TL130 maybe electrical, probably ground?

Skidsteer Forum - Bobcat, New Holland, Case, John Deere

Help Support Skidsteer:

mxanders

Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2026
Messages
5
Hi everyone, I'm new here and a new owner of a tl130. The machine has 2700hrs, and no noticeable leaks. The machine starts and basic functions seem to work pretty well. however, These are the issues are that it is having:

Sometimes all of the gauges light up and stay lit sometime some of them go off, but the big orange one and the 2 below that never go off, the 2 speed doesn't appear to work, as well lights front or back, or the fuel or engine temp gauge. The fuel gauge will start at below empty while the key is off and go all the way past full when key is on.

I've tried tapping on relays at the kick panel and adding a ground from engine block to frame, it didnt seem to do anything. I am leaning towards a ground issue but I have no idea where to start looking. Any help would be appreciated

Again the machine starts good, and has no problems running even with most of the lights on. If anybody could tell me what the lights indicate, or what sensors to look at I will certainly check there
 
well, sounds like electrical issues, that being said,
the game now is to find it

and doing that will mean checking cleaning all connections, I would start with finding out fuses are to the things your having issues with, and checking them for corrosion and testing them, making sue all have good contact(adding some dielectric grease after cleaning and re installing isn;'t a bad idea either) and back tracking on them from and to!
I would be checking connections at control board, , from battery to fuse box and so on

over time, ALL things can get corrosion on and cause all sorts of gremlins
 
I agree that it is probably a ground or damaged electrical system somewhere. The machine was recently power washed, sand blasted, and repainted, would there be an area to check, like that relays at the kick panel, do they serve the indicator light in any way other than possibly an engine cutoff? I was told the front lights as well as the back lights were operational before the repaint. Would they go back to somewhere besides a fuse? I have the service manual but it is lacking in where ground locations and where sensors are physically located. Becuase I just bought this and it is an older machine I get that some of this may just need reworked, but with so many failed electrical components is thethere a common area ground? Or some kind or computer that may have gotten damaged and causing all of this?
 
I agree that it is probably a ground or damaged electrical system somewhere. The machine was recently power washed, sand blasted, and repainted, would there be an area to check, like that relays at the kick panel, do they serve the indicator light in any way other than possibly an engine cutoff? I was told the front lights as well as the back lights were operational before the repaint. Would they go back to somewhere besides a fuse? I have the service manual but it is lacking in where ground locations and where sensors are physically located. Becuase I just bought this and it is an older machine I get that some of this may just need reworked, but with so many failed electrical components is thethere a common area ground? Or some kind or computer that may have gotten damaged and causing all of this?
 
well sand blasting and power washing can both do damage to connections, wires and gaskets and seals

and that can be any where on the machine, and this is why many advise against using a pressure washer, and pending WHO is using the sand blaster and what material there using in it

as it can damage wire insulation, and like water can force itself into connections and well just places neither water nor sand blasting material should be!
its now a game of starting at one end of things and following them thru to there end, and repeat, the whole time making sure insulation is good all the way, and connections are clean and good,
and again making sure all fuses are tested and good, along with contacts in them
its going to be a time consuming job and not a fun one
electrical issues can be nightmares IMO,
and again I strongly suggest while confirming and cleaning connections , after cleaning them, add some dielectric al grease, to keep them working longer, and in the future
maybe skip pressurizing and sand blasting, without taking better steps to prevent issues
simple high quality de greaser and a garden hose will clean most machines in a safer wash routine !
 
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
I would say that i started in the right spot, I spliced the circuit together that that fuse feeds, it did not help my instrument lights being lit, my question is, af5er i fix this properly, does anyone know how the big orange light gets illuminated? Is it a sensor on the engine that i can test. I cannot trace where those wire go?
1000008662.jpg
 

Latest posts

Back
Top