Help! Electrical issues!

[SWOOLEY]

New Holland TC35 won't start:

I have installed a new batter, checked fuses, grounds & positive leads, starter & solenoid are good, safety switches are good. The last thing I did was replace the ignition and it started like a champ. I killed it and put the panel back in place, tried to start it again and it cranked for a split second, then died like it had been shot. There are no blown fuses. When I turn the key the only light that comes on is the oil light and it is dim. When I turn to start it there is nothing. Any suggestions?

SWOOLEY

 

[Fawken]

:welcome: to TBN. Just a guess (as electrical issues are the toughest of all to diagnose from afar) sounds as if you may have shorted a lug to a ground source when you put the dash back together.

 

[BHD]

I would double check the connections, and clean them, good, at the battery and at the mounting locations,

 

[boggen]

not fuses, but a "relay" maybe bad. there are better "write ups" in how to check for a bad relay (search internet for "testing relay"). some times you get lucky and the relay is cheap and on hand. relay are those "larger box shaped" things in the fuse box area.

and i would more likely go with fawken, you goofed something up as you put the panel back on. or something came loose as you put panel back on. and shorted something out.

 

[KubotainNH]

I would double check the connections, and clean them, good, at the battery and at the mounting locations,

I'd start here. Make sure those battery terminals are shiny on the surfaces that touch each other. So many people skip cleaning them. This is one reason I got my tractor cheap, it wouldn't start consistently. Now it does since I cleaned the terminals 8 or so years ago. Otherwise you'll need to get a voltmeter out and see where the voltage is not getting through.

 

[Mysfyt]

I'll add to check your ground cables/ wires where they connect to the chassis.

 

[SWOOLEY]

I just tapped the battery post with a hammer and the dash lit up like a Christmas tree. Tried to crank it and "click"... nothing. Tapped post ... power, crank key... nothing. I ended up starting it by bumping the starter with a screwdriver and mowed for 3 hours. Dang it's HOT is Louisiana! I'm pretty sure it's the connection at the battery, but is it possible for it to be something between the ignition and starter? Thanks for all the input guys. Ya'll are great.

SW

 

[Fawken]

I just tapped the battery post with a hammer and the dash lit up like a Christmas tree. Tried to crank it and "click"... nothing. Tapped post ... power, crank key... nothing. I ended up starting it by bumping the starter with a screwdriver and mowed for 3 hours. Dang it's HOT is Louisiana! I'm pretty sure it's the connection at the battery, but is it possible for it to be something between the ignition and starter? Thanks for all the input guys. Ya'll are great.

SW

That sounds like a bad battery cable or clamp or corrosion at the point of chassis ground. Replace both battery cables as they're likely OEM and need it anyway.

 

[KubotainNH]

I would still clean the terminals but if you can get it to start by jumping the small starter wire to the big starter wire then you have an issue with power to the system not the always on lead that goes straight from the battery to the starter. Could be the accessory wire coming off the positive battery terminal has a bad connection. Can you get it to brighten and dim by moving the smaller gauge power wire?

 

[Mysfyt]

Could be a bad internal post connection on the battery.

 

[skyhook]

That sounds like a bad battery cable or clamp or corrosion at the point of chassis ground. Replace both battery cables as they're likely OEM and need it anyway.

I tend to agree, splice open a section of the cables and take a look at the copper strands for corrosion,
other than that, check both ends of your cables for good clean connections.

 

[brown40]

It could be a bad ignition switch; went through a similar problem on my first tractor that ended up being in the actual switch--was intermittent, then consistent, then just stopped working. Try pulling it and seeing if its working 100% in specs when you check to see if your panel hit something.