I have a 98 Ficht 150 (I’m the orig owner)- I'm aware of the history and issues- but I’ve been relatively lucky for 14 years- but today, here’ what I got.
It has always started right up on the 1st turn of the key- even out of winter storage- never an issue.
Tonight we took it out (sad to say it hasn’t been out for a month)- it started right up on the first bump of the ignition key- throttled out at about 2000RPM, then pushed it up to 5000- all running normal- for about 2 minutes. Then throttled down to about 1500-2000RPM to look over some structure and it just stopped! Almost as if I shut it off- but I didn’t. Pulled the throttle arm back to the start position and all she would do is crank- but not even a hint of firing or trying to start. Almost as if 0 fuel or 0 spark. Good solid cranking- but it won’t start.
At home- I have the Diagnostics software and manual- but little time before dark- but here’s what I did find-
-All fuses, battery cables, connections, hoses, harness plugs/connectors are good.
-Battery connections tight
-As normal- turning the key to ON, the fuel pump runs for about 10 sec.
Diagnostics software-
-No error codes. Ran the Fuel Injector test, oil pump and fuel pump test – all pass (or at least you could hear them). Voltage readings good. (I don’t have a spark tester). All sensors- no faults
From the manual: “Engine cranks but won’t start”
-(Again- not a lot of daylight to do everything)- but most of the “actions” said to check fuse- look at Diag…all appeared to look and check out OK- however- while looking into the “Ignition System” part of the flow chart- and stepping through the action steps for the “Cause” titled “Emerg Stop Circuit No switched B+ to ECU or Ignition”…(there’s a lot of steps)
But when I got to checking the voltage at Relay 8, pin 86, I measured about 12vdc, which according to the book- “if approx. battery voltage = replace relay”. I retraced the steps- and came to this same item.
Then I ran out of daylight and the mosquitoes found me
Questions-
-This “Emergency Stop Circuit”, if active- would it causes the motor to crank, but not start?
-What is the “Emergency Stop Circuit” and what are its conditions to be active?
-When I put this relay back in (Key has to be ON during the test)- the fuel pump runs again for 10sec. So obviously this relay deals with the pump- but what else is its output to?
-To verify that that this relay is the culprit- could I temporarily use one of the neighboring trim relays- just to see if the engine will start? (are they the same?)
Any other thoughts or ideas for an eng. to just ‘stop’ and not even try to fire?
I realize the value of sinking $$$ into this engine (there isn’t any). I’ve already determined that if it goes to the shop- it’s coming out a Merc- or something else. But this was sudden and abrupt to the point where I know something must have ‘snapped”
Thanks for the help!
It has always started right up on the 1st turn of the key- even out of winter storage- never an issue.
Tonight we took it out (sad to say it hasn’t been out for a month)- it started right up on the first bump of the ignition key- throttled out at about 2000RPM, then pushed it up to 5000- all running normal- for about 2 minutes. Then throttled down to about 1500-2000RPM to look over some structure and it just stopped! Almost as if I shut it off- but I didn’t. Pulled the throttle arm back to the start position and all she would do is crank- but not even a hint of firing or trying to start. Almost as if 0 fuel or 0 spark. Good solid cranking- but it won’t start.
At home- I have the Diagnostics software and manual- but little time before dark- but here’s what I did find-
-All fuses, battery cables, connections, hoses, harness plugs/connectors are good.
-Battery connections tight
-As normal- turning the key to ON, the fuel pump runs for about 10 sec.
Diagnostics software-
-No error codes. Ran the Fuel Injector test, oil pump and fuel pump test – all pass (or at least you could hear them). Voltage readings good. (I don’t have a spark tester). All sensors- no faults
From the manual: “Engine cranks but won’t start”
-(Again- not a lot of daylight to do everything)- but most of the “actions” said to check fuse- look at Diag…all appeared to look and check out OK- however- while looking into the “Ignition System” part of the flow chart- and stepping through the action steps for the “Cause” titled “Emerg Stop Circuit No switched B+ to ECU or Ignition”…(there’s a lot of steps)
But when I got to checking the voltage at Relay 8, pin 86, I measured about 12vdc, which according to the book- “if approx. battery voltage = replace relay”. I retraced the steps- and came to this same item.
Then I ran out of daylight and the mosquitoes found me
Questions-
-This “Emergency Stop Circuit”, if active- would it causes the motor to crank, but not start?
-What is the “Emergency Stop Circuit” and what are its conditions to be active?
-When I put this relay back in (Key has to be ON during the test)- the fuel pump runs again for 10sec. So obviously this relay deals with the pump- but what else is its output to?
-To verify that that this relay is the culprit- could I temporarily use one of the neighboring trim relays- just to see if the engine will start? (are they the same?)
Any other thoughts or ideas for an eng. to just ‘stop’ and not even try to fire?
I realize the value of sinking $$$ into this engine (there isn’t any). I’ve already determined that if it goes to the shop- it’s coming out a Merc- or something else. But this was sudden and abrupt to the point where I know something must have ‘snapped”
Thanks for the help!