HELP MY X748 IS DRIVING ME CRAZY

[RedHawkRidge]

I have a X595, year 2002. Was mowing along last year, and the unit simply died. After several attempts to restart, some of the dash lights came on with a brightness much greater than normal. I ran the unit back to the shed, but it died before getting there. After letting the unit sit for 20 minutes, I was able to start it and run it onto a trailer..... off to the JD dealer.
The service manager explained the problem was the battery, which was the original. Admittedly, I had been quite pleased with its longevity, but now I was paying the piper. The explanation was the battery failed, something about the cells breaking down, sending voltage spike thru the electrical system. One clue was the dash lights glowing so brightly. Manager said they had seen this failure before with JD batteries.
He also said the electrical system was probably questionable -- the hour meter was fried, and he couldn't assure me how long I could go without having other serious problems. I have been running the tractor since then without problems, other than the hour meter, and have my fingers crossed that it won't go bad again.
Your problem sounds familar.

 

[beenthere]

That is a new one on me. Am understanding you to say that the spike is a higher voltage, and not a lower voltage.

 

[ccsial]

If all your connections are tight I'd start looking at various connectors.

 

[RedHawkRidge]

That is a new one on me. Am understanding you to say that the spike is a higher voltage, and not a lower voltage.

Sorry, I don't have a background in electrical engineering, so I'm not able to validate or translate the service mgr's explanation of a "voltage spike" causing my electrical system's failure. But higher voltage would seem to make sense to cause the dashboard lights to glow extra-bright. My bottom line is that I have a new battery in the 595; it's running like it should (minus the hour meter); and I've committed to a schedule of replacing batteries in my other JD units (4520, X748, 850D) every 48 months regardless of whether there are any problems.

 

[arlen4720]

I have a X595, year 2002. Was mowing along last year, and the unit simply died. After several attempts to restart, some of the dash lights came on with a brightness much greater than normal. I ran the unit back to the shed, but it died before getting there. After letting the unit sit for 20 minutes, I was able to start it and run it onto a trailer..... off to the JD dealer.
The service manager explained the problem was the battery, which was the original. Admittedly, I had been quite pleased with its longevity, but now I was paying the piper. The explanation was the battery failed, something about the cells breaking down, sending voltage spike thru the electrical system. One clue was the dash lights glowing so brightly. Manager said they had seen this failure before with JD batteries.
He also said the electrical system was probably questionable -- the hour meter was fried, and he couldn't assure me how long I could go without having other serious problems. I have been running the tractor since then without problems, other than the hour meter, and have my fingers crossed that it won't go bad again.
Your problem sounds familar.

The alternator voltage regulator probably failed, producing a higher than normal voltage, which probably damaged the battery and other things in the electrical system.

 

[studenthousing]

same here, I don't bother if someone post in all caps.

Ok, I want to give input on the posts with all caps... I am personally VERY dyslexic. Honestly reading and typing in all caps is so much easier with this visual handicap. Please don't hate and don't discriminate. No one knows what this is like when they don't have the disorder of dyslexia. (I originally typed this in MS-Word and converted to proper text) Thank you.

 

[beenthere]

Appreciate your extra effort, and sorry for the dyslexia.. a burden many of us do not have. Prolly we have others that you do not have.

 

[rodneyn]

Appreciate your extra effort, and sorry for the dyslexia.. a burden many of us do not have. Prolly we have others that you do not have.

Do you have wiring schematic to understand voltage to display not everything is 12 volts. It may be some in line voltage regulator that is breaking down. It was mentioned your alternator could be focal point make sure belt is secure a lose worn belt will cause power fluctuations. If the dealer replaced the display only he may not of identified root cause of failure. Even aged battery or corroded connection can cause voltage issues.