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Cat D5K2 2018 grade control not working

JD955SC

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For both the on board control system and for utilising 3D be it Trimble or Leica?

If you are using an external full 3D system you will not need “Grade Control” enabled (that’s Caterpillar’s integrated full 3D system that is either factory installed or dealer installed option). If you are using your own 3D setup or not at all you will not need it, it costs a lot of money to enable it.

your problem is in wiring or sensors or the ECM itself, not options enabled or not.

Of course no favors have been done by the manufactures not clearly specifying what is what when it comes to this stuff and throwing everything under the generic heading of “grade control”
 

Wilj

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Just added it to cat app and this is what it throws up. Going to look at connections and harness today
 

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Wilj

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Had a look through and couldn’t find anything obvious so left thought I should just lump it and give up on trying.
Anyway…
Jumped in dozer this morning and turned it on and hey presto it’s working. I didn’t even touch anything, only looked.

leaving me to believe that it may be a function that may be controlled remotely by CAT or the dealer Finning?
 

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JD955SC

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Had a look through and couldn’t find anything obvious so left thought I should just lump it and give up on trying.
Anyway…
Jumped in dozer this morning and turned it on and hey presto it’s working. I didn’t even touch anything, only looked.

leaving me to believe that it may be a function that may be controlled remotely by CAT or the dealer Finning?

The only thing that is really controlled “remotely” is a subscription/licenses for the full blown 3D integrated grade control and your readings for the blade are unaffected whether that’s active or not.

Do not be shocked if these issues return. A lot of these kinds of issues can be very intermittent which is extremely frustrating when you are trying troubleshooting because you can easily think it’s fixed.

I started as a mechanic right when these slope assist and integrated 3D grade control systems were introduced and being the electrical troubleshooting specialist at my shop I have gotten a good amount of experience with these systems and their operation from calibrating them during PDI (and all the things that you have to deal with when one doesn’t want to calibrate correctly!) to diagnosing and repairing them after damage or failure in the field. Same goes for the next generation excavators with integrated so called “2D grade control”
 

Nige

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G..G..G..Granville.........!! Fetch your cloth.
The difficulty you will have is that unless the Codes are Active there is no sure-fire way to troubleshoot them.
If you don't feel confident to tackle the procedures yourself then TBH with the electrical schematic and the procedures it ought to be within the competence of any half-decent electrican.
 

Wilj

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The difficulty you will have is that unless the Codes are Active there is no sure-fire way to troubleshoot them.
If you don't feel confident to tackle the procedures yourself then TBH with the electrical schematic and the procedures it ought to be within the competence of any half-decent electrican.

Im confident, perhaps too eager to solve it and wanting to pin point the problem straight away.

I have removed the offside bonnet panel and have found the entire sump full of sand and silt which covered the power supply pack. Having a good unplug and clean mission on the connectors,. (fingers Crossed)
 

JD955SC

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Im confident, perhaps too eager to solve it and wanting to pin point the problem straight away.

I have removed the offside bonnet panel and have found the entire sump full of sand and silt which covered the power supply pack. Having a good unplug and clean mission on the connectors,. (fingers Crossed)

you need to drop and clean out your belly pans regularly, not only for mud impacting the ECM but also so that it doesn’t rub a hole in the oil pan. This is a very neglected task as it’s a very annoying one to accomplish.
 

Nige

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you need to drop and clean out your belly pans regularly, not only for mud impacting the ECM but also so that it doesn’t rub a hole in the oil pan. This is a very neglected task as it’s a very annoying one to accomplish.
Agreed. I recall at least 2 instances within the past few years where we had cracked oil pans caused by material buildup between the belly guards and the engine.

If you have that level of material buildup around th electrical system maybe some waterproofing of electrical connectors might also be in order.
 

Wilj

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Still fault finding on the in built grade control.

however I have had the machine control engineer out to fit the Leica MC1 kit I already have and the SEA code has been removed.
Why would it have been removed if it were installed before?
I’d have thought it would be to the machine and not the owner?
 

Wilj

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Ive had Cat engineer come out to have a look. He said the machine has already Accugrade, Slope assist and stable blade already installed so the machine control engineer sent me image of the error and I'm left in a quandary as the below image shows the Leica kit not connecting but the dozer is enabled.

Am I now looking at ECU problems or has the Cat engineer missed something? He admitted he hasn't had to deal with this on a dozer before.
 

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JD955SC

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Did the Leica installers install separate sensors or are they trying to use the factory installed Cat blade and chassis sensors?

if The former then the only thing you need to connect to the dozer for is power and to integrate the Leica grade control system into the machine hydraulic control system. If that’s the case it should have worked when the Leica installers were done with their work

if the latter then you are still experiencing the same issues I have been trying to help you understand this entire thread and your expensive Leica system is a boat anchor until those issues are resolved

you need actual troubleshooting per the schematic and SIS. You cannot jump to conclusions about the ECMs until you rule out other items.
 

Wilj

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Leica has its own slope sensor.

I jumped back in half hour later and had some random success. (See pic)

also by putting the traction control button on made the fault appear this morning.
 

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Wilj

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So. Trying to can test the Leica and the dozer isn’t going into auto. It says it’s connected to transmission levelling etc but when I do the setup the auto switch isn’t working (grade control now working)
 

7379df

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I have the same problem on a d5k2 2017. Is it ok if I just add to this original post or do i need to start a new thread ? Thanks
 

Nige

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G..G..G..Granville.........!! Fetch your cloth.
See if you get any answers first and if not consider starting another thread. One thing that is important is to include a Serial Number because that gives access to check how the machine was configured electronically when it was built.

Also specify whether your machine is equipped with OEM Cat Accugrade or a system from A N Other manufacturer.
 
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