have a CAT 236b skid steer. Went to fire it up today and the key switch is acting in reverse. When the key is in the ON position, the engine turns over. When key is in Engine Start position, the dash\control lights turn on. Should be the other way around. No visible signs of mouse damage (not that it means anything). No other known electrical issues. Check fuses - all seem ok. Disconnect\reconnect battery, no change. Confirmed the safety bar mechanism looks good and appears the wires are connected. Could this be a relay or solenoid issue? If so, where is the starter relay\solenoid located. Any ideas? Machine worked fine last time we had it out a couple of months ago.
Id be looking at key switch, firstly. Maybe switch turned internally, so contacts don't align with specific function. Could be melted at connector, allowing contacts to bleed into each other.
Thanks Arny, we ended up leaning towards the switch as well. Quick Update - We went to CAT and got a new switch. Replaced and still has the same behavior! I keep leaning towards wires that maybe have their coating stripped. So new switch installed and the same reverse behavior issue. We did end up locating the relays and solenoid, they all tested good too. Any other ideas? Service guys at our local CAT store said they had never heard of this issue and their best guess was also the switch. We are trying to avoid a callout service charge as we are out of town farmers. We are pretty independent with fixing our farming equipment, but this dang skid steer is frustrating!
Would an electrical schematic be of any use.? If so a Serial Number is required.
It sure would. We are just in the middle of harvest right now, but I will grab that serial number later today and will update the post. Thank you!
The last 8 should be either HENxxxxx or A9Hxxxxx. It does make a difference in the schematic which one you have.
Sn is CAT0236BTHEN02281 Thanks!
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Thank you everyone. In case anyone else runs into this random issue, the problem was with the ground wire under the cab. CAT tech did field service to locate issue. We would have never found it.
Checking powers and grounds really ought to have been Step 1 in the process, but glad you got it sorted either way.