mustang wont start

[toohott7718]

Hello we have a 2044 mustang skid steer and we thought the battery was bad, (because it wouldnt start) so we replaced it. After that it started up, we went o use it the next day and it wouldnt start again so we put a battery charger on it for about 20 minutes and it started. After its running its getting around 14 volts so I know the alternator is working. I put a volt meter on the battery and it has 12.9 volts, Im confused to what could be wrong, the battery we replaced is a commercial battery for tractors. please help

 

[jwfarm]

I would second what the others have said, cable loose just a little bit can cause big problems. If you decide cables are not the problem and the skid is cranking slow then you need to look at the starter. That has been my experience with various tractors that when the starter is bad it draws too much and you can make it start by boosting it,but by then the starter is do for a rebuild or replacement. Hopefully it is a loose cable. The ground cable especially where it grounds opposite the battery terminal, even a half turn makes a big difference.

 

[owensge]

I would second what the others have said, cable loose just a little bit can cause big problems. If you decide cables are not the problem and the skid is cranking slow then you need to look at the starter. That has been my experience with various tractors that when the starter is bad it draws too much and you can make it start by boosting it,but by then the starter is do for a rebuild or replacement. Hopefully it is a loose cable. The ground cable especially where it grounds opposite the battery terminal, even a half turn makes a big difference.

Copied for Jyuma (Broken Thread):

When you say "won't start" do you mean it won't turn over or it turns over but won't kick? Not much to it... battery, switch, solenoid, cables. Check the battery cable connections for corrosion on both ends. Don't forget where the negative terminal connects to the block.

 

[owensge]

Copied for Jyuma (Broken Thread):

When you say "won't start" do you mean it won't turn over or it turns over but won't kick? Not much to it... battery, switch, solenoid, cables. Check the battery cable connections for corrosion on both ends. Don't forget where the negative terminal connects to the block.

Copied For Tazza (Broken Thread):

A diode in the alternator could still be bad causing it to flatten the battery when its turned off over night. Can you try running it, then over night disconnect the battery, hook it back up in the morning and see if it starts up. Even when you touch the cable to the battery, do you get a small spark? if so, you have a power leak somewhere, the alt is the most common cause of this. Is the alternator warm in the morning? or warmer than the engine?

 

[toohott7718]

Copied For Tazza (Broken Thread):

A diode in the alternator could still be bad causing it to flatten the battery when its turned off over night. Can you try running it, then over night disconnect the battery, hook it back up in the morning and see if it starts up. Even when you touch the cable to the battery, do you get a small spark? if so, you have a power leak somewhere, the alt is the most common cause of this. Is the alternator warm in the morning? or warmer than the engine?

I checked the alternator and it was not warm in the morning. I took the battery cables off overnight and tried to start it the next morning and it still didnt start. when I put the cables back on the battery they didnt spark. I will check to see what the cranking voltage is tomorrow. thanks for everyones help

 

[jerry]

I checked the alternator and it was not warm in the morning. I took the battery cables off overnight and tried to start it the next morning and it still didnt start. when I put the cables back on the battery they didnt spark. I will check to see what the cranking voltage is tomorrow. thanks for everyones help

You could try a different battery, I have had new batterys that had dead or weak cells in them, hard to believe until you switch batterys and it works again.

 

[Tazza]

You could try a different battery, I have had new batterys that had dead or weak cells in them, hard to believe until you switch batterys and it works again.

Battery or weak starter, its about all it could be....

 

[toohott7718]

Battery or weak starter, its about all it could be....

I checked the cranking voltage, it is 10.9

 

[toohott7718]

I checked the cranking voltage, it is 10.9

How can I check to see if its the starter?? It does crank over

 

[Tazza]

How can I check to see if its the starter?? It does crank over

It may crank, but if its not spinning fast enough it will not catch. This can be due to worn brushes in the starter or even a burnt winding on the armature.
Does it sound like its really lugged down when spinning the engine over? It should turn over at a pretty good speed.
Do you have aux hydraulics? could they be stuck on causing extra load on the engine while its trying to start?

