Possible Battery Problem

Big E

Big E

New member
Hey guys, I started up the washer this morning and ran it for about a minute or so and then it just up and died. Tried to re-start it and it was just hitting the solenoid. I am thinking that it is a dead battery, or possibly a bad magneto. Also the battery is not even a year old and it is a deep cycle. I put a charger on it, then tried to start it, it fired over but then died again. I'm thinkin' bad battery. What do you guys think????
 
Big E said:
Hey guys, I started up the washer this morning and ran it for about a minute or so and then it just up and died. Tried to re-start it and it was just hitting the solenoid. I am thinking that it is a dead battery, or possibly a bad magneto. Also the battery is not even a year old and it is a deep cycle. I put a charger on it, then tried to start it, it fired over but then died again. I'm thinkin' bad battery. What do you guys think????
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Put a meter on it and see what you got? You should be between 12 & 14 volts.
 
Ditto what Roger said. If it has a mag the battery is there for the starter. It should not cause the engine to stop if the battery is dead. A 12v automotive battery is 12.6 volts fully charged. If it shows 12.0 volts it is at 50% charge. I know that sounds wrong but it's not. Most battery chargers have a meter. The higher the charge rate the lower the voltage level. It should go to 0 when it's fully charged. Even a deep cycle which is designed to drop down 80% before charging needs some charge put to it on a regular basis. I'd charge the battery up and try again. If in doubt about the battery jump it. Autozone tests batteries for free around here.

I'm sure your PW has a charging circuit but they are very small, just a few amps and would take hours to fully charge a big battery up. They are designed to replace the few amps it takes to start the engine. I've found more bad battery connections after something hasn't been run for sometime than if it's used daily. Kinda like trailer lights.

The low oil sensor sounds like a good place to look too since it died while running.
 
After letting it sit for a while on the charger, I thought that I would try it again, and it did start and also kept running for the duration of my cleaning time. I checked the oil level and that was good. Thank you everyone for your responses.
 
Is it a Honda engine? It sounds like the electronics are fried
 
Yes it is a Honda engine. I think that I am going to half to take some time and run through the electrical system. Still not sure what is going on if anything, but I just started it again and it is still working.
 
If battery was real low, which it shouldn't of been since it started before the time it died, and but then died then you either got gas or oil issue or as scott said the electronics have something up. Which means it charging sometimes and others times it isn't. A sporadic problem. Once the battery is run down almost dead again it likely will rear its ugly side again if thats what is going on. Not sure about the washers but some charge systems won't sense or work with a bad or discharged battery. Check battery connections for corrosion.
 
I would be willing to bet that that little electronic control on the engine is bad. It is about 4 inches by 5 inches and gray. It is hard to miss. Last one I bought cost about $120. It is not allowing the battery to be charged. You can also check the connecotr, because it has a habit of getting corroded.
 
Copy that, thanks Scott, I will take a look at it in the morning.
 
RMedbery said:
Your engine should run without a battery.
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IndyExterior said:
Ditto what Roger said. If it has a mag the battery is there for the starter. It should not cause the engine to stop if the battery is dead. A 12v automotive battery is 12.6 volts fully charged. If it shows 12.0 volts it is at 50% charge. I know that sounds wrong but it's not. Most battery chargers have a meter. The higher the charge rate the lower the voltage level. It should go to 0 when it's fully charged. Even a deep cycle which is designed to drop down 80% before charging needs some charge put to it on a regular basis. I'd charge the battery up and try again. If in doubt about the battery jump it. Autozone tests batteries for free around here.

I'm sure your PW has a charging circuit but they are very small, just a few amps and would take hours to fully charge a big battery up. They are designed to replace the few amps it takes to start the engine. I've found more bad battery connections after something hasn't been run for sometime than if it's used daily. Kinda like trailer lights.

The low oil sensor sounds like a good place to look too since it died while running.
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...unless it has a fuel shut off solenoid on the carb, which a Honda twin does.
 
Dang it Russ wth you throwing in a chink!..lol.. Not sure now if I ever unplugged my machine while running the Honda.. Regardless, is that solinoid isolated from the charge circuit and means to cut fuel if no battery or is it meant to cut fuel if machine is not running? I assume the former since you seem to be saying it cuts off when no battery. I fail to see its usefulness if based on battery. In cars they only work off battery for a very short time when ignition key is on for to prime engine. That way if in accident ya don't flame yerself up. After engine starts they work based on running condition...that's what I've seen anyways.
 
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