1998 John Deere 345 cuts out

powrguy · Aug 9, 2018

I have a John Deere 345 that we bought new in 1998. It's at about 950 hours right now, and is 70000+ serial number.

The water pump failed, and that required pulling the engine, so I took it to the dealer for the repair. (Not too bad at $700+), I thought. When it was retruned, the first time it was used to mow, the thing ran fine for about 45 minutes, then just quit, as if you turned off the key. It restarted after about 5 minutes, and then died after about 5 minutes of running again.

Called the dealer and they picked it up to check it out, and said a "7-pin connector was not fully seated", and it was corrected. Ran it today for about 20 minutes, and it shut down, again. When I tried to re-start, nothing. I left the key in the on position, and in about 10 seconds, the idiot lights came on (as they normally do when you turn on the key), so I cranked it and it re-started. It ran for 10 seconds or so, then quit. Same symptoms/routine, and after about 5 re-starts I limped it back to the barn and the dealer will come and pick it up tomorrow.

Further, when I picked it up, they went to get it from the holding area, and couldn't get it started (that's when the water pump repair was completed on the FIRST repair trip). They had pressure washed the thing, and the water got in the TDM (timing delay module, a common wet-induced problem on these). He also told me they had pressure washed it when it first came in, pressure washed it after engine removal, and pressure washed it after re-installation was complete, before I picked it up.

Bottom line is that I feel that because it runs for awhile before it quits, and then a complete electrical shutdown occurs, there must be some temperature-sensor-related feature, OR, possibly the printed circuit board fails when it heats up under the hood.

ANYONE here had similar symptoms and resolution?

thanks

Richard001 · Aug 10, 2018

My first thought, is there another JD dealer near by? What were they thinking, power washing the whole tractor!

My guess is that there will be a lot more water related issues on this. They should have never sprayed water on the electronics.

Richard

powrguy · Aug 11, 2018

Richard001 said:
My first thought, is there another JD dealer near by? What were they thinking, power washing the whole tractor!

My guess is that there will be a lot more water related issues on this. They should have never sprayed water on the electronics.

Richard

I talked to the mechanic yesterday, and they power wash ALL the tractors before and after work is done, he said. HOWEVER, I reminded him that I had brought mine in without the hood, and I NEVER power wash my chassis; only power wash the deck and wheels/tires, and don't wet the wired areas, myself. I know the JD 345 has a Timing Delay Module that ALWAYS is susceptible to moisture failure (I've replaced mine twice, and keep a spare as it's only a $20 part, and they had to replace mine after the water pump job, as it got wet and the tractor wouldn't start). LOL

Hoping it gets diagnosed and repaired in the next few days. When I brought it in this time, the mechanic took it out and MOWED for about 15-20 minutes, and it quit running on him....luckily....so he saw EXACTLY what was my complaint. My hope is that the problem is the result of their work, and I am not paying the $90/hr. flat rate for the fix, nor am I paying for anything that was damaged/failed as a result of their work. So far, all the pickups/returns on their truck was at no charge. I'm lucky I have my trusty Gravely 8189T to mow with while the JD 345 is in the shop.

JerryK · Aug 11, 2018

I had a JD 420 with an Onan twin in it. It acted something like yours. Turns out it was the electric unit that fires the coil located behind the flywheel/fan. It would run until it got hot, then quit. Cool off some and she would run some more. Was not that hard to change on the Onan. Just had to take the flywheel off. I pulled the motor so I could do other stuff to it.

powrguy · Aug 11, 2018

JerryK said:
I had a JD 420 with an Onan twin in it. It acted something like yours. Turns out it was the electric unit that fires the coil located behind the flywheel/fan. It would run until it got hot, then quit. Cool off some and she would run some more. Was not that hard to change on the Onan. Just had to take the flywheel off. I pulled the motor so I could do other stuff to it.

I am pretty sure it's an electrical component that fails when it gets hot, but I had NO problems with the thing before the "professionals" did the water pump changeout.

thanks for the input

JerryK · Aug 11, 2018

powrguy said:
I am pretty sure it's an electrical component that fails when it gets hot, but I had NO problems with the thing before the "professionals" did the water pump changeout.

thanks for the input

Shift happens, just life......

Richard001 · Aug 11, 2018

JerryK said:
Shift happens, just life......

Well is should not happen when you are paying the "pros" to work on your equipment and then cause more problems.

Similar to what usually happens when I take my Camaro into the local Chev repair shop. The fix one thing and cause something else to break.

I think some of the problems come from management pushing the people to get it done and out the door fast so they can get in the next project. Don't know if lawn and garden repair places have a flat rate book like the car repair shops do, but if management can get the workers to go fast, then it's more money in the shops pocket.

Richard

beenthere · Aug 11, 2018

And if they don't charge enough to cover their expenses, then the place has to shut down.

We expect a lot these days, enabled by our Gubmint doling out money hand-over-fist.. it's "free" money to them.
Won't get into a rant about the endless social programs that leave most with the thought that they are owed a good, easy life.

Agree it is frustrating when our equipment is so complicated that we cannot fix it ourselves, so we have to pay those who think they can, or actually can, get it done.
It's a crap shoot.

powrguy · Sep 29, 2018

Just an update on my JD 345 shutting down issue.

After the cleaning of ALL the connectors and contacts on the main ignition control board, I have mowed 4 or 5 times since, and NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER.

I believe the four pressure washings wet every connector, and corrosion developed, where an intermittent loss of contact was occurring. So far, my fix seems to have done the trick.