Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Topic: Generator stopped and won’t restart. (Read 1052 times) previous topic - next topic

Generator stopped and won’t restart.

July 20, 2023, 12:07:55 pm

Running down the road and parked in a rest area ac's and other 50 amp working fine. Generator shuts off suddenly and won't restart. No fault codes in front generator panel. Manual start from inside or on front of generator does nothing. No fuel pump clicks...no run.

Ideas?

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #1 – July 20, 2023, 12:10:09 pm

Check for 12 VDC to the generator itself. Starter and fuel pump are 12 VDC. On generators with glow plugs, they are 12 VDC as well.

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #2 – July 20, 2023, 12:49:21 pm

12v ok to starter. Fuses ok. 12 v to starter when pushing start button on gen control panel and when pushing knurled top of latching relay. Latching relay activated from start button but no Gen. start and no action from fuel pump.

Jeff at Powertech said most likely bad control panel.

Anyone have ideas for further troubleshooting or ruling control panel issue in or out?

1950 hrs on 8k 2000 U279 generator.

Thanks

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #3 – July 20, 2023, 01:11:39 pm

Does it turn over? If it does turn over but not start then check the 12 volt wire from the controller to the fuel pump itself for 12 volt current.

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #4 – July 20, 2023, 02:51:53 pm

No turnover. No fuel pump actuation. No lights. Start button on generator activates the latching relay but nothing beyond.

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #5 – July 20, 2023, 05:22:52 pm

I would check and see if you have 12 volt power to the generator which usually comes to
the starter. So check and see if you have power at the starter.

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #6 – July 20, 2023, 05:59:02 pm

Quote from: floridarandy – July 20, 2023, 12:49:21 pm

Jeff at Powertech said most likely bad control panel.

Is he talking about the ES-52 module?
Kind of sounds like one of the relays on the es-52 may have died. Before you buy a complete module you could try just replacing the 2 relays that are on the module for $5 or so.

Mike

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #7 – July 20, 2023, 06:02:11 pm

Quote from: oldguy – July 20, 2023, 05:22:52 pm

I would check and see if you have 12 volt power to the generator which usually comes to
the starter. So check and see if you have power at the starter.

Looks like that (12+ VDC to generator starter, even when start generator activated) was confirmed in post #2.

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #8 – July 20, 2023, 06:12:47 pm

I just got a PM about the ES-52 module relays so here is a little more info for all that may want to investigate further.
Generator intermitten self shut down

Mike

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #9 – July 20, 2023, 06:31:30 pm

Ya, at the (very low) cost of the two relays, probably worth replacing them and also checking the connections on the board before deciding to order a brand new complete board.

AND, nothing to loose by lightly rapping on the relays-- it may temporarily free it up.

If anyone knows which relay should "click" when trying to start, that would be a good for Randy to check.

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #10 – July 20, 2023, 07:00:49 pm

As seen in the first picture in the thread link above the relay on the left is the crank relay. If you look really close there is a 20amp fuse that you need to check as if it is bad that would be a $0.25 fix. The relay on the right is the fuel pump rely.

Mike

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #11 – July 21, 2023, 07:38:10 am

Getting off the overnight ferry to Nova Scotia this morning then 2 days driving in the cool so May be several days to report back but these seem like great troubleshooting steps. Thanks. Will report back.

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #12 – July 21, 2023, 09:47:35 am

Quote from: Pamela & Mike – July 20, 2023, 07:00:49 pm

As seen in the first picture in the thread link above...

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #13 – July 21, 2023, 12:49:38 pm

Probably won't help but...

My gen gave me trouble awhile back. It would start but then shut down after a few minutes. The more I started it the shorter the run time.
I checked both relays pictured above and although they were good, changed them anyway.
Same symptoms continued.

Woody, AKA Sitka, was also at Propman's RV park and he told me to disconnect and reconnect the white plug sitting right in front of the generator so I did. The connection looked clean but I blew it out anyway for good luck.

It worked😊 it's been running perfectly

I borrowed the picture below

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #14 – July 21, 2023, 03:30:16 pm

If all that everyone else pointed out checks ok you might try this. My generator shut down like that and it just ended up being a loose wire under the top cover on the outside generator controls. Might be worth a check.

Larry
Well I see you got it fixed, I'll look at that plug next time.

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #15 – July 23, 2023, 12:42:15 pm

When the generator is in the glow position, you should hear the fuel pump ticking. House voltage should drop also.

Pierce

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #16 – July 26, 2023, 07:39:40 am

Took another look at the generator control panel today and noted one end of a purple wire unconnected. It originates on the control panel and ends, unconnected, as shown in the attached picture.

While I await a callback from Jeff at power tech anyone know what this wire should be connected to?

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #17 – July 26, 2023, 08:03:05 am

Quote from: floridarandy – July 26, 2023, 07:39:40 am

...noted one end of a purple wire unconnected.
...anyone know what this wire should be connected to?

"Purple wire" is mentioned in the post linked below (Reply #19), and also a couple more responses in that thread:

Auto Gen Start

"Purple wire" also mentioned in this post (Reply #25):

Generator not running

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #18 – July 26, 2023, 09:34:18 am

Check the latching relay where the green wire is. The purple wire might have broken off from the relay

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #19 – July 26, 2023, 03:10:48 pm

So dumb luck and it's fixed. I noted a purple wire that wasn't attached to the latching relay. Looking at wire length and position I assumed it went in hole marked "1" (see additional pics attached). That solved the problem. It took a bit to figure out the top hole was the tighten screw for the wire insert hole in the side of the relay. Wire has pulled out of a crimped fitting in that hole which I could not easily retrieve so I put the wire next to it and tightened the set screw. Back to normal.

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #20 – July 26, 2023, 05:48:42 pm

So, it went into the same hole as the green wire in A1?

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #21 – July 26, 2023, 08:18:53 pm

Quote from: rbark – July 26, 2023, 05:48:42 pm

So, it went into the same hole as the green wire in A1?

No....it goes in the hole marked 1. NOT the same as the green which was A1. I don't fully understand all the wires and functions but Paul Yasbeck indicated the purple wire had to do with the start relay if I understood correctly.

All I know is that it worked.

Re: Generator stopped and won’t restart.

Reply #22 – July 28, 2023, 09:05:59 am

Not the best pics sorry

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