ddoles
Member III
I'm faced with an engine that suddenly decided not to start. All was well from one day to the next when I went to start the engine and nothing happened. Turning the key would normally start the fuel pump and with a little glow plug and a push of the start button the engine comes to life. I checked the starter battery voltage and got the expected 12.8 V. Similarly, I get 12.8 V on the battery side of the key switch. Turning the key switch to the on position, I got 0 V on the load side of the switch. I assumed then the key switch was the culprit and was a quick and easy fix. With a new key switch in place, I got the same result.
Delving deeper into the panel wiring, I see that there are two wires connected to the load side of the key switch. One goes to the glow plug and ignition button, the second wire powers all the panel gauges, oil light and fuel pump. Through some experimentation I discovered that with only the first wire connected to the key switch, with the key on, the circuit was powered, with 12.8 V at the glow plug and ignition button (but even then, the ignition button would not turn the engine over). However, with the second wire connected and the key switch on, I get 0V everywhere on the load side of the key switch, and of course no fuel pump running or engine starting.
I tried disconnecting each gauge to see if I could find perhaps a bad actor in the circuit, but so far nothing has worked. With my rudimentary electrical knowledge and multimeter in hand I will do some more troubleshooting, but I want to see if anyone has any guidance to offer. Any thoughts, comments, suggestions on troubleshooting would be greatly appreciated.
Some other points of note, the key switch, start button, fuel pump and start battery have all been replaced within the last 3-4 years. The starter was rebuilt 2 years ago. So I think these components should be in good shape. Everything else is original equipment, as far as I know, including the wire harness.
Thanks
Dave
Delving deeper into the panel wiring, I see that there are two wires connected to the load side of the key switch. One goes to the glow plug and ignition button, the second wire powers all the panel gauges, oil light and fuel pump. Through some experimentation I discovered that with only the first wire connected to the key switch, with the key on, the circuit was powered, with 12.8 V at the glow plug and ignition button (but even then, the ignition button would not turn the engine over). However, with the second wire connected and the key switch on, I get 0V everywhere on the load side of the key switch, and of course no fuel pump running or engine starting.
I tried disconnecting each gauge to see if I could find perhaps a bad actor in the circuit, but so far nothing has worked. With my rudimentary electrical knowledge and multimeter in hand I will do some more troubleshooting, but I want to see if anyone has any guidance to offer. Any thoughts, comments, suggestions on troubleshooting would be greatly appreciated.
Some other points of note, the key switch, start button, fuel pump and start battery have all been replaced within the last 3-4 years. The starter was rebuilt 2 years ago. So I think these components should be in good shape. Everything else is original equipment, as far as I know, including the wire harness.
Thanks
Dave