JD 4320 not starting

Dave P · Feb 4, 2009

I have been experiencing a intermittened problem with starting. When the key is turned to the on position, (not to start ) the dash board should go through a self test procedure. All the lights on the dash should flash, you should hear the fuel solenoid click, all lights go out and the unit is ready to start. What is happening is the only light that comes on is the glow plug, and the caution light. The solenoid does not click. A few hours will go by and then it will self test and everything is fine. I had JD come and get it, only to find that it would not fail then. For about two weeks now it has been fine. There is a computor board behind the dash, not sure if this is what is happening or not. Any one else had a problem like this or can shed some light on it. Thanks in advance.

AKfish · Feb 5, 2009

Dave; Welcome to TBN. Sounds like the kind of problem that leads to early baldness... from hair pulling and head scratching!

Have you tried disconnecting the battery? Dropping the battery from the circuit will/should reset things. It's worth a try..

Best of luck.

AKfish

Dave P · Feb 5, 2009

Yes, I have disconnected the battery, tried a new battery, even cleaned the main ground. The dealer thought they could hook up a laptop to see if there were codes set, like you can do with automobiles, only to find out they could physically plug in but could not communicate with the circuit board. This option seems to be only available with the Hydro model, not the manual transmission. So at this stage of the game we are waiting for another failure. The last time it did this it started for a couple of months before it failed again. This is when they came and got the tractor.

nmu98 · Feb 5, 2009

Is this machine stored in a high moisture area? Do you try to start it in the morning and come back in the afternoon and it starts? Is there anything that might be a constant?

Dave P · Feb 5, 2009

Tractor is stored under one of those instant garages. I would say no to the high moisture. A while back it was -20 below, I started the tractor and everything seemed fine. I turned it off a little while later, after the temp gauge had come up. I went back out a few hours later and it would not start. It probably was close to a day before it would start again.

Cidertom · Feb 5, 2009

Had my 4520 do this once. That was after a mornings work, broke for lunch and it wouldn't restart. No fuel solenoid click. I trouble shot as far as I could, but no real results. Restarted later no problems since. I hate troubleshooting these type of problems. I have one at work on a comwave TV transmitter that is driving me to drink.

sunnyside360 · Feb 5, 2009

AKfish said:
Sounds like the kind of problem that leads to early baldness... from hair pulling and head scratching!
.........
AKfish

Agree and I'd add high blood pressure...........
Wish I could help but I haven't seen this on my 14 mos old 4320. Intermittents are the worse problems, but sounds electrical. May be a poor ground connection in/on the circuit board. Several mos ago I had a similar intermittent problem with a home standby generator and found a poor ground connection on the circuit board (loose gnd screw). Was a bear to find but haven't had a problem since. Good luck.