 

[toohott7718]

It may crank, but if its not spinning fast enough it will not catch. This can be due to worn brushes in the starter or even a burnt winding on the armature.
Does it sound like its really lugged down when spinning the engine over? It should turn over at a pretty good speed.
Do you have aux hydraulics? could they be stuck on causing extra load on the engine while its trying to start?

I have both switches it the off position, it sounds like the engine cranks at a high speed

 

[Tazza]

I have both switches it the off position, it sounds like the engine cranks at a high speed

If you have good cranking speed, it sounds like the battery/starter is fine. You should now look at the glow plugs and compression. If the compression is low, it will be harder to start and will take a lot of cranking to get it to fire. When cranking does the exhaust puff white smoke?
If the glow plugs are bad it won't be heating up the combustion chamber that bit more to get it to fire. Even a bad relay to the glow plug rail could be the problem. Ensure when you glow it that you are getting power to them.

 

[toohott7718]

If you have good cranking speed, it sounds like the battery/starter is fine. You should now look at the glow plugs and compression. If the compression is low, it will be harder to start and will take a lot of cranking to get it to fire. When cranking does the exhaust puff white smoke?
If the glow plugs are bad it won't be heating up the combustion chamber that bit more to get it to fire. Even a bad relay to the glow plug rail could be the problem. Ensure when you glow it that you are getting power to them.

the weird thing is we can put a battery charger on it for 20 minutes and it will start up. there isnt any smoke when cranking it. as far as glow plugs go the mustang is only 3 years old, and the hours on it are very very low also. this mustang is for our home use and is never used commercial.

 

[jwfarm]

How can I check to see if its the starter?? It does crank over

The best way to check the starter is to take it off and take it to an experienced person who rebuilds them. We have had this same thing happen with our old 4020's. You can put them on the charger for 20 minutes and they start fine. At least you could eliminate this if the starter checks out fine. keep us updated.

 

[Tazza]

The best way to check the starter is to take it off and take it to an experienced person who rebuilds them. We have had this same thing happen with our old 4020's. You can put them on the charger for 20 minutes and they start fine. At least you could eliminate this if the starter checks out fine. keep us updated.

After the charging, does it start easily? or does it take a bit of cranking to get it up and going?
My newer machines start with just a flick of the switch, i suspect no more than 4 revolutions of the engine and its going. As yours is new, or pretty close to it, it should start pretty well straight away. Even when cold outside, the glow plugs should assist in that respect.

 

[toohott7718]

After the charging, does it start easily? or does it take a bit of cranking to get it up and going?
My newer machines start with just a flick of the switch, i suspect no more than 4 revolutions of the engine and its going. As yours is new, or pretty close to it, it should start pretty well straight away. Even when cold outside, the glow plugs should assist in that respect.

after its on the charger it fires right up, maybe 1 or 2 cranks

 

[Tazza]

after its on the charger it fires right up, maybe 1 or 2 cranks

Well.... I have no idea... It still does sound like a battery as its being topped up and it starts, when left it won't.
Can you take the battery back to where you got it from and get them to check it for you? Its rare, but even new batteries can fail. Even if you can test using a battery from your car/truck?
Its as if its self discharging its self, there is no reason for it to be.
This is rather odd.

 

[toohott7718]

Well.... I have no idea... It still does sound like a battery as its being topped up and it starts, when left it won't.
Can you take the battery back to where you got it from and get them to check it for you? Its rare, but even new batteries can fail. Even if you can test using a battery from your car/truck?
Its as if its self discharging its self, there is no reason for it to be.
This is rather odd.

I was thinking that maybe there isnt a good enough ground at the ignition, I don't know where that would be though. Or maybe some type of voltage regulator, unless that is built into the alternator. For all I know a mouse could have chewed some wire on the mustang. But chances are I'll never be able to find it because you can't see anything on these things. Thank you again for all your suggestions