Mahindra Max 26XL Fuel Shut off

[Cat303]

Hi,

I`m having some issues with a fuel shut off solenoid. At first I could turn the tractor over but would not fire up, no issues with neutral switches.
After trying several times it would just kill the battery, charge it back up and no luck.

Tapped the solenoid with a wrench next time when the battery was charged and it fired up just fine and had no issues with the tractor, put about 30-40 hours on it.

Trailered it back home, unloaded it, parked it in the garage and now the same trouble again, tapped the solenoid like last time but no luck, I hear the solenoid flicking back when the power is shut off.........

Just wondering if anyone have some tips, my warranty is gone, tractor is a 2015

 

[s219]

Do a search here on the forum -- it's probably an issue with the wiring harness or connector. Very common on the Max unfortunately.

 

[adiaz755]

Hello Cat303,
I have a 2018 Max 26 XL with 175 hours and the shut of solenoid just went bad.....

I have to order one... in the meantime, I removed my bad solenoid, cut the rod out, cur the wires, and I am able to start It just fine.... to shut it off, I have to unscrew the solenoid ( i know is a pin to get to) and stick a small screwdriver in there to shut off.

You can try taking the solenoid off, and starting it with it plugged into the harness... if the inner rod moves, then it is not the solenoid... if the tractor starts, then have a small screwdriver ready to shut off.

Now, please take my advice with a grain of salt, I am not an experienced mechanic by any means, but that will isolate to see if its the solenoid. also, your should be hearing clicking on the relay that controls the solenoid when you turn the key.

Is the engine turning over now? Do you have a small fuel pump on yours (looks like a metal canister)? does it vibrate when you turn on the key (before turning on)?

let us know the outcome. all the best.

 

[doneill127]

See if this helps
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/max-28xl-won’t-stay-running.436704/

 

[Scootframer]

Hi all. I am having same issues as cat303. Mines a 2015 26XL. Will never start without fluid first run of the day. Once it starts with fluid I can shut off and it will start every single time thereafter with zero issues. I have tried a million fixes to no avail. Today I bled the injectors and checked the glow plug rail and still same thing. When I turn the key I hear the fuel solenoid click and the fuel pump is pumping away. It turns over great and will blow white smoke out exhaust but will never fire. Small sprits of fluid and she comes to life. Thinking of replacing fuel solenoid just to eliminate that possibility. Open to ideas.
Thanks.

 

[K5lwq]

Sounds like a glow plug issue. What happens if you throttle up a little?

 

[doneill127]

Another common problem with the Max’s with the S3L Mitsubishi engines is the wiring connection to the glow plug bus. Factory connection is a crimp on spade connection that tends to come loose. Dealer told me this and came out to diagnose and fix a while ago. Solution was to replace with new crimp on ring connector.

 

[Scootframer]

I took the spade connector off the glow bus and cleaned the connector up with fine grit sand paper. I used alligator clamps on the back of spade connector to the freshly polished glow bus. Put throttle just above idle and turned it over…. Nothing.
I pulled out fuel solenoid and applied 12v to white wire and ground to one of the others. I push the inner rod in and it stays put until I disconnect the wire. Same with other ground. I was hoping it wouldn’t do anything so I could finally find the fix. With the solenoid out I thought I would try to start and just be ready with small screw driver to shut off…… nothing.
I also confirmed there is no air in the lines by bleeding the injectors. Fuel pump seems to be working fine too. So after pulling out the rest of my thinning hair I sprits the tiniest amount of fluid into air intake and she fires right up.
This tractor is awesome 99% of the time. If I can get this first-start of the day issue resolved I will be singing old McDonald every morning on the way to see her.
Maybe it’s time to start inspecting the wiring harness.

 

[K5lwq]

I believe you have one or more bad glow plugs. It is time to test them.

Here is a video on how to test. You are looking for 1ohm or less.

 

[Scootframer]

Update: yesterday I had watched a different vid to make sure my glow rail was NOT getting 12v with key on. That would mean the glow plugs were not pulling juice to get warm. I had tested the clip that connects to the rail but never thought about the rail itself. It was indeed getting 9.5ish volts which told me glow plugs were all heating up. After feeling beat down by my girl yet again (no not my wife) I figured I would just clean up some of the dirty spots. The ground from the battery to the frame looked covered in dirt/dust/oil and everything else. I took off the ground bolt and shined up everything with some fine grit and tightened it back up. For kicks I thought I would try to start it. Low and behold she came to life! Figured this was luck of the draw and I couldn’t really test again until the next morning. Today was dark and cold out but on my way to work I just slipped over and gave it a try. I waited for glow light to go off and cranked and within a half second it fired up! I will let it sit again until tomorrow morning, but could it really have been a ground not getting a good ground? Figured there was no way it could be ground if everything from glow rail, fuel solenoid, fuel pump were all working as they should.
I will report back in a few days to confirm she is fixed. As always I really REALLY appreciate everyone’s feedback. It’s helpful folks on forums like this that make the world a better place.