JD 4300 strange electrical issue, won't start

[atczero]

Check your private messages

Thanks!

 

[jd110]

I suspect you have a bad battery cable if you are sure the battery is good. Try connecting a jumper cable from the positive battery post to the large starter post. If that makes it start or at least attempt to start, then replace the positive cable. If that makes no difference, try connecting a jumper cable from the negative battery post to a clean ground spot - a bolt with no paing for example. If that makes it start, replace the negative cable.

 

[atczero]

I suspect you have a bad battery cable if you are sure the battery is good. Try connecting a jumper cable from the positive battery post to the large starter post. If that makes it start or at least attempt to start, then replace the positive cable. If that makes no difference, try connecting a jumper cable from the negative battery post to a clean ground spot - a bolt with no paing for example. If that makes it start, replace the negative cable.

I'll give that a try, thanks.

 

[atczero]

I suspect you have a bad battery cable if you are sure the battery is good. Try connecting a jumper cable from the positive battery post to the large starter post. If that makes it start or at least attempt to start, then replace the positive cable. If that makes no difference, try connecting a jumper cable from the negative battery post to a clean ground spot - a bolt with no paing for example. If that makes it start, replace the negative cable.

Ok, several folks mentioned all the battery and cable connections and I did check to make sure they were all clean and tight. But....for some reason I neglected to check the continuity of the ground wire. Also, when I tried to jump start it, I connected the jumper cable ground side to the battery instead of the frame.

When I finally checked the continuity it was bad so I used the jumper cable to go from the battery to the frame and it fired right up.

If you read my first post, I did mention that I was not much of a mechanic so that is my excuse. :ashamed::confused2:

I really appreciate all the help. I was doing the happy dance standing on the tractor when it fired up!! :cool2:

 

[RoyJackson]

If you read my first post, I did mention that I was not much of a mechanic so that is my excuse. :ashamed::confused2:

I really appreciate all the help. I was doing the happy dance standing on the tractor when it fired up!! :cool2:

Nothing to be embarrassed about...everyone makes mistakes or overlooks things.
The only difference between you and a dealer tech is that the dealer would charge you for an extra hour or two when they screw up.

 

[atczero]

Just want to say thanks again. If I had not been able to get the info I did from searching this site and more importantly from the people that responded here, I probably would not have kept after it. I would have ended up having it hauled in and repaired and who know how much that would have been. $$$$$$ for sure.

I hope that I can contribute something useful here someday.

Joe

 

[Henri88]

You just did! :thumbsup:

 

[footer200]

It is usually something simple, you just have to find the problem to be fixed? As you just stated you did find the problem

 

[smgchandler]

I had exact same symptoms. Dim dash lights and barely a click and battery showed 12.8 volts. I don’t have a battery tester so i shelled out the Ben bill for a battery and fired right up like it was a new tractor. I was sure it was something much more than a battery because it’s never that simple cut dry for me.