LX665 - intermittent operation of boom/bucket solenoids

[30dodgeboy]

New member on here, but certainly not new to skid loaders. Learned on an almost new L-781. Over the last 20 years, I have operated many different brands (bobcat, gehl, toyota, cat, mustang, etc...) and like the NH machines best. I have owned my LX665 for about two years now. I always park it indoors and I know the previous owner did too. I remember that the previous owner of my machine told me that he had replaced the seat switch. Recently, the boom and bucket pedals intermittently will not unlock when I sit in the seat and fasten the seat belt. Lately, the pedals will not unlock at all. The (seat belt and park brake reminder) lights on the EIC will flash if I am not in the seat or have the seat belt unfastened. When I sit in the seat and fasten the seatbelt, the lights will stop flashing - indicating that the EIC is seeing the seat and seatbelt witches open and close. I removed the center cover to gain access to the hydraulic valvebody. The solenoids are not being powered. When I 'hotire' them, I can hear a distinct click and of course the pedals are no longer locked. The ground wire of each solenoid is grounded, but the hot wire is not being powered. I only get an ERR03 (hydraulic solenoids) message when I have the solenoids unplugged. I removed the drive control levers as well as their linkage to gain access to the top side of the machine's baseplate. I removed the two inches or so of accumulated dirt and debris that was in there, but the wiring harness looks perfect - no damage or corrosion. One thing that I have observed when the pedasl are locked - some of the times when I sit in the seat with the seatbelt on and the pedals are still locked, the seatbelt light flashes but not the park brake reminder light. Once in a while it is the other light. Most times no lights are flashing. Every time that I unfasten the seatbelt, both the seatbelt light and park brake reminder lights flash in synch - just as they should. I am not one to just throw parts at a problem and hope that I somehow get it fixed. I really do not want to have to purchase a new EIC ($$$). I am sure the seatbelt and seat switches are fine as well as their wiring. I also believe the wiring to the hydraulic solenoids is OK, since I only get an ERR03 message when I have them unplugged. I do have a LX665 service manual, but it does not have a wiring diagram. Its troubleshooting procedure has not been helpful enough for me to determine the exact problem. My questions: Does the EIC power the hydraulic solenoids directly, or does it power a relay? Has anyone else seen this type of problem? Please help with any suggestions or experience you have.

 

[jerry]

A drawing I have shows the solenoids getting power directly from a "hydraulic solenoid output" on the eic 3rd position from the end. follow the wire right up to the eic and check it there.