99 problems and my tractor is every one of them

[DieselBound]

As has been mentioned, sounds like injector issues are the root of the regen issue. Not uncommon, but not real common: have run across a few such stories. The coolant issue is another thing and it looks like the radiator was lifted and pulled before that nipple was clear of something: that's what it looks like to me- there's a good nick or depression on it about 40% from the end (and would match up with extraction forces, same direction of extraction).

My 2016 NX5510 has almost 900 hrs on it and the engine, computer and all have presented no issues: I had water-in-fuel issues which I finally traced to a crappy locking fuel cap (that was about 600 hrs ago and no problems since).

I've put on a combined 2k hrs on my tractors, working in some very insane situations, and have never punched anything through a radiator: neither tractor has a guard on the front. I HAVE, however, dropped stuff on top of the hood, on BOTH! (is there a guard for tops of hoods? ) Did break a petcock valve on the B7800: caught that one right away. I watch my temperature gauges like a hawk (on everything I own).

 

[panamaguy]

If a radiator, or cap, or hose, or connection has an air leak it will not pull fluid from an external overflow reservoir, That is why most engines need to physically have the actual radiator level checked. That is where a radiator level switch and light is nice to have.

Yes I have that happen on my old Hyundai SUV. Rad low and overflow has fluid in it

 

[Elviscaretaker]

There is certainly of damage due to pictures submitted to me by service manager. The plastic radiator mount is seen below.
The crack occurs through thin metal mesh on hood that protects exhaust pipe. Age of damage is hard to determine due to tractor having only 67 hours on it.
The owners manual only explicitly states to check reservoir level. No mention of radiator cap or any other means to gauge level.

Looking at that photo and knowing the construction of most radiators.... that would take a pretty good hit to do that. I'd be suspicious if I were you. Just odd. Anyone else ever have a break like that?

 

[electron642]

I would start off with taking my lawyer to any face to face meeting (a lawyer that deals in business law on a daily basis).

 

[Doz]

Start buy good brand name equipment for a good dealership good luck

 

[deezler]

Oof, tough one. Sorry to hear about this.

So it sounds like you do not contest the possibility that you did drive the tractor with no coolant in the radiator and block? It's hard to accept your assurances that the coolant temp gauge never spiked, because people really just don't watch those constantly, you could have missed it.

If the dealer didn't notice the coolant issue either, and forced another regen, that surely didn't help with whatever the "knock" is deemed to be. But it could obviously be catastrophic cylinder damage in one or multiple cylinders, from overheating.

The coolant loss and overheating may not be the cause of your DPF regen problem, but that needs to be solved later anyway. Right now you need to prove to your dealer that you are not at fault, and thus deserve a new engine. So they are saying your driving/work with the tractor caused the radiator breakage, that drained the coolant? Seems like you could contest that as a defect in the radiator, if nothing crazy happened when you were driving it. How can they prove otherwise?

 

[5030]

Always keep in mind that if there is no coolant contacting the temp gage sensor, the temp gage won't register anything. Detroit Diesel had that issue a while ago and roasted many engines because of it.

 

[JCoastie]

dealer replaced the injectors on my MT240 trying to correct a far too frequent regen cycle, in my specific case, it made no difference. Now they have reverted back to saying a regen every 2 hours is not out of the ordinary.....no joke! I have a whole different thread about that, just answering the injector question here.

 

[joea99]

That smells like a load of ********.

You could always take it to social media.

Or a Lawyer. In Canada, probably have some Government agencies that would be interested.

 

[5030]

Gotta love Tier 4 final diesel engines.... NOT.

 

[MHarryE]

From what I read, the real problem was loss of coolant and the DPF problems were all symptoms of overheating. It's right that the coolant recovery tank will have fluid if the block is cracked so there is an air leak. The coolant contracts as it cools and if the system is sealed, it will draw the fluid out of the tank. If there is a cracked block or leaking radiator cap, heater hose, etc., the coolant tank is likely to have fluid. So normally you should only need to check the tank unless you suspect a crack, and in that case, you're already screwed. So do you accept the engine could have been damaged or in your work is it unlikely for such damage to have occurred?

I've had tractors with DPF filters for 11 years with one problem - I forgot a tractor running at low idle for 2 days with the engine at low idle where it would not initiate a regen. When I went to use the tractor I was screwed - it was at 195%. Cost me $600 to have the DPF cleaned and a couple sensors replaced.

So I think the real problem is how the block was cracked.

 

[BCLoco]

There is certainly of damage due to pictures submitted to me by service manager. The plastic radiator mount is seen below.
The crack occurs through thin metal mesh on hood that protects exhaust pipe. Age of damage is hard to determine due to tractor having only 67 hours on it.
The owners manual only explicitly states to check reservoir level. No mention of radiator cap or any other means to gauge level

Mechanic for 24 years and counting, so I've seen more than a few cracked rads. That cracked-off piece is one of the supports that holds the radiator in it's rubber mounting grommets. Looking at those pictures, I'm quite sure that was cracked either taking the radiator out, or afterwards with a tool. It couldn't have cracked in place like that, the angle looks too severe. But for argument sake, let's say it did. That means the radiator would have had to have taken a substantial amount of force somewhere else to have pushed it hard enough against the mounting grommets to crack it. There would be significant visible damage to another part of the radiator. And for something to have pushed against the rad that hard, you'd have damage to your hood and/or grille.

Second, you say you noted that the temp gauge was in normal range at some point during the faulty regen. That's good. For the temp gauge to be reading normally, that means there was coolant in the system, and enough for it to be functioning normally. That means that if that crack was responsible for low coolant and a damaged engine, then it had to have happened at temperature, which from my experience, leaves coolant stains in the porous plastic around the crack, as the hot, pressurized coolant is forced through it. I don't see any stains there. Also, there would have been coolant sprayed all around the engine bay, or the underside of the tractor, and over the front axle. Even if you didn't see steam, you would have seen residual coolant.

Third, the dealership is responsible for ensuring the vehicle is in safe operating condition while it is in their possession. We check fluids on vehicles that we're working on. Basic step that is drilled into the apprentice's heads early on. In fact, I virtually guarantee that the operators manual says to verify fluid levels daily before starting the vehicle. That includes when it's in the hands of the mechanic working on it. They admitted to finding and replacing a burnt harness, then running a manual regen, but they're claiming this was all done while there was no coolant in the system, and the engine had already been run to the point of rod bearing damage? ********. They essentially just admitted to negligence causing damage, while the tractor was in their possession.

My suspicion is that the melted harness was your original regen problem, and something else went wrong at the dealership from incompetence and/or negligence, and they're trying to hang it on you. If the service manager has to explain to the general manager why they're eating the cost of a diesel engine, someone is going to be in **** or even fired. It's a lot easier for them to just stonewall you and say that you did it to yourself.

I believe if you search the forums you'll find one or two other Kioti harness-melting threads. Seems to be a common fault on a recent batch of these tractors. Also, get a hold of that radiator. That is your best piece of evidence they're pulling a fast one. I would just show up and ask for it, and don't be surprised if they try to claim they can't find it or it "got thrown out".

 

[Dennis Mohn]

I think I would go to the meeting with the dealer and take a lawyer with me. If they advised to continue operating and then had the equipment for an extended period they should be bearing some of the cost of repair. How long out of warranty were you when this happened?

 

[3gunr]

I believe he is still under warranty, Only 67 hrs on machine