Ventrac 3400Y won't crank

[Mark1011]

Hi, my tractor won't start, and I've run out of options after 2 two days of troubleshooting. Here's what I've done so far:
1. Tested the battery and confirmed it's fully charged.
2. I checked all fuses and confirmed that the operator presence plug under the seat was connected.
3. Ran the electrical troubleshooting guide in the manual to include looking at the lights on the TCM and ensuring it isn't in sleep mode (Pictures of TCM are attached, which show the lights with the operator present and the key turned to start).
4. Cycled the PTO switch, parking brake, and operator presence sensors. All make the appropriate "click" on the TCM panel, and the LED Lights on the TCM correspond correctly. I've also confirmed the PTO switch is off, the parking brake is in Park, and the SDLA is in Neutral.
5. I checked the voltage at the starter (red terminal cover) and saw a constant battery voltage.

If anyone has any suggestions, I greatly appreciate them. I'm stumped!

Thanks, Mark

 

[TractorTech]

Welcome to TBN!

Can you start or turn over the engine at the starter by bypassing everything?

 

[MountainBuck]

First you say that you looked at the lights of the TCM to confirm that it wasn't asleep.

This implies that you don't regularly turn off the battery cutoff switch.

I understand that you are seeing the lights on the TCM but before going any further into other troubleshooting, you should physically cycle the battery cutoff switch to reboot the TCM.

 

[Mark1011]

Welcome to TBN!

Can you start or turn over the engine at the starter by bypassing everything?

Thanks! I haven’t tried that and don't know how to do it. Could you please layout the steps to do it. Much appreciated. Mark

 

[Mark1011]

First you say that you looked at the lights of the TCM to confirm that it wasn't asleep.

This implies that you don't regularly turn off the battery cutoff switch.

I understand that you are seeing the lights on the TCM but before going any further into other troubleshooting, you should physically cycle the battery cutoff switch to reboot the TCM.

Hi,

Thanks for the advice. I have cycled the battery cutoff switch multiple times with no success.

 

[TractorTech]

Thanks! I haven’t tried that and don't know how to do it. Could you please layout the steps to do it. Much appreciated. Mark

On the starter, you have a small, flat terminal covered with an insulator. Remove that wire and jumper from the large post on the starter or from the + post on the battery to that terminal to see if the starter will turn over. Make sure tractor is in neutral.

When everything is in neutral and you turn the key to start, that is the wire that receives a charge to energize the starter.

If the starter doesn’t respond when you perform the jump connection, then the problem is the starter solenoid.

 

[Chris616]

2. I checked all fuses and confirmed that the operator presence plug under the seat was connected.
5. I checked the voltage at the starter (red terminal cover) and saw a constant battery voltage.

You don’t need to check things like the operator presence plug, since the TCM is telling you that the required inputs are satisfied and that as far as it is concerned it’s trying to run the starter.

Presumably when you checked for voltage at the starter you were checking where I’m pointing to with the green arrow in the wiring diagram excerpt below. That’s directly connected to the battery, so in all likelihood it will have voltage. You’ve written that you’ve checked the fuses, but you didn’t specify which. Have you checked the fuse being pointed to with the blue arrow below? The manual gives its location ("B" in photo shown below).

Ventrac manuals are nice.

 

[Mark1011]

On the starter, you have a small, flat terminal covered with an insulator. Remove that wire and jumper from the large post on the starter or from the + post on the battery to that terminal to see if the starter will turn over. Make sure tractor is in neutral.

When everything is in neutral and you turn the key to start, that is the wire that receives a charge to energize the starter.

If the starter doesn’t respond when you perform the jump connection, then the problem is the starter solenoid.

Thanks for detailing the steps! Greatly appreciated!

 

[Mark1011]

You don’t need to check things like the operator presence plug, since the TCM is telling you that the required inputs are satisfied and that as far as it is concerned it’s trying to run the starter.

Presumably when you checked for voltage at the starter you were checking where I’m pointing to with the green arrow in the wiring diagram excerpt below. That’s directly connected to the battery, so in all likelihood it will have voltage. You’ve written that you’ve checked the fuses, but you didn’t specify which. Have you checked the fuse being pointed to with the blue arrow below? The manual gives its location ("B" in photo shown below).

Ventrac manuals are nice.

Hi,
Thanks for the detailed instructions and photos. I checked the voltage at the point indicated in the attached photo. I did check the fuse at position B (50 amp J-Case Glow Plug) It was fine. I didn't check the Position A 80 amp fuse-link. Thanks for pointing that out!

 

[TractorTech]

Yup, fusible link or fuse is usually the culprit.