TC29 Starting Problem

[Tom Roys]

Hello there
I have a New Holland TC29 Diesel Tractor I have owned it for about 2 years now. I started having issues with the glow pulg light. Sometimes when I would turn the key the light would not come on, I would leave it and come back and then it would come on. Once I got the tractor started and ran it for a while I never had the problem the rest of the day. It started to become worse and eventually not coming on at all. My thought was there was something wrong with the switch, so I took off the side panel and looked at the switch, disconnected it and found lots of dirt in the connector. I cleaned it out and put it back together and it worked like a charm.......until the next day. So now I think the whole switch is bad, I purchase a new switch and install it and it does exactly the same thing as the old switch......What do I do next?

 

[monkeyduster]

I would take jumper cables hooked to starter and bypass the stock cables They are known to look fine but will not handle the load. Could also be a bad safety switch acting up, seat switch, PTO switch,ect. Could also be starter relay.

 

[thclimer]

Can you give us some more details about your difficult starting symptoms.

You said the glow plug light is intermittent, but what else happens when you turn the key to engage the starter?

Does the engine always turn over but not start? Does it turn over quickly? How old is the battery?

I can confirm the OEM switch is flimsy as I had to replace mine with a more robust NAPA ignition switch. You may also be having an issue with your glow plug timer relay.

 

[Tom Roys]

The glow plug light does not come on when I turn on the switch. When it did come on it was working as it should. Currently it will still turn over but won’t start. I am thinking now it is the glow plug relay as you mentioned. I am having a hard time finding that relay to get a replacement.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I had issues with my older TC29D, no glow plug light. Relay fixed it for me.
Just double checking, are you turning the key all the way to engage relay? On mine, I had to turn all the way clockwise, then to crank, push in and turn.

 

[Tom Roys]

Thanks for the reply. Yes there are three positions on the switch. Run, glow plug, and then start. Glow plug light doesn’t come on in any of the positions. When it did come on intermittently it would start.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I looked at my service manual, even though it's older, there is no fuse between ignition switch and glow plug system, if that helps...
And being older, the relay was crusted up with mud, and rusty contacts. Cleaned those, but no luck. Just pointing out some possibilities. Relays are in the right spot for getting wet/dirty when power washing.

 

[thclimer]

Attached is the test procedure for the glow plug timer relay

 

[Tom Roys]

So I purchased a new glow plug relay and installed it and there is no change. When I turn the switch to position 1 the dash lights light up. In position 2 the glow plug light still does not come on. When I push in and right to position 3 I can turn the engine over but it won’t start.

 

[thepumpguysc]

If I remember correctly, that glow plug indicator is part of the circuit.. if the bulb is burned out, it opens the circuit.. so, check the bulb.
Have u put a test lite on the bus bar to check to see if voltage is making it that far.?
Make a hot wire with 2 alligator clips.. clip one end to the glow plug buss bar and the other to the battery +.. now try to start the engine..& just for kicks, see if the gp indicator lamp is lit..
Good luck