Cat 12M3 Motor Grader - Dead

smphillipstx · Apr 23, 2019

Longshot question being relayed to me from operator out in the middle of nowhere . . .

Regarding 2016 Cat 12M3, operator claims was about an hour and a half into operator when suddenly the grader shutdown and went stone - no electrical power. Local Cat salesman thought it was a magnetic battery relay - changed it out - did not correct problem. No power to anything. Cat Service Tech is tied up and can't get to it for a few weeks. Less than 100 hrs since new.

Any ideas I can pass along to operator to check? Equipment is stopped dead cold in the middle of a shallow ravine and lots of rain forecasted. Need to get it out. Any help appreciated.

Queenslander · Apr 23, 2019

While we’re waiting for someone more knowledgeable to respond....
Have all fuses been checked?
Our 140H once did the same thing to us, turned out to be a short in the key switch circuit which energises the main power relay.

smphillipstx · Apr 23, 2019

Queenslander said:
While we’re waiting for someone more knowledgeable to respond....
Have all fuses been checked?
Our 140H once did the same thing to us, turned out to be a short in the key switch circuit which energises the main power relay.

Fuses check fine Will check key switch circuit and suggestions on how to perform the test on the 12M3? Thanks in advance!

Nige · Apr 24, 2019

Less than 100 hours from new, what part of the word warranty don't they understand..? Get on the phone to the dealership and DEMAND a service call. FFS you paid a lot of good money for the machine, "the nearest service tech is weeks away" wouldn't wash with me.

Any idea if the batteries are good or not..?
Has the operator tried resetting the main breaker..? #1 on the illustration below.

kshansen · Apr 24, 2019

Nige said:
FFS you paid a lot of good money for the machine, "the nearest service tech is weeks away" wouldn't wash with me.

Is that 78007 your zip code? If so you mean to tell me there isn't a Cat mechanic in one of the cities near by?

I think I would call the salesman who sold that machine to you and tell them you lawyer would be expecting them to pay for any damage and lost time if the rains come and that machine is still in the ravine!

Also remind the salesman that you will keep the "great service" they offer in mind when you are in the market for any new equipment in the future!

smphillipstx · Apr 24, 2019

Nige said:
Less than 100 hours from new, what part of the word warranty don't they understand..? Get on the phone to the dealership and DEMAND a service call. FFS you paid a lot of good money for the machine, "the nearest service tech is weeks away" wouldn't wash with me.

Any idea if the batteries are good or not..?
Has the operator tried resetting the main breaker..? #1 on the illustration below.
View attachment 195739

Nige/kshansen - All the items you mentioned have been checked, The salesman did come out and spent three hours trying to troubleshoot. He even brought a part out replaced it and that didn't solve problem. It was conveyed to me that a service call wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Machine bought back in late 2015. So far Cat been pretty good taking care of us. They must be really backed up. I have a phone conference this morning to attempt to get this resolved. Thanks...

Cat 140M AWD · Apr 24, 2019

Ik this sounds simple but make suer your parking break is on and your toggle switch for F N R is in neutral because ik machine won’t have any power that way had a friend have his F N R switch go bad and did kinda the same thing good luck hope this helps

smphillipstx · Apr 24, 2019

Cat 140M AWD said:
Ik this sounds simple but make suer your parking break is on and your toggle switch for F N R is in neutral because ik machine won’t have any power that way had a friend have his F N R switch go bad and did kinda the same thing good luck hope this helps

Thanks Cat140MAWD.... This happened while the unit was in motion - just died - I will convey your suggestion for the FNR Switch. Have a local mechanic coming out to troubleshoot - really appreciate everyone's input and will post what we find out.

Nige · Apr 24, 2019

Do you have access to an electrical schematic for the machine..? If not click on my username and start a conversation giving the machine Serial Number and your email address.

kshansen · Apr 24, 2019

Sorry I had assumed this was a new machine, when I saw the 100 hours. Some how missed the 2016.

Give Nige a shout with the S/N.

With the schematic in hand it might be a simple thing to find by checking for where you loose the power. I'd be starting at the battery(s) and systematically go one point at time until you find a place the power does not get by.

If you post the S/N here I might find time to look at the wiring and make some suggestion too!

Just for kicks I did look at SIS and for just one of several s/n prefixes there were four different schematics.

ol'stonebreaker · Apr 24, 2019

They don't send their mechanics out to sell machines so why send a salesman out to repair machines??
Mike

smphillipstx · Apr 24, 2019

Turned out to be operator had his cell phone charger plugged in to cig lighter outlet. Mechanic stated that the cig lighter outlet can’t handle a cell phone charger. Blew a breaker. Who would have guessed that?

kshansen · Apr 24, 2019

smphillipstx said:
Turned out to be operator had his cell phone charger plugged in to cig lighter outlet. Mechanic stated that the cig lighter outlet can’t handle a cell phone charger. Blew a breaker. Who would have guessed that?

How many amps does that phone charger pull! And why would Cat have the cig lighter on a breaker that if tripped would kill the whole machine? Something does not sound right!

Would still like the s/n so I could look at it myself.

One more thought or question. Is this machine wired for 12 volts or 24 volts and does the cig lighter run on 12 or 24 volts.

Nige · Apr 24, 2019

First up, I refer my learned friend to my post #4 above about breakers. It must have been the main breaker that went out (may have been others as well) in order to take out the whole machine.

As the Chinaman would say "Sum Ting Wong"...... I can't think of any possible way that a phone charger could take out the breaker that controlled that particular circuit, let alone the main power breaker. To the OP - post the machine Serial Number. I think both KSH and myself want to dig into this a bit deeper to try to figure out what happened, because the hairs on the back of my neck are telling me that someone may be telling you porkies.

Edit: for those who haven't come across the word "porkies" (aka porkie pies) before, I suggest that you Google Cockney rhyming slang....

smphillipstx · Apr 24, 2019

No sure about amps the charger pulls but I agree that a cig lighter shouldn’t shut the whole system down. Needs further review. I am not at the grader to get serial number but will be there Monday

20/80 · Apr 28, 2019

I find this very interesting, I know in my H series there is 2 cig style outlets 1 is 12v the other is 24 volt, but you can run your cell charger or Sat radio out of the 24v outlet without frying your radio or charger, it says so in the manual of the charger and radio that 24v will not affect your accessories, so I think this same set up is in our m series, as far as a charger drawing that much amperage to blow a breaker and shut your machine down in mid stream something else is going on guaranteed!!! the charger might have been the straw or(draw) that broke the camels back, this is a indicator that should not be over looked especially with these M's that there is a wiring issue that's going to get worst its just a matter of time, I have never had a breaker blow or fry a charger or my Sat radio running in either outlets, got to love these M's.

Bls repair · Apr 28, 2019

Something smells fishy

Cat 12M3 Motor Grader - Dead

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Queenslander

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Nige

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Cat 140M AWD

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