Go BottomReplace entire wiring harness
 | trueblue
Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 5 Florida 
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2009-09-28 166008
I have a 2004 john deere gator hpx.
At first when i would turn the key to start position it will crank and crank but no start. i checked the carb, no problems there, it gets fuel and air. I checked and cleaned most of the wire connections in the harness. It has weak or intermittent spark. now when i turn the key to "run" position its starts cranking without even turning the key all all the way to the "start" position although it still doesn't start. I took it to my local John Deere dealer, they told me i need a complete new wiring harness. Cost + install + over $800!! Could there be a simpler fix?
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 | earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan 
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2009-09-28 166012
That'll learn ya drivin' up in your Lexus! LOL
Seriously, unless something out of the ordinary has happened to it--like the neighbor kid used it as a science project--it could be something as simple as a $40 ignition switch or a bad solenoid, or relay. You should be able to that yourself.
I've replaced my 5-year-old my tractor's switch 3 times.
I would take it to a qualified auto electric shop that really knows engines and 12v systems ....
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| gatoraider
Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 544 Maryland 
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2009-09-29 166017
I bet those dealers love selling 800.00 harnesses that don't fix it. I guess after they put the harness in they would say that it ( the harness ) led them to the real problem, the ignition module, which is another 350.00 It sounds like you may have used up the ignition switch trying to start it when it wouldn't start, so I would replace that first. If you are getting spark and fuel ( plugs are wet after trying to start it for awhile ) then you do need a module, and they are 350.00 If the plugs aren't wet it may be the fuel shut off solenoid or wiring to it. The solenoid is under the fuel bowl and you should be able to feel it kick in when the ign. switch goes to on. If your arms aren't long enough to reach the ign. switch and the shut off solenoid at the same time you'll have to get a friend to help. If the solenoid kicks, it's working. Don't let the dealer get a hold of it unless you have deep pockets. ....
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 | auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2009-09-29 166022
I would not have thought there's $800 worth of wiring in a boatload of Gators. ....
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 | kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2009-09-29 166027
It could be that a wire is shorted by being pinched or having chafed the insulation but the thing to do then is find the short and fix it rather than replace the entire harness. ....
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 | Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2009-09-29 166029
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Worth, no probably not, but that's not to say the Manufacturer won't charge that much.
I recall reading about a lawsuit in the US where a couple of Insurance companies were suing GM because they were voiding warranties on cars repaired with non-OEM parts.
The companies responded by saying that building a 1996 Chevy Lumina from OEM GM parts would cost $72,600, more than triple the selling MSRP never mind the selling (lower) price of the car.
On another note I myself raised an issue with 'Bota over some prices in their book. A standard 1/2" male quick coupler that sold most places for $6.95 was $29.95 if you looked it up by the 'Bota part number.
The part I had issue with was 'Bota bought from the same company (Pioneer) that sold for $6.95 retail! To make matters worse 'Bota didn't stock the part, they told the dealers to order it from the Pioneer distributor, and if you did order it from the factory, they just had it drop-shipped from the Pioneer distributor anyways!!
Now if you figure it sells for $6.95, so the wholesale cost is probably half of that, so it's what, about a 800% mark-up? That isn't too bad now is it?
Best of luck. ....
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| auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2009-09-30 166057
My 93 Jeep came with two keyfobs that remotely control (mainly) the door locks. When one failed and a new battery didn't fix it, I asked the Jeep Parts guy about a new one. Click click on the computer. Triumphant smile. "They have SIX of them and I can have one here tomorrow."
"Great, I'll take one. By the way, what's the price on that?"
"Um, six hundred dollars." ....
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| trueblue
Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 5 Florida
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2009-10-02 166116
Thanks everyone for your recommendations. I am going to pick up my gator from the dealer this weekend and try to find the problem myself. There is no way that I am going to spend that kind of $$$ with out knowing for sure that it will fix the problem! ....
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| auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2009-10-02 166125
I'd see to that key. Maybe you can remove and work on it, maybe you can just get a low-cost replacement.
Then I'd focus on the weak or intermittent spark. Bad plug? connections? wiring? distributor? An auto-electric shop might be able to troubleshoot. ....
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| trueblue
Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 5 Florida
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2009-10-06 166202
Went to pick up my gator yesterday. I figured I would try to find the problem my self. I got hit with a $171 diagnostic fee!! just for telling me that a need the wiring harness replaced for an additional $800!!!!!!!! I spoke with the guy who actually did the diagnosing, and he told me it was not the key switch, coils or ignition module. He says it is a wire somewhere in the harness that wore thru and is rubbing on the frame causing it to short out somewhere or maybe a few wires that melted together. I have gone over every inch of that wiring harness and cannot seem to find any problem areas. ....
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| gatoraider
Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 544 Maryland
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2009-10-06 166207
Does everything work right, ignition, etc? It just doesn't start. If your plugs are getting wet while you are trying to start it and you are getting spark at the plugs,I would almost bet it is the ign. module. Do you know anybody that has an HPX that would let you could borrow the module? It doesn't take long to change them, you don't even have to mount the new one, just plug it in and let it hang there. Does yours look like it has been handled? It is below the right rear of the motor and has a plug going to it. If your dealer isn't a large one, he probably doesn't even have one in stock. They are 350.00 and you can't take them back. If your tech just tested it and didn't swap it out, those tests in the tech manual are useless. ....
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| trueblue
Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 5 Florida
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2009-10-15 166344
Replacing the ignition module worked! Gatorraider sure knows what he's talking about. Thanks everyone. ....
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| kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2009-10-15 166345
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Yeah, gatorraider is a real asset to tractorpoint. The more he posts the more I want to buy a gator :) ....
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