I have a 2005 6320 that 3 years ago started fine in the barn at 40 degF. We were putting out hay with the temperature in the 20's and, after a few minutes at idle the tractor would not throttle up and the "Additional Indicator Light" (square red light on lower left console panel) was flashing. I limped home. Once the tractor and weather warmed, I added fuel treatment and change fuel filters and all was good for the rest of the year. The next winter the same issue occurred in the 30's. Once the tractor warmed, all was good for the next year. This year once again in cool weather, but now in the 50's, the red light will flash and the RPMs are limited to low idle. Sit the tractor in the sun, or let it warm up to the high 60's or 3 blocks on the temperature gauge and the light stops flashing. Shut the engine off for 20-30 seconds and it will reset and throttle up. Even then, if it is still cooler outside after a few minutes it will begin flashing the light and go to low idle. This tractor does not have access to fault codes via the dash, and the dealer wanted $500 to send a service guy out just to read the codes. I have tried to research and find the sensors that can lead to flashing the light and limiting RPM, but have not found anything conclusive. Most are high temp issues. With limited data I have tried to measure resistance on the fuel, coolant, and manifold air temperature sensors. To the best of my limited ability, the ohms versus temperature readings I got for these sensors all fell on the T/Ohm data curve I found for the ambient air temperature sender. I do not have that sensor on my tractor. It is still February and I expect some cooler weather and the same symptoms soon. What else can I do to find the root cause short of having the John Deere Dealer coming to take the machine and keep it for a month while emptying my bank account.
John Deere 6320 RPM limited to Low idle in cold weather
- Thread starter DustyMInd
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rScotty
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How interesting... I also have a JD with that same engine and the same vintage. The 4.5 liter 276 cubic inch motor variation made from 2001 - 2007. Mine is in a JD310SG, but same powerplant.
And I just fought with a weird temperature sensor problem for a year. I'd been measuring sensors, coolant, thermostat... all that stuff. Mine was reading as though it were too hot, not too cold...but it still might have the same basic cause.
Eventually I gave up and sought help. A friendly JD service manager diagnosed it in less than half a minute just from my description of the prolblem.
Turns out those year 4.5 engines had an early kind of engine computer. That computer, its multipin socket, and the complex wire harness are all in the engine compatment and are all known to go bad from moisture and oil - resulting in odd diagnostic messages, lights, & odd engine temperature responses.
Later models moved the engine computer into the cab and that fixed most of the problems.
The problem is so common he said they stock rebuilt engine computers in stock at all JD service centers. The computer is flashed to the application when installed.
I went home & checked wires and cleaned the multipin plug and that wasn't it. So a tech came out, replaced the computer with a rebuilt, gave me a core charge for the old one, programmed the new computer to my engine, and was on his way in under an hour. It works perfect and has for a couple of years now. But I can see that the wiring harness is aging...
A couple of things to note: The old computer case is mounted on the inside of the left frame in the open engine compartment and was visibly swollen. The tech said they were poorly sealed so water and oil gets inside. The core credit on the computer was $600. Rebuilt computer was $2500. My multipin plug was good so saved money there. They do have a wirng harness extension specifically to move the older type engine-mounted computer into the cab. Install of that extension harness takes some hours and their price for the extension harness alone is $2000 - about the same as the computer. He said 20 years was good service for an exposed engine computer. Most go bad in 10 to 20 years just from where they are located.
Maybe this is the problem with yours too. I'm guessing, but some things do seem to fit.
Luck,
rScotty
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Scotty...
You need to pack all your connectors (molex or not) with di-electric grease. While it may not prolong the life of the computer, it will insure all the connectors won't internally corrode from moisture inside. I've found that even the rubber gasketed molex connectors get moisture inside after a while and the grease prevents that from occurring all the connectors on both my tractors have all the connectors packed.
You need to pack all your connectors (molex or not) with di-electric grease. While it may not prolong the life of the computer, it will insure all the connectors won't internally corrode from moisture inside. I've found that even the rubber gasketed molex connectors get moisture inside after a while and the grease prevents that from occurring all the connectors on both my tractors have all the connectors packed.
rScotty
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Not a bad idea on the grease. I'll do that. What I did on mine is to put a vented plastic box around the engine computer in the engine compartment and then bolted a water and crud shield over that. In other words, instead of moving the computer into the cab for $2000, I built it a little cab of its own for $2.
The whole idea of having an engine computer on a pre-computer diesel engine that still has individual cylinder injection instead of a common rail is just one of those inexplicable JD design screw ups. They added complexity for its own sake. Doing that is just asking for problems and without any benefit.
BTW, the diagnostic and flashing tool that the tech uses is JD proprietary. The computer is the size of a wallet and mounts in one minute with 4 screws and one screw on connector. But programming it requires JD propretary software before it will work. For doing that software startup the JD tech charges $400.
Wish we had won the "right to repair".
rScotty
Thanks for the suggestions. I will inspect connections, clean and pack. My issues are so consistent with temperature, I feel it is a failing sensor or the electronics in the computer. My tractor stays inside and seldom sees rain or dew. Dust and dirt, yes.
rScotty
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You are welcome. I hope it helps someone. I was told to begin with the multipin connector and then look for abrasions in the wiring harness.
Let us know if you find the problem.
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You didn't? I wasn't aware that JD won actually. Though I don't own any JD stuff, I always considered that aspect of JD's reluctance to allow an owner to repair their owned equipment to be really a negative thing and why I'd never purchase anything Deere.
In as much as you own it, you should be allowed to repair it, just the American way far as I'm concerned.
beenthere
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5030
You don't really understand. Lots of pitfalls for the customer that tries to repair their own and then finds a part they bought and thought they needed, or the "fix" they thought was going to work, and then it doesn't.. leads to blaming the mfg because it doesn't work. Parts are too expensive to just order it and try it to see if it works and solves the problem. The supplier then gets caught in the middle.
That leads to a mfg like Deere saying "let us fix it" so they can assume the responsibility. Gets a lot worse when sophisticated, high tech computers and sensors and software analysis is involved in today's tractors.
Just my opinion. Not just Deere doing this to customers.
You don't really understand. Lots of pitfalls for the customer that tries to repair their own and then finds a part they bought and thought they needed, or the "fix" they thought was going to work, and then it doesn't.. leads to blaming the mfg because it doesn't work. Parts are too expensive to just order it and try it to see if it works and solves the problem. The supplier then gets caught in the middle.
That leads to a mfg like Deere saying "let us fix it" so they can assume the responsibility. Gets a lot worse when sophisticated, high tech computers and sensors and software analysis is involved in today's tractors.
Just my opinion. Not just Deere doing this to customers.
rScotty
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"Right to Repair" is primarily a movement by JD tractor owners to allow the tractor owner to access diagnostic software and needed technical specs for their own tractor. Deere doesn't want to allow that. Other manufacturers are watching .... and often following JD's lead. I think that is the wrong approach.
rScotty
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Still working to solve my problem with the 2005 6320 red light flashing and engine limited to low idle in cool temperatures. As mentioned above I do not have access to the codes on the dash or via a Performance Monitor. I did find in one of the Technical Manuals (CTM331) that my tractor may have the ability to use the Indicator Light to "flash" the codes. Turn the key ON and hold the "Override Shutdown Switch" for a few seconds and the light will give the codes via a series of flashes. I have no idea and no other reference to know where or what the "Override Shutdown Switch" is or if I even have such a switch. (Open Staton Tractor w PowerTech 4.5L Engine with DE10 Injector Pump). Anyone have any info or experience with this?