JD 345 blowing circuit board

[timnvt]

First time posting here. I have a JD 345 lawn tractor. It keeps blowing a resistor and capacitor on the starting circuit board. At a $100.00 plus a pop for a new board, it will start and run?or about 30 seconds or so and then it lets the smoke out of the now ruined circuit board and begins to run rough and I shut it off before it dies. What would I need to do to get the engine to run without this circuit board connected? I want to bypass the board altogether and just connect what basic wiring is needed to get the engine to start and run even if it is with simple toggle switches. I believe it is a 20 hp Kawasaki engine.
Thanks for any help. Tim.

 

[timnvt]

The board that is blowing is part # AM132500 interlock module. Not sure if the link below will post but if so, it is part number 5 on the diagram. Error java.lang.NullPointerException

 

[Retired Iron Peddler]

It sounds like you may have a short in the operator safety system. I replaced three on my 345; however, the last one has been working for over six years and I don't know why.

Bill

 

[beenthere]

timnvt
Do you have the wiring schematic?
I'd do one of two things...get the tech manual and try to test out the connections to his board through the wiring diagram (and hope there were procedures suggested in the manual) or...
I'd take it to the Deere dealer to check out in hopes they have a competent technician on board with the skills to check it out. At least, if they are replacing boards just to solve the problem then it will be at their expense. Likely cannot charge you for each board ruined.

Must isolate the problem, whether a mouse-chewed wire shorting out or whatever, that would appear to be outside of the interlock module.

 

[bedehaan]

Did you ever get this resolved? Similar issue here.

Think something got wet washing mine. After wash, went to start the tractor, dead and acting like low battery. Blew everything out with compressor and let it sit in the sun for the afternoon. Had to jump it to get it running. Ran fine for a bit, but could not turn the lights on or mower deck on without killing it. Went to park it and while idling, the capacitor on the ignition module let the magic smoke out. I re-soldered a new cap, same cycle, blew again. Just this morning, I did confirm the battery was bad (timing on washing?), but I still feel like something else is causing this issue. I will probably replace the ignition module as well.

Thoughts on what else could cause this type of behavior?

 

[Spanner]

Where did you apply wash water? Nothing electrical on these machines is 'waterproof'.
Which part are you calling the 'Ignition module'? Why replace it - Is it confirmed faulty?
The circuit board connected to the key switch is the Interlock control circuitry. Having lose the smoke from that the implication is that you have a short-circuit in a component connected with-in the Inter-lock/PTO system.

First please clarify where and how-much water was applied?

(You do have a 345 as well as the 3032e listed in your profile?)

 

[bedehaan]

Assuming wash water was splashed under the hood vents when I was pressure washing the machine floor boards or hood. Hood was closed. Noticed some moisture close to the ignition module and battery when it would not start and opened the hood.

Ignition module is the circuit board attached by the battery on the right backside of the machine under the hood. The ignition is attached to it with 4 wires. The circuit board is what I'm referring to. It has not been confirmed faulty officially, but that circuit board is where the cap keeps blowing. I'm not sure a dead/faulty battery would cause that behavior

 

[Spanner]

Perhaps look to the PTO switch for water causing a short circuit?
The Circuit Board has 2 x multi-plug connectors. You could disconnect and probe each one for shorts to ground.
The wires have numbers on them. easy to trace from both ends.
There is a very good schematic in the Tech Manual - which I don't have.

 

[bedehaan]

Perhaps look to the PTO switch for water causing a short circuit?
The Circuit Board has 2 x multi-plug connectors. You could disconnect and probe each one for shorts to ground.
The wires have numbers on them. easy to trace from both ends.
There is a very good schematic in the Tech Manual - which I don't have.

So, not sure if the this is the appropriate detailed conclusion people were looking for, after checking wires for shorts, pulling quick connects apart and verifying things were dry and in good shape, today I ended up swapping the battery and buying a new ignition module ($130 green dollars). Mowed the farm yesterday without issue..

 

[Richard001]

Glad to see that your back up and running.

The circuit board thing could just have been an accumulation of dirt that got wet and provided a path for electrons that was not suppose to be there.

Also un-plugging and then re-plugging connectors is a good way to eliminate connector issues. Happens all the time. It is especially a bad problem on the low cost connectors typical used on these machines. Sealed connectors usually do not have corrosion issues.

Richard