S175 Lift & Tilt light won't come on, pedals locked

[cyerger57]

I have an older S175 and when I start the machine and press the button the Lift & Tilt light won't come on and the pedals are locked. I've checked the codes and it says NONE. This has been an issue in the past and what resolved it was to jerk the machine back and forth a bit and then try restarting it. Sometimes it took 2 or three times to get it to work. The seat belt light is working and the bar light is working. I do not have a cab. One other thing. In the past I've found that if I leave the bucket off the ground a bit when I stop, the problem didn't occur. It always goes down to touch the ground but at least it wasn't bound up.

 

[cyerger57]

I tried disconnecting the battery and reconnecting. The seat belt light appears to be somewhat intermittent but I've never had to use the belt before. It always ran fine with just the bar down. It's a bit redundant anyway, don't you think......?

 

[cyerger57]

I tried disconnecting the battery and reconnecting. The seat belt light appears to be somewhat intermittent but I've never had to use the belt before. It always ran fine with just the bar down. It's a bit redundant anyway, don't you think......?

Please gentleman, I'm not a skiddy mechanic. If you have some idea of what to check, please be real specific about where the item is. I understand electrical things but don't know where things are on a skiddy.

 

[cyerger57]

Please gentleman, I'm not a skiddy mechanic. If you have some idea of what to check, please be real specific about where the item is. I understand electrical things but don't know where things are on a skiddy.

Is there a support line for Bobcat that might help with this?

 

[Tazza]

Is there a support line for Bobcat that might help with this?

Look on the dash, when you lower the seat bar, does the light on the dash come on? if not, your sensor may be bad, not letting it unlock.

 

[cyerger57]

Look on the dash, when you lower the seat bar, does the light on the dash come on? if not, your sensor may be bad, not letting it unlock.

The light for the bar as well as the other two come on just fine. If I raise the bar while running, all go out. Then I lower the bar and push the button, 3 lights come on but not the Lift & Tilt Light. It's really a bummer because I can't even load it on a trailer to take it for service because the bucket won't raise.

 

[cyerger57]

The light for the bar as well as the other two come on just fine. If I raise the bar while running, all go out. Then I lower the bar and push the button, 3 lights come on but not the Lift & Tilt Light. It's really a bummer because I can't even load it on a trailer to take it for service because the bucket won't raise.

OK, Key first half way One short beep Start Put bar down One light comes on Press green button Only 3 of the 4 lights come on Thought that the three short beeps were only for a problem of some kind. Like when you're low on fuel..... because I think the short beeps happen then.

 

[bobbie-g]

OK, Key first half way One short beep Start Put bar down One light comes on Press green button Only 3 of the 4 lights come on Thought that the three short beeps were only for a problem of some kind. Like when you're low on fuel..... because I think the short beeps happen then.

First, I'm just a casual user, so no definitive answers here. My experience has been with a T180 and an 863G, both of which have a similar control system to the S175, I believe. The seat belt light is not like cars these days, rather the computer just turns it on for 30 seconds (after start or after seat bar sensor activation, I'm unsure which) then turns the seat belt light off whether you have it fastened or not. There is no Bobcat Central hotline that I'm aware of, but wow, that would really be nice. This forum is as close as I've found. Now back to your problem: I thought the computer would sense the seat bar being down, the engine running, and the Push to Operate button, then issue the command to unlock solenoids (tilt and lift, plus traction lock) so the machine would operate. When the PTO button is pushed, the last light should come on and you frequently will hear a click as the traction lock solenoid is retracted (assuming the machine is not on an incline and putting pressure on the solenoid). That's the way I think it should operate. The fact that you're not getting the fourth light may indicate a computer fault since it obviously knows when you push the PTO button and when the seat bar is down. That really doesn't help solve your problem, though. Have you tried checking for computer fault codes by pressing and holding the "headlight" button for a couple of seconds? If no faults, it should display "none". Keep us posted on your progress. There are some very smart Bobcat techs on here who chime in on threads as they have time. ---Bobbie G

 

[cyerger57]

First, I'm just a casual user, so no definitive answers here. My experience has been with a T180 and an 863G, both of which have a similar control system to the S175, I believe. The seat belt light is not like cars these days, rather the computer just turns it on for 30 seconds (after start or after seat bar sensor activation, I'm unsure which) then turns the seat belt light off whether you have it fastened or not. There is no Bobcat Central hotline that I'm aware of, but wow, that would really be nice. This forum is as close as I've found. Now back to your problem: I thought the computer would sense the seat bar being down, the engine running, and the Push to Operate button, then issue the command to unlock solenoids (tilt and lift, plus traction lock) so the machine would operate. When the PTO button is pushed, the last light should come on and you frequently will hear a click as the traction lock solenoid is retracted (assuming the machine is not on an incline and putting pressure on the solenoid). That's the way I think it should operate. The fact that you're not getting the fourth light may indicate a computer fault since it obviously knows when you push the PTO button and when the seat bar is down. That really doesn't help solve your problem, though. Have you tried checking for computer fault codes by pressing and holding the "headlight" button for a couple of seconds? If no faults, it should display "none". Keep us posted on your progress. There are some very smart Bobcat techs on here who chime in on threads as they have time. ---Bobbie G

I hear the loud click and I've checked for codes....it says NONE. The machine does move just fine, just can't get the bucket to operate.

 

[cyerger57]

I hear the loud click and I've checked for codes....it says NONE. The machine does move just fine, just can't get the bucket to operate.

Tried removing a Negative Battery Disconnect that I had installed a couple of years ago....No Joy. At least I can move the thing around now. Stupid Me, just take the bucket OFF which was dragging on the ground.

 

[Hotrod1830]

Tried removing a Negative Battery Disconnect that I had installed a couple of years ago....No Joy. At least I can move the thing around now. Stupid Me, just take the bucket OFF which was dragging on the ground.

The computer will only set a code if it see's an electrical problem(open , short, ect). If you have a solenoid sticking, it doesnt have an open or short, so it will never set a code. Same goes for a safety switch. the computer may not see a open or short, but it may be that the switch is not changing. My guess is it is a old switch getting stubourn and not wanting to change. My 553 does it sometimes, And I can look at the BCIS lights and see what input it isnt seeing. I realize your S175 may not have an old BSIC, but it operates in a simular way
Hope this helps.

 

[cyerger57]

The computer will only set a code if it see's an electrical problem(open , short, ect). If you have a solenoid sticking, it doesnt have an open or short, so it will never set a code. Same goes for a safety switch. the computer may not see a open or short, but it may be that the switch is not changing. My guess is it is a old switch getting stubourn and not wanting to change. My 553 does it sometimes, And I can look at the BCIS lights and see what input it isnt seeing. I realize your S175 may not have an old BSIC, but it operates in a simular way
Hope this helps.

Replaced all fuses and relays, a bit dirty and corroded. Pressure washed the entire unit - Now Working. Probably just postponed the issue. Thanks