mrcooper81
New member
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2026
- Messages
- 1
Hi,
My name is Mark, and I am desperate. Not for the love of a good woman or a cold beer, (well those too), but for help with a problem that has been causing me an immense amount of frustration. I am trying to clear land in the middle of a forest to build a shelter for my four children and I so we are not living in a caravan when winter sets in, and I am having the following problems with my T180 (2007 s/n 531412049. 982 hours imported form the USA in 2010 with 420 hours). I have had three (non bobcat specific) mechanics look at this and they have had no luck.
The initial symptom was the loader lift / tilt valve on the BICS occasionally not lighting up. This happened some years ago not long after I first purchased it. Wiggling the joystick and pressing the buttons (left stick I think predominantly from memory) appeared to resolve something and it would then activate and run. It was infrequent enough to ignore. When the unit jolted, hit a tree root or rock when digging, it would occasionally disengage the BICS (not because I bounced up operator safety bar, I'm a good boy and wear my seat belt) and the button would need to be pressed again.
This slowly progressed to the lift tilt valve light not light up at all. (I’ve put all the error codes below).
Recently the unit sat unused for six months and when I returned a new problem had started.
When run / enter button is pressed, the display will light up for me to enter the code, then the screen will flicker and it will shut down. It would rarely stay on long enough to start. Occasionally it did start but would stall again quickly. One time it started and I kept the revs high and it appeared not to stall but I haven’t been able to replicate that to test it.
I cleaned all the earth and power connections I could find and that didn’t fix it then replaced the battery, still no luck.
I replaced the earth terminal because the tightening bolt was a bit stuffed and wasn’t gripping the battery terminal properly. Nothing. I haven’t replaced the positive because it has two large cables moulded in and appears to be intact.
I changed the smart code panel for the one with the key instead and it still did the same thing.
I have used a jumper cable to bypass the positive terminal straight to the starter. Nothing. I have tried to follow the large positive cable forward after the main 100A fusable link to jump from the positive to that point, but it goes into the loom and I cant find where it comes out.
I took out the main 100A fusable link near the battery and cleaned the terminals on that and it appeared to solve the problem. It now started and drove around fine. There were none of the screen flickering / going out / stalling issues. However the ACS warnings and codes persisted, and the loader arms did not operate.
I have run the following test.
I read the codes before starting, while running, and after stopping. The moment I started playing with the actuator plugs the screen flashing / not starting / stalling issue appeared to resurface.
When both plugged in
39-07
32-65
32-39
With one unplugged
32-65
32-49
39-07
39-13
With the other unplugged
32-65
32-50
With them reversed
32-65
32-39
I just realised I didn’t read the codes with both of the actuators unplugged, or with the joystick unplugged. Went up the hill to do it and now it’s doing the won’t turn on again. (See video) I’m now wondering how much putting the cab up and down has to do with there issue. I’ve looked for any damage to the wiring harness where it travels from the chassis into the cab and cant see any loom damage.
Please please please help me. I am nearing my wits end with this. I am so far behind schedule it’s really disheartening.
Thanks in advance.
My name is Mark, and I am desperate. Not for the love of a good woman or a cold beer, (well those too), but for help with a problem that has been causing me an immense amount of frustration. I am trying to clear land in the middle of a forest to build a shelter for my four children and I so we are not living in a caravan when winter sets in, and I am having the following problems with my T180 (2007 s/n 531412049. 982 hours imported form the USA in 2010 with 420 hours). I have had three (non bobcat specific) mechanics look at this and they have had no luck.
The initial symptom was the loader lift / tilt valve on the BICS occasionally not lighting up. This happened some years ago not long after I first purchased it. Wiggling the joystick and pressing the buttons (left stick I think predominantly from memory) appeared to resolve something and it would then activate and run. It was infrequent enough to ignore. When the unit jolted, hit a tree root or rock when digging, it would occasionally disengage the BICS (not because I bounced up operator safety bar, I'm a good boy and wear my seat belt) and the button would need to be pressed again.
This slowly progressed to the lift tilt valve light not light up at all. (I’ve put all the error codes below).
Recently the unit sat unused for six months and when I returned a new problem had started.
When run / enter button is pressed, the display will light up for me to enter the code, then the screen will flicker and it will shut down. It would rarely stay on long enough to start. Occasionally it did start but would stall again quickly. One time it started and I kept the revs high and it appeared not to stall but I haven’t been able to replicate that to test it.
I cleaned all the earth and power connections I could find and that didn’t fix it then replaced the battery, still no luck.
I replaced the earth terminal because the tightening bolt was a bit stuffed and wasn’t gripping the battery terminal properly. Nothing. I haven’t replaced the positive because it has two large cables moulded in and appears to be intact.
I changed the smart code panel for the one with the key instead and it still did the same thing.
I have used a jumper cable to bypass the positive terminal straight to the starter. Nothing. I have tried to follow the large positive cable forward after the main 100A fusable link to jump from the positive to that point, but it goes into the loom and I cant find where it comes out.
I took out the main 100A fusable link near the battery and cleaned the terminals on that and it appeared to solve the problem. It now started and drove around fine. There were none of the screen flickering / going out / stalling issues. However the ACS warnings and codes persisted, and the loader arms did not operate.
I have run the following test.
I read the codes before starting, while running, and after stopping. The moment I started playing with the actuator plugs the screen flashing / not starting / stalling issue appeared to resurface.
When both plugged in
39-07
32-65
32-39
With one unplugged
32-65
32-49
39-07
39-13
With the other unplugged
32-65
32-50
With them reversed
32-65
32-39
I just realised I didn’t read the codes with both of the actuators unplugged, or with the joystick unplugged. Went up the hill to do it and now it’s doing the won’t turn on again. (See video) I’m now wondering how much putting the cab up and down has to do with there issue. I’ve looked for any damage to the wiring harness where it travels from the chassis into the cab and cant see any loom damage.
Please please please help me. I am nearing my wits end with this. I am so far behind schedule it’s really disheartening.
Thanks in advance.
