wet after all)

Hi without seeing (hearing) it sounds like the clutch in the bendix is faulty, as the solenoid will engage the bendix at the same time as connecting feed to the starter motor.
New starter required or a good strip down and rebuild on the solenoid and bendix.
What condition is the ring gear in by the way (Starter Motor removed). David

The starter motor when cranking the engine when energized, causes the crankshaft to turn and the belt pulleys will also turn. If the starter motor just sounds without engaging, there is a problem with the starter solenoid or the starter great teeth or the ring great teeth.
Once the engine cranks but will not run, the engine must have compassion, fuel and spark for it to run.

Starter motor spins, but does not engage

1. Check the starter motor for a seized or binding pinion gear.
2. Remove the flywheel inspection plate and check for a damaged ring gear.

The problem seems to be with the solenoid on the starter motor that is why it is not engaging the flywheel. Please contact the nearest workshop as it can be repaired.

The motor just locking up like that is almost impossible so you can rule that out. Place a large socket and breaker bar onto the harmonic balancer bolt, remove all spark plugs and then manually turn the motor. This will remove a vapor lock if there is one. This is one possible problem if the starter is engaging but unalbe to turn the motor over. If the starter will not engage at all no matter what have the starter tested. If the test passes check all relays and fuses. If all fuses and relays are good, check your main lead wire from battery to starter. if all these work and the starter will still not engage you may have a faultly ignition switch or control module. Good luck.