One of the most common failures affecting construction machinery is starting problems.
This situation occurs especially in winter, when after a frosty night, the operator has difficulty starting the engine. The issue may seem trivial at first. However, sometimes a more serious malfunction is involved, which can only be fixed by a specialized service.
How to avoid problems with starting construction machinery in winter?
Before the winter season, a comprehensive review of the machine that is to be used during low temperatures should be carried out. Starting problems in winter are most often the result of negligence on the part of the operator or the owner of the equipment and that's why it is necessary to replace the fuel filter before winter.
It is also worth cleaning the fuel tank and checking the correctness of charging the battery and the operation of the starter.
Another service activity is the assessment of the condition of glow plugs or flame plugs and the manual fuel pump.
In winter, it is definitely worth refueling with winter diesel oil, which contains additives lowering the temperature of fuel usability. It is also a good habit to fill up the tank, which prevents the accumulation of water vapor on the tank walls.
When starting the engine in winter, remember to turn off all power receivers, such as radio, heating ventilation or lighting.
When the machine won't start, but the cold is not to blame
If there are starting problems outside the winter season, the fuel system is most likely the source of the problem.
Then it is worth checking whether the pump supplies fuel, whether fuel reaches the injectors, whether the fuel filter is not clogged, whether the fuel system is not airlocked, and whether there is enough fuel in the tank.
Besides, it is necessary to check the operation of the glow plugs and the ignition system.
We check the voltage on the battery and all the electrics responsible for starting the engine, with particular emphasis on the ignition coil, extinguishing coil or extinguishing cable - these elements may have changed their position, for example.
Standardly, we also check the condition of the air filter and replace it prophylactically.
If all these activities do not bring the effect, then there is no choice - you have to go to a specialized service, which has diagnostic equipment to determine the source of the ignition problem.
Sometimes the malfunction can be fixed on the construction site, but usually it is necessary to transport the machine to the workshop.
The downtime depends solely on the professionalism of the service and whether it has access to all necessary spare parts.
