Challenger MT455B Cold weather starting below 20F

[KMCNH]

Folks, Thanks in advance for your input.

I have a new to me 2011 Challenger MT455B. I live in mid state NH. I just got this tractor the first week in Dec. Starting in cold weather has been a callenge. I know that the Battery is weak and I am working on replacing it. But even with a solid jump from my RAM 3500 its hard to start. I am used to tractors with a manifold heater that fire right up. I know there is a pre-heat postion on the switch but I have yet to figure out what it does. I saw an older operators manual on the MT455 that talked about a diesel fired pre-heater, I hope not. The operators manual I downloaded from AGCO does not talk about cold start.

I will continue to dig in with time but is anyone familar with the cold start postion on the key? If so how long and what else is necessary?

 

[Hay Dude]

It usually glows until it has achieved full energy, then you crank.
You may have glow plugs out or a bad glow plug controller.
In cold weather, you need a strong battery, but I’d be lookin at the glow plugs, or get a tech to toss a lap top on it and see if it has a code for glow plug fault to start.

If you have a buddy, he could hold key in glow plug position while you put an electrical tester on the glow plug wire

 

[Hay Dude]

One other thing I had happen to me in my Massey Ferguson (both brands are AGCO and nearly identical). My glow plugs quit on my Massey and the reason was the glow plug circuit in ECM failed. It was an easy fix to put the glow plugs on a small manual switch on the console. Problem solved.
You may have suffered a similar failure.

 

[nyone]

A jump start from another vehicle hardly makes up for a weak battery. You tend to get lots of voltage loss when cranking the dead vehicle.

New battery, clean the connections and check to make sure your glow plugs are working.

Does it have a block heater?

 

[jonsstihl]

+ 1 for clean battery connections. they tend to corrode and can make a big difference. I noticed my tractor was getting a little slower while cranking so I took apart the battery connections and found the positive clamp starting to disintegrate. I cleaned up the connection and put it back together and it is much better. I did get a new positive clamp and will replace it at the next terminal cleaning.

slow cranking would be connections but if it is hard to start but cranks over fine it could be an issue with glow plugs and such. Is there winter diesel in the tank?

 

[BackRoad]

Might look at the thread on battery minders, could save you needing to buy a battery.

Trickle battery charger

Hello to all, I have 2-3 tractors & ATV's that periodically have weak batteries. My brother uses trickle battery chargers. I was seeking your advice on makes & models that work well and aren't trash in x yrs. These are covered sheds, but not climate controlled for temp or humidity, but...

www.tractorbynet.com

Trickle battery charger

 

[KMCNH]

Thanks all. Battery will be taken care of Friday. I have not checked that all 4 glow plugs are working correctly yet but hopefully Friday as well.

One thing I did note from a larger Challenger tractor manual is to let the computer fully boot before trying the pre-heat. I did this yesterday morning at about 25F with a jump start prior to heating and it fired up on the second turn.

I do have a block heater which if all else fails I will use but I have to relocate the tractor to get it to a place where there is power so that is a last resort.

 

[MHarryE]

Not familiar with your tractor but the Cat 4.4 l engine of that period - needs to be turning a certain rpm before injection is permitted. Not written in the book but you can crank all you want but until it senses that minimum cranking speed, no injection.

 

[Hay Dude]

Many other diesel engines are like that.

 

[KMCNH]

Folks,
It was all in the Battery and maybe me timing the pre-heat correctly. New battery, 20 sec Pre-heat after dash lights settle down and it started right up, better than after shutting it down for 5 minutes. Thanks.